Not being mixed with faith

Heb 3:17  But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
Heb 3:18  And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
Heb 3:19  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

They could not enter in to the promised land and the rest that was promised because of unbelief.

Heb 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.

We need to fear.

We need to comprehend that just as they were given a promise they fell SHORT of receiving that promise because of their own unbelief.  Do you think for one moment that those men and women having come out from under the thumb of slavery- their every action dictated, their every action subject to the approval or disapproval of the pharaoh, all their hard work not done for their own benefit but for the benefit of another to exploit- do you think these people didn't want that promised land? They did! They wanted it and they wanted it immediately, they wanted it without any strictures, they wanted it selfishly, they wanted it not with any real gratitude because it was something much better than what they'd been living in.  How many of us desire heaven simply because we know that it beats the alternative non-existence after a severe punishment? How many of us believe we will gain heaven simply because want it? How many believe in God as a big ol' softy who is going to let everyone enter heaven regardless of how they believe now? How many of us are caught up in the idea of leaving the slavery of this world and yet our belief in our Savior and His truth as it is found in His word is sorely lacking? If devils believe then obviously there is something more than simply believing, right? Our believing contains a result that comes from that believing.  Abraham's faith, Abraham's belief resulted in a life lived in accordance with that belief, that faith. Moses' life too held results that stemmed from his belief.  A real belief a living breathing part of our lives, not simply a thought to believe and nothing more. 

Read the following carefully-

Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Jas 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jas 2:20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas 2:21  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jas 2:22  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Jas 2:23  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Jas 2:24  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Jas 2:25  Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
Jas 2:26  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

This is truth, a truth that we don't like to think about because we automatically hear the loud cry-

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

NOT OF WORKS! 

How we've perverted the scriptures to suit our own brands of religion, our own brands of truth. We pick it apart and take out all the juicy bits that please us but leave the other parts that don't give us any satisfaction.  We hold up this verse here- not of works- and toss is around like a banner for all to see so that they understand we aren't about to do good because then it will be too confusing and we'll start to think that we are working our way towards salvation.  We can't work to earn salvation, it's a gift, so we'll just sit back and take the gift of salvation and nothing else matters.

Taking the gift of salvation is having FAITH, believing in the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Taking the gift of salvation is KNOWING that there isn't a single thing we can do on our own that warrants our deserving salvation. Taking the gift of salvation is comprehending that once we accept the gift we are born again into  a new life, a spiritual life, the old life is put away.  How could Jesus bring salvation to those He preached to, to those He healed and tell them to go and sin no more, if their sinning didn't matter any longer? Wouldn't He have simply said, go and keep believing in me, don't worry about sinning, don't worry about your actions, just believe- those actions don't count at all whatsoever.

Seriously, how can we comprehend that devils believe, devils have faith, devils know that our Lord and Savior has the power to give salvation,  yet all their believing in those facts changes nothing for them. Yet, we want to believe that all it takes is our believing just like those devils believe, and nothing more. We don't want to have to worry about changing and being unable to put off our cherished sins, we want to believe, and have that count as our salvation as we continue on sinning willfully.

Faith without WORKS is dead.
Faith without corresponding actions that are a result of that faith is dead.
Faith without our belief in all our Lord Jesus revealed to us in His words- all His admonitions to how we should live- is dead.
Are we truly believing in our Savior if we are not believing in all His words, all His teachings?
Do we truly believe and have faith in our Savior if we have no faith whatsoever at all in anyway in His ministry here on earth?
If I say I believe in someone, aren't I really saying I believe in the things they stand for?

We have an election right around the corner and if I say I believe in one of the candidates I'm really saying I believe in the things He's said, the things he stands for. You wouldn't really think I believed in that candidate if he said one thing and I adamantly spoke out against that very thing. You'd question my belief, you'd wonder how I could possibly say I believe in that man if he doesn't believe in the things I do.  It'd be very contradictory and very confusing to say the least.

A real faith is believing in God, believing in our Savior and in that belief- believing in ALL they stand for. 

Heb 4:2  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.

The word preached did not profit them- because it was NOT mixed with faith!

Heb 4:3  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.

Heb 4:4  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.

Heb 4:5  And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

Heb 4:6  Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
Heb 4:7  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.

Heb 4:8  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

More tomorrow by the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.