Lesson 6: Entering God’s Rest (Heb 4:1-13)
Observation
Outline
Warning against Falling Short
(4:1-2)
Designation of Another
Day and Exhortation to Enter the Rest (4:3-11)
The Penetrating Effect of God’s
Word (-13)
Key Words/Phrases
Promise, remains, entering His
rest, fear, come short of it, gospel, faith, works, today, diligent,
disobedience, word of God, living and powerful, two-edged sword, discerner of
the thoughts and intents of the heart.
General Analysis
1. The
promise of entering God’s rest remains (1). We ought to be careful lest we fall
short of it (1). We who have believed do enter that rest (3). God swore in His
wrath that the Israelites would not enter His rest (3,5).
God rested on the seventh day from all His works (4). Some must enter this
rest, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of
disobedience (6). Joshua did not give the Israelites rest, but there remains a
rest for the people of God (8-9). He who has entered His rest has himself also
ceased from his works as God did from His (10). We need to be diligent to enter
that rest lest we fall (11).
Segment Analysis
1. Verse
1 reads, “let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.” The
example of the Israelites teaches us that believers today may also fall short
of God’s promise if they are not careful. This is a real danger, not a
hypothetical one. If we become hard-hearted like the Israelites, then we would
also miss the grace of God and not be able to enter His rest.
2a. The word “gospel” can be understood in its broader meaning,
which is “good news.” The good news to the Israelites was that they would enter
God’s rest if they believed in Him and His promise. The good news to us today
is that we would enter God’s rest if we believe in the Lord and the promise of
salvation.
2b. The word they heard was not “mixed with faith in those who
heard it” (2). In other words, they did not soften the soil of their heart with
faith to allow the seed of God’s word to grow and bear fruit (cf. Lk ).
Although they knew what God had promised, they still rebelled against God. In
the same way, if we only know God’s word but do not respond with faith, both in
our hearts and in our actions, then God’s word would not profit us. In fact,
His word will judge us on the last day (Jn -48).
3. The
Israelites fell in the desert, not because God’s word failed, but because they
did not believe in God and rejected God. Although they were the chosen people,
their lack of faith kept them from entering God’s rest. Hence, we must not feel
complacent, thinking that we have already obtained God’s promise. We ought to
be careful and continually mix the word we hear with faith, and we must also
put the word into practice in our lives.
4. After the creation, when God rested from His works (3-4)
5. Although
God’s rest first took place at the foundation of the world, this rest continued
on in history because God spoke of Israel’s
failure to enter His rest in the Psalms (5). Since it was God’s will that some
must enter His rest, and Israelites did not enter God’s rest because of
disobedience, God appointed another day of rest—today (6-8). The fact that God
spoke of another day shows that the promise was not claimed by the Israelites
but still stands today.
6. The
rest here is God’s rest, the rest that God had after the completion of
creation, when He saw that everything He had made was very good. It carries a
sense of perfection and satisfaction. This divine rest is something we can
experience in our souls and be part of through Jesus Christ (Mt -30). When we submit to Christ and learn
from Him, we no longer labor and are no longer heavy laden. Having been
reconciled with God, we are at peace with God. We are no longer burdened by sin
and sorrow, but have inner peace. Instead of relying on our efforts, we can
trust the Lord in everything.
God’s rest will be ours eternally
when we die in the Lord. “…Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now
on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their
works follow them.’” ().
When we leave this world, we will lay down the toils and pains of this life to
be with the Lord forever.
7. Those
who believe and are obedient to God enter God’s rest (3,6).
8a. Ceasing
from our works does not mean being idle or stagnant in our spiritual growth.
Rather, it means being freed from sin and sorrow as well as setting aside
attempts to reach God through our own works of righteousness. As such, ceasing
from our works does not contradict being diligent in Christ.
When Paul spoke of being found to
have the righteousness that is through faith, he went on to say, “I press on,
that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus lay hold of me…I do not
count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead” (Php 3:12-13). Our diligence in Christ is possible only
because Christ has laid hold of us. All our efforts are based on Christ’s
saving grace, not apart from it. Peter also spoke of such diligence in Christ,
which is based on the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus (2Pet 1:5-8; -18). We aim to hold fast to Christ lest
we fall away from Him. This is what it means to be diligent to enter that rest,
and this is consistent with the exhortations and warnings we have seen thus far
in Hebrews.
8b. Faith
is dynamic. True faith is one that moves us closer and closer to Christ. A
Christian with true faith is diligent in making spiritual progress according to
the word of God.
9. God’s
word is not just a book of history. It accomplishes God’s purpose (Isa 55:11). According to this passage, it has a penetrating
effect. It discerns the thoughts and intentions of our hearts and lays them
bare before God. It cuts to our hearts and leads us to repentance. Like a mirror,
the word of God compels us to come face to face with our sins and inadequacies
and to stand bare in God’s presence (cf. Jas -24).
Because God’s word makes us aware of our deepest feelings and thoughts, it is
“profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness…” (2Tim -17).
10. Because
God’s word can discern the thoughts and intents of our hearts, it will be the
basis of God’s judgment, at which time we will all have to give an account to
God (13).
11. How
we respond to God’s word will determine whether we are true believers. God’s
word, which penetrates our hearts, judges whether we have faith.
The Israelites heard the word, but
the word did not profit them because they did not mix it with faith in their hearts
(2). Consequently, they did not enter the rest because they did not keep God’s
word. On the other hand, those who believe in God’s word and obey it are able
to enter God’s rest.
The word of God plays a vital part
in our salvation because it leads us to Christ, for “faith comes by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God” (Rom ).
God’s word makes us “wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”
(2Tim ). If we believe the word
of God, which centers on Christ, we will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. On
the other hand, rejection of God’s word is rejection of Jesus Christ. Thus, we
ought to always believe and obey God’s word. We ought to let it lay bare our
hearts before God and drive us to the grace of Christ. If we are diligent to submit
to God’s word, we will enter the promised rest.
