October 28, 2012
Morning Service

Heb.4

 

Review:

1.     The letter to the Hebrews, the author, God. 

2.    Written to encourage Hebrew Christians to remain faithful to the Christian teachings.

3.    The writer uses Old Testament Scriptures to build their faith that Jesus is the Messiah.

4.    We have received two warnings from the writer:

• Heb 2:1 KJVR  Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
• Heb 3:12 KJVR  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

5.    We finish chapter three with this thought;  Heb 3:17-19 KJVR  But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?  (18)  And to whom swore he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?  (19)  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

 

This morning we look at the third warning;  Plus, the eternal rest of God.

 

THIRD WARNING;

Heb 4:1-16 KJVR  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. 

• Let us fear, lest we come short of entering the eternal rest that God has for us.
• What we are going to see in this chapter are three different descriptions of rest;

1. The rest of Canaan land from Egypt.
2. The Sabbath rest from creation.
3. The eternal rest we have in Jesus Christ.

The first rest, that of Canaan, is what the writer was talking of at the end of chapter three.

(18)  And to whom swore he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?  (19)  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

 

(2)  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them:

• The writer is saying that they had good news preached unto them, just as we have  had good news preached unto us.   The gospel means good news.
• Their good news was that God was going to give them rest in the promised land of Canaan.
• Our good news is that we can have eternal rest in Jesus Christ.

but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 

• You see, they didn’t believe that God would deliver them from the people who lived in the land in which God was going to give them.  UNBELIEF KEPT THEM OUT OF THE PROMISED LAND.

(3)  For we which have believed do enter into rest,

• Writer speaking of present time;  WE BELIEVED AND HAVE ENTERED INTO GOD’S ETERNAL REST, BY BEING BAPTIZED INTO JESUS CHRIST.

 

NOW THE WRITER SPEAKS OF THE SABBATH REST:

as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.  (4)  For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 

Gen_2:2. “And God did rest.” “At the close of the work of creation he rested. The work was done. “That” was the rest of God. He was happy in the contemplation of his own works; and he instituted that day to be observed as a memorial of “his” resting from his works, and as a “type” of the eternal rest which remained for man.” The idea is this, that the notion of “rest” of some kind runs through all dispensations. It was seen in the finishing of the work of creation; seen in the appointment of the Sabbath; seen in the offer of the promised land, and is seen now in the promise of heaven.

• Exo 31:12-17 KJVR  And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,  (13)  Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.  (14)  Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.  (15)  Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.  (16)  Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.  (17)  It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

THE SABBATH OF ISRAEL IS FROM 6PM ON FRIDAY TO 6PM ON SATURDAY.  But we as N.T. Christians are not under this law that God gave to the Israelites.  Do you remember what Jesus said concerning the law?

• Mat 5:17 KJVR  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
• Paul, the apostle, said this;  Col 2:14-17 KJVR  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;  (15)  And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.  (16)  Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:  (17)  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Christianity eventually chose Sunday, or the first day of the week, the day in which the Lord arose from the grave as the day of worship.  THE LORD’S DAY.

• 1Co 16:2 KJVR  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

(5)  And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.  (6)  Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 

 

NOW TO SHOW THAT EVEN IN DAVID’S DAY THERE WAS EXPECTED REST:

(7)  Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, Today, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.  (8)  For if Joshua had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 

• God speaks through David of entering into a rest, but this is 500 years after Joshua led the children of Israel into the promised land.

(9)  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  (10)  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.  (11)  Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.  (12)  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  (13)  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.  (14)  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  (15)  For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  (16)  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

• JESUS IS OUR ETERNAL REST.  WHEN WE HAVE BELIEVED THE GOSPEL MESSAGE, REPENTED OF OUR PAST SINS, AND HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST, WE HAVE ENTERED GOD’S ETERNAL REST.  “ YOU ARE COMPLETE IN HIM.”