November 13, 2022
Evening Service

A Scripture that plays an important roll in understanding this chapter is when Jesus said, “Mat 5:17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

Bro. Sam last Sunday evening mentioned the use of the word ( therefore ).  It is used 15 times in this letter.  Writers that used it most were James, Peter, John, and Paul.   So, we can draw our own conclusions on who wrote this book, but knowing that the final conclusion is God.

Heb 4:1-16  Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest,  (The Christian rest is different than that rest comeing out of Egypt was.)

·        Now the writer is referring to the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt, concerning a rest. The promised land. They didn’t believe God, or Caleb, and Joshua that they could take this land. So, they didn’t enter this rest of the promised land, because of unbelief.

·        But the writer now is referring to another rest, the Christian gospel rest.

He goes on, “any of you should seem to come short of it.  (2)  For unto us was the gospel (good news) 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 came from Caleb, and Joshua, but they didn’t accept it.)

·        Remember, “without faith it is impossible to please God.”

(3)  For we which have believed do enter into rest,  (only one way).

Now, this is what this chapter is about, right here.  The rest that Christians have entered into is Christ.  The writer says, “that we who have believed have entered into rest.” And how do we get into Christ?

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

·        Remembering what Paul told the church at Colossi, Col 2:10  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

as he said, (past) 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.  (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:  (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.  

 

 

·        Psa 95:7-10  For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,  (8)  Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:  (9)  When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.  (10)  Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:

(8)  For if Jesus (this is Joshua) had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.  (9)  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  

·        According to our gospel, this rest is when we enter into Christ through the waters of baptism.  And we feel the peace that passes all understanding.  Jesus fulfilled the creation Sabbath. He is our rest.

·        This however, does not replace the creation Sabbath, it is still a day of rest from Friday 6pm to Sat. 6pm. 

·        There are those in Christianity that keep this day for their day of worship, and that’s okay as long as they don’t try to force it on others.

·        Paul said this, Rom 14:5-6  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.  (6)  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

·        And, Col 2:16  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:

 (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.  (Not believing in the gospel message, that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God.)

·        Let us seek earnestly the faith that will deliver us into this glorious rest.

(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.

·        The children of Israel did not enter the promise land, because of not believing that God could give the land to them.

·        In the gospel we are promised a time of rest, and a promised land in Heaven.  We are told if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we can have the peace that passes all understanding, or a rest from all our burdens and cares. In the end if we remain faithful we will enter our final rest of Heaven.  Our initial rest in in Jesus, our final rest is in Heaven.

(11)  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Act 17:27  That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: