Real Rest

Backing Up a Bit

There is another day of rest coming

Possibility that some thought they’d been missed at the 2nd coming

>With all the other errors, this is possible

>>Thought that Jesus had returned secretly??

Possibility that some may have even thought that coming to the Promised Land was the rest

>Were that the case, what about the Exile?

Obviously, the rest in the Promised Land was NOT permanent!

Also a thought in Judaism of the day: Rest in a messianic kingdom—a remaking of Solomon’s or David’s kingdom by the Messiah

Our Rest, Like God’s Rest

No more labor? Really?

Discussion is open to is God still working?

>Does not Jesus sustain our very existence?

>Does not the Father answer prayer?

>Does not the Spirit empower, enable and intercede?

Best understanding is that God ceased His creative labor

Rest in view (short-term) is the rest of sleep of death

Helpful to look at Luke 16:19ff

Will we have labors? That’s a whole different lesson—or lessons

Even after the “rest” of the Promised Land, there was still work to be done

We will be free from toils and struggles of life

“Soon I will be done with the struggles of the World…Going Home to be with God”

Now, About that Striving

Links to the Warfield comment

>Praraphrase: defeat doubt by doing

Can we lose salvation? NO

Can we doubt our salvation? YES—Satan likes to see that

>It kills our effectiveness

If faith is real, it is shown in our work

The Judging of our Work

That the Word…that 2-edged sword

It lays us bare, open

Motivation and purpose behind our thoughts and actions all visible to God

We Will Give an Accounting for our Actions

Text says “must”

No escape clause here

So What?

When God is done with us, He calls us home

No time left to complete the tasks given us

At some point we give an account for all we have done—good, bad; worthwhile or worthless

Motivations and background thoughts called into account

Lets make sure they’re right: Heart first, for saving faith;

>Actions follow…proper motivation