Thoughts on Christian Living Book #2 by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

THE MIXTURE OF FAITH

“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. 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.” Hebrew 4:1-2

How great is the good news! It is fraught with promises of wonderful things which God has for those who believe in Him and follow Him. The context of Hebrews Chapter Four necessitates the inclusion of the last few verses of Chapter Three. Here, ancient Israel is held up as an example of warning to modern day church saints. It speaks of the generation of Hebrews that came out of Egyptian bondage, but who refused to exercise faith in the promises of God, by which they were denied His rest and the blessings of the Promised Land.

Notice the symbolism (1 Cor 10:1-11): Delivered by the blood; baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; traversing desert wasteland under the protection and provision of God to the Promised Land; crossing Jordan River to enter the new land, the new life. Those symbols are recognized today as our deliverance by the blood, baptism in water to walk in newness of life; traversing the desert of this worldly life; crossing our Jordan of death to enter His rest and all of its attendant blessings.

So the writer of Hebrews says that both they and us are recipients of the gospel (good news). “But the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” Then, the warning, “Let us therefore fear…” You see, it is one thing to be spiritually saved, and quite another to exercise faith in following God. The Hebrews were saved, baptized people, but died because of a lack of faith. The important phrase is “…not being mixed with faith…”

Today, there are a lot of people who are saved, but who are not hearing the Word with that all important mixture of faith. They are often regular church attenders but it means little more than a civic club or a social event. Soon, such religious practices become

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