Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer. (vv. 11-13)

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need. (vv. 14-16)

The apostles rebuked and encouraged the saints so that we walk in truth (2 John 1:4). When they rebuked, they did not mean that a saint could lose salvation. When they encouraged, they did not promote lawlessness.

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2)

It is easy to think that verse 11 talks about disobedience to the law. I think the disobedience here refers to unbelief because of what chapter 3 tells us.

For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but the word they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united with those who listened with faith. (v. 2)

And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3:19)

When reading the New Testament, we must understand that rebukes and encouragements by the apostles are not for the reprobate. What I mean is that the apostles are not trying to explain how to get saved or to maintain salvation. Those who are in Christ know what is right or wrong by the words of God because the Holy Spirit teaches us. However, there are much more reprobates in this world, so they try to take away our assurance of salvation. It is God’s will that the church defends herself from all the attacks by the devil and his followers. Therefore, what the saints have confessed together can be our guides. For example, the three Ecumenical Creeds and the Reformed doctrines can help us to know what is right. However, they have limits. Ever since the church was born, she has not stopped growing. What the Reformers have left out, we must fill.

One of the key attributes of God that the Reformers emphasized was that God is just. Because God is just, he cannot let the sinners go unpunished. I think this is only one side of a coin. With this theory, one understands that Christ is separate from the Father. So, people end up thinking that the Father is wrathful while Christ is merciful. The strong trend of worshiping ‘Jesus’ in the Protestant churches is not unrelated to this theory. We must not forget that we know the Father only through Jesus Christ. Christ came to make us one with Himself and the Father as we read John 17.

As I’ve mentioned before, the Reformation focused on explaining how one is saved. It did not talk much about God’s will in making the kingdom even before the foundation of the world. People often worship the man, Jesus. And I think it is evil that ministers and theologians preach that Christ kept the law perfectly as a man. It is evil because we are worshiping a man called Jesus, not the Son of God. Even though they admit that Christ is the Son of God, their theory does not explain why Christ is from eternity. With their theory, people ask, “Why didn’t God create a sinless man and send to the earth for us?” Some even ask, “Does Christ disappear in the coming kingdom since His work is done?” Surprisingly, this question was asked by an elder of the Reformed church I went to. Theologians and ministers consider Christ only as a tool to get saved.

If we read the writings of Anselm, Aquinas, Owen, or any pagan philosophers, we may think they are not entirely wrong. Some may find their writings refreshing and intellectual. But we must think carefully what their hypotheses are. Anselm and Aquinas consider that God’s grace is not 100%. They reject the absolute grace of God. Therefore, anyone who borrows ideas from them ends up rejecting TULIP. Owen appears to hold TULIP, but I think his main interest was in politics. He wanted to gain support from people and rule people. I can only conclude that he believed that anyone could be saved if they could be persuaded. He himself was persuaded after listening to a preacher when he doubted his salvation. This tradition is continued till now. Ministers have to go training in how to speak elaborately and persuasively in front of people.

My hypothesis is that God does not change and has a full control of everything. This hypothesis is from reading the Bible and also from my experiences. I believe that God had already made the plan what the end of the world would be like even before He created everything. With the hypothesis, the Son must be from eternity, which the Bible testifies. His being did not come as the consequence of Adam’s disobedience. And the Book of Revelation guides us how to interpret the OT.

And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give water to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life, without cost. (Revelation 21:5-6)

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. (John 19:30)

Hebrews chapter 4 does not speak anything contrary to my beliefs. When God rested on the seventh day, it indicated the Sabbath rest for the people of God that is coming.

For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “And Godrested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this passage, “They certainly shall not enter My rest.” Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who previously had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, (vv. 4-6)

For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. (vv. 8-9)

Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27-28)

These passages tell us that God had already planned Christ to be the Lord of Sabbath even before Adam rebelled.

The writer urges us to be diligent to enter that rest (v.7, 11) not because our efforts can earn salvation. It is natural for the saints to uphold God’s will with eagerness because we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16). And we encourage one another till we enter that rest. God’s will is the kingdom, making mere creatures in His image into His children. Christ completely eradicated our chance to fall again on the cross by making us God’s children. This does not mean that God tolerates our sinful nature as we are but He continuously rebukes, encourages, and teaches us to become like the Son. And He has given us His Spirit so that we do not fall into temptations.

No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The Father wants us to worship and love His Son. The church is the bride of Christ. Christ is the head of the new creation. But the Son’s work is not from Himself. We must not forget that the Father does everything for the Son.

The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” (Psalm 110:1; Matthew 22:44)

I can go on explaining why the CT and the AOC contradict to Hebrews chapter 4, but I am trying not to repeat myself. The problems with the CT or the AOC are that theologians and ministers keep changing words and make people confused. The CT has been criticized by many within the Reformed church. When the hypotheses are wrong, the words of God cannot support them. They end up fighting against the Bible. Consequently, people with wrong hypotheses keep changing words to fit them into the words of God. The CT and the AOC ultimately lead us to salvation by works including men-initiated faith. They need to get their understanding of Adam right. They need to understand Christ right. Anselm believed that people had the freewill to choose to believe in God. Remember that both Anselm and Aquinas did not believe 100% grace.