Combine It with Faith

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. (Hebrews 4:1–2, NIV 1984).

My Musings – It is insufficient to merely profess faith. One must also possess faith. In a sense, this is what it means for those who hear the message to “combine it with faith.”

“The word [message you heard] is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess [profess] with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart [possess] that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:8–10, NIV 1984).

When we hear of someone abandoning the faith, they are the ones who made a profession but never took possession. It was a mind change, not a heart change. They took the information into their mind, but there never was a transformation of the heart. For a season, it may have seemed like it, it “was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.“

My Advice – Profess and possess. Confess and believe.

Author: thebrewisamusing

I was raised in a Christian family and my earliest childhood memories include regular Sunday school and Church attendance as a family. I was taught that our Judeo-Christian values were not just a part of our Sunday routine they should be part of our character and influence all aspects of our lives. I was also taught that as important as these values were they could not save us. We must also be “born again” by accepting Christ. View all posts by thebrewisamusing