Where is Your Rest?
Text: Hebrews 4
Context: Author is providing an exhortation by drawing a comparison to Israel’s wilderness wanderings on the way to the Promised Land (ch. 3).
It’s important to note the Jewish background of these believers in the letter to the Hebrews that they were tempted by various pressures to revert back to realities that had already passed away.
And this entailed focusing on the temple, the sacrifices, and other ceremonial aspects of the law in the holy land. He labors to show them that much of these external realities were types and shadows but not the ultimate realities themselves. This signified a lack of grasping the ultimate significance of the person and work of Christ. And so the author of the Hebrews labors to make clear the distinctions between the old covenant and the new and better covenant inaugurated through the redemptive work of Christ. Christ the better mediator establishes this better covenant founded on better promises (Heb. 8:6). The author shows the futility of going back to the shadows in light of Christ’s coming and bringing fulfilment. The author is going to do the same thing in regard to the reality of rest and show us where it’s founded, how it can be obtained and its benefits to us.
3 POINTS: 1. The Promise of Rest, 2. Typological Rest, 3. Realized Rest – as this rest unfolds over redemptive history and its relation to the work of Christ and unity in Him.
I. The Promise of Rest
V1. 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.
There is a ‘promise’ and an exhortation to “fear” – godly fear to take seriously this offer in contrast ‘to coming short’ that is to not obtain the promise.
Need to look at: BACKGROUND TO HIS REST and highlight a few aspects in order to draw out some important implications of this text. This rest points back to the creation in the book of Genesis where it is first presented in the creational order – the 7 th day when God rested from His works. (V4). Interwoven are these concepts such as rest, the 7 th day of creation, and the Sabbath.
Sabbath and rest go hand in hand; early on it signified a ‘day of rest’ patterned after God’s 7 th day rest (EX 20:8).
First off from the beginning this rest proclaims God’s enthronement.
One scholar writes “This rest of God may be more specifically understood as a royal kind of resting...God created the heaven and the earth to be his cosmic palace and accordingly his resting is an occupying of his palace, a royal session. The dawning of the Sabbath witnesses a new enthronement of Elohim” (Meredith Kline, “Kingdom Prologue”)
This Sabbath-Rest also tied to the idea of consummation.
In the same author’s words: “the Sabbath proclaims the name of the Creator to be Consummator” (Kline, “K.P.”)– He is the First and the Last, Alpha and Omega. The divine rest of God reveals His royal enthronement and His sovereignty as Creator and Consummator as history unfolds under His powerful rule.
The question is how does this apply for God’s people? Where is this rest offered and how is it obtained? Present Rest, Completely Future Rest?
KEY Aspect to Demonstrate: From the standpoint of Israel and the background of the Jewish believers (Whether or not they were already experiencing this rest due to being in the promised land?)
V2 makes clear what this ‘PROMISE’ hinges on. Message of REST - Grounded on the THE GOSPEL (v2) For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also.
Parallel between hearing this message now and back then. Referring to the Gospel in promise, and the work of Christ manifested in types and foreshadowed in the sacrificial system. The Israelites truly received this Gospel beforehand. Paul says, Christ was the rock that was with them (1 Cor. 10:4). In the one covenant of grace, they truly partook of Christ by faith experiencing the Gospel in promise as it was administered in the Abrahamic covenant and a picture of Christ’s coming work in the Old Testament priesthood and sacrifices looking forward to its fulfilment.
How did they fail to reach – the promise of rest? Unbelief (3:19)
V2. but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.
Why did this ‘Gospel’ word have no profitable effect. This was in those who had “no faith.”
Conversely Faith is needed for the acceptance and reception of the Gospel.
We know the Holy Spirit creates faith through the preaching of the Gospel, but it does not benefit the unbelieving. In this case where the Gospel is proclaimed in the covenant community, there were those of Israel who participated outwardly in the administration of the covenant but did not inwardly and truly “possess the substance of the covenant,” that is Christ and His saving benefits which is why the author continues to call His audience to faith in Christ.
He is confident of their possession of true faith. V3. We who have believed (Question: Faith in what? – Faith in the word of the Gospel). Reminding this Christian community of their belief in the Gospel, in the person and work of Jesus Christ and what its present implications are now that they are under the New Covenant.
V3. For we who have believed enter that rest.
We “enter,” His rest. In Greek that is the Present Indicative meaning we “Begin to experience”
For us as for them entering this rest occurs in the present by faith in the Gospel, by trusting in Christ. By this, we enter His rest which clues us in to the type of rest that it is.
John Owen: “This rest, then, we say, firstly and principally, is that spiritual rest of God, which believers obtain an entrance into by Jesus Christ, in the faith and worship of the gospel, and is not to be restrained unto their eternal rest in heaven” (Owen, “An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews.”)
This ‘Salvation-rest’ is available now.
In another SCHOLAR’s words: “One of the themes of Hebrews is that through Christ the heavenly realities have become accessible to believers, and rest is one of those realities” (Lincoln in L. Irons, “Entering God’s Rest”). He continues, “the writer of Hebrews views ‘rest’ as an eschatological resting place with associations with the heavenly promised land, the heavenly Jerusalem, and the heavenly sanctuary” (Lincoln in L. Irons, “Entering God’s Rest”).
Such heavenly places are not described in Hebrews as being enjoyed or inherited solely in the final consummation…[They are] supernatural realities presently enjoyed by the people of God by faith.” (Lincoln in L. Irons, “Entering God’s Rest”)
Continue to look at V3+4 we continue to see the VALIDITY AND CONTINUITY OF GOD’S DIVINE REST, highlighting the significance of the seventh day of creation, the rest that remains a vital reality for the people of God to enter into.
CONTRAST: introduced between resting and working – God rested from all His works. Later on this introduces implications for the people of God in the experience this rest. This rest came after works – indicated a paradigm for Adam where participation in God’s divine rest was what he and his descendants had to look forward to.
FROM THE BEGINNING THERE IS A COVENANTAL AND ESCHATALOGICAL SCOPE TO THIS SABBATH-REST:
Listen to how Reformed Scholar Meredith KLINE explains this: “Mankind’s cultural endeavors were to move forward to and issue in a sabbatical rest. In fact, man was to come by way of these works at last into God’s own royal rest (Heb 4:1ff.)…the history of the original covenant was to be characterized by an eschatological thrust and direction. It was to have a sabbatical structure... Entering into the kingdom program as God’s servant-son, man was to reflect the
divine glory, advancing through his six days of work to the seventh day of completion, from kingdom development to a Sabbath of joyous shalom” (Kline, K.P.)
FOCUS ON THE COVENANTAL ELEMENT HERE: Entailed man’s responsibility to fulfill the covenant of works, to perform His duty in a probationary period in the garden exhibited by the command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17). He was to render perfect, personal, and perpetual obedience to God and obtain the blessing of life for him and his descendants, enjoying fellowship with God in paradise and enter into God’s Sabbath-rest. After the fall, the covenant of works remains in place but it’s no longer the case that fallen man can accomplish it, which brings the vital need for it to be fulfilled.
V6. “It remains for some to enter it.” Some in response to the good news “failed to enter because of disobedience.” – Refers to unbelief (3:18-19).
Expresses this dual-response to the announcement of the Gospel. In some belief, in others hardness of heart and unbelief. Similarly, Paul says of the ‘fragrance of Christ;’ ‘to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life (2 Cor. 2:16).
All this emphasizes the need for faith
V7. He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.”
“Today” – We see the continuing relevance of the promise of rest tied to the announcement of the good news that comes to each new generation, is the message to be received by faith.
If you ‘Hear His voice.’ What is He speaking that requires and should be met with faith?
What’s spoken is not the law. Scripture says, “The law is not of faith” (Gal. 3:12) The law is written on our hearts at creation. The Gospel is the message from heaven, is completely outside of us and comes in blessing to benefit all the hearers who receive it in faith. Z. Ursinus (Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechsim) writes, “The law is known naturally, the Gospel was ‘divinely revealed’ after the fall.
(Context of the chapter and the book) What God is Speaking is His saving Word in Christ (1:3). Looking to this period of redemptive history, He has now finally spoken in the Son, the Word made flesh, the revelation of Jesus Christ through the Holy Gospel, (as Heidelberg Catechism Q. 19 explains), “First revealed in Paradise, afterwards proclaimed by the holy Patriarchs and Prophets, and foreshadowed by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the Law; and finally fulfilled by His well-beloved Son.” This Gospel message is what is spoken that ushers believers into real rest.
This appeal is really an appeal to hear the voice of the Shepherd, to respond in faith and not unbelief, and by faith to partake in and receive Christ. We could say to receive Christ by faith is
to ‘enter rest.’ Faith apprehending and bringing us into union with the life-giving Christ, where we live and abide in Him and He in us and receive all of His saving benefits.
II. Typological Rest
THIS PRESENT AND AVAILABLE REST PICTURED IN ISRAEL’S HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE
V8. For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.
We can first observe Joshua as a type – a man who by leading Israel in conquest through physical battles acquires this earthly, temporal rest in the promised land, a picture that pointed forward to the attainment of true rest.
1 KINGS 8:56:“Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that H promised.”
Israel may have experienced a form of rest, but Joshua did not lead the people into ultimate rest.
V8: Another day after / Later Day. ANOTHER COMMENATOR NOTES: “If in fact Joshua had achieved the promised rest, there would have been no need for the renewal of the promise in Ps 95.” (William L. Lane, Hebrews 1–8).
The author to the Hebrews is saying: JOSHUA DID NOT BRING LASTING REST, SO ON THE BASIS OF PROMISE THERE MUST BE A GREATER REST. This signified that the issuing in of this greater rest must necessitate a ‘Greater-than Joshua’ to lead the people into it.
Calvin explains how through David’s exhortation in this Psalm quoted, “they were reminded of the duty of seeking a better rest.” (Calvin, Commentary on Hebrews)
One vital thing to note, unlike the temporal rest experienced in the promised land after Joshua’s leadership and Israel’s conquest, this greater salvation-rest does not come by our own physical doings. This rest only comes from Jesus Christ which is why He says “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28). Truth inherent here is: Our human works by no means establish or secure the reality of eternal rest, nor do they preserve the reality of rest. Only God in Christ brings us into all the blessings of rest.
Secondly, we see the land of CANAAN as a type. The promised land is typological, pointing to the heavenly land and providing a picture of rest that pointed forward to true and eternal rest ultimately fulfilled in the consummation.
Earthly and temporal – Not ultimate/permanent rest.
Brown and Keele (Sacred Bond) explain the PROMISE OF THE LAND (given in the
ABRAHAMIC COVENANT) and its FIRST STAGE FULFILLMENT: They write, “The nation Israel and the land of Canaan were only pictures and foreshadows of a far greater fulfillment revealed in the N.T.”
CALVIN in reference to Canaan also says: “it was an image and a symbol of the spiritual inheritance. When, therefore, they obtained possession of it, they ought not to have rested as though they had attained to the summit of their wishes.”
The holy land was not the final place of rest. The Israelites did not experience ultimate rest in the land. This is why the author of the Hebrews says Abraham was looking for the heavenly city whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:10). The complete Sabbath-rest is only anticipated
through Israel’s experience of the promised land as it pointed to the coming heavenly country paired with humanity’s hope of fellowship with God for eternity. This possession of heaven and living in perfect communion with God has now been secured through Jesus Christ.
Listen to what C. Olevianus says in reference to this: “By His ascension Christ makes us to sit with Him in heavenly places (Eph. 2[:6]), so that we do not simply anticipate heaven in mere hope but already possess it in Christ our Head and Brother.” (Olevianus, An Exposition of the Apostle’s Creed)
His ascending in our very nature is our guarantee that we possess heaven through Him now by faith as we await the new heavens and new earth.
All this that was typified leads us to the core truth: JESUS THE GREATER THAN JOSHUA IS THE ONE WHO LEADS US INTO THIS ENDURING AND GREATER REST, GOD’S SABBATH REST.
III. Realized Rest
[corresponds to the eschatological concept the already/not yet]
V9. So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
This “Sabbath rest” is what KLINE calls the “experience of God’s people in the new
covenant…a participation in the divine rest of the ongoing seventh day of creation.” (Kline, K.P.)
This is only possible because Christ did indeed enter that eternal rest of God, acquired paradise on our behalf, and as the God-Man leads His people by His power into all the blessings and spoils of His victory.
Kline again writes: “It is through Jesus, the second Adam, that God’s people find their way into the realm of Sabbath rest with God. It is he who leads them into the true and eternal Canaan, the new Eden (Heb 4:8–10).” (Kline, K.P.)
Such truths underline the superiority of Christ and the New Covenant, the greater and enduring rest, the kingdom eternal that cannot be shaken and its coming consummation glory.
V10. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.
Scripture teaches first and foremost definitively, the reason why there is this resting which entails a laying aside of works ultimately due to the perfect merit of Christ. – He alone is the ONE who after fulfilling the task appointed by the Father as our Surety, having purged our sins, has ‘SAT DOWN’ at the right hand of the majesty on High (1:3).
Hebrews 9:12: “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”
Looks back to the ORIGINAL TASK AT CREATION: Christ perfectly accomplished what Adam failed to do. The covenant of works for man to fulfil in Eden which would culminate in the entrance and ongoing experience of God’s Sabbath rest is now a present reality on account of the work of Christ in the Gospel.
FOR US THIS REST COMES BY THE PERFECT WORK OF CHRIST OUR SAVIOR.
Rom. 5:18: “Through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.”
Here’s the significance: WE INHERIT THE BLESSINGS OF THE NEW COVENANT AND THIS REALITY OF REST APART FROM WORKS PRECISELY BECAUSE JESUS FULFILLED THE LAW / HE FULFILLED ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Gal. 4:4-5: But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
In the words of Dutch Theologian BAVINCK: Christ does not [merely] restore his own to the state of Adam before the fall. He acquired and bestows much more, namely, that which Adam would have received had he not fallen. He positions us not at the beginning but at the end of the journey that Adam had to complete. He accomplished not only the passive but also the active obedience required; he not only delivers us from guilt and punishment but out of grace immediately grants us the right to eternal life. (H. Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, Vol. 2)
Because of the obedience of Jesus Christ, we have REST FROM THE EXACTING DEMANDS OF THE LAW that says, ‘do this and live,’ from THE ABSOLUTE PERFECTION REQUIRED OF IT, and the impossibility of it as a way of acquiring life for fallen mankind due to sin. For us this rest is by grace, where one does not work but ‘believes.’ (C.f. Rom. 4:4).
Beautiful truth here: Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes! (Rom. 10:4).
Relays a two-fold consequence for us: on the one hand resting from legalistic works and on the other resting from evil works due to the flesh.
Guarding against legalism, this means resting from every notion of a works-based salvation, or the impetus to ‘earn or augment’ salvation by good works, from covenantal nomism (idea of being in by grace completed by works), from the notion that works are somehow instrumental in our salvation. Also consists of resting from a ‘Legal disposition,’ which is detrimental to the gospel way of holiness and our assurance.
Listen to how Ralph Erskine speaks of a “Remaining legal spirit which causes believers to live so little to God.” (R. Erskine, “Law-death; Gospel-life)
He says “Though they have shaken off, in conversion, the authority of the covenant of works as a prince, which is a great matter; yet they are many times under the authority thereof as an usurper, and by reason of the old legal nature…the voice of the law speaks many times in the believer's conscience, and he is terrified at the voice of it; for it presumes to curse him, and to desire him to do, or else be damned; and so it weakens his hand, and makes him think God is a hard master: whereas the voice of the gospel in his conscience, is the still, calm voice, sweetly intreating, and alluring the heart to its obedience, and conveying a secret strength to obey, and making the soul to delight in the Lord's way.” (R. Erskine, “Law-death; Gospel-life)
Resting is then looking away from ourselves, from our own works, setting aside a legal disposition, and looking to Christ by faith and trusting in Him for our entire salvation – richly satisfied with His Gospel.
Reformers viewed this resting from evil works as something occurring daily in the lives of the saints: H.C. Q# 103. In reference to carrying out of the fourth commandment? Part of it says, “that all the days of my life I rest from my evil works, [and] allow the Lord to work in me by
His Spirit, and thus begin in this life the everlasting Sabbath.
This ongoing resting from works reflects dying to self and living to God, a reality hinging on Christ’s death and resurrection and speaks of the effects of our union with Him. In Scripture this ongoing aspect is stated as putting off the old self – that is the flesh which means ‘casting off the works of darkness’ (Ro. 13:11-14) and “putting on” Jesus Christ and living according to our renewed nature. (Eph. 4:22-24)
V11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.
We’ve seen the author make clear that failing to enter is a result of unbelief. What does ‘being diligent to enter that rest’ mean in this context?
THIS REST REMAINS FOR SOME TO ENTER. THE EMPHASIS IN THIS ENTIRE
PASSAGE IS FOR ALL WHO HEAR TO BELIEVE ON THE SON AND THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL ON WHICH THE PROMISE OF REST STANDS:
It's not being diligent to work under the laws demands as a way to enter, since the author’s made that clear, much less to work to earn salvation, but to ‘believe in Christ’s work for us,’ to accept the fullness of the rest He truly brings, it’s to trust the sufficiency of His atoning work and cleansing power of His blood. We could say it like this, to be diligent to enter means: to accept the Gospel promise by faith, to receive Christ, this message is Paramount, filling our thoughts,
conquering our hearts, and a focal point of our attention, the very message that we should continue in, with all the means ordained by God, week after week receiving Christ in Word and Sacrament, gathering in the fellowship of the Spirit who ministers the Gospel to us – it is that which transforms us as we behold Christ!
All this affirms the IMPORTANCE OF BEING ANCHORED AND CONSTANTLY
NOURISHED IN THE GOSPEL.
V12. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword .
V12 Communicates the living penetrating Word of God, Duel-edged sword: His law and His Gospel, His Word that does not return void, that searches our hearts and thoughts revealing the many responses to God’s Word.
Both the weight of the Law which kills and power of the Gospel bringing life in Christ.
V13. ‘All things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we have to do…to whom we must give account [NJKV].”
The end of verse 13 focuses in on God as He stands as Judge over all mankind, no one is hidden but all are completely exposed before the eyes of God almighty.
In saying this the author highlights humanity’s desperate need of a Savior. Because apart from Christ, mankind in a fallen condition in Adam relates to God as guilty of having broken the Covenant of Works, dead in sin, the Bible says, “all who are under the law are under a curse”
(Gal 3:10), in a state of guilt, fully exposed in shame, suffering physical and spiritual death.
We know an ‘answer’ must be given. Like Adam and eve after sinning in the garden, God said to Adam ‘where are you?’ As Pastor John has taught meaning: ‘Where are you in relation to me now that you have broken My covenant,” There is no cover in the fig-leaves of self-righteousness. Man was exiled, wandering east of Eden. We cannot re-enter by our own doing but are in need of Another to lead us into the Sabbath-rest of God.
All this resonates with Paul’s point in Galatians 3:22: But the Scripture has confined everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
The wonderful truth here is that this is where God meets us with His saving Word in Christ! In our earthly and frail condition, this is the depths to which Christ humbled Himself, clothed in flesh and entered our misery.
After directly after laying out our need, the Apostle proceeds by expounding the wonders of the One who secures our rest! “Therefore…Since’ – having grounds to proceed with assurance ‘because of Jesus.’ On account of the Gospel, we are not left naked and ashamed but are clothed with the righteousness of Christ!
So much to unpack but look at a few things in conclusion. We see the work of Christ in His state of humiliation and then in His ascension / exaltation (v14)
V14 – Great high priest [The obedient Son throughout His life, and our substitute who by His sacrificial death made atonement for sin] – On the heels of His resurrection He ascended and passed through the heavens; He has entered heaven securing the promised inheritance where He now lives to intercede, He has returned us to paradise, restored us to the Father, owing to His priestly work, Jesus, the Son of God.
Admonishment to ‘Hold fast our confession.’ Believing the Gospel, and to live and be influenced daily by its amazing truths, who Jesus is and what He has done for us and all its implications.
As humans the thought may arise but what about the fact that I am weak, burdened by sin, still prone to all sorts of evil, I have indwelling sins and remnants of the flesh remain, at times unfaithful, have struggles, or doubt, maybe tempted, attacked, experiencing heartache, and all sorts of suffering and sorrow. Here’s the same answer: Christ’s work in the Gospel definitively remains even in our weakness. The Gospel is the very power of God unto salvation whereby the
Holy Spirit strengthens and assures our faith to endure and rely on Him through all these realities, the blood of Christ speaks a better word! (Heb. 12:24)
V15. Because Christ fully acquainted with human suffering can sympathize with our weakness.
He who took on human infirmity, yet without sin. He alone went the distance in paying the penalty for sin, there is now no condemnation. The enemies’ accusations are void, he is defeated, death is stripped of power, who or what can separate us from the love of God in Christ? The One who with great compassion perfectly knows and understands, and who from on high now provides to us in the Gospel the very aid we need. We can rest assured in all of life’s troubles and toils that He knows exactly what we need, comforts us, keeps us by His power as we abide in Him. We can trust that our Savior will indeed hold us fast!
As we close: V16. Draw near (reversal of the Edenic exile): with confidence to the throne of grace. Where goodness and favor is bestowed in Christ in spite of our de-merits and where mercy is the disposition of God’s heart toward us. As truly as Christ our representative perpetually intercedes for us, we can be assured of God’s love and faithfulness to His promise to save us fully as we believe the Good News and trust in Christ’s work for us!
How can we rest today in Christ and the fullness of His Gospel grace?
If we ever feel weary in heart we can rest in His performance on our behalf having obtained perfect righteousness, in His fulfillment of the Law and its curse. We can rest in His canceling the legal debt written against us – paid in full with perfect justice, in His death and satisfaction and propitiating the Father’s wrath. We can rest in His having crucified our flesh, the forgiveness for every sin, freeing us from its guilt and power and in His ability to rescue us from every stain of it.
We can Rest in His Resurrection, in His victory over death, hell and the grave, in His ascending in our very nature so that His entering heaven is proof that we possess it and that every sin of ours has been perfectly dealt with and where He is now exalted as our Prophet, Priest, and King with all power and majesty. We can rest in His intercession at the right hand of the Father which never fails, nor ceases, swallowing up our imperfection, with the comfort that no accusation can
stand as He defends us by His perfect merit and brings our salvation to completion. We can Rest in His coming, the hope of the Gospel, where He will raise up our own bodies and transform them into the likeness of His own.
We share in this season of Advent the joyous truths that through Christ we now experience true rest and at His return we will enjoy the fullness of that Sabbath rest for all eternity. May we take comfort, resting in Christ the Captain of Salvation, the Author and Finisher of our faith.
Michael is a Gospel Gal contributor and member of Paramount Church in Jacksonville, Fla.
