Don't Miss Out On The Rest
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
A few weeks back, we concluded our look at Hebrews 3.
Here is a reminder of what we studied in verses 7-19.
First, we must keep in mind that the Apostle Paul informed the church in Rome concerning the things that were written in the Hebrew Scriptures:
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
So, even though the Old Testament may be hard to follow and understand at times, it is beneficial for us to read it because the things that happened are written for our instruction.
And oftentimes in the book of Hebrews, the Old Testament is alluded to and used directly to teach Christians.
One very important lesson that is repeated over and over again throughout the Bible: God warns mankind of the dangers and penalty of sin.
In Hebrews 3, the writer points to the failure of the Israelites to enter the Promised Land because of their unbelief. Instead of entering, they spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness and dying. They did not get to enter the land. They did not get to enter into the rest of their God.
Thus, we learn that not to trust in Him is fatal.
Contrary to popular belief, God does not send people to Hell.
Our unbelief is what prevents us from entering His rest (i.e. heaven).
Now, as we get into the text of Hebrews 4...
THE OPPORTUNITY IS STILL PRESENT…BUT NOT FOR LONG (v. 1)
THE OPPORTUNITY IS STILL PRESENT…BUT NOT FOR LONG (v. 1)
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.
Interesting here that the author of Hebrews tells their readers to fear, in case they have failed to reach his rest.
There is a genuine concern that some of their readers are still steeping in unbelief.
As long as the promise of entering his rest still stands, there is opportunity to be saved.
Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 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.
Paul recognized the need for people to make a decision about Jesus, because they are not promised another moment to reckon with it.
The brevity of life is very real. Do not let the moment slip away from you.
DL Moody, on a lesson he learned from the Great Chicago Fire:
I want to tell you of one lesson that I learned that night which I have never forgotten, and that is, when I preach, to press Christ upon the people then and there and try to bring them to a decision on the spot. I would rather have that right hand cut off than to give an audience a week now to decide what to do with Jesus.
Until the end of life, a person is never too far gone for God to deal with him, as long as his heart is sensitive to what the Spirit is saying and he can hear God’s call.
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
A MISSED OPPORTUNITY HAS GRAVE CONSEQUENCES (v. 2-3)
A MISSED OPPORTUNITY HAS GRAVE CONSEQUENCES (v. 2-3)
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.
The writer here is drawing a comparison between the Israelites of the Old Testament and the people in their own day (i.e. New Testament times).
Both groups of people received the good news (i.e. the gospel), but the OT Israelites failed to obey and were thus punished for their disobedience.
For 40 years, they suffered in their wanderings and an entire generation lost their lives before they were permitted to enter the Promised Land.
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
In the OT, those who did not believe did not enter the Land.
Today, a person’s unbelief can only have one result: eternity in Hell
It is not a typical response for an unbeliever to have a genuine fear of going to Hell.
For many people, and our media has a lot to do with this, Hell is going to be one giant kegger with all your buddies. What a party it will be!
The truth about Hell:
In the time it takes me to say this sentence, 18 human beings awoke in eternity because
they died on earth. (And, that was in 10 seconds.)
Every hour, 6,464 people die. That’s 155,131 per day – about fifty-six million a year.
The sad reality is that a majority of these folks are stepping out of this life and into an eternity of Hell.
IT IS THE PLACE OF ETERNAL, UNENDING PAIN, MISERY AND TORTURE
A darkness so impenetrable that in the countless ages of eternity, none of the lost will ever see light or relief - no wonder they are wailing, howling and gnashing teeth.
The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
IT IS THE PLACE WHERE BODY AND SOUL ARE TORMENTED.
All will be raised, both saved and lost. Some to blessing, some to horror.
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
HELL IS THE PLACE WHERE THERE ARE LEVELS OR DEGREES OF TORMENT
All face intense and unending pain. Some will face far greater.
It is in the interests of divine justice that punishment will be given out according to the nature of the offense. We see a reflection of this, for example, in the Old Testament law which prescribed more severe punishment for premeditated murder than for accidental homicide.
Scripture tells us:
He will render to each one according to his works:
At the judgment, the record books will be opened
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
There seems to be no point to this other than that of determining the measure of accumulated guilt, and for the assigning the appropriate measure of punishment
Hell is a very real, unpleasant place, that our society as a whole has twisted and distorted as being the preeminent spot to spend eternity because really, who can throw a better party than Satan himself?
WHAT THE REST IS ALL ABOUT (v. 4-10)
WHAT THE REST IS ALL ABOUT (v. 4-10)
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.
This rest that has been alluded to by the writer of Hebrews is similar to the rest that God took on the seventh day of creation week.
In six days, God created all things that mankind needed. He created a righteous man and woman to take care of and live peaceably with a perfect creation. Then, He rested from the work He had done.
Similarly, Jesus came to this earth and lived among imperfect, sinful men and perfectly showed the love of God and lived a life in perfect obedience to the Father. Then, He rested from the work He had done.
It is promised to those who live in faith and obedience to God that they will enter His rest.
That is why if you hear his voice today, do not harden your hearts.
Rather, be sensitive to His leading and come to Christ. Seek to live in obedience to our Creator and Savior. Lest the day comes when He says to you, [You] shall not enter my rest.
What it means to have God’s rest:
To be at peace with God
Forgiveness of sin
Forever established in Christ
Depend on God for everything
To have the peace of God
Free from worry about sin (it is forgiven)
Free from the feelings of guilt
Free from every doctrinal wind that blows our way
Depending on God in everything
To experience the Kingdom rest of the Millennial Kingdom
To experience the eternal heavenly rest
CONCLUSION
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Admittedly, the book of Hebrews can seem dry at times.
There are a lot of Old Testament references and allusions.
But as we have already been reminded of by the Apostle Paul in Romans, these things are written for our instruction.
The fact is that God has a promised rest for those who have faith in Christ, and live in obedience to Him.
THE OPPORTUNITY IS STILL PRESENT…BUT NOT FOR LONG
You have the opportunity now to commit to Christ for salvation. But are you guaranteed another moment in your life? It does not matter how young or old you may be, your time will be up one day.
A MISSED OPPORTUNITY HAS GRAVE CONSEQUENCES
Maybe you are one of those people who says, “I’m just not ready to make this decision.”
If that is you, I plead that you do not put it off for long. Remember, you are not promised another moment beyond this one in life, and to miss out means eternity in Hell.
WHAT THE REST IS ALL ABOUT
Peace with God and the Peace of God. The day will come when our striving in this world will be rewarded with eternal rest in the presence of our Creator and Savior.