The Christian Rest Hebrews 4:1-10

God Wants to Give us His Rest 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 the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 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” (Hebrews 4:3-4).

God Wants to Give us His Rest This quotation of Genesis 2:2 implies that ALL such work has ceased. This “rest” is the basis of the Jewish Sabbath rest.

God Wants to Give us His Rest God warned His people that they could miss the “rest” promised to them. Quoting Psalm 95… Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, “they shall not enter My rest (Hebrews 3:7-11)

The “Rest”: What it is Not It is not the Sabbath Rest One man’s reasoning about the Sabbath: “The Sabbath was founded in the beginning and 'remains' even until now. This is the promised rest that we must enter today since it is the only one that 'remains'.”

The “Rest”: What it is Not It is not the Sabbath Rest Refers to Israelites of Hebrews 3 Notice these points about Hebrews 4:2 These received the Sabbath Rest in the Law of Moses 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. (Hebrews 4:2) He did not prevent them from keeping the Sabbath. But He kept them from His rest. Some other rest is in mind.

The “Rest”: What it is Not It is not the Israelite Land Allotment This idea states that the promise of a rest for God’s people referred to the land being granted to God’s people, fulfilling the land promises to Abraham. Some still wait for a 1000 year peace in that region.

The “Rest”: What it is Not It is not the Israelite Land Allotment "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14)

The “Rest”: What it is Not It is not the Israelite Land Allotment Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 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.” For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. (Hebrews 4:6-8)

The “Rest”: What it is Not It is not the Christian System Some have said, “Jesus said, ‘It is finished’ while on the cross. Therefore, there are no laws to obey today. Jesus already fulfilled them all.” We have not yet completely entered that promised rest.

The “Rest”: What it is Not It is not the Christian System For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. (Hebrews 4:10) Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. (Hebrews 4:1)

The “Rest”: What it is Not It is not the Christian System For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. (Hebrews 4:10) What does this passage mean? If Christians are not in that rest, who has entered it?

The “Rest”: What it is Not It is not the Christian System Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: '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." (Revelation 14:13) Yes, we are saved NOW, but in prospect, in anticipation of the future rest in heaven!

The “Rest”: What it is Not It is not the Christian System Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, 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, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)

The “Rest”: What it is Not It is Only Through Christ The question remains, will you enter God’s promised rest?