A Study of Hebrews Chapter 4
A Study of Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 5 viewsThis is session 4 of our class on Hebrews. Chapter 4 deals with a continuation of the warning presented in Hebrews 3 as well as begins to describe the priesthood of Jesus Christ.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Hebrews Chapter 4
Hebrews Chapter 4
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
We have the promise to enter God’s rest just as Israel did.
The rest promised to Israel was a type and shadow of what we have under the New Covenant
Entering God’s rest is not automatic when we are born again.
It is also not achieved when we die, merely completed.
If it were automatic, there would be no need to fear not entering it, nor would we have to labor for it, (4:11).
We will still fall short of it if we stay in unbelief.
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
The Gospel is only profitable if mixed with faith.
Similar to concrete, it is no more than crushed dust until it is mixed with water. The Word is just words for us until it is mixed with Faith.
Faith in scripture requires action.
It is not simply believing something to be true, but living out that truth.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
The Gospel is the same message in both Old and New Testaments.
The Old was a type and shadow of Jesus.
The New, Jesus is here and is the Light of The World.
In Both the people had to enter in through another’s sacrifice.
The Old was the blood of bulls and goats once a year.
But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
The New is the blood of Jesus once and forever.
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
We who believe enter God’s rest.
Psalms 95 is quoted again here reiterating that an evil heart of unbelief will not see God’s rest.
Not in under the Old Covenant or the New Covenant. v.11
When God rested and sanctified the sabbath day, that was an illustration of His rest.
God rested because the work was finished.
God created everything to procreate so there is no need to still create.
He created everything man would need to thrive.
They simply had to dress and keep it and rest in what God had done.
Unbelief forced man out of God’s rest.
For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
In Gen 2:22, God rested from His work, not because he was tired but because it was finished.
Jesus also said it is finished when he died on the cross.
We keep trying to do a work that is completed.
And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
God’s rest is ongoing.
It wasn’t completed at creation nor when they entered the Promised Land.
Entering God’s rest is being contrasted against an evil heart of unbelief.
This is confirming to us that we enter God’s rest when we learn to fully trust and rely on the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
This warning is mentioned 5x in chapters 3 and 4. See Ps. 95:7-11.
David was king when he wrote Psalm 95 so this warning had nothing to do with the Promised Land.
For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
The writer is referring to Joshua not Jesus.
Jesus is Latin for Joshua.
This confirms that God’s rest was not related to the Promised Land but in trust God and taking Him at His Word.
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
The conclusion is that the full rest of God is available through Faith in Jesus Christ.
For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
If we are resting in Christ, then we have ceased from attempting to earn God’s Grace and Love or trying to be righteous through our own efforts.
We realize now that there is nothing that we have to earn.
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Entering into God’s rest is not something that happens automatically.
It takes effort and must be intentional.
We are either living in God’s rest or living in unbelief.
Remember that it is the just that shall live by faith.
See AWLC handout in your packet.
We are resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The author of Hebrews links laboring to enter His rest with the Word of God.
Laboring in the Word is the greatest way to enter His rest.
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
The picture of God’s Word as a sword is not as weapon except against Satan.
It is used to cut away unbelief.
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
There is no creature that is immune to the scrutiny of God’s Word.
All things are subject to Him.
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
The writer comes full circle back to Christ’s Priesthood first mentioned in Hebrews 3:1.
Our profession of Christ and holding onto or continuing in our profession in Him is how we enter God’s rest.
Never wavering in our faith in Him.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Christ faced every temptation that we could ever face.
Matthew 4:1-11.
Christ undid the fall of mankind.
Every single temptation was defeated by Christ.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
The lust of the flesh.
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
The lust of the eyes.
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
The pride of life.
Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
See Gen 3:1-15.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
We can draw near to God without fear or hesitation and approach His throne with boldness as children of the Most High.
It is there that we will find rest.
Study Questions
T/F Entering God’s rest is automatic once we are Born Again.
2. Why does Hebrews 4:1 tell us to fear?
3. What makes the gospel profitable for believers?
4. T/F The Gospel is the same message in both the Old and New Testaments.
5. What is the main difference between the Old and the New Testament?
6. Why did God rest from His work in Genesis 2?
7. At what point do we enter God’s rest?
8. D.Q. What are some ways we can deal with unbelief?
9. How do we know when we have entered God’s rest?
10. D.Q. How do we labor to rest?
11. The author of Hebrews links laboring to enter God’s rest with what?
12. T/F There is some of creation that is exempt from the scrutiny of God’s Word.
13. What makes Christ a superior High Priest?
14. What three categories do all temptations fall under?
15. How are we supposed to approach God’s throne and what to we find when we are there?
