Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Bold Apologia Podcast, we enter into a deep dive into the doctrine of justification with a message straight from Hebrews 4: Stop Striving, Start Trusting: The Promise Still Stands. Many believers today struggle with assurance, feeling as though they must work to maintain God’s favor. But the truth of justification is that salvation is entirely the work of God, not of human effort.

Drawing from Hebrews 4, we explore how Israel’s unbelief kept them from entering God’s rest and how many Christians today fall into the same trap—striving to earn what Christ has already secured. The call of Scripture is clear: trust in Christ’s finished work, rest in His grace, and approach the throne of God with confidence.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

✔ The Burden of Striving – Why so many believers struggle to rest in their justification

✔ Hebrews 4 Explained – A verse-by-verse breakdown of what it means to enter God’s rest

✔ The Danger of Unbelief – How Israel’s failure to trust in God’s promise serves as a warning to us today

✔ Jesus, Our Greater High Priest – Why we can confidently rest in Christ’s completed work

✔ Practical Application – What it looks like to stop striving and start trusting

Key Scriptures:

• Ephesians 2:8-9 – Salvation is by grace through faith, not by works

• Romans 10:3 – The danger of trying to establish our own righteousness

• Hebrews 4 – The call to enter God’s rest through faith

• John 19:30 – “It is finished” – The finality of Christ’s redemptive work

• Psalm 95:11 – A warning from Israel’s unbelief

• Colossians 2:16 – True rest is found in Christ, not religious works

• Hebrews 4:16 – Approaching God’s throne of grace with confidence

Quotes from the Episode:

• “You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.” – Jonathan Edwards

• “Justification is the hinge the entire gospel swings on.”

• “True faith does not merely hear God’s promise—it enters into it.”

• “We work FROM approval, not FOR approval!”

Reflection Questions:

1. Are there areas in your life where you feel like you’re striving instead of trusting in God’s grace?

2. What strongholds or fears are keeping you from fully resting in Christ’s finished work?

3. Hebrews 4:16 calls us to approach God’s throne with confidence—what burden do you need to bring before Him today?

Takeaway:

The promise still stands—God’s rest is available today. If you’ve been feeling the weight of striving to earn God’s favor, let this episode be a reminder: Stop striving, start trusting. Jesus has already done the work. Will you enter into His rest?

Music: Abstract Style‎

‎Musician: QubeSounds‎

‎URL: https://pixabay.com/music/abstract-style-121455/%E2%80%8E