January 28, 2009

Sabbath Rest

“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” (Genesis 2:1-3 NKJV)

“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. 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"; and again in this [place]: "They shall not enter My rest." Since therefore it remains that some [must] enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, "Today," after such a long time, as it has been said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts." For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God [did] from His.” (Hebrews 4:1-10 NKJV)

Considering these two passages, one would seemingly conclude that salvation is a type of Sabbath day’s rest. Notice Hebrews says we who have believed do enter that rest [bolded above]. The timing of this is important. Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts [bolded above].

As a result of entering this rest, those who enter cease from all their works as God did at the end of His creation. It would seem that the rest spoken of here is two-fold.

First, it is a rest of conscience. Those who believe are forgiven and no longer fear condemnation. They experience a typological heaven.

Second, it is an eternal rest to be enjoyed in Heaven. While believers are still in the world until physical death takes them, they are residence of Heaven and will be glorified someday. Notice the past tense in the following verse.

“Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” (Romans 8:30 NKJV)

Now, just food for thought. Those of you who put an emphasis on making Sunday a holy day, are you resting or are you working? Think about it.