A Sabbath-Rest for God's People

[Walter and Deborah]

Saturday 3-6-21 Adar 21, 5781 7th. day of the weekly cycle, 76th. Winter Day

 

A Sabbath-Rest for God's People

 

◄ Hebrews 4 ►

 

King James Bible  Par ▾ 

 

Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 16:22-36)

 

1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

 

3For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

 

4For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

 

7Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

 

8For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

 

God's Word is Living and Active

 

12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

 

13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

 

Jesus the Great High Priest

 

14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 

Love always, Walter and Debbie

[Jedi4Yahweh]

Yes, God sanctified/commanded every 7th day (Sabbath) as a rest from work and a time of worship, not only that he commanded every 7th year as time of rest, not only that God commanded every 7 x 7 seven's of years (49 years) to be a time of rest.  The 7th thousand years which is soon approaching will also be Sabbath rest.  These are God's appointed times along with Passover, Pentecost, and Feast of Tabernacles which were commanded to be kept by God covenant people.  Messiah kept them and so did all the other apostles.  Unfortunately most Christians have replaced these with roman/greek god pagan festivals to include the weekly Sabbath.

[Willa]

Verse 8 in most versions reads Joshua, not Jesus.  Heb 4:8  ESV. For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on.

 Mat 11:28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 

Heb 4:10  For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

This refers to our own efforts to keep the law or our good works.  We rest in the completed works of Christ on the cross.  We cease from our own works and trust that Christ's work is sufficient to save us.  He said "It is finished".  That is our Sabbath rest.  Praise God!

[mailmandan]

2 hours ago, Willa said:

Verse 8 in most versions reads Joshua, not Jesus.  Heb 4:8  ESV. For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on.

 Mat 11:28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 

Heb 4:10  For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

This refers to our own efforts to keep the law or our good works.  We rest in the completed works of Christ on the cross.  We cease from our own works and trust that Christ's work is sufficient to save us.  He said "It is finished".  That is our Sabbath rest.  Praise God!

Hebrews 4:9 - So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. (NASB) Notice that the Greek word "sabbatismos" here is used no where else in the Bible!

W. E. Vine, Greek Dictionary points out:

Sabbath rest (4520) (sabbatismos from sabbatízo = keep the Sabbath) literally means a keeping of a sabbath or a keeping of days of rest. It is used in this passage not in the literal sense (meaning to keep a specific day, the "Sabbath" day) but to describe a period of rest for God’s people which is modeled after and is a fulfillment of the traditional Sabbath.

SABBATISMOS a Sabbath-keeping, is used in Heb. 4:9, R.V., "a Sabbath rest," A.V. marg., "a keeping of a Sabbath" (akin to sabbatizoµ, to keep the Sabbath, used, e.g., in Ex. 16:30, not in the N.T.); here the Sabbath-keeping is the perpetual Sabbath rest to be enjoyed uninterruptedly by believers in their fellowship with the Father and the Son, in contrast to the weekly Sabbath under the Law. 

Because this Sabbath rest is the rest of God Himself, its full fruition is yet future, though believers now enter into it. In whatever way they enter into divine “rest,” that which they enjoy is involved in an indissoluble relation with God. (Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words)

http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/articles/index.php?view=article&aid=35458

 

Edited March 6, 2021 by mailmandan

[R. Hartono]

Rest our heart in Jesus every day, not our back on Saturday.

[Worship Warriors]

I have studied the whole book of Hebrews.  It can be a difficult book for many Christians to understand since its dealing with the tabernacle the priesthood and the covenant and all its sacrifices.

Hebrews was written to the mesianic priest.  Over a period of time, Their love for Jesus has now become dull. They were in danger of neglecting so great a salvation and some were even close to apostasy and treading down the blood of Christ.

What is the Sabbath rest in the book of Hebrews?  our forerunner has entered first for us . He is now seated in the holy of holies.   He wants us to labour to enter in and make the holy of holes our dwelling place.

How many of us are dwelling there?  In the OT they had it all and they neglected it.  In the NT,  we have a better covenant,  a better priesthood, a better sacrifice, a heavenly tabernacle . Yet there remains a rest for the people of God.

Rest inheritance perfection can only be found when the holy of holies has become our dwelling place.

Edited March 7, 2021 by Worship Warriors

[BlindSeeker]

On 3/6/2021 at 1:12 PM, Willa said:

Verse 8 in most versions reads Joshua, not Jesus.  Heb 4:8  ESV. For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on.

   Mat 11:28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

  Heb 4:10  For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

This refers to our own efforts to keep the law or our good works.  We rest in the completed works of Christ on the cross.  We cease from our own works and trust that Christ's work is sufficient to save us.  He said "It is finished".  That is our Sabbath rest.  Praise God!

Hello Willa, it has been quite a while since I visited Worthy. 

First, I absolutely believe that Jesus Christ is not only the Author of both our salvation and faith, of which scripture precisely states, but that He is also the Author of our rest. But that said, we must also realize that while such is freely given to us, we are still instructed to "work out" our salvation with fear and trembling, as well as to "Fight the good fight of faith" if we truly wish to "lay hold on eternal life." 

That does not mean we are earning anything from God, rather that we are only properly acknowledging His exhortations and commandments which He has given to us His saints. Did not Jesus say, “If you continue in My word, then are you My disciples indeed?” For that measure of faith that has been given to every man is only profitable to them if they are faithful to follow the instructions given them by God, you know, "Obedience is better than sacrifice?" Such is why the author of Hebrews continues down in the chapter with the exhortation to the believer “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”

Now I know that verse (11) above follows verse 10 you quoted "For he that is entered into his rest, …has ceased from his own works, as God did from His," but it would be poor reasoning on our part if we were to assume this verse (10) as being confirmation that we need to cease from "works." This should be obvious as we know from the Lord's brother that "Faith without works is dead, just as the body without the spirit is dead." There has to be works, labor, the expending of energy and effort in serving the Lord according to His instructions if we are to truly come to the Lord and so please Him. 

•  Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith(fulness) it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

But these "works" or "labors" are not the ceremonies or oblations or sacrifices given to the Hebrews under the Mosaic Law, but rather the proper (and should be the natural) response of a sinner who truly recognizes that their sins have been forgiven and their souls have not only been saved from hell, but they have also been made "joint-heirs with Christ" in all the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. It is the same as the natural response of Mary weeping and kissing Jesus's feet and washing them with her hair, simply because she knew she had been forgiven. But what amazes me when I look at most Christians and their "faith" and "love" which they exhibit towards Christ, is how meager it is compared to Mary's; and yet unlike her, they know what it cost Jesus to be able to justify them. All Mary knew was "Her sins being many are forgiven; therefore she loves much.”

So, why does this contrast exist between so many believers? Especially when we know of the passion of Christ? But that is another topic….

This exhortation to "labour therefore to enter into that rest," to me is simply the same as "he who knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin." We simply need to keep ourselves humble before the Lord, and never forget that we (as was Mary) are debtors, for we have been bought with a price and are not our own anymore. Therefore, as bond-servants, or slaves, who have been given liberty from the shame and bondage and guilt of sin, we have been freed that we might now serve the Lord acceptably, as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable, and now enabled to offer our praises to God in true righteousness, for is this not reasonable in light of the saint's inheritance.

But note in the verse you shared, "For he who has entered his rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His," that it is telling us that once we too have completed our work, as God did His, that we too can enter into our rest. Hence, (not wanting to be redundant), but “he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works [having completed them] as God did from His.”

We see this confirmed in Paul's words where he says, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." And what will Paul hear the Lord say in that day? will it not be "Well done thou good and faithful servant?" Did not Paul say, "I labored more abundantly than they all,” meaning the other apostles?

It is as Peter says, "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord." We all know that "By grace are you save, through faith, and that (faith) not of yourselves, it is a gift of God." For "to every man is given a measure of faith" whereby they can properly acknowledge and respond to the revelation of their poverty of spirit as sinners and repent, and return that which bears the inscription of God back to God; for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus and ordain (called) unto good works, or holy service unto Him who purchased us with His own blood.

But the translation of the Greek word Peter used whereby we read "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God," can be misleading, for it not speaking of facts about God, but our response to God. For the same word is translated "acknowledgment" in Colossians where Paul writes of how as believers we are "comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ."

Remember Paul said, "by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." That is because in everything he knew God wanted him to do, he did wholeheartedly, and then some. God's grace and peace was multiplied in Paul's life because he was ever seeking and laboring to fulfill the reason he was saved and called of God; and he received not the grace of God in vain.

How do we know this?  Because Paul "fought a good fight, ...finished my course, ...kept the faith" and "Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." And what will Paul hear the Lord say in that day." That day is not the Sabbath, nor Sunday, but the Day of the Lord's coming when Paul will enter into his rest having ceased from all his works... just as God did when He had finished His work.

Peace.

[Willa]

I understood this to mean that we are to cease from our self effort to be saved or our trying to keep the law to be saved just as God ceased from His own works, and Christ said it is finished on the cross.  Christ had finished His work as well.  

I am one of those people who tried very hard to be good enough to go to heaven, just like the foolish Galatians in Gal. 3.  So finding this verse lifted a huge burden from me.  Of course Once we are saved by grace through faith, not of works, there are good works prepared for us to fulfill.   

Blessings.

[Jedi4Yahweh]

11 hours ago, Willa said:

I understood this to mean that we are to cease from our self effort to be saved or our trying to keep the law to be saved just as God ceased from His own works, and Christ said it is finished on the cross.  Christ had finished His work as well.  

I am one of those people who tried very hard to be good enough to go to heaven, just like the foolish Galatians in Gal. 3.  So finding this verse lifted a huge burden from me.  Of course Once we are saved by grace through faith, not of works, there are good works prepared for us to fulfill.   

Blessings.

And then we find scriptures like these:

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. - Heb 4:11 ESV
"Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. - Luk 13:24 ESV

The word strive means to labor fervently, to fight, to struggle.

 

[Charlie744]

God created a 7th day.... His work was finished.  He did not have to create another separate day for ANY reason other than it would be a special day for us to spend with Him.... 

This was the only HOLY Day He created..... Did the cross make this day "common"?

Can man change His HOLY day to another day and make it HOLY? Is that what HE said or what we think we can do?

The 7th day was before the 10 commandments, the cross, before the RCC changed it, and will still be before HIS second coming.

The 7th day was included in HIS 10 commandments ... why would HE do that after He had already told us He created this HOLY Day after the 6th?

The 4th commandment does not tell us to "rest" in the Sabbath.. it tells us to "remember" the Sabbath... and to also remind us that we have no ability or right to try and make the Sabbath another day ---- it continues and says, "and keep it HOLY"..... not change, not work on this day....

On a secular level, why would Constantine have to made a decree to change the Sabbath to the first day of the week if the Christian Jews, the Christian Gentiles, etc., were not obeying the Sabbath.... because the still large group of pagans who worshipped the Sun or the honorable sun - day.... would accept this conversion to Christianity more acceptable... not forgetting all the other pagan rituals and practices like idol worship, other pagan holidays, etc., into this new Christianity.

How many "covenants" did God make with mankind?  Did anyone of them ever discuss or include the removal or changing of HIS Sabbath?  The NEW COVENANT prophesied in Jeremiah and fulfilled by Jesus was and is the final covenant God has made with mankind for their salvation..... this too would not affect HIS 7th day Sabbath... We are saved from OUR SINS through the cross but until HIS second coming God the Father (not Jesus) gave us HIS Sabbath until the return of Jesus.

Did Jesus tell us to obey HIS commandments? Did He say only 9 of them or 8....? Do you think He would have told us AFTER the cross?

 Did Jesus, HIS disciples keep the Sabbath before AND after the cross?

Did they keep HIS Sabbath after Pentecost?

Did Daniel tell us the "little horn" will THINK to change times and laws? (Sabbath)

Did the Sabbath (big S) exist long before the writing of the 10 commandments and change how the Jews would worship God?

After the 10 commandments God gave Moses the Torah where the Jews would now be commanded to keep all the CEREMONIAL RITUALS / PRACTICES /  LAWS in their worship of God.... Of course one of the most important, if not the most important was the sacrifice of a unblemished lamb which would symbolize the sins of the Jews would be transferred to this lamb ..... Did this sacrificial ritual have any effect on the Sabbath? Wasn't this a "sin offering"?  Was not Jesus a PERFECT "sin offering" that would also have NO effect on HIS Father's Sabbath?

We can go on and on .... no one will accept any of the above if they do not want to....... we all will or will not be saved by our acceptance or rejection of the Cross... and we will be with HIM forever... call it rest, worship, etc., we all agree with that.... but nothing before or after the Cross removed God's Sabbath from HIS CALENDAR... we have just made HIS HOLY DAY common (actually, we THINK we have made HIS HOLY DAY the first day of the week and HE SHOULD ACCEPT IT.......OR, I AM GOING TO "REST IN HIM ALL 7 DAYS"......  That is NOT WHAT HE SAID.... From the very first command to Adam... He wants us to obey HIM not obey HIM the way we say ...... 

The good news here is..... THIS IS NO DIFFERENT A CHOICE OR DECISION AS ACCEPTING JESUS AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR! It is an ENTIRELY INDIVIDUAL ONE and we are not going to claim we were just obeying "your church and its holy leaders" instructions..... and why would you (God) allow them to teach us the wrong things if YOU knew it was wrong?  But how many times does He have to remind us to keep HIS Sabbath... and that be aware the "little horn" will indeed THINK to change MY times and laws!!! 

If it wasn't so important to God for us to "keep it" and "obey HIS commandments" before He returned to HIS Father, what were HIS reasons? If it was not so important to HIM to keep HIS commandments (includes the Sabbath), why would satan and the little horn bother changing it to a "common" day of the week...... this is by far the easiest commandment for those two to get us to break and disobey God............. don't be silly, if you eat this little apple you will not die!  It is all about obedience to God regardless if He tells us not to eat an apple or to keep the Sabbath......

Just my thoughts (not my commands or a judgement if you will go to hell or not by not keeping the Sabbath), Charlie