Jesus Christ - the better rest
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Jesus Christ - the better rest
Jesus Christ - the better rest
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
For the majority of us, most of life’s significant decisions are only made after an extended period of weighing the options and we trust, prayer.
Many of us would also ask a couple of trusted, spiritually mature and balanced friends for their counsel - wise counsel.
In the midst of some butterflies, the decision would eventually need to be made. The decision having been made, its long -term validity and stability will for the most part depend on the integrity of the counsel sought, weighed and acted upon.
Having begun to remind the readers of Hebrews of the wonder that God who spoke to them over so many years in so many ways, through so many people and had recently spoken to them by His Son, the writer then bit by bit proceeded to remind them and review that they needed to obey what God had said. This meant continuing to embrace Christ by faith.
To this point, the writer of Hebrews has given us an excellent trustworthy example of how to accurately weigh and affirm the decisions that we have by faith.
Multiple portions of the word of God
Example and counsel of maturing believers who live by faith and looking unto Jesus. From them and through them we understand walking by faith is a together journey.
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 11:30-12:
Heb 11:
Last week, we began to consider God’s rest that He had for His people. This was figuratively seen in the promised land. But the rest has for His people was much more than geographic location. Those who understood that, saw beyond a land flowing with milk and honey.
Most of those referred to in had both short, intermediate and long term aspects to their faith.
Noah - Heb 11:7
Abraham - Heb 11:8-10
Sarah-
Abraham & Sarah -
These all died by faith, looking by faith farther down the road.
Heb 11:
By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
Before we begin the work our way through the first part of , there is a corollary for us today, That faith corollary is that faith is a process. We were saved. We are being saved and we will be saved. They are inseparable. When we extricate one from the rest and the context that each has in the whole of word of God, we distort that segment , the Word of God, the Gospel and Christ.
The promise of God’s rest -
We need to remind ourselves of our context.
The Israelites had left Egypt but longed to go back.
Refused to trust God completely.
Longed for some aspects of life in Egypt.
The were hobbled by unbelief
Unbelief and rest cannot coexist - , 19
The promise still stands.
Although because of unbelief, the majority of their forefathers did not enter God’s rest, that was past, water under the bridge. That was yesterday. This is today!
The promise that offered to them is still offered today
This reaffirms the quote of that quoted twice - ,
The promise stands. While God says it stands, it still stands. It is today.
ILLUSTRATION: entered nearby restaurant with another couple from Calvary at 1:35 pm - breakfast brunch scheduled to end at 2:00 pm - Are you still able to serve us? Of course! We will be pleased to serve you! Once you are here take your time! Thank you for coming, as long as it is needed we will continue to bring fresh food.
As long as we hear God’s voice, it is today.
BUT as Jesus explained in the parable of the 10 virgins - no guarantee about tomorrow - 5 wise and 5 foolish virgins
The unbelief of the past generation need to be theirs.
Rest - katapausis - similar shades of meaning - God’s rest
There remains a
Ceasing from work or any kind of action - salvation through Christ - great salvation - 2:3 - founder/author of salvation - 2:10 - propitiation for the sins of the people - 2:17 - faithful over the house of God - today, harden not your hearts - 3:8, 15
Hebrews: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Meaning of Rest
Applied to God’s rest, it means no more self-effort as far as salvation is concerned. It means the end of trying to please God by our feeble, fleshly works. God’s perfect rest is a rest in free grace.
Nor is it the fear the God will not keep His promise.
Let us fear let any of you seem to have failed to have reached it
Rest also applies to be at peace with God - free from unnecessary guilt - free from worry about sin
End of legalism and good works.
We trust in God’s grace -
Rather than fear, we can praise God for the peace we have with God through Christ -
Let us fear that some might fail to reach God’s promised rest.
The fear spoken of here is not the reverential fear of God. That is assumed.
Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
1 Pet
And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
Rev 14
Nor is it the fear that God will not care for His flock.
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
But we should fear eternal separation from God.
Many who hear the Gospel have no fear. That is alarming. When told that they are sinners and with the imputed righteousness of Christ they will be separated for all of eternity from God who is holy, they seem to have no reaction.
How ironic and how startling. Beyond understanding!
Comparable - diagnosis from your doctor of fatal disease with the worse of all symptoms - to which the patient responds - no big deal, bring it on!
As the patient exits the office what will be going through the Dr’s mind - in addition to terminal illness the patient is obviously mentally incompetent.
Later the writer of Hebrews explained that those who have no sense of sin after having no heard the Gospel and have rejected it, have no fear of God and the judgment of God.
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Heb 19:26-31
Quoting from ; - cc - Deut 32:35
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Promise remains for the readers of Hebrews and us and for Israel.
Hebrews: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Availability of Rest
But God’s promise to Israel still stands. One of the clearest passages that shows Israel is still in God’s economy and that God is still working with her is in Acts 3. Shortly after Pentecost Peter said to a group of Jews just outside the Temple: “But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life” (vv. 14–15). But after this strong and seemingly final indictment, he concludes by saying, “It is you who are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ For you first, God raised up His Servant, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways” (vv. 25–26). Even though they had killed the Prince of life, the very Son of God, they were still children of the unconditional covenant God had made with Abraham. So the writer of Hebrews could say to them, “a promise remains of entering His rest.” Rest is still available. What marvelous grace!
Reason to fear, not because they had lost the opportunity for salvation, but they could lose it if they continued to put off believing.
Hebrews: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Availability of Rest
In his younger manhood Mel Trotter was as debauched as can be imagined. His children were starving because he spent his money on alcohol. His little girl died of malnutrition when she was about four. The neighbors gave enough money to buy her some new clothes and a casket to be buried in. In the middle of the night Trotter broke into the mortuary, took the clothes off his dead child, and exchanged them for a drink. Not long afterward, however, Jesus Christ reached down and changed his life, and he became one of the great preachers America has known.
The prerequisite for God’s rest - 4:2-5
The message must be united by faith.
God’s example at creation.
The writer of Hebrews was clear, direct and succinct.
The message - to benefit must united by faith.
Hearing is not enough.
Doing good deeds not enough. Jesus made that very clear
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matt
Good heritage and family not enough. Jesus also explained that.
I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did,
Jn 8:
I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
Message received by faith - 4:2
God’s example after creation - 4:4
Our rest is God’s rest - not that we have done all that is needed, but God has finished it all.
God’s works finished from the foundation of the world.
God’s provided rest similar to God’s rest on the 7th day. The context of the verse quoted was that His creation work being finished, He rested.
Lesson applied - IF GOD SAYS WHAT IS NEEDED TO ENTER HIS REST IS FINISHED, IT IS FINISHED.
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 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. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
Sabbath rest and keeping the sabbath today.
Hebrews: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Our Rest Is God’s Rest
Sabbath rest was instituted as a symbol of the true rest to come in Christ. That is why the Sabbath could be violated by Jesus, and completely set aside in the New Testament. When the true Rest Land came, the symbol was useless. “Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ” (Col. 2:16–17).
The promise of God’s rest still stands - 4:6-7
At first glance, the these verses might seem redundant - not needed - because the point had already been made - 3:7-8, 15. Here in , the we are told and reminded that listening and hearing it not enough. There must be a faith response.
It remains for those who obey/believe
Do not harden your hearts
God appoints a certain day - today.
While the opportunity to believe remains, the opportunity is not indefinite. The Scriptures referred by the writer have emphasized again and again that the promise of entering God’s rest remains.
Some might ask when does God’s offer no longer offered. The reasoning of those who ask, might be that when we know the deadline, we will believe before the offer is withdrawn.
I would suggest that is the wrong way to think about believing or accepting any of God’s promises.
All that any of us have is today. We have no guarantee of tomorrow.
Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.
James 4:`3
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
Now is the day of salvation.
For he says,
“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.”
Gen 6
The precious rest for the people of God - 4:8-10
The rest spoken of here is spiritual not physical. If Joshua had given them rest, God (Greek - he) would not have spoken of another day after that. The writer of Hebrews attributed this psalm to David, meaning that it written around 1,000 BC, 300 years after Joshua.
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
when your fathers put me to the test
and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
For forty years I loathed that generation
and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart,
and they have not known my ways.”
Therefore I swore in my wrath,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
Ps 95:
would not have spoken of another day after that.
So there remains a sabbath rest for the people of God
God’s true rest comes through Christ.
Christ’s rest better than the promised land into which Joshua led the Israelites.
Ongoing battles and work
The rest waiting for those who through believe - comes with promises.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
We do not labour to obtain or retain that rest.
All of the work has been
THOSE WHO RECEIVED THIS REST ARE NOT PROMISED UNENDING HAPPINESS, WEALTH, HEALTH AND FREEDOM FROM STRUGGLES.
Abraham and Sarah - waited 20 years for the birth of Isaac - with others - 11:4-12 - died in faith never receiving what promised
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Heb 11:32-
Rest for the people of God - Israel - OT Israel - the people of God. What is promised them by faith, is ours by faith as well.
Rest is future - the one who has entered His rest - God’s rest - has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His - 4:10
John was reminded of this on Patmos.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
God’s rest and His word- 4:11-13
The need for God’s rest through faith in Christ, God’s Son is urgent.
Again and again the need to enter God’s rest is stressed
Do not harden your hearts - 3:7, 15
Let us - hortatory subjunctive = command
Promise of entering still stands - 4;1, 3, 5, 7, 10
Strive to enter God’s rest - obey.
Strive - diligent, earnest, zealous
Let us - hortatory subjunctive = command
That no one fall by the same sort of disobedience
No one - while entering God’s rest is an individual decision, there is also an plea to do what is spiritually ethically acceptable to encourage those whom we know to enter God’s rest.
US Marines:
“Leave no man behind.”
Whether the one to be rescued is dead of alive, liked or disliked, known or unknown.
Whether there might additional loss of life
“Do not quit - no matter the cost”
Fall by some sort of disobedience.
The majority of the Israelites did not enter the rest offered by God, the reason being they did not obey God and trust what He said
Power of word of God
Some of us might quietly ask ourselves why collectively exhorting each other their attention is turned to the power and effectiveness of the Word of God.
We are well aware that some phrases once verbalized become ear worms that we cannot forget - FAKE NEWS, ME TOO
That was even more the case with the Israel. Whether they obeyed or not, the words of Isaiah and others like them underscored that the word of God, were not merely words that were spoken by God through others - - God’s word went out with lasting power and changed those who heard and obeyed. The word of
By myself I have sworn;
from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow,
every tongue shall swear allegiance.’
The word of God is:
Living - alive - quick KJV - first word in Greek
Able to give life
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Active - powerful KJV - energns vs dunamis/power - “Word used of activity which produces results and is used often for divine activity which produces effective results.” Reinecher/Rogers -Lingistic Word Key of the NT
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.”
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
Sharper than a two edged sword
As a two edged sword, the word of God did not tear but like a large scalpel comforted but also exposed the shallow motives of those who going through the motions of professing to believe and obey Christ.
“God’s word exposed shallow beliefs and false intentions.” (Dr John MacArthur - Study Bible)
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
1 Sam
but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Piercing to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, discerning thoughts and intentions of the heart
soul and spirit not separate entities - elsewhere used interchangeably to describe man’s immaterial self
3 expressions underscore that God’s word penetrates those whose hearts are not hardened
Discerning - kritikos - analyzes all facts perfectly
No creature hidden from His sight, all are naked and exposed/open to eyes of him to whom we must give an account
Open - forced to face God
Hebrews: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Urgency of Rest
The word translated open had two distinct uses in ancient times. It was used of a wrestler taking his opponent by the throat. In this position the two men were unavoidably face to face. The other use was in regard to a criminal trial. A sharp dagger would be bound to the neck of the accused, with the point just below his chin, so that he could not bow his head, but had to face the court. Both uses had to do with grave face-to-face situations. When an unbeliever comes under the scrutiny of God’s Word, he will be unavoidably face-to-face with the perfect truth about God and about himself
Eyes of Him - for a people who understand that no man can look at God and live, they reminded that the word of God brings us face to face with the living God.
Accountability for all who hear the word of God
It is to God alone that we are accountable.
While God’s gracious promise of His sabbath rest stands, what are we to do?
Let us and those who are dear to us, do whatever is needed to enter His rest.
Entering God’s rest has eternal consequences
Our entering or not entering God’s rest influences others
US - we - US - while faith and obedience is personal it is also collective.
Some decisions to obey can only be made collectively.
2. Let us remember that His rest was accessed by obeying/believing.
Obeying/believing and works are connected but not the same.
-
Distinguished by what we are trusting in - what we do or what Christ did
What am I/you/we trusting in - parents, certain doctrines or lack thereof, baptism, church membership, respected exemplary life
3. Let us rest in God.
Take God as His word.
Relax, be at peace with God.
Serve and pray but not like everything depends on you.
By the way that you live, live in such a way that it clear that you trust in God.
ILLUSTRATION : Very large farmer in Western Canada - he and his son farm between 6,000 & 7,000 acres.
What about working on Sunday? Hard but not difficult question. Has decided to work very hard 6/24 and trust God with the rest.
4. Let us individually and collectively allow the word of God to do what is needed in me/us.
If the word of God says it - obey, do it.
If the word of God says something that is new - my first commitment is to obey the word of God not previous well intentioned commitments that were made without a full understanding of the word of God
ILLUSTRATION: In the midst of discussion re the church that he pastored struggling financially, the pastor commented that he was going to increase his tithe and offerings to 5%.
Illustration : How Mel Trotter was converted.
2 Tim
You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.