Hebrews 4:1-11: A Sabbath Rest for Gods People (Join the discussion on Hebrews 1-3 here http://www.facebook.com/note.php?

note_id=10150117580873554) Lord, as we continue this study, I ask that You will give us a renewed vigor and thirst for the study of your word. May it impact us and change our hearts, so that our characters will be JUST like You Son Jesus Christ. may He, and He only be glorified in these studies. Save us in Your kingdom now, and forevermore, in Christs name, Amen. Hebrews 4 continues the argument in chapter 3 designed to keep us from straying away from the path of following Christ. In the last chapter, Paul shows that it was unbelief that caused God to keep the original escapees from Egypt out of the Promised Land. God said they shall never enter my rest. (Hebrews 3:11) What exactly is he talking about? What is this rest? Lets find out. 1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, So I declared on oath in my anger, They shall never enter my rest. And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: On the seventh day God rested from all his works. 5 And again in the passage above he says, They shall never enter my rest. (Hebrews 4:1-5) There is still a promise of rest for the people of God, and it will be proven throughout the chapter. We are turned against falling short of what is required to enter that rest. We are just like Israel who heard the Gospel. However, they did not enter Gods rest due to unbelief. Those who believe will enter that rest. Faith includes, unbelief excludes. God rested on the seventh day from all his work. This text seems to be a running summary of rest throughout the Bible to explain to the Hebrews about Gods rest, who will enter it, and who wont. Paul appeals to Israelite history to make a penetrating point about how essential genuine faith in Christ is. 6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it Today. This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts. 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters Gods rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:6-11) The Israelites did not enter Gods rest, since if they did, God wouldnt have mentioned it later on. it would have already been fulfilled. The Israelites failed to enter because they didnt have faith. He spoke about it later on through David in psalm 95:7, 8. Therefore, Gods rest is still open to those who believe! When we enter this sabbatismos, a rest akin to that of the Sabbath day, we cease our work like God did on the seventh day. It is a rest of completion and satisfaction rather than of fatigue. So far in this chapter, the question has only slightly been touched, what exactly is this rest? Its not the weekly Sabbath rest, although it is similar, and it requires faith to enter. So what is it? Any ideas? (<a href=http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150117060528554 >Hebrews 3:12-19</a>) (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/note.php? note_id=10150116513903554&id=1233120181">Hebrews 3:1-11</a>) (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/notes/estepha-francisque/hebrews-2-jesusangels-part-2/10150115902298554">Hebrews 2</a>) (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/notes/estepha-francisque/hebrews-14-14jesus-angels/10150115366843554">Hebrews 1:4-14</a>) (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/note.php? note_id=10150114353813554&id=1233120181">Hebrews 1:1-3</a>) (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/note.php? note_id=10150113831453554&id=1233120181">Introduction to Hebrews</a>)