"There remains a rest for the people of God. For he that has entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works as God did from his" Hebrews 4:9-10.
There are many that are trying to work their way into heaven by their works and their obedience to the law. They have not entered into his rest. No one will see heaven that has not entered into God's rest. What is this rest? The rest is the Gospel. In the Gospel Jesus defeats sin, death and the devil and throws open the gates of heaven so that whosoever will, may go in. Romans 10:13.
Those that believe the Gospel have ceased from their own works and obedience to the law and are resting in the righteousness and the obedience of Jesus Christ for their salvation. If you are a religious person this will not make sense to you. You have been taught that you must, you must, you must, or you will be anathema. Paul is saying... "stop working and enter into his rest".
There is an analogy concerning Hebrews 4:9-10. God commanded the Israelites to go in and possess the land that was promised to them. They had been wandering in the wilderness for over 40 years and now it was time to enter the promised land. But as usual, the Jews refused to obey God. God told them that he would help them to possess the land. They didn't believe him. "So, we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief" Hebrews 3:19. They finally did enter in, but only after God threatened to destroy them.
Paul wrote, "For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them (the Jews) but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it" Hebrews 4:2. We enter into Christ's rest by hearing and believing the Gospel. But if you don't believe the Gospel you cannot enter into his rest. In the Gospel Jesus has done it all and he did it perfectly. We rest in his righteousness and in his atonement for our sins.
The way we enter into His rest is clearly spelled out for us in Hebrews 4:10
Hebrews 4:10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
To enter His rest one has also ceased from his works as God did from His.
When did God cease from His works?
This very passage tells us:
Hebrews 4:4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”;
The place He has spoken of the seventh day in this way was the Sabbath commandment at Mt. Sinai and God rested from His work is a direct reference to the Sabbath at creation. Genesis 2:1-3
Hebrews 4:9 says
So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,
The literal translation to rest here means keeping the Sabbath found in Exodus 20:8-11
a Sabbath rest
σαββατισμὸς (sabbatismos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4520: A keeping of the Sabbath, a Sabbath rest
God’s people keeps God’s commandments and the Sabbath is a sign between God and His people. Revelation 14:12, Ezekiel 20:20, Ezekiel 20:12
I agree we cannot work our way into heaven, keeping the Sabbath commandment is no different than not worshipping other gods or stealing. We should not do these things to be saved, it is a fruit of ones faith. If someone says they put God first in their life, but are placing anything above God and breaking the first commandment or if one is stealing and not repenting and turn from their sin, you would question their commitment to God.
God bless.
Last edited:
Upvote
0