seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.[a] 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
“So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’”[b]
‘They shall never enter my rest.’”[b]
And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”[c] 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”
6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”[d]
do not harden your hearts.”[d]
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,[e] just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[f] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
a. Hebrews 4:2 Some manuscripts because those who heard did not combine it with faith
b. Hebrews 4:3 Psalm 95:11; also in verse 5
c. Hebrews 4:4 Gen. 2:2
d. Hebrews 4:7 Psalm 95:7,8
e. Hebrews 4:10 Or labor
f. Hebrews 4:14 Greek has gone through the heavens
This is from the bible_studys.org site.
The Promised Land of God is not for the sinful man, whether it be the Holy land promised to the descendants of Abraham in the flesh, or whether it be his descendants in the spirit, (Christians).
The thing that concerns me in our society today is that too many people believe that just the fact that they were baptized will get them to heaven.
They are really not living in the will of God. They act as if they have purchased their (fire insurance), and they will go ahead and live just like all the other people in the world. They believe that they are safe, because they have made that one-time confession of faith. Salvation is a day to day walk. We will either grow stronger in the Lord each day, or we will return to sin.
There are two things that happen when we preach. Some, who hear the Word of God, receive it unto salvation: others do not receive it and are damned. We see in the next few verses that God sent the message first to His chosen family. When they refused it, then God sent it to the unbelieving world that all who would receive His message might live.
We know that Jesus did everything He could to show them who He was and they just did not believe. Their lack of belief opened the door for the Gentiles to receive salvation.
Gods true rest did not come through Joshua or Moses, but through Jesus Christ; who is greater than either one. Joshua led the nation of Israel into the land of their promised rest. However, that was merely the earthly rest which was only the shadow of what was involved in the heavenly rest.
The very fact that (according to Psalm 95), God was still offering His rest in the time of David (long after Israel had been in the Land), meant that the rest being offered was spiritual, superior to that which Joshua obtained. Israel’s earthly rest was filled with the attacks of enemies and the daily cycle of work.
The sad thing sometimes, is that some who start out with Jesus do not remain steadfast. When troubles come, they falter. Trials of this world have a way of separating those who truly belong to God, from those who are just pretenders.
Throughout the Bible, we are taught that the weapon of the Christian is their Bible; the Two edged Sword. Christians are in a battle between the flesh and the Spirit. You might even say that this war is between the world and God's people. Christians make up God's army. The object of this war is the salvation of the people. We are in the last hours of battle.
At this point the author begins his discussion of Christ as “high priest”. His priestly ministry is far superior to any other priests, because of the intercession He provides.
The earthly high priest, with fear, once a year gained access to the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies; Christ not only has access to but is seated in the very presence of God the father.
Yet, prior to this position, He partook of man’s nature and temptations so that He might sympathize, “yet without sin”. To imagine that since Jesus could not sin He could not suffer, misses the point of the passage. Temptation can be a reality apart from sin.
These Scriptures above tell us that Jesus Christ is the High Priest for all believers. He is our way into the holy of holies. He is constantly pleading our case to the Father. Jesus' sacrifice of His body on the cross was our payment for all time. He is our High Priest forever.
I found this at enduringword.com.
Sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow: God’s word reaches us with surprising precision, and the Holy Spirit empowers the ministry of the word to work deeply in our hearts.
Often people wonder how a preacher’s message can be so relevant to their life. They sometimes honestly wonder if the preacher has secret information about their life. But it isn’t necessarily the preacher at all. It is the sharpness of the Word of God, delivering the message in just the right place.
“A sword with two edges has no blunt side: it cuts both this way and that. The revelation of God given us in Holy Scripture is edge all over. It is alive in every part, and in every part keen to cut the conscience, and wound the heart. Depend upon it, there is not a superfluous verse in the Bible, nor a chapter which is useless.” (Spurgeon)
“While it has an edge like a sword, it has also a point like a rapier, ‘Piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit.’ The difficulty with some men’s hearts is to get at them. In fact, there is no spiritually penetrating the heart of any natural man except by this piercing instrument, the Word of God. But the rapier of revelation will go through anything.” (Spurgeon)
Sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted: Jesus can sympathize with our weakness and our temptation, but He cannot sympathize with our sin. We should not think that this makes Jesus less sympathetic to us, and that He could understand us better if He had sinned Himself.
“But listen to me; do not imagine that if the Lord Jesus had sinned he would have been any more tender toward you; for sin is always of a hardening nature. If the Christ of God could have sinned, he would have lost the perfection of his sympathetic nature.” (Spurgeon)
Boy there's a lot of commentary on the subject of "rest". Actually.... there is so much talk about rest.... I'm ready for a nap. But this is not about the "nap" we take when we lay down for the night. This rest is a long term "there it's done" kind of rest.
When God rested.... He had completed creating the universe, the earth, the land and seas, fish and plants, the birds and fish, animals and humans. Then He looked around... found the project finished and at that point He said.... "That looks great... so now... let me rest".
Plants and animals grew and got along because they really make no decisions. They are instinct based. Humans make decisions.
From the beginning, God imagined that humans would be companions for God. We were designed to make decisions about right and wrong so we could debate the mysteries of life with God. Likewise though, humans could decide not to have anything to do with God. Or humans could decide to pick and choose the way they got along with God. That is a human prerogative..... but all decisions come with consequence. Choosing not to have anything to do with God... or choosing to pick and choose how they get along on certain days..... have consequences.
Then Jesus came on the scene. He lived with the temptations humans had to live with. Part of His Mission was to stand up to temptation. Jesus was God... He didn't have to walk... He could have been carried or He could have flown or since He was really God... Jesus could have tele-transported from place to place.... but He walked.... He would have been tempted to sit a spell.... but He would always decide to do the right thing. That way He knew what it was like to be tempted... but He proved humans can get through temptation.
When Jesus was placed in the tomb.... I wonder if He got any rest. It had been days since the Last Supper. He was arrested in the evening and the "trial" lasted well into the night with all those long winded self important pharisees and sadducees each getting their say. Then He was drug through meetings with the governing officials.... and then the beatings.... and then the public meeting where the people were all stirred up to yell "crucify Him". Then there was the hanging... and the pain... and well it had been a long project. So.... Did Jesus take a little nap since He had the time.
I'm an old woman. I turned 70 a few weeks ago. I have been fortunate enough to have Jesus during the majority of my life. I am fortunate enough to know that one day God will say "ok that's enough" and I will stop living this earthly life. Apparently... since God rested at the end of His project... and apparently Jesus rested at the end of His Mission..... it makes sense that I will get to rest when this life is finished.
After the rest... God got on with the Moses part of the story. After the rest.... Jesus got on with stepping up for the humans who believe in His Mission.
After the rest.... will I get on with checking out Heaven? Will I have a Mission in Heaven?
I bet this rest won't be like the "rest" I just had.... I'm old... like I said... and the "rest" I get now is interrupted at least twice a night. I bet the rest I get when I leave this earthly life will be the most refreshing rest I could begin to imagine....
I wonder.... what comes after the rest?
