The Danger of Unbelief Part II

INTRODUCTION

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It’s been said “There is no rest for the weary” – it’s also been said “There is no rest for the wicked.” Well that explains why some of us are so tired this morning! I’m not going to identify who fits into which category. Apparently not everyone agrees.

· Dwight Schrute – Office MEME

Rest is a vital part of your lives. Is there anyone here that feels fairly rested this morning? Nice! I suspect many of us come here wiped out and in desperate need of some rest.

· Story – man/joggers (trying to get some rest)

Rest is a vital aspect of life. We primarily think of rest as something physical, some of you are in desperate need of a Sunday afternoon nap to get caught up on some rest – a group of weary parents would see that as a huge blessing.

Need

We desperately need rest and often miss out on the blessing of rest in our lives because of our own choices (stay up too late, don’t take time for a vacation, or refuse to take a nap because you have too many things to get done). What if the blessing of rest is freely available to you this morning – not simply the blessing of physical rest but the blessing of rest for your soul – and it’s the kind of rest you don’t want to miss out on in your life. The availability of God’s rest and enjoyment of God’s rest is the heart of today’s message as we continue our series through the book of HEBREWS.

Review

Today is week seven of our series in HEBREWS: Encountering the Greatness of Jesus (so that we can experience the greatness of Jesus). Hebrews was written to encourage Jewish Christians living in the first century to persevere in their faith. The believers in that day were suffering from intense pressure and persecution, as a result they were tempted to return to Judaism, so the penman continually urges them to keep believing, to keep persevering because Jesus is greater. Up to this point we’ve learned that Jesus is greater than the prophets, greater than the angels, and greater than Moses. The book of Hebrews is like a giant banner that says “Don’t turn back – Jesus is Greater!” We’ve been warned about “The Danger of Drifting” from the gospel (Jesus) and now “The Danger of Unbelief.”

Last week we left off in which revealed “The Danger of Unbelief” – as we considered a tragic illustration of unbelief from the life of God’s people after being freed from slaver in Egypt – the Israelite’s possessed sinful, unbelieving hearts that rebelled against God and disobeyed God – therefore God declared they would not enter into His rest in the promised land of Canaan. The entire generation died wandering in the wilderness never enjoying the promise of His rest in Canaan. The penman used this tragic illustration so the Jewish Christians (and us) would not follow in their footsteps – and we were challenged to “Keep watch over our own hearts” and “Encourage one another daily” (I trust you were the giver and receiver of encouragement this past week) to safeguard our lives from unbelief.

Preview

Today we pick up right where we left off - considering Part II of “The Danger of Unbelief.” If you have your Bible (and I hope you do) turn to . Hebrews Chapter 4. . Grab your Bible and turn to . . . If you don’t have a Bible there are several copies available in the pew rack so you can follow along as well.

is a continuation of last week’s warning about “The Danger of Unbelief.” The entire warning () is a part of the larger declaration that Jesus is greater than Moses. Jesus is greater than Moses because He was a faithful Son over God’s house and Jesus is greater than Moses because He offers a better rest.

In we’re going to see that the penman is deeply concerned that his readers will follow in the footsteps of their ancestors living in Moses’ day—living their lives in hard-hearted unbelief that would cause them to turn away from their identification with Jesus and return to Judaism – causing them to miss out on God’s rest like the people in wilderness. Today we’re going to be reminded of the serious consequence of unbelief – missing out on experiencing God’s rest – and consider the call to experience and enjoy the rest available to us in Jesus.

As we walk through this section we’re going to consider (1) “The Availability of God’s Rest” (4:1-10) and (2) The Encouragement to Attain God’s Rest (4:11-13). Read 4:1-13

I) ENJOYING GOD’S REST

I’ll be honest, this is a challenging text, it’s logical and yet complex, and there is a lot going on. I spent a great deal of time this week in my study wrestling with what the penman was trying to communicate to his audience. I’ve been begging God that I could communicate it clearly. My prayer is God will give us a better understanding of God’s rest, a deeper enjoyment of God’s rest, and a greater confidence in the rest we have in Jesus.

The entire section is connected to last week’s warning about missing out on God’s rest due to unbelief. Last week we considered the tragic illustration from God’s people in Moses’ day who did not enjoy rest in the land of Canaan due to their unbelief and disobedience. God judged His people – an entire generation died wandering in the wilderness and did enjoy God’s rest in Canaan – the penman will remind them of Israel’s failure to enjoy God’s rest in an effort to encourage them to persevere in Jesus so they won’t miss out on a greater rest in Him.

A) The Availability of a Better Rest in Jesus (4:1-10)

In the penman reveals “The Availability of a Better Rest” in Jesus. “The Availability of a Better Rest” in Jesus. The entire section looks back to people of God in Moses and Joshua’s day who did not enjoy God’s rest in Canaan due to unbelief. The penman is concerned that the Jewish Christians will follow in their footsteps—if they forsake their trust in Jesus and return to Judaism—they will miss out on enjoying the better rest they have in Jesus.

1) A Fear of Failing to Enjoy God’s Rest (4:1-3)

We begin with the penman’s concern that the Hebrew (Jewish Christians) will fail to enjoy God’s promised rest—"Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it (4:1)—the penman’s personal concern is felt in the tone of this text. The penman is deeply concerned that the Jewish Christians will follow in their ancestor’s footsteps, turning away from their trust in Jesus and turning back to Judaism, which would cause them to “fall short” (fail to attain or reach) of God’s rest. The Israelite’s failure to enter God’s rest in Canaan (past) did not mean God’s rest was not longer available to them (present). The promise of God’s rest (a better rest) stands, the promise of entering God’s rest still existed (remains), God’s rest was presently available for them to enjoy.

The availability of God’s rest prompted a personal exhortation—"let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it (4:1)—the thrust or seriousness of the exhortation is softened a bit in the NIV transition. The invitation “let us be careful” is literally “let us fear” (NASB) or “Let us be wary” (NET) of missing out on God’s promised rest. Falling short (missing out) on God’s promised rest should be cause an emotional reaction—the thought of missing out on God’s promised rest should cause severe distress or intense concern in their hearts—this is a big deal! The penman wanted them to be fearful of failing to experience and enjoy God’s promised (greater) rest available to them in Jesus.

The Jewish Christians should fear that anyone of them would fail to enter (come short) God’s promised rest due to unbelief. In the penman of Hebrews compares the similar circumstance between God’s people after the Exodus and the Jewish Christians he was addressing—For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed—the penman highlights the common ground (similarity) between the generation that rebelled against God in unbelief with His readers. The penman revealed the place of common ground between the Israelite’s in the wilderness and the Jewish Christians in the first century. The “good news” had been proclaimed to the Jewish Christians and to Jews in Moses’ day. The “good news” preached to the people of God in Moses’ day was that Yahweh would give them rest in the promised land of Canaan and make them a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to Himself ( & ). The “good news” preached to the Jewish Christians was first and foremost the “gospel”—God’s saving work in Jesus—but this “good news” also included the promise of a greater rest in Jesus. The point of comparison or parallel (common ground) between God’s people in Moses’ day was both generations heard the good news.

The “Comparison” (common ground) between the people of God in Moses’ day and the Jewish Christians in the first century is followed by their contrasting responses to the good news. Both generations had heard the good news but there was a stark contrast in their response to what they heard—"but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”—the people of God in Moses’ did not believe the good news of God’s promises so what they heard was of no value (benefit) to them. The people of God in Moses’ day did not share the faith of those who obeyed (Joshua & Caleb), their hard-hearted unbelief had severe consequences, God was angry and declared they would never enter His rest in the promised land of Canaan. The generation of God’s people died in the wilderness without experiencing and enjoying God’s rest. The people of God in Moses’ day did not believe so they did not enter God’s promised rest in Canaan. The Jewish Christians had “believed” in the good news that had been proclaimed to them—“Now we who have believed enter that rest”—and as a result of their faith they enter (present tense) God’s rest. The Jewish Christians enjoyed God’s rest due to their faith in Jesus! The Hebrew Christians should fear that forsaking their ongoing trust in Jesus and returning to Judaism would cause them to miss out on the present rest they enjoy in Jesus.

2) The Identification of God’s Rest (4:3-10)

Now we come to a very important question – “What is the rest” the Jewish Christians should fear missing out on if they forsake their trust in Jesus and return to Judaism?” – What is the promised rest that remains that we should fear missing out on in our lives as Christians.?” Some suggest the “rest” we must fear missing is our future eternal rest in heaven – and this is a solid understanding of God’s rest if addressed to mere professing believers in that their unbelief in Jesus would cause them to miss out on eternal rest – and yet in light of the audience (Jewish believers tempted to go back to Judaism due to persecution) and the penman’s argument the rest we should fear missing out on is a better present rest we have in Jesus.

What is the rest the Jewish Christians should fear missing out on in their lives? In we find gain some much-needed clarity about the promised rest we should fear missing out on in our lives as followers of Jesus. Let’s consider a few characteristics about the better rest in Jesus we should fear missing out on in our lives.

· First, this rest is better than the rest God’s people eventually enjoyed in Canaan (). & 4 repeatedly reveals that Israel’s unbelief in the past caused them to miss God’s promised rest in Canaan – and yet the rest they eventually experienced was merely a shadow of a better rest available in Jesus. The Canaan Rest for God’s people in Moses’ day was the promise of “rest from their enemies” ( & 25:19). The penman once again quoted to remind the Jewish Christians that a generation of God’s people in that day failed to enter (enjoy) His rest from their enemies in Canaan due to their unbelief (hard-hearted rebellion). The penman also reveals that God’s rest in Canaan did not provide true rest for God’s people.—"Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage 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 later about another day—the penman’s declaration clearly reveals the availability of a better rest that Canaan could not offer. The penman provided proof of a better rest than Canaan. Here’s the logic of the argument. If the promise of a better rest is no longer available, why would God proclaim in David’s generation in about hearing God’s voice and not hardening their heart if rest was possible for God’s people beyond the rest of Canaan. If Joshua gave God’s people rest when he eventually led them into Canaan, why would God have spoken hundreds of years later (David’s day) about the opportunity to enjoy God’s rest. Joshua did lead them in Canaan but did not give them ultimate rest. The psalmist in David’s day and Joshua’s failure to give God’s people rest prove a better rest was available.

· Secondly, it’s a rest that comes by faith. The penman declared “Now we who have believed enter that rest” (4:3). The rest we must fear missing out on is rest that comes by an initial and ongoing trust in Jesus. Forsaking our trust (belief) in Jesus would cause us to fall short of enjoying this rest. We’ll see how this directly applied to the Jewish Christians in first century.

· Third, it’s a rest from our work. The better rest we have in Jesus is the same rest God enjoyed after creating the world. The penman takes us back to the book of Genesis when God rested from His work on the seventh day—“And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”—the penman’s quotation of takes us back to His work of creating the world in six days. Genesis reveals that God created the world and everything in it in six days and on the seventh day God rested from His work. On the seventh day God literally “rested from His toil and labor” – not because he was exhausted or needed to rest – His rest on the seventh day points to a rest that He wants us to enjoy as well through faith in Jesus. Therefore the penman highlights the opportunity for God’s people to enjoy this “Sabbath Rest”—"There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his—the penman revealed that God’s people can enjoy this “Sabbath rest.” God’s people can enjoy the same rest God enjoyed on the seventh day after creating the world. God’s people can enjoy a “rest from their toil and labor.” God’s people enjoy rest from tying to work to earn God’s favor and rest from the toil of trying to be justified by God through their own work. The “sabbath-rest” comes through salvation in Jesus. The “Sabbath-rest” is the “rest” that we begin to enjoy at the moment of salvation, once we put our faith in Jesus we enter into the rest, we rest from our “labor” and “toil” to be justified by God through our own efforts. We don’t want to miss out on this daily “Sabbath-rest” (salvation rest) we have through faith in Jesus.

· Finally, it’s a rest we can presently enjoy ( & 4:9). The penman declared “Now we who have believed enter that rest” (4:3). The “entering” or enjoying of this rest is present tense. The penman declared "it still remains for some to enter that rest (4:6) and “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God” (4:9)—we clearly see the opportunity to enjoy God’s sabbath rest is a present reality. The rest we should fear missing is not a future eternal rest but rather a present Sabbath rest that comes through faith in Jesus.

The rest we should fear missing out on is a rest better than the rest enjoyed by God’s people in Canaan, a rest that comes by faith, a rest from one’s labor and toil, and a rest we can enjoy in the present. The better rest described by the penman of Hebrews is the same rest Jesus invites us to enjoy through Him. Turn to . . (Read ) Jesus is greater because in Jesus we can enjoy a better rest—rest for our souls through faith in Him—a daily rest that begins at the moment of salvation (when we put or faith in Him) and a rest we continue to enjoy as we enjoy fellowship with Him. The greater rest Jesus gives, a rest from one’s labor and toil to earn favor with God and be justified before God, this is the rest we don’t want to miss in our lives. Jesus invites us to enjoy a better rest in Him—a rest from one’s toil and labor by trusting in the finished work of Jesus at Calvary—and this rest we enjoy in Jesus now is a foretaste of our eternal rest we will enjoy that is yet to come. We live in the tension of what theologians describe as “the already-not-yet”—the rest we enjoy in Jesus now will be fully attained and experienced in the future. Our present enjoyment of rest will give way to an eternal rest that is yet to come.

Now I want you to think about the audience to whom this was first addressed—Jews who had put their faith in Jesus and trusted in His finished work on the cross for the forgiveness of their sins and fellowship with God—they had left behind Judaism which was a life of ongoing efforts to be justified by God. Now that they had come to faith in Jesus, they were enjoying the “Sabbath-rest” that comes from salvation in Jesus, they were “resting” from their labor and toil to be justified by God by offering sacrifice after sacrifice and simply trusting in the Jesus’ completed work on the Cross. If they forsake their ongoing trust in Jesus, turning back to Judaism, they would miss out on this resting from their toil and labor as a faithful Jew. The Jewish Christians would be going back to the “toil and labor” of offering sacrifices to atone for their sin and miss out on the rest they have in Jesus. The “rest” the Jewish Christians would fail to enjoy if they go back to Judaism is the daily and present rest from their labor, toil, and efforts demanded by the Law. The penman did not want any of the Jewish Christians to miss out on the greater rest available in Jesus they had enjoyed through faith in Him. The penman did not want the Jewish Christians to miss out on the rest the have enjoyed by linking up with Jesus—they had found rest for their souls—and going back to Judaism would cause them to miss out on the blessing of this salvation rest they enjoy in Jesus.

B) The Effort to Enjoy a Better Rest (4:11-13)

“The Availability of a better Rest” in Jesus is a call for action which leads “The Encouragement to Enjoy God’s Rest (). Since a better rest is available in Jesus the penman encouraged the Jewish Christians (community of faith) to Enjoy a Better Rest.” (Read )

1) Strive to enjoy the better rest available in Jesus (4:11)

Here’s the penman’s encouragement—Strive to enjoy the better rest available in Jesus – Strive to enjoy the better rest available in Jesus. We find this call for the community of God’s people to take action—"Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest”—the phrase “make every effort” is the Greek word “spoudozo” which denotes the act of “doing something with intense effort and motivation; to work hard.” The penman exhorted the Jewish Christians to give their earnest effort to enjoy the rest they have in Jesus. Instead of going back to the “toil and labor” of Judaism, strive to enjoy the rest they have in Jesus, work hard to enjoy the rest you have in Jesus. What a paradox! Instead of going back to the “efforts” of Judaism, give it your all to enjoy the rest from trying to be justified by God through your own efforts, keep trusting in Jesus and enjoying the rest you have because of His finished work on the cross!

The Jewish Christians must give it their all to enter God’s rest instead of going back to Judaism because Jesus offers a greater rest than Moses and Joshua. Once again this is not a call to earn God’s favor—this is not an exhortation to work hard so that they could enter God’s heavenly rest—but rather a call to give earnest effort to embrace the spiritual (salvation) rest present in Jesus and to persevere in Jesus because one day we will be able to enjoy an eternal rest. It’s an exhortation to diligently persevere so that we will not forfeit the spiritual rest that is only found in Jesus and not Judaism!

The serious consequence of disobedience (unbelief) should motivate the Jewish Christians to make every effort to enter God’s rest —"make every effort to enter that rest so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience—God’s people should give their earnest effort to enter God’s rest so they would not face the peril of God’s discipline

2) The Description of God’s Word (4:12-13)

The penman concluded by reminding the Jewish Christians of the power of God’s Word to discern the condition of their hearts—"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (4:12-13)—the penman concludes with a profound and powerful description of God’s Word. God’s people in Moses’ day did not listen to God and disobeyed His Word. The Jewish Christians must hear and obey what God has spoken through Jesus. The powerful description of God’s Word revealed that it would be the instrument of His discipline. The Jewish Christians must not trifle with God’s Word or ignore God’s Word because God would use His word to expose their hearts.

The Word is “living” because it’s the word of the living God! God’s word has life; it is not a dead book!

The Word is “active” in that it is effective; it is able or has the energy to make things happen especially in the inner parts of man!

The Word is sharper than any two-edged sword—God’s Word has the ability to make cut us to the core and into the deepest parts of our lives—and the power to pierce or penetrate the deepest recesses of our beings just like a sword can cut through the joints and marrow of a physical body. The Word can filet us wide open and pierce us down to the depths of our souls!

The Word judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart in that it has the power to discriminate or be a critic; judging our inner thoughts and motives. God’s Word exposes and critics us!

The Word of God exposes us; all that is hidden deep within and unseen to man is clearly seen by God. God’s Word can uncover and expose everything about us hidden deep within—the image is of an athlete seizing his opponent and drawing his throat or neck back exposing his face to the crowd—or of an animal whose neck is stretched out and a knife is ready to be used to offer it as a sacrifice! The Word of God lays us wide open, bearing all that we are for God to see, for we are accountable to Him and Him alone! We cannot hide our faces from the One whom we must give an account!

We cannot ignore or forget the power of God’s Word to evaluate the condition of our hearts. The Word would be the disciplining agent in the life of the Jewish Christians if they return to Judaism and miss out on the blessing of the better rest they can enjoy in Jesus. God’s Word will reveal if they are forfeiting the rest they have in Jesus and unwilling to give all they have to enjoy the rest they have in Jesus. Certainly there were some in the midst of the true believers who had not yet put their faith in Jesus and the word of God would reveal the condition of their hearts.

APPLICATION

We can feel the penman’s deep concern for the hearts of his readers – he does not want them to miss out on the blessing of a better rest available in Jesus – he wanted them to be fearful of missing out on the blessing of a better rest available in Jesus now which will be fully enjoyed in the future. If they turn back to Judaism they will fall short of enjoying the blessedness of resting in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. The penman challenged the Jewish Christians to give their earnest effort to enjoy the promise of a better rest.

What about us? We’re not tempted to go back to Judaism and yet the pressing concern of failing to enjoy the rest we have in Jesus is a present danger in our lives. God’s Word is clear – we must fear missing out on the blessing a better rest in Jesus and strive to enjoy it.

Every single heart in this room is in need of the “rest” that Jesus offers – rest for our souls – a rest from our own efforts to earn God’s favor. We have been saved by God’s grace through faith—and in that moment we begin to enjoy the blessing of salvation rest—we rest from our labors to earn God’s favor and rest in the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

Unbelievers: Some of you are not enjoying this better rest because you’ve never trusted in Jesus as Savior and Lord. The better rest Jesus offers is a salvation rest. The work is done, you can’t trust in yourself and your work to earn favor with God, you must trust in Jesus who has done the work for you by dying on the Cross, was resurrected, and is coming again! You’re missing the rest that He offers you—a salvation rest for your soul—as you trust in His death, burial, and resurrection for forgiveness of your sin so that you might have peace with God.

Believers: What about those of you here this morning who are believers in Jesus. What’s keeping you from enjoying the rest Jesus offers. You might be like those Jewish Christians who experiencing a lack of trust that salvation had been accomplished by Jesus’ finished work on the cross. You find it hard to believe you can “rest” from your labor and that Jesus’ work is enough. You have to believe in the promise of rest in Jesus – believe that Jesus offers you rest for your soul – believe that you can rest from your “labor” and “toil” because Jesus’ finished work on the cross is the only way your sins are forgiven and you have fellowship with God. And yet we can be tempted to not believe in this promise of rest, doubting that God’s Word says Jesus’ finished work on the cross is enough, and in those moments we could be tempted to embrace a “works-based” mentality and begin to think our performance (work) will merit favor with God. We are deceived into thinking that we can earn God’s favor by what we do—reading the Bible, going to church, leading a small group, giving generously, helping the poor, memorizing verses, or managing our sin in our own strength—instead of believing what God has spoken in Jesus and trusting that our salvation is based on what Jesus has done and not we can do. Perhaps you’re struggling this morning to believe in the promise of a better rest in Jesus, thinking that you can work to earn God’s favor.

For some of you, this struggle is not falling back into a “works-based” mentality but you’re failing to enjoy the blessing of a better rest that comes from day-to-day fellowship with Him. There are many areas of our lives where we fail to trust in and forfeit the blessing of His rest.

· Finances: When you don’t get the raise you might have been expecting, you don’t make as much money on a cattle sale, or the stock market crashes and your IRA plummets you do fail to trust in His promises that God is your provider and He will meet all your needs according to HIs glorious riches in Christ Jesus – causing you to fret and worry – in that moment you miss out on the blessing of a better rest that comes from trusting in Him.

· Politics: When elections don’t go the way you want and politicians don’t support your policies do we get frustrated and angry – forfeiting the blessing of rest that comes from trusting that God is sovereign, can change the hearts of our leaders, and is fulfilling His purposes and plans for His glory.

· Family: When strife and tragedy hurt our families, do we worry and fret, instead of trusting in God and enjoying the rest that comes from our abiding fellowship with Him.

We have the promise of a better rest in Jesus that can flood our hearts each day. This week be diligent to enjoy the rest that comes from trusting in Him, submitting to Him, and abiding in Him.

· Hymn: Near to the Heart of God

Let’s strive to enjoy the blessing of a better rest in Jesus – the rest from our toil and labor to earn His favor – and the rest that comes from being in fellowship with Him.

CONCLUSION

Refresh

It’s been said “There is No rest for the weary” – and it’s been said “There is no rest for the wicked.”

Renew

The weary, the wicked, and everyone in between are in desperate need of rest – a rest that goes far beyond the physical and much greater than a nap – a spiritual and eternal rest for our souls that comes by trusting in Jesus. God says there is “rest” for anyone who believes in what He has spoken in Jesus. Jesus is greater than Moses because He offers a better rest. Anyone who believes (puts their trust in) Jesus as Savior & Lord can experience a sabbath rest – a rest from trying to earn God’s favor by one’s works – this true rest for our souls is only found in Jesus.

Restate

· Let’s have a holy fear of missing out on the blessing of the better rest we have in Jesus.

· Let’s strive to enjoy the blessing of the better rest we have in Jesus – a rest available now – and a rest that will be fully enjoyed in the Kingdom.

Pray