This is an encompassing chapter of scripture going through entering into God’s rest, which summarized is taking His offer of Grace through faith, your sins paid for by Christ’s sacrifice, who took your punishment upon Himself. No longer do we labor in a vain attempt to make ourselves worthy of obtaining eternal life with God through any works, but we rest in the knowledge that we are credited righteousness through Christ and will make it into heaven to see Him. Because if you hold onto any prideful attempt to earn eternal life through your own efforts, you’ve fallen victim to the trap and the only thing you’ll attain is hell and eternity separated from God.
Hebrews 4:11–13
[11] Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. [12] For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. [13] And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (ESV)
And for those that continue in disobedience, trying to obtain heaven on their own efforts rejecting Christ, scripture is depicted as the executioner’s sword separating soul and spirit. God’s Word will be a witness against those that refused Christ at the great white throne judgement where it is also found that their names are not written in the Book of Life.
And in wonderful conclusion, Jesus Christ who reconciled us who believe to God sits at the right hand of God as our perfect high priest who sympathizes with our human condition, granting access to the throne of God. As we who believed have been adopted into the family of God, our petitions reach our creator and heavenly Father through prayer until we go home to be with God forever. Maranatha!
Hebrews 4
[1] Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. [2] For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. [3] For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”
although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. [4] For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” [5] And again in this passage he said,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
[6] Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, [7] again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”
[8] For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. [9] So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, [10] for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.[11] Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. [12] For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. [13] And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Jesus the Great High Priest
[14] Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (ESV)