Hebrews 4 Last week: Entering God’s rest Israel’s Failure at Kadesh Barnia Joshua & Caleb’s Faith The Rebellion of Unbelief Old Testament Reality The Sabbath Rest of God: P Possession of Canaan rovision & Prosperity ersonal Security olitical Theocracy eace Within Her Borders

Hebrews 4 What Went Wrong At Kadesh Barnea? Vote of no confidence in God Vote of no confidence in God

Hebrews 4 What Went Wrong At Kadesh Barnea? Vote of no confidence in God Vote of no confidence in God Fear of depending on God Fear of depending on God

Hebrews 4 What Went Wrong At Kadesh Barnea? Vote of no confidence in God Vote of no confidence in God Fear of depending on God Fear of depending on God Hardening of the heart Hardening of the heart

Hebrews 4 What Went Wrong At Kadesh Barnea? Vote of no confidence in God Vote of no confidence in God Fear of depending on God Fear of depending on God Hardening of the heart Hardening of the heart Resulted in permanent loss Resulted in permanent loss (an entire generation lost)

Hebrews 4 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.

Hebrews 4 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.

Hebrews 4 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.'" And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.”

Hebrews 4 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.'" And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.” Genesis 1

Hebrews 4 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.'" And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.” The reason he rested

Hebrews 4 5 And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest." 6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience.

Hebrews 4 7 Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.

Hebrews 4 7 Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. More than 400 years after JoshuaMore than 400 years after Joshua

Hebrews 4 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God

Hebrews 4 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.

Hebrews 4 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Original meaning: Entering The Promised Land

Hebrews 4 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Original meaning: Entering The Promised Land 1. Step of faith Joshua 3:15,16 “As soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing.”

Hebrews 4 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Original meaning: Entering The Promised Land 1. Step of faith 2. Total dedication Joshua 5:2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.”

Israel wandered in the wilderness because of their disobedience. Those who entered the wilderness were included in the covenant by circumcision. But they died in the wilderness, and those who were born in the wilderness had never entered the covenant. Now as they prepared to enter the land, it was necessary for each of them to perform the ritual and enter the covenant. But what does it mean to us?

Circumcision is an Old Testament thing, right?

Paul mentions circumcision 22 times in his letters alone. 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. Romans 2: In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us.Colossians 2:11-14

Just as God required Joshua and the Israelites to renew their covenant by being circumcised before they entered into the promised land, so He requires us to renew our covenant of faith before we can receive in faith what He has promised us. What, then, is the New Testament equivalent of circumcision? How do we do it? Who may participate in it? How does it apply?

Hebrews 4 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Original meaning: Entering The Promised Land 1. Step of faith 2. Total dedication 3. Abandon self-confidence 4. Dependent action Joshua 6:3,4 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.

Hebrews 4 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

Hebrews 4 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. Application For Us: Spiritual growth

Hebrews 4 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. Application For Us: Spiritual growth 1. Trusting God will come through

Hebrews 4 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. Application For Us: Spiritual growth 1. Trusting God will come through 2. Setting aside autonomous solutions

Hebrews 4 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. Application For Us: Spiritual growth 1. Trusting God will come through 2. Setting aside autonomous solutions 3. Taking Dependent action Waiting on God and Trusting God: Does not imply inactivity, but Honest Dependent Action. This is a Learned Skill, which must be developed through trial and error. The Church, the Community of Faith, is meant to be a laboratory, in which people learn through experience and encouragement.

Hebrews 4 12 For the word of God is living 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. This passage is often used in reference to the Bible, but note that the Word spoken of here is actually Jesus. An interesting scholarly puzzle here entails how the writer of Hebrews picks up John’s Greek Construct of the Word. The most probable answer is that they were both influenced by Alexandrian theology. Note that all O.T. quotes in Hebrews are LXX.

Hebrews 4 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.

Hebrews 4 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

Hebrews 4 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.

Hebrews 4 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Next Week 1. Melchizedek 2. Why we don’t need a go- between in our relationship with God

Hebrews 4  Comments?  Questions?