An Example of Unbelief – Part 2 – Hebrews 3:7-11

He swears to them also, as he doth in this place. Men are apt secretly to harbour a supposition of a difference in this matter. The promises of God they think, indeed, are firm and stable; but as for his threatenings, they suppose one way or other they may be evaded. And this deceit hath greatly prevailed in and inflamed the minds of men ever since the first entrance of sin. By this deceit sin came into the world, namely, that the threatenings of God either would not be accomplished, or that they were to be understood after another manner than was apprehended. ‘Hath God said so, that you shall die if you eat? Mistake not; that is not the meaning of the threatening; or, if it be, God doth not intend to execute it; it will be otherwise, and God knows it will be otherwise.’ This gave sin its first entrance into the world; and the same deceit still prevails in the minds of men. ‘Hath God said that sinners shall die, shall be cursed, shall be cast into hell? Yea, but sure enough it will be otherwise; there will be one way or other of escape. It is good to affright men with these things, but God intends not so to deal with them. But what is the ground of this feigned difference between the promises and threatenings of God, as to their stability, certainty, and accomplishment? – John Owen