Christ Superior to Joshua

Hebrews 4:1–13 ESV

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’ ” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

The Message of Hope

Hebrews 4:1–3 ESV

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’ ” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Promise of Rest still stands - reference to heaven

all can come

Good news of the gospel

all have sinned fall short of the glory of God

wages of sin is death

Jesus came and lived a perfect life and then died on the cross to pay the price for our sins

Now we can be forgiven our sins and be saved from the death we deserve if we will put our faith in Jesus and make him Lord of our lives

The reason the Israelites died in the wilderness rather than entering the promised land was because of their lack of faith

In the same way anyone who does not get to go to heaven it will be because of their lack of Faith in Christ

Hope for the Future

Hebrews 4:4–10 ESV

For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

Lest anyone say this is just a refrenence to the Israelites rest and not to the heavenly rest the writer quotes David long afterward saying today if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts.

The rest did not come through Joshua if so there would be no reason to speak of a later day

Not to mention all the troubles Israel had after entering the promised land does not sound like the promised rest.

Thus it stand to reason that the rest must be yet to come

So then there remains a sabbath rest

whoever enters God’s rest rests from his work just as God did from his.

This can only happen in heaven for on this world there is work and strife and conflict not rest

Strive to enter the Rest

Hebrews 4:11–13 ESV

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

With this in mind the writer says we should strive to enter that rest. Let us work now so we can rest later

Many are hoping to rest now and not work later but that is not realilistic

I would compare this thought to that of retirement. I want to work hard now so I can live good later. others say I want to play hard now but later they will still have to work for they have nothing saved. The only difference is the writer of Hebrews has in mind rest in eternity.

So then how do we gain this rest

We do not fall to disobedience

We live by the word of God

Living and active it is not static or dead but alive. Remember John calls Christ the Word in John 1.

Sharper than any sword

Discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart

You can’t hide the truth from God

No one is hidden all are naked and exposed

We must give an account