Not Being Mixed With Faith (Part 2)

Hebrews 3:16-4:3

"For who, HAVING HEARD, rebelled?  Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years?  Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who DID NOT OBEY? So we see that they could not enter in (to His rest) because of unbelief."

"Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word that they heard did not profit them, NOT BEING MIXED WITH FAITH in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He said: 'So I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest', although the works were finished from the foundation of the world."

Having heard, they did not obey. There is the HEARING of faith in Jesus Christ and a WORKING of that faith in Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Hearing and working makes us believers. 

"Today, if you will HEAR His voice, do not HARDEN your hearts as in the rebellion." (Hebrews 3:15)

Hardening of your heart is equivalent to saying "I will not do it". It is not that you can't understand what is said by and through the testimony of Jesus Christ  but you desire to remain confident in those things the living word is making clear are loss-worthy. (Read Philippians 3:7,8)  I think I can see how, if one remains steadfast in this "confidence", even what they have (attained through faith in God) will begin to be taken from them. If the word of God is not justifying man, it will judge man.

Job said, "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. THEREFORE I abhor myself (his confidence in his own righteousness had been made known to him (read Job, chapters 32-42)) and repent in dust and ashes." Repentance could be described as turning toward God (turning to obedience) based upon a revelation of Him.