Hebrews 4:1-11 - Hear and Believe - Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
During the previous verses we went through, the author brought up this concept of rest. He compared those who failed to enter the Promised Land to those who fail to find salvation in Christ - those who are hardened by sin and continue in unbelief have no salvation in the Lord.
This week, the author expounds upon this idea of rest. Although rest does speak of eternal life with Christ in heaven, it also is something that we can enter into now. Listen to Jesus teach this in Matthew 11:28-30:
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Here we see that there is a now and then component to this rest. We have an eternal rest that we look forward to enjoying, and we have a present rest in Christ that we can enjoy even now. Jesus promises a light burden and an easy yoke as we follow Him even on this side of eternity.
This doesn’t mean that life won’t be difficult. But it means that all of the work for your salvation has already been accomplished on the cross. If you are in Christ, the payment for your sins has been applied.
Now you can work through Christ’s power and strength as you work OUT your salvation and NOT work FOR your salvation (Philippians 2:12).
Praise be to God for accomplishing our salvation on the cross and offering us His rest!
As we go through this Scripture today, may we remember to hear and believe.
Turn with me to Hebrews chapter 4 as we read verses 1-11.
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.
Prayer
Today we are going to see three more aspects of the Gospel and the rest Christ offers us. The first is…
I. As the Gospel is Preached… You Must Enter According to His Promise (1-3a)
I. As the Gospel is Preached… You Must Enter According to His Promise (1-3a)
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.
When we last left off in Hebrews, we had heard about the judgment of Israel in the wilderness because of their rebellion and disobedience. We discussed their hardness of heart.
Moving into chapter 4, the author continues his admonishment by reminding us that the promise of entering the Lord’s rest still stands. For those who are still alive, this promise remains.
Yet he gives a warning. Let us fear - namely - be frightened. This word can also mean let us have respect for or have reverence of. In other words, we need to take eternal life seriously. Many have failed to reach heaven. Many have failed to reach eternal rest. And the result of those lost souls is tragic. Those who fail to reach heaven instead are cast into hell.
Not only do they not receive the blessing of walking with Jesus while on earth, but they receive eternal punishment as well.
Friends, hearing the Word of God is not enough. Note the title of this two-part sermon series - Hear and Believe.
We must not only hear but we must believe.
As the author of Hebrews called out in Hebrews 3:19 - the inability to enter the rest of Christ is due to unbelief.
But how do we enter this rest? Verse 2 describes this well…
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.
We see ancient Israel compared to the readers of this letter. Good news has reached both of them. For Israel, the good news was God’s promised deliverance. If they would remain faithful and believe what the Lord had said, the Promised Land would be theirs. For the readers of this letter and even us today, their is another promise of good news. The Greek word translated good news here is euangelizō (eh-vahn-gah-leeze-oh) which is where we get the word evangelize which means to spread or preach the good news of the Gospel.
What is this good news that has come to us?
It is that Jesus Christ has taken on human flesh and dwelt among us. He lived the perfect life we could not live. And He offered His perfect life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins on the cross where He was crucified, died, and was buried. But He rose from the dead three days later and now offers us eternal life - rest as mentioned here - if only we will repent of our sins and place our faith and trust in Him.
Like the good news of the Promised Land was conditional to Israel’s obedience and belief, the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has a condition as well. It is a new and better covenant and does not rely on our obedience like the first covenant did (Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 8:6-13). Man proved to be unreliable and unable to do good. As Romans 3 reminds us - no one is good not even one. Thus Jesus Christ came and fulfilled all of the works of the Law because we were unable to do so, and He has now opened up a way for us to be saved.
The condition of this new covenant, this Good News of the Gospel, is that it requires repentance and faith.
Repentance requires not only a decision but also a change of direction. It involves both apology and action. It involves both contrition and commitment.
The understanding of repentance is crucial to salvation. Sadly, many Gospel presentations, even by pastors, neglect to include this important and necessary aspect of salvation.
And the other condition necessary for salvation is faith.
Faith is best described in Hebrews 11:1 where we see that it is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. Faith is an assurance of the promises of God. It isn’t blind as many might assert. Faith is founded on Truth and Trust.
By truth, we speak of the inerrant truth of the Word of God. Our faith is based on the truth of the Bible. This historically accurate and infallible book provides us with all that we need to know about God and salvation.
And by trust, we place our full trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ described to us in the Bible.
Salvation requires both repentance and faith.
Unfortunately, many hear the Gospel and refuse to repent and place their faith in Jesus Christ. Like Israel, many fail to enter the rest of the Lord because they are not united in faith with those who listened.
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.
The meaning of the end of verse 2 is debated. It either refers to the uniting of one to faith itself or the uniting of those who all personally have faith.
Joshua and Caleb, as we mentioned a couple of weeks ago, were united with faith and united to one another in faith and entered the Promised Land. They had faith that the Lord could and would deliver them. Yet, the other spies and the people of Israel who were of age were not united with them in faith and perished in the wilderness.
In essence both views are true. We must be united with faith and when we are, we are united to others who have faith. Either way we look at it, only those who have faith enter the rest of the Lord. Which brings us to verse 3…
For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’ ”
We who have believed enter that rest. This is stated in the present tense which is why the prevailing view of the rest of the Lord is a now and then view. We have eternal rest to enter and yet we also enter His rest once we are saved!
Friends, are you resting in the Lord? Are you enjoying the rest that Christ offers you? So often we can toil and fret about the things of this world. Yet, God reminds us that faith casts out all of this anxious toil.
I was listening to a missionary podcast recently and was amazed to hear a missionary from Africa speak on the stress of Americans. He spoke of his time back in the US being a time of stress because Americans are always so busy and worried. And he was ministering in an African nation that is 97% Muslim!
Sadly, even many in the church struggle with not resting in the Lord. But how do we fight against the anxiety that plagues our nation?
Although this might sound overly simplistic - it is the most true and correct remedy for our problem of anxiety.
Church, it is hard to worry about the things in our lives when we know Whom we have believed. Listen to Paul say this in 1 Timothy 1:12:
… But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
Listen to that beautiful verse brothers and sisters. We can enjoy the rest of Christ as soon as we are saved because we know He holds our future. I pray that you can get excited about that. I pray that this truth brings you comfort today.
As we see the evil raging in our world, we know Who is sovereign. We know Who is in control. And we can rest in Him.
As we consider the stresses of this life - jobs, finances, raising children, managing our homes, relationships, among others - may we rest in the promises of God.
We can trust His promise - that He will bring the good work He has started in us to completion (Philippians 1:6). He will carry us home in the end. And He will help us persevere as we move forward in faith.
Before moving forward, we need to discuss the middle of verse 3 that we read a short while ago.
For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’ ”
We can enter His rest because His promises are sure. But just as His promise of rest is sure to those who place their faith and trust in Him - His promise of eternal punishment is sure to those who persist in unbelief and refuse to trust in His promise. Those who reject Him shall not enter His rest and instead shall suffer His eternal wrath.
The middle of verse 3 reminds us for the third time that those who are disobedient and fail to trust in the Lord’s promise shall not enter His rest. The author quotes Psalm 95:11 for the third time here. We saw it in Hebrews 3:11 and Hebrews 3:18. And we will see him quote it a fourth time in this book in Hebrews 4:5 in a few moments!
Church, be sure that you have trusted the Lord. His promises are sure. He promises rest for those who repent and trust in Him and eternal punishment for those who refuse to hear and believe.
Continuing on in our Scripture we see that…
Scripture References: Matthew 11:28-30, Philippians 2:12, Hebrews 3:19, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 8:6-13, Romans 3, Hebrews 11:1, 2 Timothy 1:12, Philippians 1:6, Psalm 95:11, Hebrews 3:11, Hebrews 3:18
II. As the Gospel is Preached… You Must Seek After His Presence (3b-9)
II. As the Gospel is Preached… You Must Seek After His Presence (3b-9)
… 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.”
Continuing to discuss this concept of rest, the author goes back to creation. In Genesis 2:2 we find the following:
And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
We are told that God’s works were finished from the foundation of the world. The rest that we are told here is a rest from creating. God had completed His entire creation.
However, we must note that this was not a rest that resulted in inactivity. God was, is, and will always continue working. Listen to Jesus tell us this…
But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
Here we see that God continues working even until today. He did not wind up the world and let it go as some falsely believe. He doesn’t just watch from a distance and not intervene. He is actively and sovereignly working in His creation.
Moving forward, the author expounds upon this concept…
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.”
Quoting Psalm 95:11 for the fourth time followed by Psalm 95:7-8 for the third time (Hebrews 3:7, Hebrews 3:15), he warns those hearing the words of this letter about the consequences of hardening your heart. There is a great consequence to hearing and failing to believe. And that is that you will not enter into the presence of the Lord.
Note that God calls this rest ‘my rest.’ He uses the possessive pronoun ‘my’ because it is His personal rest that He offers to us.
May we be sure that we have entered into His rest.
We have been told of two reasons now that we may fail to enter His rest. Unbelief and Disobedience.
We were told that unbelief causes us to fail to enter His rest in Hebrews 3:19, and now we are told that disobedience causes us to fail to enter His rest as well.
Both of these conditions are heart conditions as we discussed our last time together in Hebrews.
I pray that we each examine our hearts today to see if there be any unbelief or disobedience in us.
Obviously, we understand that unbelief and disobedience ultimately will lead many to eternal hell.
However, even as believers, we must examine ourselves for the sin of unbelief and disobedience. Though we are blessed with the eternal rest of Christ upon salvation, we must walk by faith and walk in obedience to enjoy His rest on earth. We are told later in this wonderful book of Hebrews that when we do not obey we are disciplined (Hebrews 12:6-7)!
As Romans 8:6 also reminds us, we will have no peace when we do the works of the flesh. The works of flesh bring death but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Where is your head at? Where is your mind today?
Are you setting your thoughts on the things that are above - heavenly things (Colossians 3:1-2). Or are you consumed by fleshly desires - the things of this earth?
It is so easy for us to get focused on what we can see right in front of us. Our bills, our work, or hobbies, our passions, our wants, our desires. As long as they are not inherently sinful, each of these areas of our lives are things that we can spend some time considering and frankly we must spend some time considering many of these such as our bills and work among others. However, when the things of this earth become the center focus of our heart and mind constantly and our worries and concerns drown out our thoughts of the Lord - then we are in grave danger.
Enjoy the rest of the Lord. Focus your mind and set your heart heart upon Him. Seek His presence.
Hear and believe - hear and repent. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus says…
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
May we seek to be in the presence of the Lord in eternity and may we also daily seek His presence in our lives. May we walk by faith.
Continuing on, the author refers back again to Joshua and Israel…
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,
We see that the Promised Land was a mere foreshadowing of the rest that God would provide in Christ.
We may miss the beauty of this statement here about Joshua. We can see the beautiful foreshadowing even more clearly when we understand that the name for Joshua and Jesus is exactly the same in the Greek. And this name means Yahweh saves or salvation.
Though Joshua, the son of Nun, was unable to give Israel an eternal rest, there came a new and better Joshua - namely Jesus.
The author of Hebrews has now given us another Jesus is better statement. He is better than the Old Testament prophets. Better than the angels. Better than Moses. Better than the high priest. And now we are told that He is better than Joshua.
Jesus provides an eternal rest for those who repent and place their trust in Him. And to add another foreshadowing of His finished work on the cross, we see the author mention the Sabbath rest as well. For even the Sabbath was a foreshadowing of Christ.
This Sabbath rest was instituted to be a symbol of the true rest that would come through Christ.
Friends, we no longer have any work to do when it comes to salvation. We are able to enjoy a Sabbath rest even now in Christ.
He completed all of the work necessary for our forgiveness of sins on the cross. We are able to rest in Him now.
This doesn’t mean that we don’t still do good works. Although we are saved by grace through faith as described in Ephesians 2:8-9, Ephesians 2:10 states:
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
However, all of these works are done by Christ in and through us.
Our rest that Christ provides is a spiritual rest as we walk through this life. It isn’t a physical rest that allows us to sit on the sidelines and be spectators.
And the author goes on in these final two verses to describe what the Christian life looks like as we enjoy the promises and presence of God - which brings us to our final point…
Scripture References: Genesis 2:2, John 5:17, Psalm 95:11, Psalm 95:7-8, Hebrews 3:7, Hebrews 3:15, Hebrews 3:19, Hebrews 12:6-7, Romans 8:6, Colossians 3:1-2, Matthew 6:33, Ephesians 2:8-10
III. As the Gospel is Preached… You Must Strive in Perseverant Pursuit (10-11)
III. As the Gospel is Preached… You Must Strive in Perseverant Pursuit (10-11)
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.
I love how the author balances the finished work of Christ on the cross and the believer’s call to strive toward Christ. This is a common theme throughout the book of Hebrews. Work for Christ through His strength because you are saved. Not in order to be saved.
As God has rested from His creative works, so we can rest in Christ because of the work He did on the cross.
Yet this is an active rest like God as we saw earlier. God remains active, and we are to remain active as well.
In verse 11, we come to following statement: Let us therefore - this therefore speaks of all that we have discussed already - namely the warning of Israel’s rebellion and failure of most to reach the Promised Land - the warning that just hearing the good news doesn’t save you - the warning against unbelief and disobedience leading to eternal punishment - so in light of all of that, let us strive to enter that rest.
This word strive means to be eager, work hard, make every effort, or make haste.
In other words, the decision to follow Christ isn’t one we want to put off. We should instead strive to enter that rest. We should quickly repent and trust in Christ.
We have been warned about the need to make this decision to follow Christ promptly and expediently. Consider verse 1, which reminds us that we must make this decision while the promise of entering his rest still stands - or verse 7 - as we come to the word TODAY which God has appointed for us - may we repent and place our faith in Christ now.
So many put off this important decision. They want to live their lives as they see fit and want to wait until later in life to come to Christ. However, we are not guaranteed tomorrow.
We must make this decision today. We must hear and believe. We must repent and trust Christ.
But for us already in Christ, there is a charge for us as well.
We should continue striving toward Christ even after we are saved. Again, we strive with Christ’s energy in us because we ARE saved - not in order to BE saved - which is clearly seen in Colossians 1:29:
For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
Brothers and sisters, the Christian life is a beautiful life but it is a difficult life. We are promised persecution, trials, and difficulties.
I have heard it quoted by multiple people:
“If the Christian life is easy for you, you are probably doing it wrong.”
Anonymous Source
There is much false teaching out there that has changed the Gospel to an easy believism. In an effort to make the Gospel attractional, many pastors peddle a false Gospel. They speak of Jesus making your life easier. They speak of your life going much smoother. Some even speak of you becoming more wealthy and healthy.
Yet, the Scripture describes a life that is marked by hardships. Jesus requires us to take up our cross and follow Him which is no easy task (Matthew 16:24).
It is likely that those who supposedly fall away from Christ and leave the faith, have actually believed a false Gospel. This gooey and cuddly false Gospel proves false in their lives and so they depart from the supposed faith they expressed.
So today, I want to ask you:
What Gospel have you chosen to follow - if any?
During this two part series, you have heard the Gospel presented multiple times.
You have heard about the truth of Jesus Christ - truly God who became truly man as He took on human flesh some 2,000 years ago. He lived a sinless life and died on the cross for the sins of the world - namely those who would repent and trust in Him. And He showed His power over sin, death, and the grave through His resurrection three days later. He now intercedes on our behalf as He sits at the right hand of the Father.
You have heard that you can only be saved by grace through faith and not works. You have heard about the cost of discipleship - that following Christ might bring tribulation and trials. It will be hard.
Yet, you have also heard about the beautiful rest that Christ provides as you strive to follow Him both after salvation on earth and the amazing heavenly rest in eternity.
Have you heard and believed? If not, today is the day of salvation. If you are unsure if you have believed the true Gospel, talk with me after the service. I’d love to discuss further what it means to follow Christ.
Scripture References: Colossians 1:29, Matthew 16:24, Matthew 4:17, Revelation 22:12, Revelation 22:20
Conclusion:
As we come to a close, we have seen the beauty of the Gospel. We have seen the blessing of the rest that God provides to us in Christ. We must enter His rest according to His promise. We must seek His presence. And we must strive in perseverant pursuit as we toil with His energy and power.
Friends, the promise of entering His rest still stands for each of you today. I can confidently say that because you are all alive and breathing. But one day, that promise will be unavailable for you to accept. You will be unable to be saved because the time will have passed.
As Jesus preached:
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
And as Jesus stated at the end of the book of Revelation…
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
His return is sure and His return is imminent. It could be any day now. Repent for behold He is coming soon.
