Enter God's Rest (Hebrews 4:1-11)

Bob SchultzBob Schultz, November 1, 2015
Part of the Book of Hebrews series, preached at a Sunday Morning service

This week we will study Hebrews 4:1-11 and the key to making sense of this very practical section is v.11, “Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.” The major theme of this section is captured in the word rest. It's referred to nine times in these 11 verses. We will define what the writer means when he uses the word rest, and compare and contrast the lesser rest of the Old Covenant with the greater rest of the New Covenant found in Christ. Also, this passage has much to say about man’s response to the truth of Christ; he will either believe or disbelieve the truth. The writer gives an urgent plea to his readers to believe in Jesus by faith while there is still time.

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Hebrews 4:1–11 (Listen)

4:1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, 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. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,

  “They shall not enter my rest.”

6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words 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 of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

(ESV)

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