Wednesday: Entering into His Rest
Read Hebrews 3:11 and Hebrews 4:1, Hebrews 4:3, Hebrews 4:5, Hebrews 4:10. How does God characterize the rest He invites us to enter?
Both the Sabbath commandment in Exodus 20:8-11 and Moses’ restatement of it in Deuteronomy 5:12-15 invite us to remember what God has done for us. As we have seen, what God wrote on tablets of stone point us to the finishing of His work of Creation (Exodus 31:18; Exodus 34:28). In Deuteronomy Israel is commanded to keep the Sabbath in view of God’s finished work of deliverance, from Egyptian bondage.
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The Exodus from Egypt pointed forward to the ultimate work of deliverance from sin that Christ would accomplish on the cross when He said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). So the Sabbath is doubly blessed and, in fact, is especially meaningful for Christians.
Read Hebrews 4:9-11, Hebrews 4:16. What are we called to do?
The Sabbath rest celebrates the fact that God ended, or finished, His work of Creation (Genesis 2:1-3, Exodus 20:8-11) or redemption (Deuteronomy 5:12-15). Similarly, Jesus’ enthronement in the heavenly temple celebrates that He finished offering a perfect sacrifice for our salvation (Hebrews 10:12-14).
Notice, God rests only when He has secured our well-being. At Creation, God rested when He had finished the creation of the world. Later on, God rested in the temple only after the conquest of the land He had promised Abraham was completed through the victories of David, and Israel “lived in safety” (1 Kings 4:21-25, ESV; compare with Exodus 15:18-21, Deuteronomy 11:24, 2 Samuel 8:1-14). God had a house built for Himself only after Israel and the king had houses for themselves.
| How can we enter into His rest even now? That is, how can we, by faith, rest in the assurance of the salvation that we have in Christ, and not in ourselves? |
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The most seemingly subtle things often have the greater negative impact (Genesis 3:1). Because of this, I will briefly flag two points for your consideration from today's lesson.
1) Command is something that an authoritarian sovereign uses. Commend is something an authoritative sovereign does. The Hebrew and Greek words typically translated in English as 'command' do not preclude an alternative interpretation - authoritative informing beforehand of the options available, principles involved, the outcomes associated and 'advice' as to which is the best option. This latter meaning is similar to enabling informed consent and preserves true freedom of choice. Which interpretation do you see reflected in Deuteronomy 30:15-20? How about Genesis 2:16-17?
2) The lesson proposes that "Jesus’ enthronement in the heavenly temple celebrates that He finished offering a perfect sacrifice for our salvation (Hebrews 10:12-14)". I would propose that what Hebrews is actually talking about is Jesus perfectly offering sacrifice for our salvation. The first interpretation flows from a view of salvation as the payment of a death penalty required for sin that is in addition to sin. The latter interpretation flows from a view of salvation as eliminating the problem that is producing sin (that problem being living in harmony with self-seeking) and in so doing eliminating the problem that is produced by sin (the consequential preclusion of life - ie, death - that is produced directly by self-seeking/sin). Under this latter interpretation, sacrificing is what is involved in denying temptations to self-seeking/self-indulgence. This is precisely what Jesus did as the second Adam* - and what He outlines is also inherent necessity for each of us to likewise do (Matthew 16:24).
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* I find that Jesus as the second Adam, Jesus as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), and Jesus as the fulfilment of the atonement sacrifice (Leviticus 17:11), although differing metaphors, are nevertheless all referring to exactly the same core principles and means by which salvation-redemption was/is accomplished.
Phil, I would like to respond to your first point. The Hebrew word translated as "command" more accurately means directions or landmark - a guiding sign showing us the way to go. By that definition, the references you gave certainly allow for free choice. We can choose to follow the signs, or we can choose to go whatever way seems right to us, even if it leads to destruction.
"Jesus perfectly offering sacrifice for our salvation."
Exactly. The study author asks the question, “How can we enter into His rest even now?” Jesus has gone before us into the Father’s presence where he has found rest from all his work. In the same Way, we boldly come before the throne of grace, and in the Father’s presence, we too find rest.
And as we walk with our Lord, the Holy Spirit gives this witness to us:
So when these have been forgiven, an offering to take away sins is no longer needed. (Hebrews 10:16-18 GNB.) The sacrifice of the cross and the work of our high priest through the Holy Spirit is reforming us into God’s image. (Philippians 2:5-8.)
A couple of days ago I talked about my journey back home after my visit to Queensland. I finished my description by saying, "I had that peace of mind that comes from knowing that I was home safe, where I belong." I think that experience is part of what is meant when we talk about "Entering into Jesus' rest". It is the sense that we are where we belong.
I think that Horatio Spafford captured this sense when he wrote:
These words were written after Spafford had suffered financial ruin and had lost his four daughters when the ship they were sailing in collided with another ship in the Atlantic and sank. This was not a refusal to accept the circumstances of his loss but the strength and comfort of confidence (rest) that Jesus has promised. Spafford was where "he belonged".
Rest in Jesus is not just a crutch for getting us through difficult times, but is something we should experience every day. It should be the root of our optimism. It is the confidence that our sins are forgiven and that our relationship with Jesus is solid.
Hebrews 10:14
14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
Please pay attention don't forget
He has perfected forever. I don't have the in depth knowledge of English language but I believe this is in past tense.
In Christ, I am already holy as He is holy. I am already perfect as He is perfect.
The moment I accept Christ, God sees me perfect regardless of how I feel at any given moment in my life.
Colossians 2:10 And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
He is only asking us would you believe?
Please stop trying so hard. Be focused on Him. Rest in Him watch Him work in your life and the life of others through you.
Then it will be said, "Here are they who turned the world upside down." Acts 17:6
Would you allow Him to enter in your life? He is keep on knocking.
Am so blessed by your insights brethren and my relationship with God is growing day by day especially when i learn that God has a perfect already finished work of our redemption but He never uses force but commends to us the only way to life.Your sharing is not in vain.
I am sure the other contributors would join with me in thanking you for taking the time to let us know that our sharing is not in vain because you are finding benefit from what God is blessing us to be able to contribute/minister. We are so glad your relationship with God is growing because this is what makes life worth living - especially in the difficult and challenging times. We join with you in praising God for his abundant blessings - and for glimpses of these blessings such as what you have shared with us. Your encouragement is appreciated and does make an impact too.
Thank you.
‘What has God done for us?' He has gifted us Life! What have we done with His Gift of Life? Have we left it unopened, or did we open it to make it ours - living our new nature? It is impossible for a believer not to open it! The Believer, the very person who fully accepted His Gift becomes the Gift of Life, and with this, he/she enters the Creator’s Rest!
Not to sound callous, but I think it high time to move on from living in the ‘doctrines’ and moving on to living the Gift of Life – our new nature. As an example, Celeste A Davio comments on her church family coming together for worship but focusing their conversation on their daily toils and experiences instead of on the Savior and His Gift of Life - and she feels lonely, becoming a bystander!!!!
How can this be in a church filled with believers and observers of the Sabbath? Could this depict a 'Country Club of Believers’ instead of a church filled with true worshipers of the Lord and Savior meeting together on Sabbath?
Phil writes about the neurons doing all the heavy lifting when used deliberately, becoming the ready, more willing pathway to help us move into 'a' new way of life. His model is applicable to anyone who desires to change their way of life, not only the believer.
What is the believer motivated by, what strong motivating powr provides the signal to fire up their neurons to move them to form the new pathways establishing their new nature? The believer's source for their motivation is entirely/fully spiritual; they respond to the promtings of Love – the Love of the Creator, our Love of Him, and our Love for our fellow man.
True, sincere love, the desire to love, the commitment to love, is in my opinion the only means by which the new nature is formed, established and takes hold. The Love we experience and express is the expression of the Creator’s Mercy and Grace!
This is His Gift to mankind - His Gift of Life to all who believe. Let us fully unpack His Gift and become LOVE, fully prepared to enter Rest in Christ Jesus our Savior.