But they have not all obeyed the gospel.

Romans 10:16 (NKJV)

 

Do you have a disconnect between what you believe and how you live?

The Apostle Paul undoubtedly witnessed this contradiction in individuals he taught and nurtured while bearing witness to the gospel to them. Even if these believers have heard the gospel and know the truth, they might nonetheless be legalistic or loose in how they live and treat others. This is why Paul had to write all those epistles to various churches, teaching the gospel to the believers again and urging them to live consistently with their beliefs and behave accordingly.

Similarly, we can drift away from the gospel if we cease obeying the gospel and shift our focus from faith to dead works. Ignorance breeds disobedience and disobedience breeds restlessness and loss of freedom. This is how Paul describes it:

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 which 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.

Hebrews 4:1-3 (NKJV)

 

We are asked to believe and to immerse ourselves thoroughly in the whole gospel of God's grace. The people in the wilderness are referred to as "them" in this context. They died not because of their sin, but because they were not obeying God's way of salvation that leads to rest.

According to Paul, Jesus offers His gospel rest to all of us, and if you do not move forwards to enjoy His restful blessing, you will return to a restless life of disobedience and unbelief. Rest, in other words, is an act of obedience that results from a firm grasp of the gospel.

Many believers, however, are confused with the true character of rest.

Some people mistakenly believe that rest is simply laying back and watching the world go by. They couldn't be much further from the truth. Rest does not imply inactivity or passivity, but rather it is engaging in faith-producing activities that bring maturity and fruitfulness. Paul teaches us that when we combine faith with the truth of the gospel, we get to benefit from the reality of the finished work of Christ.

The more you hear and obey the gospel, the more you will encounter God's goodness in every aspect of your life. This is because you will see that the gospel is about more than just saving you for eternity; it is about making heaven a reality on earth.