I pray you read this with an open heart and be blessed.
Hebrews chapter four points to a spiritual Sabbath that we enter into by way of belief in the gospel message.
Hebrews 4:1-3 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest,'' although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
The same gospel message that is preached to us was preached to them but they did not believe. It was only Abraham, the father of our faith, who believed the gospel and was called a friend of God.
Galatians 3:8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed.''
It's the gospel of Jesus Christ as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. It's the gospel of the inheritance. It's a finished work that they should have looked forward to and we look back to. It's these works that were finished from the foundation of the world as part of God's eternal plan.
Ephesians 1:9 God has told us his secret reason for sending Christ, a plan he decided on in mercy long ago;
Ephesians 1:11 Moreover, because of what Christ has done we have become gifts to God that he delights in, for as part of God's sovereign plan we were chosen from the beginning to be his, and all things happen just as he decided long ago.
Ephesians 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
2 Timothy 1:9 It is he who saved us and chose us for his holy work, not because we deserved it but because that was his plan long before the world began--to show his love and kindness to us through Christ.
When we understand this plan and how it has all been worked out by God from the very beginning it will bring a glorious rest within the heart of the believer.
God does not want us to build our life on sand. He does not want us investing anything into the old man, which is perishing. When we deny God and His eternal plan to do our own thing we are building our own cisterns, which can hold no water.
Jeremiah 2:12-23 The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay. For my people have done two evil things: They have forsaken me, the Fountain of Life-giving Water; and they have built for themselves broken cisterns that can't hold water!
Building a cistern is a lot of work.
When we enter into the true Sabbath rest, in the finished work of Christ, we cease from building our own cisterns and begin to drink from the living waters, which come to us from God through Christ and His finished work.
John 4:10 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, `Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.''
This has nothing to do with the fourth commandment. The fourth commandment was given to test the people back then to see if they would obey God.
Exodus 16:4-5 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. "And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.''
This test was not given to anyone prior to it being given them under the Old Covenant. Read very carefully the words of the Old Covenant and who they were given to. Pay close attention to the words, "O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today" and "The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive".
Deuteronomy 5:1-21 And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: "Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them. "The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. "The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. "The Lord talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire. "I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain. He said: `I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. `You shall have no other gods before Me. `You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. `You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. `Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall not do any work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your manservant and your maidservant may rest as well as you. And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. `Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. `You shall not murder. 'You shall not commit adultery. `You shall not steal. `You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. `You shall not covet your neighbor's wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.'
The fourth commandment Sabbath was a test for the people of God back then to see if they would obey God. This is no longer so for the New Covenant believer for this had an end in Christ.
Galations 3:10-29 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.'' But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "The just shall live by faith.'' Yet the law is not of faith, but "The man who does them shall live by them.'' Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree''), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds,'' as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed,'' who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Our tests are founded in the words of Christ.
The law for the New Covenant believer is the law of Christ founded on His words, which is a much higher law, which brings about eternal life.
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law.
Satan wants to keep us under the Old Covenant because the law of the Old Covenant brings death and condemnation.
2 Corinthians 3:7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones...
2 Corinthians 3:9 For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory...
These two verses are characterizing the law on stone.
In Christ we have a new and living way, which is free from the works of the Old Covenant, which includes the fourth commandment Sabbath. Knowing this freedom we have in Christ through this new and living way let us not forsake gathering together, as some do in this freedom from the law of Sabbath keeping.
Hebrews 10:21-25 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews chapter four points to a spiritual Sabbath that we enter into by way of belief in the gospel message.
Hebrews 4:1-3 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest,'' although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
The same gospel message that is preached to us was preached to them but they did not believe. It was only Abraham, the father of our faith, who believed the gospel and was called a friend of God.
Galatians 3:8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed.''
It's the gospel of Jesus Christ as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. It's the gospel of the inheritance. It's a finished work that they should have looked forward to and we look back to. It's these works that were finished from the foundation of the world as part of God's eternal plan.
Ephesians 1:9 God has told us his secret reason for sending Christ, a plan he decided on in mercy long ago;
Ephesians 1:11 Moreover, because of what Christ has done we have become gifts to God that he delights in, for as part of God's sovereign plan we were chosen from the beginning to be his, and all things happen just as he decided long ago.
Ephesians 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
2 Timothy 1:9 It is he who saved us and chose us for his holy work, not because we deserved it but because that was his plan long before the world began--to show his love and kindness to us through Christ.
When we understand this plan and how it has all been worked out by God from the very beginning it will bring a glorious rest within the heart of the believer.
God does not want us to build our life on sand. He does not want us investing anything into the old man, which is perishing. When we deny God and His eternal plan to do our own thing we are building our own cisterns, which can hold no water.
Jeremiah 2:12-23 The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay. For my people have done two evil things: They have forsaken me, the Fountain of Life-giving Water; and they have built for themselves broken cisterns that can't hold water!
Building a cistern is a lot of work.
When we enter into the true Sabbath rest, in the finished work of Christ, we cease from building our own cisterns and begin to drink from the living waters, which come to us from God through Christ and His finished work.
John 4:10 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, `Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.''
This has nothing to do with the fourth commandment. The fourth commandment was given to test the people back then to see if they would obey God.
Exodus 16:4-5 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. "And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.''
This test was not given to anyone prior to it being given them under the Old Covenant. Read very carefully the words of the Old Covenant and who they were given to. Pay close attention to the words, "O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today" and "The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive".
Deuteronomy 5:1-21 And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: "Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them. "The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. "The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. "The Lord talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire. "I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain. He said: `I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. `You shall have no other gods before Me. `You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. `You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. `Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall not do any work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your manservant and your maidservant may rest as well as you. And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. `Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. `You shall not murder. 'You shall not commit adultery. `You shall not steal. `You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. `You shall not covet your neighbor's wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.'
The fourth commandment Sabbath was a test for the people of God back then to see if they would obey God. This is no longer so for the New Covenant believer for this had an end in Christ.
Galations 3:10-29 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.'' But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "The just shall live by faith.'' Yet the law is not of faith, but "The man who does them shall live by them.'' Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree''), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds,'' as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed,'' who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Our tests are founded in the words of Christ.
The law for the New Covenant believer is the law of Christ founded on His words, which is a much higher law, which brings about eternal life.
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law.
Satan wants to keep us under the Old Covenant because the law of the Old Covenant brings death and condemnation.
2 Corinthians 3:7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones...
2 Corinthians 3:9 For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory...
These two verses are characterizing the law on stone.
In Christ we have a new and living way, which is free from the works of the Old Covenant, which includes the fourth commandment Sabbath. Knowing this freedom we have in Christ through this new and living way let us not forsake gathering together, as some do in this freedom from the law of Sabbath keeping.
Hebrews 10:21-25 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
