6: Our Sabbath Rest (Heb 4)

Several years ago a friend of mine, a Christian brother of a different denomination who I dearly love, kindly confronted me that we gather for worship on the wrong day. In short, he thought we were breaking the command to honor the Sabbath (Ex 20:8; Deut 5:12) - the 4th of the 10 commandments.

First, I countered by pointing out that the Jewish apostles of Jesus never stressed keeping the Sabbath commands to Gentile converts.

Second, I pointed him to what Paul says to his Gentile audience regarding the Sabbath.

Colossians 2:16–17 Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is Christ.

Paul writes that Gentiles are not bound to keep Old Testament dietary laws, festivals, and Sabbath commands because they point to something…Someone Better - the Lord Jesus.

We were at a stalemate. He says we are obligated to obey the Sabbath commands and I say we aren’t. We agreed to disagree, but this issue continued to come up when we met. One day he brought the passage we are about to study to my attention…and it DID get my attention.

We opened the Scripture and he pointed me to this verse:

Hebrews 4:9 Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people.

There it was, in the New Covenant Scriptures. Was I disobeying the New Covenant teaching about keeping the Sabbath…and was I LEADING YOU to disobey God too?

Unfamiliar with this specific chunk of this chapter, I backed up in the chapter to catch the context, because we should never read A Bible verse.

So, let’s dig in and discover the incredible, wonderful truth - that Jesus is Our Sabbath Rest.

Catch the Context

Last week we were warned NOT to be like the ancient Hebrews who refused to believe God and consequently found themselves locked out of the Promised Land rather than crossing into it. Chapter 3 ends with these words:

Hebrews 3:19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

And that’s what it all comes down to - if we trust God we will obey God. If we don’t obey, it shows that we don’t trust Him. Said another way, How we Behave shows Who We Believe. We can say we trust God, but our behavior shows if that’s true or not.

Further, genuine disciples of Jesus don’t just START the race - they FINISH the race, “holding firmly until the end” (Heb 3:14b).

Based on those truths, we were challenged to examine our faith to see if it’s legit - to test ourselves - and see if Jesus is IN us.

With that background, we open up chapter 4 of Hebrews.

Hebrews 4:1–2 Therefore, since the promise to enter His rest remains, let us beware that none of you be found to have fallen short. For we also have received the good news just as they did. But the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith.

1400 years after the ancient Hebrews were turned away from God’s Promised Land rest, the promise to enter His rest remains for the 1st century audience this letter was written to - as well as for the 21st century audience (US).

So the question is:

Will we be like the crowd that followed the 10 unfaithful leaders who refused to believe God would go with them into the rest of the Promised Land.

OR will we be like Joshua and Caleb, who trusted God and were able to enter the rest of the Promised Land?

At the end of our lives, will we be found to have fallen short of God’s rest?

Hebrews 4:3–5 For we who have believed enter the rest, in keeping with what He has said, So I swore in my anger, “They will not enter My rest,” even though His works have been finished since the foundation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in this way: And on the seventh day God rested from all His works. Again, in that passage he says, They will never enter My rest.

What REST is this referring to?

As mentioned last week, the Hebrews began their Sabbath gathering in the Synagogue reading Psalm 95 which concludes with the phrase quoted over and over in Hebrews: “So I swore in my anger, “They will not enter My rest” (Ps 95:11). This is speaking of the Promised Land rest.

After reading Ps 95 in the synagogue, that passage would be followed by Genesis 2:1-3. This makes sense why the author of Hebrews quotes Genesis 2:2 on the heals of Ps 95:11, that “on the seventh day God rested from all His works”. This is speaking of God creating the earth & everything in it, after which He RESTED. God didn’t REST because He was tired. He didn’t decide to take the day off and take a nap. Instead, that God rested means His work of creation was complete.

In other words, both the Promise Land rest and God’s Sabbath rest after completing creation are symbolic of a more complete FUTURE rest that God intended for those who trust Him.

Hebrews 4:6-7 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience, He again specifies a certain day—today. He specified this speaking through David after such a long time: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.

Beyond the Promise Land Rest (during the days of Moses) and God’s Sabbath rest (at the end of creation), now the author of this sermon shows the 1st century Hebrews the rest God offers is available to them - TODAY! And the same is true for you and me!

This Sabbath rest is much more than a) entering into the Promised Land of Israel or b) taking a day to rest and refocus as we enter the upcoming week.

As we read this part of the passage, you’ll remember my friend quoting from quoting one verse from here.

Hebrews 4:8–11 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people. For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his. Let us, then, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.

As I sat with my friend and read this aloud, I asked him, “Didn’t Joshua take them into the Promised Land? Didn’t Joshua have them keep the Sabbath commands to rest every week?”

Of course he did. Yet, Joshua was not able to give them the rest that God spoke about coming on another day.

So, here’s the picture: Joshua - Yeshua (Hebrew) brought the people to the Promised Land, but he could not bring them into God’s ultimate Sabbath rest.

Now 1400 years later, a greater Yeshua (Hebrew for Greek Jesus) WOULD bring His people into God’s ultimate Sabbath rest.

This is the Sabbath rest that remains for God’s people - meaning we can rest from our own works just as God did from His. Again, this speaks to the COMPLETION of God’s work.

This doesn’t mean that God isn’t working today. After all Jesus taught, “My Father is still working, and I am working also.” (Jn 5:17)

Entering God’s rest doesn’t mean we sit back and RELAX by coasting through life. In fact, we are to make every effort to enter that rest as we trust & obey, grow & mature, sacrifice & give, share the gospel, face persecution, serve others, and do good works.

So, Entering God’s Sabbath rest is not about being lazy; it IS recognizing that we don’t enter by OUR good works, but by the good & COMPLETED work of Jesus - perfect life & substitute sacrifice for our sins. When Jesus breathed His last He said, “It is finished” - His work was complete - and we can REST in that, as we WORK for Him.

Hebrews 4:12–13

For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the Eyes of Him to Whom we must give an account.

When the New Testament writers mention the word of God they are referring to what God spoke to His people in the past and what is recorded for us in the present, spotlighting the good news about Jesus. NT Wright says it well:

‘God’s word’ seems to mean ‘the ancient scriptures, and the message about how they all came true in Jesus’. - NT Wright

[Tom Wright, Hebrews for Everyone (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004), 40.]

Here the author shows us how the ancient Scriptures - the word of God - impacts our lives. First, the word of God is...

Living: The author of Hebrews has already demonstrated how God’s word from Psalm 95, speaking of events 1400 years earlier, was still speaking to his contemporary audience. The Scriptures don’t grow and change, but the Scriptures DO grow and change us - now 3400 years after the days of Moses! God’s word exports the ancient & unchanging truths across every culture and every generation. If life on earth continues for the next 2000 years, the word of God will continue to impact lives!

Effective: like a surgeon’s scalpel, it cuts through the fleshly fluff of our lives and gets deep inside to the soul and spirit. The word of God is the spiritual TOOL that God uses to show us the real thoughts and intentions of the heart.

We are able to cover our bodies with clothes to hide what is underneath from others, but we can’t keep things hidden from Him. By the way, THAT’S WHY many of us don’t open the Scriptures; because when we do, God uncovers and exposes the attitudes and actions that we want to keep hidden.

It’s amazing how we humans try to justify our sinful actions and intentions. For example, people who are sexually intimate outside of the marriage bed say things like this to justify their sin: “I love him/her” but the Scriptures call this LUSTFUL and DISOBEDIENT. So, when we try to justify our sexual sin, the word of God cuts down deep and exposes our thoughts and intentions.

Several years back I met a man who shared how he came to follow Jesus. Although he grew up in church, it wasn’t until a real Christian confronted him with the Scripture that his life changed. The Christian cared enough to tell him the truth, that those who live in sexual sin will NOT inherit the kingdom of God. The man got defensive and said, “Where does it say that?” The Christian showed him, and the word of God did its work - cutting deep into his heart. He began to read and believe the Scriptures, which led him to follow Jesus.

He started living like God really knew his actions and intentions, like he was actually going to stand before God to give an account of his life.

I wish all of US lived that way!

Sadly, many of us treat God like Santa Claus. We might talk like he exists when we are around others, but we don’t really act like He exists.

When I was young, my Dad knew how to get me to eat my dinner. He would walk over to the phone, pretend to dial, and then say something like this: “Yes, Santa? Jackie isn’t obeying us and eating his...” and about that time, little Jackie started digging into his meal. Why? Because I really believed that my actions were going to be judged by Santa…and affect my present condition.

Years later, however, Dad couldn’t use that wicked, highly manipulative trick on me anymore, because although we SPOKE about Santa when MY YOUNG BOYS were near, and although I was know to go pick up the phone and call him once or twice, I no longer believed that I was going to be judged by Santa.

Some of us act the same way about God. When we’re around the kind of folks who believe in Him, we talk as if He is real, but we don’t really believe that must give an account to Him one day.

Thankfully, the Scripture warns us, but it should also encourage us because the word of God tells us that He also sees when our actions and attitudes are pure, when our intentions are honorable and kind.

When Jesus sent His disciples out to surrounding villages, He tells them that although some will reject them, others will welcome them. And those people - says Jesus - will receive a reward. He even mentions a simple act that you and I might not consider very significant. Jesus says:

Matthew 10:42 And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.

So while our impure actions & intensions are known to God, He also knows our simple, yet pure actions and intentions.

That simple way you serve others when no one else is looking - God knows. How might KNOWING THAT change not only WHAT we do, by WHY we do it - this week?

But, what if that leaves us convicted and concerned about God’s judgment in our lives? What happens when we realize that the wicked thoughts, actions, and intentions are not hidden from Him? If that’s you, just wait until you hear THE GOOD NEWS that follows!

Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a Great High Priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession.

What’s THAT mean? Those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, are to hold fast - to hold firmly (NIV, NLT) to who we say Jesus is. Fully man but also God the Son, Jesus passed through the heavens - the One who was glorified in heaven (Jn 17:5) stepped down onto earth. After completing His work, Jesus ascended to heaven (Lk 24:50-51; Acts 1:9) and sat down at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33; Heb 1:3) - the place of honor & authority.

So, after the human high priest would pass through the veiled areas in the temple and enter the Most Holy Place (aka Holy of Holies) once a year, he would stand, complete his task, and immediately have to leave this place, that symbolized the throne room of God in heaven.

Jesus never entered into this part of the earthly temple. Instead, after sacrificing Himself to make payment for our sins on a brutal Roman cross, and after His resurrection, Jesus passed through the heavens and sat down at the right hand of the Father - the throne room of God that the earthly temple symbolized.

The author of Hebrews then reminds us of the gracious benefits that trusting Jesus brings to our lives.

Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

Human Weakness. Jesus experienced human weaknesses - exhaustion, hunger, thirst, disappointment, grief, betrayal, laughter, and tears. He felt what we feel, so He can sympathize with our weaknesses.

Human Temptation. Jesus experienced real temptation as a real human being. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by the devil (Lk 4:1-13). And after facing every temptation the enemy could throw at Him, Jesus remained without sin.

As such, when we are experiencing weakness and facing temptation, we know where to turn! Jesus understands, because He’s been there!

One day when we were getting ready to begin chemotherapy, a sweet Christian lady approached and introduced herself. As a survivor of cancer, she had a deep understanding of what Tonya was about to experience. She encouraged us, prayed for us, and gave us her card - pleading with us to call her if we needed any help through the process. She had been through what we were about to go through.

So too, we are told to approach God’s throne of grace with boldness. I love that phrase.

You see, most ancient rulers couldn’t be approached by the common people. Queen Esther even risked her life by approaching her own husband without an invitation (Esther 5:1–2).

[John F. MacArthur Jr., Hebrews, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1983), 115.]

Yet here the God of the universe, the sovereign Creator of all kings, INVITES us to approach His throne, not to be judged for our GUILT, but to be welcomed into His GRACE. Knowing this, we can approach with boldness - having received the invitation from the King, Himself!

Then the author compares OUR HIGH PRIEST to the many other previous high priests.

We will face tests in the future, but our rest in Jesus - our confidence in Him, will empower us to DO the good works He has called us to.

As a freshman in high school, my Dad asked if I wanted to take his class or not. I did. He was a wonderful teacher and I learned much. I didn’t get an easy A.

If anything, my Dad held me more accountable for the work. I knew I would have to take the tests, but I was confident that my teacher - my Dad - would equip me with what I needed to face the tests.

I WORKED hard, but I RESTED in the fact that I knew I would do well because my teacher promised to prepare me. If I trusted him and learned from him, there’s no way I would fail!

So too, we can rest in Jesus, while we carry out the work He trains us to do. Listen to the invitation that Jesus offers to anyone who will listen.

Matthew 11:28–29 Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from Me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Jesus was offering rest to anyone who is weary and burdened - those who are exhausted and tired of carrying a heavy load - that includes your daily difficulties, sin struggles, unrealistic expectations.

This rest is not retirement. This is NOT a ceasing of work. but a changing WHO you’re working for! We find rest for our souls when we submit to

a Master who is lowly and humble

a Master who has modeled what obedience looks like

a Master who won’t put too heavy a load and leave you to fend for yourself

a Master who lays down His life for His servants.

You see...

Our Sabbath Rest is found in following Jesus.

Shape O Toy Remember this toy? Certain shapes are designed to go in certain holes. Try as you might, they don’t fit anywhere else. There is a God-shaped hole in your soul, and NOTHING ELSE will fit. What are you trying to plug in here?

The purpose & hope you are searching for won’t be found in your next purchase, your next relationship, your retirement or financial gain, your next trophy, or your next exciting experience.

The freedom from guilt and shame you long for won’t be found in alcohol & substance abuse nor by continuing to trying to replace that God-shaped hole with sinful actions.

God’s Sabbath Rest won’t be experienced by religious rituals, showing up to church every Sunday…or every Saturday (Sabbath). You won’t experience God’s rest by giving money, being nice, or opening your Bible every now and then.

Augustine, a 4th century Christian leader, got it right when he wrote this now-famous phrase: “You have formed us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in You”.

Our Sabbath Rest is found in following Jesus.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to REST in the fact that you are forgiven by the One who formed you and knows you best?

Wouldn’t it be worth getting up everyday, to live with purpose and passion as you work to please Jesus, the One who has given you REST?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to know that you have brothers and sisters to walk with you on the journey of life?

And wouldn’t it be satisfying to know, that if you died today, you would be in the Presence of the ONLY ONE who can give you REST?

FEET2FAITH

Turn from sin and turn to Jesus.

Open the Scriptures & obey what Jesus says.

Seek like-minded Christians to journey together. Plug into a local church that does life together and lives out the Scriptures.

Have Questions or need some help? Call Don, Allison, Austin, or Wade.

PRAY