Hebrews
3 – 4 are definitive in understanding faith, the finished work of Christ, and
the fulfillment of the seventh day rest. One of the principles of hermeneutics
(interpretation of Scripture) is that you understand the Old Testament in the
light of the New Testament, not the other way around. These two chapters give
meaning to the seventh day rest of creation in Genesis 2:2 – 3 and the greater
seventh day rest in Christ.
The
message of the book of Hebrews is one of encouragement to believers who were
discouraged by persecution and considering abandoning their walk with Christ.
Some have never had to face that kind of persecution and so it is hard to
identify with that temptation. But in the two chapters mentioned above, the
writer reminds us of an important story in Israel’s history as it relates to
the seventh day rest. He connects entering and the conquest of the Promised
Land with entering the seventh day rest of God.
First he
states that some of those who came out of Egypt did not enter the land because
of unbelief. They died in the wilderness, while their children, led by Joshua
and Caleb, entered and conquered the Promised Land (3:16 – 19). Then he says
that God’s promise of entering His rest is still in effect with something much
greater than what the nation of Israel received when they entered and took
possession of the Promised Land under Joshua (4:1 – 10).
He
reminds the believers that David prophesied in Psalm 95 about another day of
rest that was coming, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden
your hearts.” His point is that there is a greater seventh day rest of
God for the people of God who will receive His word and believe. Then comes the
clincher: “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.” Hebrews 4:9 – 11.
This
passage teaches the truth of resting in the Life of Christ, which fully pleased
the Father. This defines salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. But in order to
rest in peace (RIP) with God through faith in Christ, you must die to the life
of trying to please God with your own righteousness and good works (RIP).
Entering the seventh day rest of God is to receive the Life of Christ, the only
Life fully pleasing to the Father, believing that He is now your life, and that
you are accepted and loved by the Father just as the Son is in Him!
What a
relief it is to know that your life pleases the Father. This is what it means
to worship the Father in spirit and truth. The seventh day of rest in the OT
was the day of worship. Resting in the Life of Christ becomes a life of true
worship.
The next
verse gives some trouble. “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest
so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” 4:11. The
word “strive” is the Greek word, speodow, and means to exert intense
effort with speed and exhilaration, to be motivated with intense desire. You
could call it the Greek concept of adrenaline. We get our English word “speed”
from this Greek word.
In the
context of Hebrews 3 – 4, this word means that for those who have believed in
the finished work of Christ for their salvation and are resting in His Life as
theirs to please the Father, there is a new motivation of excitement in living
His Life! In Christ there is a spiritual adrenaline for obedience and good
works! The Holy Spirit motivates with spiritual truth and sound doctrine for
obedience. No longer are you trying to earn God’s favor, but with greater and
greater effort you are living in it! The grace of God is not opposed to effort;
it is opposed to earning.
Today,
meditate on the truth that in Christ your life is His Life and that you are
fully pleasing to the Father in Him, and feel the excitement of spiritual
adrenaline!
Refreshing truths.
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