3 reasons to pursue the better rest that is found in Jesus
I. Jesus Provides a Spiritual Rest for Us Now
A. Fear falling short of spiritual rest
Hebrews 4:1 - Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.
Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
B. Hearing of the word must be united with faith
Hebrews 4:2-3 - For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Romans 3:28 - For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
Genesis 15:4-6 - Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
John 3:36 - He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
C. The connection between faith and obedience
Hebrews 4:6 - Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience…
James 2:17 - Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
Romans 1:5 - …through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake…
D. The nature of God’s rest
Hebrews 4:4-5 - For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this passage, “They shall not enter My rest.”
II. Jesus Will Provide an Eternal Rest to Come
Hebrews 4:8-11 - For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.
A. There is rest after Joshua
Joshua 11:23 - So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses, and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. Thus the land had rest from war.
Joshua 21:44 - And the Lord gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hand.
B. The Sabbath rest
Leviticus 16:29-31 - This shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble your souls and not do any work, whether the native, or the alien who sojourns among you; for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the Lord. It is to be a sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute.
Matthew 11:28 - Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
C. Working hard looking forward to the eternal rest
Hebrews 4:10-11 - For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.
Philippians 2:12-13 - So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
III. God Knows Where You are Finding Your Rest
Hebrews 4:12-13 - For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
A. A warning to those who hide
Romans 3:10-12 -…as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, there is not even one.”
Psalm 95:10-11 - For forty years I loathed that generation, and said they are a people who err in their heart, and they do not know My ways. Therefore I swore in My anger, truly they shall not enter into My rest.
B. An encouragement for those who want to grow in obedience
2 Timothy 3:15-16 - …and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness…
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