Believers in Jesus have an assurance of eternal salvation (Romans 10:9-10; John 3:15-16), the promise of possessing eternal life (1 John 5:13) and the guarantee that they will be raised up in the last days (John 6:39-40).  This salvation is a gift of God and does not involve human work, but is by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The writer of the book of Hebrews is addressing believers and encouraging them, even warning them, to pursue growth in their salvation. Continuing in this spiritual growth, or progressing in their faith, is called “the rest.” It is compared to Israel entering the Promised Land. The Israelite’s deliverance, provisions and covenant had occurred in Egypt and the in the wilderness. But, they still did not possess the Promised Land. The Land was the place of rest. The Land was the place of production. The Land was the place of blessing and inheritance. Possessing the Land was the reason Israel had been delivered from the bondage of Egypt.

Likewise, the writer of the Book of Hebrews knows he is talking to believers, but they are believers who have figuratively turned around before they had crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Instead, these believers had turned around to head back into the wilderness. The writer says to the Jewish believers who had turned away from the New Testament revelation and, so, had rejected their spiritual inheritance of growth and production:

1. “The promise of entering his rest still stands.”
2. “Be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.”
3. “Make every effort to enter that rest.”

The “word of God” (a reference to the written revelation of Scripture) is still alive and can actively lead you into this promised rest today. But, this same “word of God” is the judge concerning your direction either into the promised “rest” or away from the “rest.” It is not like natural words of motivation or a good sermon that can effect you emotionally. The “word of God is living and active.” It is not like a natural sword that can pierce your flesh and divide your physical organs. The “word of God” is much more and can divide “soul and spirit, joints and marrow.” The “word of God” judges your thoughts and attitudes concerning your drive for spiritual growth and the conquest of your inheritance as a believer. You may simply be playing church and religion, or you may be advancing spiritually, pursuing the rest and seizing your inheritance as a believer in Jesus Christ. Rejection of the “word of God” is a symptom of unbelief. Most likely if you are rejecting the study and teaching of the Word of God, you are also refusing to cross the Jordan to enter this spiritual rest. You are instead heading back into the wilderness of dead works and using the philosophical applications of religious virtues inspired by human viewpoint and human efforts as an imitation.

"Most ministries in our church have not begun with a bright idea in a pastors' meeting.  We usually don't say, "Let's start a street outreach," and then go recruit laypeople to staff it.  We have learned over the years to let God birth something in people who are spiritually sensitive, who begin to pray and feel a calling.  Then they come to us.  "We want to start such-and -such," they say- and the ministry gets going and lasts.  Discouragement, complications, and other attacks by the enemy don't wash it out."
- Jim Cymbala