June 12, 2016
Morning Service

Heb. 4

 

            You should not leave here this morning without having great faith, and confidence in your salvation.  The Hebrew writer has shown the superiority of Jesus over Moses.  We Christians take this type of thing for granted, and we shouldn’t.  We should study the Scriptures, building our faith that Jesus is the Messiah, the very Son of God, Who was to come, and get victory over death, and the grave.  He also warned us not to neglect this great salvation.  And this morning I want to show you just how great this salvation is:  

            We closed chapter three with this:

Heb 3:14-19  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;  (15)  While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.  (16)  For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.  (17)  But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?  (18)  And to whom sware 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.

And now, Chapter four Hebrews.

 

Heb 4:1-16  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. 

·         Warning!!!  Be careful that you don’t miss entering His rest.

·         In chapter three the writer speaks of the children of Israel that were delivered from the bondage of Egypt, but didn’t enter the promised land of rest, because of unbelief.  That generation of men died in the wilderness, not being allowed to enter the promised land of rest.

·         After Moses was taken off the scene, Joshua, which is the same name as Jesus, led the Israelites into the promised land.

·         Now let’s notice how the writer goes on, and speaks of the promised rest of God.

(2)  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 

·         The good news of the promised land was given to those coming out of Egypt, but they didn’t believe, or have faith that God was able to help them overcome the obstacles that they would face.

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

·         This is the statement I want us to grasp this morning.  “We which have believed have entered into rest.”  How is that?  

·         We think that Heaven will be our place of rest.  But the writer says we have entered His rest now.  NOW NOTICE. 

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. 

·         When God speaks concerning the Sabbath day rest, it is like all the other types, and shadows in the Old Testament.  The Sabbath day rest is a wonderful gift from God to mankind, but it is not the rest that we Christians have entered into. 

·         If the Sabbath day is a type of the eternal rest, then what or Who fulfilled it?  You are right, Jesus of Nazareth, just as He fulfilled all the types and shadows of the old testament law.

·         So, when did we enter into this eternal rest?  Paul explains it in the Galatian letter;

Gal 3:27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

·         Jesus has entered His eternal rest, and we have entered it also, when we are baptized into Him.  You should have faith, and believe that you have entered God’s eternal rest in Christ.

·         Listen to Paul again in the Colossian letter;

Col 2:8-17  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  (9)  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  (10)  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:  (11)  In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:  (12)  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.  (13)  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;  (14)  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 shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.  (16)  Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, 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.

(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: 

·         It remains that some are yet to enter this eternal rest.  But haven’t because of unbelief.

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

·         Don’t harden your hearts in not believing that Jesus is the Christ of God.

·         This Jesus mentioned here is Joshua.  He led the Israelites 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 labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 

·         Christian you are complete in Him.  I have entered God’s eternal rest, when I entered the waters of baptism, and had my sins washed away.  I became complete in Him, Who made it all possible.  Jesus is God’s eternal rest for all believers.

(12)  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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 an 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 all in all.  When we hear the gospel message, believe it, and obey it, then we have entered God’s eternal rest.   As we walk in the teachings of the Lord, we should feel great confidence in our salvation, and relationship with the Lord.

 

ALMIGHTY GOD, OPEN OUR EYES, AND HEARTS TO THIS WONDERFUL TRUTH, AS WE GIVE YOU THANKS, AND PRAISE IN JESUS NAME.  AMEN.