SCRIPTURE Hebrews 4:1–2, 11, and 14 “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” [v1–2], “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” [v11], and “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession [of faith]” [v14]. 

COMMENTARY The writer warns believers not fall short of entering into the rest of God described in His promise.  In fact, the writer warns us not to even seem to come short of the promise of God.  Why the warning if there is no way that a believer can possibly lose his salvation?  We as believers must keep our faith (a true faith) to receive the promises of God.  In v11, fall is Greek piptō and means “to fail of participating in, miss a share in, the Messianic salvation.” We are told directly to hold fast to our faith, which would not be necessary if, as the modern church teaches: (1) we are guaranteed and unconditionally eternally secure at first belief, and (2) we have no responsibility for maintaining our salvation through responding to God after coming to Christ.