Don’t forget who the author of Hebrews is talking to: the Hebrews, the Jews.
Entering into rest is not about how one is justified by Christ, but how one lives a victorious Christian life on this earth. Israel was FIRST delivered from Egypt and Pharaoh by going through the waters of the Red Sea, a picture of one being delivered from the world and Satan though receiving Christ.
Entering into rest, however, is how a Christian walks by grace into his destiny of victory and rest in God’s finished work. Millions of Israelites failed to walk into their promised land of rest because they were consumed by self righteousness and self effort which blocks the faith, belief, and rest of grace. Nevertheless, they has still been delivered from Egypt. In the same way, there are many defeated Christians who never realize the victorious rest of Christ’s finished work and the destiny God has for them on this earth, but that doesn’t mean they’re not saved.
Again, Jesus died 2000 years ago for everyone’s sins of unbelief. Receiving Christ is the ONLY issue of eternal justification. Learning to trust the Lord and rest in his finished work is how we become victorious Chritians.
Lazarus was raised from the dead, another picture of our being born again into Christ and life. But when Lazarus walked out of the gave, he was still bound by grave clothes and Christ commanded those around him loose Lazarus of those grave clothes. Likewise, when we are born again, we are still bound in our mind, will, emotions, and body, by our former life. Christ commands his people around us to help us loose those bondages and help set us free. But bound, defeated Christians are still saved and going to heaven. God just wants his children to live a victorious life HERE and NOW.
Full circle to the application here. What was my initial post? “There’s a lot of sodomite Christians. Jesus saves by grace, not works. But to call sodomy normal is like saying “I’m a Christian and have leprosy but leprosy is normal, so I don’t need healing or help.” Keeps a person from finding health and wholeness.”
Another way of saying, “Here is a defeated Christian who probably doesn’t know, as many Christians, probably including you, don’t understand.” Sin is NOT defeated by the works of the law which actually make sin worse (1 Cor. 15:56). Sin, guilt, and condemnation is defeated BY GRACE. “For sin shall not have dominion over you because you are under grace, and NOT under the law” (Rom. 6:14).
We can do this; but fact will still remain that if a believing Christian somehow is convinced to no longer believe; then he is NOT going to Heaven.
1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
3. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;
5. if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
6. if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
7. and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men
8. (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)--
9. if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.
10. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings;
11. yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.
12. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.
13. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.