Entering God's Rest - [Hebrews 4:1-11]

Entering the Word of God with Reverence

Would you be turning in your Bibles, please to Hebrews and the fourth chapter Hebrews chapter 4 as we approach the Word of God now and continuing our worship by him mindful of The weightiness of the responsibility that we all have before it namely my responsibility to rightly divide his holy word and your responsibility to listen to it with a submissive and an obedient heart and So it's with that mindset that I'm driven to the throne of grace one more time to plead for his assistance.

So will you buy with me now our father in heaven? We thank you for your perfect and holy word and We thank you for this book of Hebrews whose main design and intent is to magnify the Lord Jesus Christ.

Father we do so highly esteem your precepts and all that you have chosen to reveal to us of your perfect plan and So we can as we consider your word tonight, we just beseech you to open our minds and our hearts.

Make us receptive to all of your revelation and your will. That we might become more fully formed into the image of your precious Son Jesus Christ. For it's in his name that we pray. Amen now I just want to say as I introduce this passage that I was first drawn to this chapter by a Desire to preach on the nature of God's Word.

A Higher View of Scripture and the Warning of Hebrews 4

You know, I'm fully convinced that one of the prominent things that the church desperately needs today is a higher view of Scripture. Because without an Orthodox view of Scripture, we lack the authority to decide most other doctrinal issues and The result is just an ambiguous mess of confused doctrines, and I think we're seeing a lot of that today.

Because if you don't recognize that all Scripture is inspired by God that it is inerrant infallible authoritative and sufficient well, then you're gonna soon value it alongside your opinions and your emotions and and your experiences and you know I just feel that a church not led by the Word is a church not led by God.

No matter what people may think. And so therefore you can imagine that I would be drawn to this chapter by a desire to preach from verse 12 which says for the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul and Spirit of both joints and marrow and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Well, I'd like to preach and I'd like to preach on that right now. But as I was drawn to that verse and started studying it in earnest I came to see that it's really a part of a broader context within chapter 4 and As I began to study that context I just became enamored of the rest of chapter 4 and I know the Spirit really blessed me as I as I mind its riches.

And so I hope to just share with you now some of those blessings that That I enjoyed so much. So without further ado, then let's get to our text here in Hebrews chapter 4. Today, we're going to be reading verses 1 through 11 in weeks to come.

I hope to get to verse 12 and actually to finish the rest of chapter 4, but for now verses 1 through 11. This is the word of the Lord. 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. 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. 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. 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 as justice 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. For the one who has entered his rest has himself also rested from his works as God did from his. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest so that no one will fall through following the same example of disobedience.

Now what I'm going to outline for you today as we work our way through the text are three truths about God's rest. Three truths about his rest and they come right out of the text. And so I'm going to give them to you as we go now this passage.

You'll notice it has a comprehensive theme. That begins in verse 1 goes all the way to verse 11, and it's really an impassioned plea to unsaved church members. And it really builds on an evangelistic appeal that started way back in chapter 3 and in verse 7 and It continues all the way throughout chapter 4 now the writer of Hebrews Sent this to those who were in the church, but who were not in Christ.

And what he meant to do was to address Jews who were religious but lost. Those who had heard the gospel truth clearly proclaimed. But had not yet committed themselves to Christ and therefore had not yet been saved.

They had not fully surrendered their lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. They wanted him to be their Savior. But they didn't want to receive him personally as their Lord and so it's to people in this condition.

That he issues a stern warning. And you know this warning applies even today to anybody who hesitates in committing themselves fully to Jesus Christ. And the warning is clear, and it really it resounds throughout all of Scripture today if you hear his voice.

Do not harden your hearts. Well. Today we will hear his voice as we examine this passage of Scripture. Because Scripture is God Speaking and so today as we hear God's voice. I just beg you don't harden your hearts.

Well, let's examine this passage, and we're gonna really observe that it's a pastoral appeal. It's a warning to unbelieving Jews and really it falls right in the middle of an exposition of Psalm 95. You see starting back in chapter 3 and in verse 7 and then throughout the end of our chapter the writer is really preaching an exhortational sermon and In chapter 3 he had just been reminding us of Israel's heartbreaking failure in the wilderness.

You remember Israel didn't believe God right and so he caused them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. He punished their unbelief and so in chapter 3 and in verse 7 we see that it says therefore just as the Holy Spirit says today if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts as when they provoked me as In the day of trial in the wilderness where your fathers tried me by testing me and saw my works for 40 years.

You see during that whole time that they wandered around in the wilderness God had sustained them with miracles. He had provided food and clean water. And he had personally led them in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.

But still they persisted in their unbelief and So we read verse 10 therefore I was angry with this generation and said they always go astray in their heart and They did not know my ways as I swore in my wrath.

They shall not enter my rest and you know the rest of the story Israel went on to become a classic example of Unbelief in the face of overwhelming evidence and So the writer exhorts his people in verse 12.

And he says take care brethren that there not be in any one of you an evil Unbelieving heart that falls away from the Living God. But encourage one another day after day as long as it is still called today.

So that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold fast The beginning of our assurance firm until the end but of course the Israelites did not hold firm until the end and so then we finally read in verse 18 and To whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient.

So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief so God punished their unbelief and That generation of Israelites were not allowed to enter into Canaan rest. And so now then as we come to chapter 4 we can see that the writer Exhorts his listeners to devote themselves to Christ and to avoid the sins of Israel.

The Urgent Call to Enter God's Rest

So let's start digging in verse 1 says 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. Now this word therefore really points us back to the previous verses, right?

And in other words, therefore because of this example of Israel, let us fear is what it says. And here's where we come to the first truth about God's rest that I'd like to draw out of the text. And that is that you must urgently strive to enter into it.

You must urgently strive to enter into God's rest. Well, there's a real sense of urgency here. This is an important matter. The verse says that we should fear coming short of it. Now. What does he mean fear?

I thought we weren't supposed to fear. Just think of all the times that we see angels appear in the Bible, right? And what's the first thing that they always seem to say? Don't be afraid fear not sure.

And wasn't it Jesus himself in Revelation 1 in verse 17 that said fear not. I Am the first and the last I am he that liveth and was dead and behold. I am alive forevermore. Well fair enough. But wasn't it also Jesus who said do not fear those who kill the body But are unable to kill the soul but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

So I think that we can see that there is a proper time To fear and a proper cause for fearing and I believe this is it. Because you can see the writer exhorting us. He says to fear that you may come short of it fear that you won't receive God's promise fear that you won't enter into his rest.

And really this ought to be the overarching priority of your life to enter into God's rest. And this concern should be attended to urgently. Now notice here. Who does he say should fear? Do you see it doesn't say that atheists should fear?

Doesn't say that agnostics should fear. What it says is that professing Christians. You who have made an outward profession of faith in Christ you should fear. You who have made an outward commitment to Christ and have identified with the people of God.

You are the ones who should be taking seriously this reality. You need to be asking am I going to enter into this rest? There's no room for apathy on this question. This warning must be heated with all sobriety and urgency.

Just a bit later in Hebrews chapter 9 in verse 27 It says it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment and It's inescapable all men are gonna one day face that judgment and can you just imagine what it would be like for the unsaved person?

To stand there at that judgment throne. I can you just imagine the terrifying experience of hearing Christ himself say depart from me you that work iniquity for I never knew you and In that moment realizing that it's too late to do anything about it.

And that your eternal fate is sealed because it is no longer called today. And God is no longer offering you salvation through his Son. But rather you are being called to give an account and his Son has become your judge.

Can you imagine the horror? Well lest you think I've got a bent for the dramatic here. This comes right out of this book of Hebrews if you'll turn over to chapter 10 now with me Hebrews chapter 10 we can see that this is what the Word of God says.

Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 26 and it says for if we go on sinning Willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth there no longer remains a sacrifice for our sins but a terrifying expectation of judgment and The fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.

Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve. Who has trampled underfoot the Son of God and has regarded as Unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified and has insulted the Spirit of grace you see when you hear gospel preaching or are presented with a gospel message by a friend or on TV or in a book and then you turn your back on the truth without Bowing your knee in faith to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Well, then that's exactly right you are trampling underfoot the Son of God and insulting the Spirit of grace and there remains no sacrifice for your sins, but you'll have to pay for each and every one of them and There remains no Savior for you because well, there is no salvation in anyone else.

There is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we Should be saved. By which we could be saved. By which we must be saved. You see these Jews they lacked saving faith and they lacked personal devotion to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

And you know, it's not enough just to admire the narrow gate. Or to watch others pass through it we're commanded to enter the narrow gate. It's a command for you to believe the gospel not just the suggestion for you to consider.

We are to rest in Christ for he alone can save. We're to put our trust in him and in his perfect sacrifice and that's how we enter into his rest. True rest comes only by being found in Christ in him alone.

You'll find a rest for your souls. Well now the rest that this passage refers to is not the physical rest of Canaan. Okay, because that was only a picture of the true rest that was to come. Verse 8 even says Joshua failed to give Israel rest yet.

If you think about it, he did take them into the promised land. But you see God's rest is not essentially physical at all. The rest God promises is a spiritual rest spiritual blessing. Because true rest comes not through a Moses or a Joshua or even a David.

True rest comes only through Jesus Christ. It is there's absolutely no rest for your soul apart from Christ. It's only as we're clothed in the righteousness of Christ that we can find true peace with God and.

And the rest that we so desperately need and so I think that you can see clearly that you must urgently Strive to enter his rest. And now the second truth about his rest that I want to show you is that you cannot enter it without faith.

Faith Alone and the Good News That Must Be Believed

You cannot enter God's rest without faith. Look at verse 2. 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.

Now faith. Faith has to have a substance. Right faith must have an object. You have to have faith in something. And the faith spoken of here is in response to good news. All right. He says he says for indeed we have had good news preached to us just as they also.

Now let's think about it. What good news had Israel received? Well. They had seen God part the Red Sea. They had seen God bring manna out of heaven. They had seen God bring water gushing out of a rock.

They had literally had the Word of God hand delivered to them on Mount Sinai. So they had had good news offered to them and as the writer of Hebrews reminds his readers. Yeah, and So have you he tells them you have had the good news of Jesus Christ preached to you, too.

You know that he was the only begotten Son of God and that he was born of a virgin and You know that he lived a sinless and perfect life and set himself to go about doing the Father's will. So that he might go to that cross and die in your place.

Taking your sins upon himself and bearing the penalty. So that he would become our sin bearer upon that cross. And he says that you know that as Jesus bore our sin the Father poured out his wrath upon him and That he died in our place vicariously as a substitute for us upon that cross and That in the giving of his life and in the shedding of his blood Jesus purchased our salvation.

Until finally on that third day God raised him from the dead giving this whole transaction his seal of approval. After which he ascended triumphantly into heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father and now whoever Will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

But here in the second verse we learn why their knowledge of this truth didn't save them. You see they knew the truth. But they did not receive it in faith. And you know, we can draw a clear parallel between Those Israelites in the wilderness and those of us here today.

Because you see they heard the good news, but didn't believe it and so they forfeited the promised land. But likewise we who have heard the good news Must respond in faith or we forfeit the promised rest.

And you know people have all kinds of reasons for not responding to the gospel. For some people it's it's pride, right? They don't want to admit that they're so helpless. They don't want certainly don't want to admit that they're sinners.

They don't want to admit their dependence upon God and so because of their pride. They reject the gospel message. Well for other people though, it's the passing pleasures of sin. You know, the Bible even says that sin has its pleasure, although it's temporary.

But for some people it's a lifestyle of hedonism. They just want to live for that. They want to go for the gusto. They want those temporary pleasures all the while ignoring those pleasures in his right hand forever for other people.

It's the fear of man. I'm sure you know people like this. The fear of man, they know that if they embrace these truths. They know that if they embrace this Savior that they will be ostracized that they might even be persecuted.

Whether it's at work at home among friends. They know that there's a price to pay and they would rather fear man than fear God. And then there's another type of person who would recognize that this is true, but then go and procrastinate.

You know, I know this is true. I know I've got to submit my life to Jesus, but you know I've got a few things I want to do first. I've got a checklist that things I want to do in my life when I'm done living for me.

Sure. He can have what's left. You know and and what they don't realize is that you don't just come to Christ when it suits you you come to Christ when it suits him and so. They may not get another chance.

But you'll see that people have all kinds of reasons for not responding in faith to the gospel and because they're spiritually blinded they're convinced that these are legitimate reasons and That they're in control.

But you know it's a dangerous thing to sit under the Word of God week after week after week without responding to it in faith and I can assure you that you can go to hell from a church pew just as easily as you can from the gutter.

You can go to hell with the gospel ringing in your ears. If you don't respond to it in truth. The good news must be united by faith. We must respond in faith. It's not enough just to hear the gospel. It's not enough.

Even if you understand what you've heard. A James 2 19 says that the demons will also believe and they tremble but you know. They're not gonna enter into God's rest. They aren't gonna be saved. Because the gospel isn't united by faith in their hearts.

But beloved there is good news for you. And I today verse 1 tells us that a promise remains. All right. Now, what is this promise that it's talking about here? What is this promise all about? Well, that promise is the promise of God to save and to forgive.

It's the promise of God to give a fresh start and to wipe away all of your sins. That's what this promise is and he's saying that you still have an opportunity. You have still have an opportunity even as Christ to come to Christ today.

Even as we're reading this passage the passage says that it's not too late. Look whoever you are here today and only God knows who has not yet fully committed their lives to Jesus Christ. But I'm here to tell you today that the free offer of the gospel of Jesus Christ remains today.

Eternal life and forgiveness of sins is being offered to you this very moment. Because you see a promise remains of entering his rest and salvation here now is pictured as rest. And it's considered rest because when you believe When you trust in Christ you stop your striving to be accepted by God.

You stop going through life trying to earn God's merit. Which all of us are unworthy of and to earn his forgiveness. It's just not able to be done and then you finally understand that through his death upon the cross Jesus paid the penalty for your sins and then you rest on the finished work of Christ.

And faith is resting in Christ. That's what saving faith is. It's resting upon Christ. Relying upon Christ leaning upon Christ as Mike said this morning putting all of your weight Upon Christ and what he did on that cross to save you.

And you know, here's an interesting thing because we rest in Christ. And then Christ gives to us his rest. Remember whose rest this is look back at verse 1. It says the promise remains of entering his rest.

He's not even talking about our rest. But but salvation is just that it's a it's a reciprocal rest. You see I rest in Christ who died for my sins and then he gives to me his rest. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 11 verse 28 come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you what?

Rest take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find Rest for your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. You see I enter into the Lord's rest and I have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ and As I rest in him, he gives me all that I need.

I Don't have to struggle to please God and I don't have to provide for myself. I rest in Christ. And I just want to stop at this point and I want to ask the obvious question How about you are you resting fully in Jesus Christ.

Will you enter that rest today. Won't you just please be reconciled to God by responding to the good news of Jesus Christ in faith. I pray that you won't come short of it. But as I said earlier, this is a limited offer.

You might not get another chance. Oh Just please throw yourself upon the mercy of God and surrender your life to Jesus Christ today. Look Romans 5 one says therefore having been justified by faith. We have peace with God Through our Lord Jesus Christ, and I'm here to tell you that it's an everlasting peace.

It's an unshakable peace. And it's a peace that passes all comprehension and you see a promise Remains of entering his rest and enjoying peace with God forever and we who believe Enter that rest verse 3 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. So you see it's believers who are entering God's rest. And even though God swore an oath Not to let those unbelieving Jews enjoy his rest.

That doesn't mean that that rest is no longer being offered. His plan for believers to enter that rest will still be carried out because you see a promise of entering his rest remains. It's a beautiful passage verse 4 says 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. So you see that the writer of Hebrews says that God does indeed have a rest prepared for us and Now maybe you're curious like I was when the writer says. For he has said somewhere concerning the seventh day doesn't that seem like sloppy research to you?

I mean you think maybe he misplaced his concordance. But as you think about it You could just need to remember that the scriptures at this time were on scrolls, right? And of course at this point, they didn't have chapter and verse divisions and so You know that might have contributed to the vague reference here I'd also point out that the Old Testament passage that he quotes is Actually found in several places in the Old Testament including Genesis 2 2 and then a couple of times in Exodus but sloppy research aside.

Let's look at his argument. Let's consider the creation account. Okay? Now you remember that each of the six days of the creation account of God's creative work had a morning and an evening Representing its beginning and its ending.

But you see since there was no morning in evening on the seventh day. The Jews understood that when it came to his rest It didn't end. He just it went on and on and on and God is still at rest and it's a rest that started when he created the universe and This is the rest that we're promised.

It's not just any rest. It's his rest. But you know now that's another fascinating point because God is not entirely at rest. Right. I mean he didn't create the world and then go lay down and have a nap, right?

He rested from his creation, but of course he still works. You know John chapter 5 verse 17. Jesus even said as much he said my father is working until now and I myself am working. So you see it's a productive rest.

It's a rest from his creative work, but it's a rest full of blessed activity. Now. What kind of activity do I mean? Well, he's still actively sustaining the world with his providence right every day every minute every breath and Of course, the scriptures are full of all kinds of Accounts of the miracles that he performed in time.

So we know he's not talking about absolute leisure here but at the conclusion of creation God rested from his undertaking and It was a rest of accomplishment. It was a rest of satisfaction an arrest of completion and This is the rest that he's talking about here.

It's not a rest that was exhausted in one fulfillment at Canaan. In fact, it's a rest that existed long before Canaan and it still exists long after Canaan and by quoting Psalm 95 7 the writer here just repeats God's invitation to rest which is still offered today.

Verse 6 therefore. Since it remains for some to enter into 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. So the psalmist here in this quotation is really just repeating God's invitation to rest. Now keep in mind this psalm was written over 400 years after God's oath to the Jews in the wilderness.

Can you imagine that for centuries after they dropped dead in the wilderness? And so clearly we can see that the inference is that although Israel failed the promise was not dropped. I See a promise still remains it still remained in David's day as he wrote Psalm 95 and it still remains in our day.

God is still inviting believers to enter into his rest and he affirms it in verse 80 says listen. It's not the Canaan rest. It's not a physical rest. It's not a land rest verse 8 for if Joshua had given them rest He would not have spoken of another day after that.

You know, it's interesting at this point and if some of you have the King James Version you'll see that it says for if Jesus had given them rest. And that's because in the Greek text it's the same word yesus Yesus and it's the same word that can be translated as either Jesus or as Joshua.

But I really think that the NAS translators have gotten it right here because he is talking about Joshua here. But Joshua is simply the Old Testament word for Jesus in the new. And so it's interesting and you can almost imagine somebody are reading this text around the time.

It was written and just thinking to themselves Jesus. Well, there was a Jesus who didn't give us rest. But there is a Jesus who does well now as we come to verse 9 He describes to us the nature of this rest.

And if you're like me, this is the part you've been waiting for. What is this rest? What is he talking about here? And so it's here that I want to point out the third and final truth in our outline about God's rest.

The Sabbath Rest of God in Time and Eternity

And now just to remind you first, we saw that you must urgently strive to enter into God's rest. And then secondly, we saw that you cannot enter into God's rest without faith and Now the third and final truth I want to show you today is that you experience God's rest in time and in eternity.

You experience God's rest in time and eternity. All right, let's get to it. What is this rest anyway? Well, I would offer that there are several different aspects to it. Now, first of all, it begins as a salvation rest.

Right. It's arresting from our feeble efforts to please God and arresting in the finished work of Jesus Christ. And then secondly, I think that we continue in rest as we depend upon his strength in our daily life day after day.

And in our walk with him. But then thirdly we enjoy his perfect Eternal rest when we finally arrive at our heavenly home, and I think that this is the essence of his rest. This is the rest which is ultimately in view here and verse 9 and following.

Because it's not first and foremost a present rest. But it is presently to be sought. It is presently to be believed in and pursued and embraced. But it's not primarily a present rest. It's rather it's it's it's a rest of divine accomplishment.

It's it's a creation rest. It's a rest of pleasure and contentment. It is the complete rest of harmony. Nothing is lacking in it and it's also a rest of celebration. Look at verse 9. It says so there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

Hmm. Now interesting that word Sabbatism us which is translated Sabbath here is not used anywhere else in the New Testament. But the writer is not using it to try to establish a Christian Sabbath or anything of the sort.

Remember this word is used in the context of a discussion about rest. Right. This is a discussion about rest not about observing a particular Holy Day. So this is not a New Testament command to observe the Sabbath at all instead.

He's just continuing to try to establish the nature of this rest. The nature of the rest which the church ought to seek. Well, okay. What is it? Well, it is what all of the Sabbaths always should have been a Time of undistracted devotion to and satisfaction in the Living God.

Time to honor him a time to glorify him a time of glad Adoration and worship in the presence of the exalted King. That's what it means. That's what he's talking about here an eternal Sabbath not a day.

And that's the kind of rest that I'm talking about here. It's a rest of joyous satisfaction a rest of heartfelt praise. It's a rest of devotion and a rest of festivity. It's a rest of blessed gladness in the presence of the Almighty God.

That is what you must seek. But it's also a cessation rest. Notice verse 10 for the one who has entered his rest has himself Also rested from his works as God did from his. So you see it's not only a celebration, but it's also a cessation from works.

Now what kind of works does he have in mind here? Well. They're not works of self-reliance. That this verse is not dealing with the whole works versus grace question here. Just consider the parallelism in verse 10.

He compares these works to God's works. And God's works were good works. They were righteous works. And you know he doesn't even describe the works here as bad or as good does he? He's just continuing to describe the nature of that rest and it's a cessation from your efforts.

Listen the faith versus works argument is just not at issue here. These works are works of Consecration these are works of commitment works of service. He's telling us that there's going to come a time when you who have been faithful.

You who have been obedient and have been devoted to living for God. There's going to come a time when finally you will hear him say Come in worthy servant. Sit down and enjoy Me and then we'll no longer struggle as pilgrims in a strange and unfriendly land.

Will no longer strain and labor in our service to him. There will come a time when the true children of God will be able to come into the most blessed rest there is. That is the rest which is spoken of here, it's the presence of our precious Lord.

It's what Baxter called the Saints everlasting rest. And beloved that ought to be the priority of your life to enter into that rest, but the only way to do it Is by holding fast to your commitment to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and then standing firm With him until the end.