Hebrews 4:1–11 is all about rest. God's people are entering into rest, a rest which we possess as soon as we believe in Jesus Christ, but a rest which we will not enjoy fully until we reach glory. The writer wants to warn us not to fall short of entering that rest.

Sadly, the Israelites of Moses' generation did fall short. v2, v6 and v11 all show that they were kept out of God's rest because they did not believe God's word and obey God's word. The challenge which the writer of the letter to the Hebrews gives to you, then, is: make sure that you believe and obey the word of God. And that thrusts us forward into v12, a verse which shows the sheer vitality of the word of God.

i The energetic word

v12 starts, "For the word of God is living and active." The word of God is alive and living and active and effective and powerful and energetic.

What does the writer mean precisely by "the word of God"? His focus thus far in Hebrews 4 has been on the word of God as preached and heard. So here in v12 he's not so much thinking about the Bible, as the Bible opened-up. The Bible is opened up when people read it for themselves or read books which aim to draw out its message or hear preaching which is faithful to it.

The Bible opened-up is brimming with life. It's fresh, vibrant, alive, active, dynamic, energetic. It's the power of God for salvation to all who believe. It's the power of God to make our lives holy. It always accomplishes God's purposes.

What do you expect when the Bible is opened up, then? Expect it to prove itself living and active, powerful in every way. It can work wonders. It can work in your heart and life. It can interact with you. It can change you profoundly. It's energetic. And what it can do in you it can do in anyone, literally anyone. Have confidence in the living and active word of the living and active God.

ii The entering word

v12 continues: "Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow." God's word penetrates. It enters us. It's the entering word.

In Roman times, nothing was more piercing than the double-edged sword. So we're learning here that the word of God gets right inside us. It gets into right into parts of our human personality which nothing else can. It even divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It enters places which cannot be entered!

In passing, the words "soul and spirit" here have stirred up quite a debate over the centuries. Trichotomists hold that man is made up of three parts: body, soul and spirit. Dichotomists hold that man is made up of two parts: body and soul, or body and spirit. Hebrews 4:12 is often quoted by trichotomists. If you want to decide whether you are a trichotomist or a dichotomist, compare Matthew 10:28 with James 2:26, Luke 12:20 with John 19:30, and James 1:21 with 1 Corinthians 5:5. You'll have to listen to find out which I am!

When the opened-up Bible gets right inside us, what does it do? It "judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." It passes judgment on you deep down inside. It convicts you in the darkest part of your personhood. It points out your guilt. It shows you where you are in the wrong, though your deceitful heart (see Jeremiah 17:9) may not be aware of it. All Christians have felt the sharp sting of the opened-up word as it's exposed more and more sin in our lives.

What do you expect when the Bible is opened up, then? Expect it to penetrate to the very depths of your heart. Expect to writhe before the piercing word of God. Don't run away from it. Don't deflect its message. Don't just hear it mechanically through habit. Let the word do its work deep down inside you. It will lacerate you inside... but only and always for your good. It judges you, but only so that you can be better.

And, of course, what it can do in you it can do in anyone, literally anyone. Lots of your evangelistic work will simply involve getting to know non-Christians. But the time will come, maybe years down the line, when you'll get the opportunity to bring the word of God to bear upon them. Have confidence in the word at those times. It can penetrate, enter and save.

iii The eyeing Lord

v13 begins, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of" God. God has got His eye on us. He's eyeing us.

The writer here says the same thing three times over for emphasis. Firstly he says that nothing is hidden from God. Secondly, he says that everything is naked before God, uncomfortably open before his eyes. Thirdly, he says that everything is laid bare before God in that he sees us face-to-face.

God knows us intimately. Every single detail of your life and of your person is fully and unavoidably open to the gaze of none other than God himself. That's quite frightening. But there's worse...

iv The examining Lord

v13 concludes by speaking of God as the one "to whom we must give account." We're being taught here that, one day, we will all have to stand before the God who knows everything about us to give an account of our lives!

There are only two ways to respond to that truth. One is to gulp in horror. It's to think, "Every single detail of my life and of my person, fully and unavoidably open to the gaze of God? Then he knows everything I've done wrong! And the day is coming when I've got to give an account to him! How can I stand before him? I'm guilty and there's nothing I can do to make things right! I'm going to be condemned for ever!"

The second way to respond is to give thanks. It's to give thanks because you know that someone has taken your sin away. Therefore you know that when you stand before God, he won't condemn you. He'll draw you into his presence for ever and ever.

v13 is frightening on its own. But thankfully, v14 promises this great high priest, Jesus the Son of God. He died and rose for his people, taking our sin and guilt and condemnation. And he still saves people today. He will save you if you trust in Him with all your heart, if you confess your sin to him and turn away from it. Don't delay. Trust in Jesus Christ right now.