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 (Heb. 4:1)
Among the Israelites of the wilderness generation, few had been faithful enough to enter into the "rest" of the Promised Land. (See Deut. 12:9-11; Num. 14:30.) This author sees the Old Testament promise as remaining—"left"—for the Christians to fulfill in its spiritual meaning. The new people of God must be on guard ("fear") lest any of them fall short of that rest.
He is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap (Mai. 3:2)
