Tag: Hebrews 4

My journey through the scriptures has taught me it’s extremely important to read the Bible, to study it and to listen to those who are acknowledgeable without bringing in man’s doctrines or rules. Hebrew 4 speaks of entering God’s rest.

Let’s read the scriptures to see what it says

Hebrews 4:1-3 ~ Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it. For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it. Now we who have believed enter that rest. As for the others, it is just as God has said:

“So I swore an oath in My anger,
‘They shall never enter My rest.’ ”

And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world.

From the very beginning as you read these scriptures, it makes the remark that “entering His rest still stands”. But the only way to enter His rest is by believing in the good news. However, the scriptures provide more information, it states for we also received the good news just as they did but because of their unbelief, their lack of faith, they would not enter God’s rest. So in God’s anger He swore an oath they would NEVER enter His rest.

Who is the Apostle Paul referring to when He says “they” and why did He quote GOD?

For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, 
led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with
those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did
He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Hebrews 3:16-19

Again, we see the Apostle Paul is referring to the Jewish people of the Old Testament who was led by Moses out of Egypt. From these scriptures GOD became angry with them because they rebelled, they did NOT obey. What did they NOT obey? Let’s read from Jeremiah in the Old Testament, which says;

Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths,
where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘we will not walk in it’.

Jeremiah 6:16

What was the old paths that lead to the good way? It was God’s Law along with His statues and ordinances. And it’s the very reason Isaiah says;

This is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for My salvation
is coming soon, and My righteousness will be revealed. Blessed is the man who
does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, and who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps His hand from doing any evil.

Isaiah 56:1,2

But Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the prophecies, but, how?

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and savior, we walk in His path and the Holy Spirit is there to help guide, to teach, to lead and to keep us from sinning among many other spiritual jobs. But, we can still sin if we ignore the Holy Spirit and live according to the flesh. But to provide further information, Jesus says this;

Matthew 11:28,29 (NASB) – Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Now let’s re-read from another Biblical version.

Matthew 11:28,29 (AMP) – “Come to Me, all who are heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST (renewal, blessed quiet) FOR YOUR SOULS.

What is the message of this scripture?

Come to Me, Follow Me as My disciple, learn from Me, do as I do and I will give you REST! The REST Jesus speaks of is our SALVATION! But we must EMULATE CHRIST, to pick up our cross and follow Him. And even Jesus says in Revelation,

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.

Revelation 14:12,13

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, when we believe in Him we’re given the Holy Spirit as a pledge, as a guarantee. And it’s the Holy Spirit which guides, teaches, convicts, prays for us, gives spiritual gifts, comforts, and leads us so we can walk in God’s ways. But faith comes by believing in Christ. Because when we believe, we receive forgiveness of sin, our hearts are purified, we are justified, we are sanctified, we receive God’s peace, our faith grows, we receive salvation, the fruit of the spirit works within us, and we enter God’s rest.

Because we walk by FAITH not by SIGHT