Jesus + Faith = Rest
Rest
When you hear that word what do you think of?
Many today find themselves simply moving from one thing to the next
We are a distracted generation that is too busy and too tired to find rest
But the writer of Hebrews shows us where true rest is found
There are some who believe God’s love for them is dependent on their works and their performance
There are some who believe it is by their good works that will enable them to enter into Heaven
But when we examine God’s word we see that rest is truly found in Christ alone
Hebrews 4:1-11
English Standard Version
4 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.[a] 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
“As I swore in my wrath,‘They shall not enter my rest,’”
although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,
“Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God[b] would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.
Whenever a passage begins with therefore it looks back to what was previously written
Hebrews 3:7-19
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,
“Today, if you hear his voice,8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’11 As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’”
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,
“Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
The generation that died in the wilderness was marked by:
1. Rebellion
2. Unbelief
3. Complaining
They had seen all of the miracles done in Egypt
They were led by Moses
And yet they failed to enter the promise land because of their unbelief and rebellion
Here the Lord reveals that the rest He speaks of is a physical promise land for the nation of Israel
But looking at Hebrews 4:1-11 we see that it is a spiritual rest that is found only through Jesus Christ
1. The promise of entering His rest still stands
Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.[a] 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath,‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,
a. God rested after creating all things in seven days
b. Genesis 2:2 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
c. The generation that died in the wilderness heard the good news of the promise land
i. Instead of believing God and His word they believed the wrong report of the 10 spies
d. But even though God rested after creating all things, He speaks of another rest for his people
e. The rest that God provides can only be found when faith is combined with the word of God
f. The generation that died in the wilderness and failed to enter the promise land did so because of disobedience
i. The foundation and source of disobedience is unbelief
ii. They heard the word of God but did not combine it with faith
iii. Hebrews 11:6 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
g. Faith must be combined with The Word of God
i. Our lives are truly transformed and changed when we truly live by faith based on the word of God
2. The importance of heeding and obeying the voice of God
7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,“Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts.”
a. This warning is from Psalm 95
b. David writes Today, If you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts
c. Does God still speak?
d. Is God still speaking to us
i. The early Jewish believers were considering abandoning faith in Christ
ii. If we abandon faith in Christ in the face of hardship, persecution, or trial, we harden our hearts against the voice of the Lord and The word of God
e. This is a call and a warning to persevere
i. Jesus never said this would be easy
ii. It is the testing of our faith that reveals it for what it is, and deepens our faith
iii. Trials are a true blessing but we must hold fast to our trust in God and we must heed the voice of the Living God and His word
3. Let us strive to enter His rest
8-11 For if Joshua had given them rest, God[b] would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.
A. God has a sabbath rest for us
a. On the sabbath the Jews were to abstain from all labor
b. They were to set aside a day to rest and drawing near to the Lord
c. It is what set them apart as a people
B. Just as Joshua led the Israelites into the promise land, it is Jesus who has led us to the place of salvation and rest
a. Jesus is the author of salvation
b. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ that we come to obtain every promise God has for us
C. In Christ we have a Sabbath rest
a. Our righteousness and justification is not based on works
b. It is not based on keeping the law
c. Jesus said Matthew 11:28-30 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
d. Jesus has paid our redemption in full
e. Jesus has done all the work
f. At Calvary He cried it is finished
g. He is our propitiation
i. 1 John 2:2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
ii. Jesus through His sacrificed satisified the wrath of the Father
D. We are called to strive to enter His rest
a. We are called to abide
b. We are called to draw near and remain
c. Daily we must hold fast to the faith we have in Jesus Christ
d. The root and source of disobedience is unbelief
e. If we abandon faith in Jesus Christ we have nothing and we abandon everything
f. He is our Sabbath Rest
God’s desire is that we would obtain every promise through Christ
His sabbath rest would be ours
But we must be a people who lives and walks by faith based on the promises of God
There will be challenges
But in the midst of everything we face, He is greater
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