“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. 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. Hebrews 4:2-3

Can I share something amazing with you? In this exposition of Psalm 95, the writer of Hebrews clues us in that the promise of entering God’s rest still stands (Heb 4:1). Through the gospel, men and women all over the globe can rest from all their works just like God did from His (Heb 4:10). But here is an unfortunate reality: many who hear the message of Jesus find no benefit in the gospel because it is not united by faith (Heb 4:2). There are some who are reading this who are still trying to earn their way to heaven. There are some who are not trusting in the finished work of Christ. They are scratching wildly to do enough good works to earn heaven. They are looking for purpose and fulfillment, but they have not yet put their trust in Jesus. This unbelief offends God. The harder you work to earn heaven by yourself, the further you get from the true rest that is offered in Christ.

God’s Response to Unbelief

God has a response to unbelief, and that response is wrath. For everyone who persists in unbelief, God says, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’” The writer of Hebrews says it twice (Heb 4:3, 5). God’s wrathful response to unbelief is “They shall not enter my rest.”

Why does this stir up God’s wrath? Because unbelief is incredibly offensive. Let me explain. God sees the state of mankind and sends His only Son into the world.

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