God's Rest

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. 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. 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. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

In an effort to find his royal artist, a wise king once commissioned two painters to paint a picture that captured the essence of rest. The first painter chose for his scene a still, lone lake nestled among beautiful snow capped mountains. The second painter threw on his canvas a thundering waterfall, with a fragile birch tree bending over the foam; at a fork of a branch, almost wet with the cataract’s spray, a robin sat on its nest.

The day arrived for the finished works to be presented to the king. The paintings were set upon easels before the king’s throne and all who saw the paintings admired the first one and mocked the second. Finally, the king entered and walked up to each painting to inspect them. After some time he called the first painter forward and said to him, “You have not painted a picture of rest, but of stagnation. You may take your painting and go home.”

Then he called the second painter forward. “You shall be my royal artist!” the king declared, “For you have captured the essence of true rest. For in true rest there are two elements—tranquillity and energy.”

I open my message today with this story because it illustrates that true rest is not the product of laziness, but labor. This is seen in verses 10-11 of our text.

Hebrews 4:10–11 ESV

for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

This is especially true of the Sabbath Rest of God. To understand this fully we must ask and answer three questions:

What is God’s Rest?

How do I Enter God’s Rest?

When do I Enter God’s Rest?

Let us begin with the first question:

What is God’s Rest?

God’s Rest is first found in Genesis 2.

Genesis 2:1–3 ESV

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.

This theme of Rest and Sabbath runs through the bible from Genesis to Revelation. As we read in our Advent Scripture Lesson today from Isaiah 65, God has begun work on a new creation—a New Heaven and New Earth. As Redemptive History has progressed we learned that this new creation act is centered around the work of God’s Son, the Messiah. At Advent we celebrate the Two Comings of Jesus. At His first coming, Jesus came to establish Rest from our bondage to sin. At His second coming, Jesus will consummate the creation of the New Heaven and New Earth.

Because so few people read and study the Old Testament today, the only “Sabbath” as rest they are familiar with is the weekly Sabbath day celebrated as the end of seven days of labor. But this was not the only Old Covenant sabbath, nor was it the most important. The most important “Sabbath” of the Old Covenant was the Day of Atonement.

Leviticus 23:26–32 ESV

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the Lord. And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God. For whoever is not afflicted on that very day shall be cut off from his people. And whoever does any work on that very day, that person I will destroy from among his people. You shall not do any work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. On the ninth day of the month beginning at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath.”

On the day of Atonement, the High Priest labored intensely—offering sacrifices for the sins of God’s people. It was a day of Sabbath Rest for God’s people, purchased by the blood of sacrifices and the labor of the High Priest. In chapter 2, the author of Hebrews introduces Jesus as our Great High Priest. In just a few more verses starting in Hebrews 4:14 the author begins his longest and most important teaching section in the book of Hebrews. In this section, he will demonstrate how Jesus’ High Priestly ministry is superior to that of the Old Covenant high priest and how His once and for all Sacrifice of Atonement is superior to the ones offered by the Old Covenant priests. What this means is that Jesus was able to Rest from His atoning work.

Hebrews 10:11–14 ESV

And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Jesus now offers that Rest to us. By faith in His atoning work, we can enjoy Peace with God.

Romans 5:1 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is why the weekly Sabbath day has been moved from Saturday to Sunday. In the Old Covenant, the people of God celebrated God’s Rest from His creation of the First Heavens and First Earth. In the New Covenant, the people of God celebrate Christ’s Rest from His atoning work.

But as Hebrews 4:9 teaches us, “there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.” This is the Sabbath Rest we will enjoy when Christ comes back at His second Advent. This is the celebration of the creation of the New Heavens and New Earth.

Revelation 21:1–4 ESV

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

This Sabbath Rest will be a day of celebration and joy that will never end!

With such a great salvation and rest before us, we need to ask and answer the second question...

How Can I Enter God’s Rest?

Throughout chapter 4 we find repeated warnings about failing to enter into God’s rest. Actually these warnings begin in chapter 3.

Hebrews 3:18–19 ESV

And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

You will notice that the author of Hebrews is essentially saying the same thing, but using two different words. In verse 18, the reason the people failed to enter into God’s rest was disobedience. In verse 19, the reason is unbelief.

Biblical faith is not just believing certain facts about God are true, but it is a personal trust in that person. If we truly believe what God has revealed about Himself in Scripture, then we will naturally trust and obey Him. Again the story of the rebellion at the border of Promise Land is so helpful in illustrating this.

Why according to Hebrews 4:2, was the “good news” that was preached to the Exodus generation no “benefit” to them? It was because “they were not united by faith with those who listened.” They said, “Can God?” rather than, “God can!” They thought of their enemies as large as giants and themselves as small as grasshoppers!

But what of those who listened? Because they believed, Joshua and Caleb became like giants in the eyes of their enemies and their enemies fell like grasshopper before their swords! Faith makes all the difference.

The only way to enter into God’s Rest is by faith and we know we have true saving faith by the fruit of obedience.

Now we are ready for the third and final question...

When Will I Enter God’s Rest?

If we are talking about God’s eternal rest, then obviously it will not be until we either die or are raptured into heaven. That day is in the future, however, as we learned there is another way of speaking of God’s rest—enjoying the forgiveness of our sins. This rest you can enjoy right now! In fact, if you have any hope of ever enjoying God’s eternal rest you must first enjoy in this life the rest and peace with God that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

It is quite common to see on a grave maker or in a Facebook post these three initials—RIP—Rest in Peace. Almost everyone in our society assume they and those they care about will go to heaven. But the bible sees things differently. The author of Hebrews warns us repeatedly in chapters 3-4, that without faith we will fail to enter into God’s Rest.

I would be remiss as a pastor if I did not ask each and everyone of you Today, “Are you enjoying enjoying peace and rest with God through Jesus Christ?” The Lord’s Day, the Christian Sabbath, is given to us to remind us of the importance of being in the Present Rest Jesus offers us through His atoning death in order that we may enjoy the Future Rest of the New Heavens and New Earth.

Therefore...

Conclusion: Let Us Strive to Enter God’s Rest

The word translated “strive” in verse 11 speaks of zealous, diligent effort. In other words, you can’t enter God’s rest with lazy faith. The Apostle Paul teaches us that we must examine ourselves, to see whether or not we are in the faith.

2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV

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!

So let us be active, not stagnate in our faith.

Hebrews 3:15 ESV

As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

Let us pray.

Lord add your blessing to the Word which we have heard Today. By your Spirit unite our hearing with faith so that we might benefit from it and enjoy your Rest. Amen.

Related Media

Related Sermons