1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.
Just as the promised Land was before the Israelites, so also, the rest of God is available to us.
But the receiving of the Land was not automatic.
The entering into the rest of God is also not automatic.
rest- katapausis- to cease, to stop something.
Something that can be enjoyed, and experienced, or missed, and not experienced.
Israel missed the Land of rest that God wanted to give them.
They missed it because of unbelief.
OUR DEFINITION- God’s specially provided resting place.
A definition of the resting place of God is given in verses 2-8
2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
God’s manner of providing rest is found within these two verses.
His formula is presented to us.
The spiritual equation is as follows: hearing + believing = rest.
To enter into this rest of God, certain things need to be in place.
- Hearing the word of God, the promises of God, is the first essential.
- Hearing is not enough.
God’s word must be believed, in such a way that a person’s life and action are directed by God’s word.
4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works“;
5 and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience,
7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.
10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.