The Giver of Rest

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The Giver of Rest

God has planned a rest for us. The invitation Christ gave included rest for our souls (). Through faith in Christ we have rest for our minds (). Besides the rest for our souls and minds, God gives rest for our bodies. Note carefully . This life in Christ will lead to eternal life with Him in heaven.

I. God’s Provision of Rest (vv. )

A. Failure (v. ). They failed to accept God’s promise of rest. Perhaps they were depending on good works for salvation (see , ). Note also their rejection (, ; ).

B. Faithless (v. ). “For this wonderful news—the message that God wants to save us—has been given to us just as it was to those who lived in the time of Moses. But it didn’t do them any good because they didn’t believe it. They didn’t mix it with faith” (LB).

C. Faith (v. ). Enter the rest of salvation by faith. Verse is a quotation from . Those without faith who reject this rest will face God’s judgment.

II. God’s Plan of Rest (vv. )

A. Practices (v. ). God rested from His work after six days (, ).

B. Prophecy (v. ). This is a quotation from .

C. Pardon (v. ). The door is open to rest and pardon. No one knows how long it will remain open. Those who refuse this open door have no hope ().

D. Problem (v. ). Accept the invitation. Don’t harden your heart (, ). Those who harden their hearts will be destroyed ().

E. Place (vv. ). Paul is not speaking about Israel, but of salvation and heaven (see , ).

III. God’s Power of Revelation (vv. , )

A. Revelation (v. ).

1) The Scriptures reveal our character. The Bible shows us what we really are (see ).

2) The Scriptures reveal our complacency. The Bible shows us our indifference (see ).

3) The Scriptures reveal our concerns (). It shows what we put first in our lives.

B. Reality (v. ). “He knows about everyone, everywhere. Everything about us is bare and wide open to the all-seeing eyes of our living God; nothing can be hidden from him to whom we must explain all that we have done” (LB).

There is no rest outside of Christ. There is nothing but sorrow and disappointment. Note God’s promise in . The power of God will give us rest for our souls, minds, and bodies. If we have rest in these areas we will be more effective Christians. A person with a tired soul, mind, or body is unsatisfied, and an unsatisfied person can be dangerous and harmful.

Pentz, C. M. (1979). Expository Outlines on Hebrews (pp. 10–11). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.