A SABBATH-REST FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD Hebrews

A SABBATH-REST FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD Hebrews 4: 1 - 13 1

I. THE SUPERIORITY OF THE PERSON OF CHRIST (1: 1 - 4: 13) A. Christ is Superior to the Prophets (1: 1 - 4); B. Christ is Superior to the Angels (1: 5 - 2: 18); C. Christ is Superior to Moses and Joshua (3: 1 - 4: 13); 2

C. Christ is Superior to Moses and Joshua (3: 1 - 4: 13) 1. Christ as Lord superior to Moses as servant (3: 1 -6); 2. Christ’s rest superior to that of Moses and Joshua (3: 7 -4: 13). 3

2. Christ’s Rest Superior to That of Moses and Joshua (3: 7 - 4: 13) n Faith necessary to enter Christ’s rest – A warning against unbelief (3: 7 -19); n A Sabbath-rest for the people of God – A warning against missing it (4: 1 -13). 4

A Promise of Rest (4: 1 -8) 1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest, ’” although 5

The Promise of Rest (4: 13) n 1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest (Jos. 21: 44 a; 22: 4); n A warning: Let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. (Cf. 3: 719) n 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; n But the word which they heard did not 6

Faith (4: 3) n 3 a For we who have believed do enter that rest, [Cf. 2 Cor. 5: 7, faith vs. sight]; n 3 b. As He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest, ’” n 3 f. Although the works were 7

A Promise of Rest (4: 4 -8) [Cont’d] 4 4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest. ” 6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today, ” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts. ” 8 For if 8

God’s Sabbath Rest (4: 4) n And God rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. (Gen. 2: 2); n Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, (Exo. 23: 12; 31: 15); n “They shall not enter My Rest. ” (Ps. 95: 11); n 27 f. The Sabbath was made for man, and 9 not man for the Sabbath: 28 Therefore the

Israel’s Rest in Canaan (4: 5 -8) n 44 The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. (Jos. 21: 43 -45); n He designates a certain day, saying in David, … : “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. ” [~ 400 years] (Ps. 95: 11); n 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another 10

Spiritual Experiences (4: 5 -8) n Sabbath rest - a picture of our rest in Christ through salvation. [salvation rest ]; n Canaan rest - a picture of our present rest as we claim our inheritance in Christ. [submission rest]; n Believers may enter into God’s rest through faith. [salvation and sanctification] 11

A Rest for God’s People (4: 9 -10) 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His Rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. 12

There Remains A Rest (4: 9) n To be fulfilled only till Christ comes! n The believer rests in a perfect work of redemption. n But the key: cease from our own works (v. 10); n For without Me you can do nothing. (Jn. 15: 5 f); 13

Cease from Own Works (4: 10) n Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (Rom. 6: 6); n I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Gal. 2: 20); 14

The True Rest in Christ n Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Mt. 11: 28); n 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. (Mt. 11: 29 -30); 15

Live by faith n For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor. 5: 7); n As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. (Col. 2: 6 -7). 16

The Word of God (4: 11 -13) Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to 11 17

Be Diligent to Enter That Rest (4: 11) n 11 f Lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. n Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. (10: 38) n 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. (Mt. 18

The Word of God (4: 12) n is living and powerful, n is sharper than any two-edged sword, [piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, ] n is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 19

We Must Give Account (4: 13) n 13 a No creature is hidden from His sight. n For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. (2 Chr. 16: 9 a); n Hell and Destruction are before the LORD; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men. (Prov. 15: 11) 20