HF183 - Hebrews 4:1-11 (Entering His Rest - Part Two)
To: Hebraic-Foundations@YahooGroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date: Monday, April 28, 2008
Subject: Bible Study HF183 - Hebrews 4:1-11 (Entering His Rest - Part Two)
Hebraics,
This is our second study on the subject of 'His rest.' Out last study had Israel coming out of Egypt, and Israel's forty years of wandering in the desert, as a reflection on what was happening in Israel prior to the destruction of the temple in 70 a.d. Let's continue this part of our series with a closer look at the rest.
This is Bible Study HF183 - Hebrews 4:1-11 (Entering His Rest - Part Two)
Heb 4:1,2 - "Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.
What is being said here opens up the struggle area for those Hebrews who had looked to Jesus as Messiah. In some instances their faith has not been completed. They are wavering between two opinions. And again the apostolic writer reflects back on Israel's departure from Egypt, and their inability to enter into the promised land because of doubt and unbelief.
Where some would liken Canaan land to heaven, in this case Canaan (the land of promise) serves as a type of the believers inheritance in Christ, of the blessings of the new covenant, and by turn, speaks of the finished work of the cross. We will see more on this momentarily.
v3 - "For we who have believed enter that rest, just 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."
What makes this Scripture so interesting is that whereas the writer is using Israel's sojourne in the desert for forty years as a backdrop, he is also reaching into the writings of David with regard to the rest that would be given to those who truly believe in and receive Jesus Christ as their own Lord and Savior.
So here we find the use of a type and also of a prophetic foretelling in the same setting. The type is Israel's sojourn. The foretelling has to do with the finished work of the cross. Peter gives insight into this:
"...you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. "FOR HE WAS FOREKNOWN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, BUT HAS APPEARED IN THESE LAST TIMES FOR THE SAKE OF YOU who through Him are believers in God..." (1 Peter 1:18-21 - Caps for emphasis only.)
(A good area for discussion.)
vv4,5 - "For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.'; and again in this passage, "They shall not enter My rest.'"
The writer is placing an emphasis on the work of the cross that was set in eternity. But he has more to say about the rest.
vv6-9 - "Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, He again fixes a certain day, 'Today,' saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, 'Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.' For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God."
It was long after Israel had finally entered into the promised land, of which many of the people had failed to do so, that David spoke of another rest to come. It would be the rest given by the Rest Giver, God's Messiah.
v10 - "For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His."
Now we come to the crux of the matter. God's work of redemption and salvation were completed through the cross. There are no more sacrifices to be made. There are no more rituals and shadows and types and religious burdens to be carried. It is by faith alone, in Christ alone, through grace alone that we enter into the rest of Jesus Christ. The work is over. The only thing required of any human is to believe in Jesus Christ and receive Him as Lord and Savior. In the new covenant this is called 'the obedience of faith.'
v11 - "Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience."
What kept Israel by and large from entering into the promised land was their unbelief. This was the same issue facing the Hebrew People during this transitional period from the resurrection of Jesus to the final destruction of the temple in 70 a.d.
Always keep in view this transitional period of time and the book of Hebrews will continue share its many treasures. And while this book was written to a specific people with a specific purpose, it actually belongs to the whole church. Its lessons are manifold. Its lessons are there to be discovered.
The study is open.
Buddy
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Lawrence "Buddy" Martin
email: Bro.Buddy <at> ChristianChallenge.Org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
Forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hebraic-Foundations/
Forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DepartingUPC/
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)