Fear and Rest.
I. The worldly man neither fears nor loves God. He sometimes imagines he loves God, because he is not afraid, because he is not awed by the holy majesty of God, and does not tremble at the righteous condemnation of the law. The soul which is roused and convinced of sin fears God. This fear, created by the Spirit, has in it already, though concealed and feeble, elements of trust and affection. There is in it, as there is in repentance, a longing after the peace of God, a desire to be brought into harmony and fellowship with Him. There is in this fear, although dread and anxiety about self may predominate, reverence, conviction of sin, sorrow, prayer.
II. It is because we know the Father, it is because we are redeemed by the precious blood of the Saviour, it is as the children of God and as the saints of Christ, that we are to pass our earthly pilgrimage in fear. This is not the fear of bondage, but the fear of adoption; not the fear which dreads condemnation, but the fear of those who are saved, and whom Christ hath made free.
III. The believer has rest,now on earth, and afterwards in glory. Resting in Christ, he labours to enter into the perfect rest of eternity. We enjoy rest in Christ by faith. But the perfect enjoyment of rest is still in the future. There remaineth a sabbatism for the people of God. Believers will enter into rest after their earthly pilgrimage, labour, and conflict, and the whole creation will share in the liberty and joy of the children of God. The substance and foretaste of this rest we have even now in Christ. But as Christ has entered into glory, so we are to be glorified together with Him at His coming. Then will be perfectly satisfied the great and deep-seated longing of our hearts for rest.
A. Saphir, Expository Lectures on the Hebrews,vol. i., p. 209.
References: Hebrews 4:1-13. Preacher's Monthly,vol. iv., p. 315; Homiletic Quarterly,vol. i., p. 459. Hebrews 4:2. Expositor,1st series, vol. vii., p. 205; Bishop Jackson, Christian World Pulpit,vol. i., p. 497. Hebrews 4:3. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xv., No. 866; Homilist,1st series, vol. v., p. 38. Hebrews 4:5. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. i., p. 112.