Morning Message: Enter Into His Rest

Bobservations' Column

Titled - "Enter Into His Rest"

Written by:  Pastor Bob Lawrenz

Most everyone that has been a Christian for a while, identifies Hebrews 11 as the chapter on Faith. But that chapter is the culmination of what these previous chapters have been alluding to. In chapter 2, it was mentioned that we should not let the Gift of Faith slip. That gift was received by us, but came from Him! Neglecting it would be a crime. Denying it would be a rejection of our Benefactor!

Our reading today, and many others remind us of the many gifts that God has for mankind, but in particular, to those willing to believe. Rejecting Jesus Christ is equal to relinquishing the right to receive God’s gifts. This includes the gift of salvation. The entire Epistle is about faith.

As a Believer, I find it hard to understand why anyone would give up such privilege from our Creator. But I know it happens, because I know of two young men who were raised in the church, in a religious setting who have turned and walked away from He in which they had once believed. It’s heart-breaking to watch, and devastating to their families, but even in such situations, we are given hope from the words of King Solomon:

“Train up a child in the way they should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” - Proverbs 22:6

The Word of God reminds us that He is yet in control. Though we may choose our own way; it is the Lord Who guides our steps (Proverbs 16:9). But there is a caveat to make note of; and that is that our hearing of the good news must be mixed with the faith that is given to us. We will read of this early in today’s chapter. Protecting those seeds of faith is vital. We protect them by affirming them repeatedly, multiple times and often.

If you memorized your addition and multiplication tables when you were in grade school, then the new math makes no sense to you, and you question the wisdom of a process that brings you to the same answer, but ignores the simple exercise of memorization. The repetition of memorizing supplies us with the answer without having to think about it.

“Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” - 2 Corinthians 3:3

Bobservations' Column:  Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Hebrews 4:1-16 - "Enter Into His Rest"

Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:

Hebrews 4 is a powerful chapter that delves into the concept of rest and its significance in the life of a believer. It’s a reminder that God has prepared a place of rest for His people, and it’s our responsibility to strive to enter that rest.

The chapter also highlights the importance of faith and obedience in our journey towards God’s rest. It warns against the dangers of unbelief and disobedience, using the example of the Israelites who failed to enter the Promised Land due to their lack of faith.

Now remember, the Book of Hebrews is written to Christians. It is written to believers. However, scattered throughout Hebrews are warnings to unbelievers. Not just any kind of unbelievers but unbelievers who know the truth, who in fact, in this case, were Jews who had renounced Judaism, turned from Judaism, and begun to point toward Christ but had never really received Christ. They had gone away from Judaism but they hadn’t stepped into a real relationship with Christ.

As we begin chapter 4, we find ourselves right in the middle of this warning to those Jews, and to anybody for that matter, who is halting on the edge of decision and not making a commitment to Jesus Christ, And the warning comes to them beginning in chapter 3, verse 7, “Today, harden not your hearts.” It’s repeated again and again throughout this section. The same message in verse 13, “Today, lest any of you be hardened,” verse 15, “Today, if you’ll hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” And clear down in verse 7 of chapter 4, again, “Today, don’t harden your hearts.”

The continuous illustration that is used all the way through here is don’t harden your hearts like Israel did. Israel turned away from Egypt. They began to go toward the Promised Land, but on the way to the Promised Land, they stopped and did not believe God. They did not put their faith in God. Therefore, they never did enter into the full rest of Canaan. They turned away from Egypt, but that generation that died, never went into the Promised Land. They halted at the crucial place of decision. And so, the warning of the Spirit of God in this passage is “Do not do what Israel did.”

Do not be taken away from the old life but never commit yourself to that new relationship with Jesus Christ but hang on the balance. And the longer you hang and the more you hear the message and the more you hear the Gospel, the easier it is to reject. And pretty soon you find one day you’ve woken up to realize – or you’ve awakened. I’ll say it right. To realize that your heart is hardened. You have an evil heart of unbelief. You have departed from the Living God. That’s the warning of his large section.

Hebrews 4 emphasizes the power of God’s Word, describing it as living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It’s a tool that can help us discern our thoughts and intentions, guiding us towards a life that pleases God.

Sunday Morning Audio Message:

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

Promise (4:1) - There are many, many promises of God in Scripture. In each promise, God pledges that something will (or will not) be done or given or come to pass. These are not flippant, casual promises such as we often make; these promises of God are rock-solid, unequivocal commitments made by God Himself. Because God is faithful, the recipients of the divine promises can have full assurance that what God has pledged will indeed be realized (Numbers 23:19). This is the first use of this important word in Hebrews.  The content of this promise is defined as "entering His rest."

His Rest (4:1) - This is the rest which God gives; therefore, it is called "My rest" (Psalm 95:11) and "His rest."  For believers, God's rest includes His peace, confidence of salvation, reliance on His strength, and assurance of a future heavenly home (cf. Matthew 11:29).

Come Short (4:1) - The entire phrase could be translated "lest you think you have come too late to enter into the rest of God."  Wit reverential fear, all are to examine their own spiritual condition (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:12; 2 Corinthians 13:5) and to actively press for commitment on the part of others (cf. Jude 23).

The Gospel (4:2) - The "gospel" is not just a New Testament revelation, for it was preached to the children of Israel in the wilderness, in types and prophecies at least.  In fact, it is "the "everlasting gospel" (Revelation 14:6-7), and the first promise of redemption (Genesis 3:15) is commonly known as the "protevangel" (first gospel).  In its essence, the gospel (good news) is the message that the Creator is also our Redeemer and coming King and that true faith in Him - faith which produces salvation - will also produce loving obedience to His Word.

Mixed With Faith (4:2) - Mere knowledge of God's message is not sufficient.  It must be appropriated by saving faith.  Later in the epistle, a much longer exposition will take up this topic of faith (10:19 - 12:29).  The writer's point of comparison is that, like the Jews who left Egypt (3:16-19, his generation had also received God's message through the preaching of the gospel; they had been evangelized. It is vital to "hear" the Word, but then it is necessary to "believe" it as well. Note John 5:24; James 1:22.

We . . . Do Enter (4:3) - Those who exercise faith in the message of God will enter into their spiritual rest.  This fact that results directly from Psalm 95:11 which states the opposite side:  that the unbeliever will not enter into the rest which God provides

Finished From the Foundation of the World (4:3) - The spiritual rest which God gives s not something incomplete or unfinished.  It is a rest which is based on a finished work which God purposed in eternity past, just like the rest which God took after He finished creation (vs. 4).

A Rest (4:9) -A different Greek word for rest meaning "Sabbath rest" is introduced here, and this is its only appearance in the New Testament.  The writer chose the word to draw the readers' attention back to the "seventh day" mentioned in verse 4 and to set up the explanation in verse 10. 

Two-Edged Sword (4:12) - The "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17) is in reference to each individual "saying" of God, used as appropriate.  While the Word of God is comforting and nourishing to those who believe, it is a tool of judgment and execution for those who have not committed themselves to Jesus Christ.  Some of the Hebrews were merely going through the motions of belonging to christ.  Intellectually, they were at least partly persuaded, but inside they were not committed to Him.  God's Word would expose their shallow beliefs and even their false intentions (cf. 1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Peter 4:5).

Dividing of Soul and Spirit (4:12) - There is a difference between a person's "soul and spirit" but they operate so much in concert that only the Scriptures can discern between them.  What God has revealed is so precise and so accurate as to make the minutest of judgments and to be able to discern where the soul and spirit begin and end. It can even expose “our innermost thoughts and desires.”

Opened unto the Eyes of Him (4:13) - Open is a specialized term used just this one time in the New Testament.  It originally meant to expose the neck either in preparation for sacrifice or for beheading.  Perhaps the use of sword in the previous verse triggered the term.  Each person is judged not only by the Word of God (cf. John 12:48), but by God Himself.  We are accountable to the living, written Word (cf. John 6:63, 68; Acts 7:38) and to the living God who is its author. 

Passed Through the Heavens (4:14) - Just as the high priest under the Old Covenant passed through three areas (the outer court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies) to make the atoning sacrifice, Jesus passed through three heavens (the atmospheric heaven, the stellar heaven, and God's abode; cf. 2 Corinthians 12:2-4) after making the perfect, final sacrifice.  One a year on the Day of Atonement the high priest of Israel would enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of the People (Leviticus 16).  That tabernacle was only a limited copy of the heavenly reality (cf. 8:1-5).  When Jesus entered into the heavenly Holy of Holies, having accomplished redemption, the earthly facsimile was replaced by the reality of heaven itself.  Freed from that which is earthly, the Christian faith is characterized by the heavenly (3:1; Ephesians 1:3, 2:6; Philippians 3:20; Colossians 1:5; 1 Peter 1:4).

Jesus the Son of God (4:14) - The use of both the title of humanity (Jesus) and of deity (Son of God is significant.  One of the few cases of such a juxtaposition is in 1 John 1:7, where Jesus' sacrifice for sins is emphasized (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 John 4:15; 5:5).

All Points Tempted (4:15) - The writer here adds to his statements in 2:18 that Jesus was sinless.  He was able to be tempted (Matthew 4:1-11), but not able to sin.

Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace (4:16) - Most ancient rulers were unapproachable by anyone but their highest advisers.  In contrast, the Holy Spirit calls for all to come confidently before God's throne to receive mercy and grace through Jesus Christ.