KJV Hebrews 4
1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Explanation
Hebrews can be quite involved in its statements, but this also leads to the most glorious passages, ones which we know, but often without recalling the location. That is true of Hebrews 4:12.
One way to clarify is to go back a few verses to see if the classic declaration has an introduction. A big question concerns why the Gospel is proclaimed but not believed. Lutherans - the true Pentecostals - know the Word is never without the Spirit and the Spirit never without the Word (Hoenecke). Thus others imagine the Word requires a charming pastor, or gorgeous costumes from CM Almy, or splendid architecture, or a way to make the message reasonable or sweet or humorous. Lacking these props, the Word is not profitable when not mixed with faith.
Not mixed with faith can influence the preacher and his/her gimmicks or the congregation with their demands. In our era of Rationalism, Satan worship, and Whack-a-Doodlism, people may still glean from long-held truths sprinkled in a worship service, remnants from the past. But many are without this nurture, as Hebrews states.
Various times I have been invited to preach for another congregation or group. Teaching the basics - such as the inerrancy of the Scriptures or the divinity of Jesus Christ - means that arms will fold and scowls will form, or heads will nod in agreement. The Spirit at work in the Word hardens and darkens those who oppose God's truth. The Word energized by the Spirit also converts, encourages, strengthens, and calms the others.
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How did we get to the point where people would recite the Sparkle creed - from a United Church of Christ minister - and ignore the wisdom of Theodore Schmauk? Lutheran pastors seem to graduate from seminary without Luther - how much weaker are they in understanding:
And yet they can recite the canons of McGavran, Kelm, and Drucker! |
