Hebrews 4:1 ¶
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering
into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well
as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with
faith in them that heard it. 3
For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have
sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were
finished from the foundation of the world. 4
For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise,
And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, If they shall
enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore
it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first
preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7
Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long
a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your
hearts. 8 For if Jesus had given them
rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the
people of God. 10 For he that is entered
into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from
his.
Paul gives a warning to the Jewish professing
Christians in Rome here to beware lest the reality of what’s in their hearts
doesn’t match their profession of faith. The idea again is that they can fall
short of salvation all the while claiming the benefits of a Christian. The
gospel, the good news, the glad tidings of God’s Law were preached to the Old
Testament Jew and the New Testament Christian although it did not benefit the
Jew of the failed kingdom of Israel due to their apostasy.
Those who truly believe will enter the
spiritual promised land and the tares will not. God rested on the seventh day
and it is likened to Heaven and eternal life. Those who don’t enter into God’s
rest don’t enter in because of unbelief.
In verse 7 Paul refers again to Psalm 95
referenced in the comments on chapter 3. This is likened to everlasting life
offered by Jesus, whose works of righteousness and not our own, we depend on.
Our works do not save us and we must not regard them but look to Christ’s work
and rest from our efforts to attain salvation as God rested from His labors on
the seventh day. It is finished, as Jesus said from the Cross. There is no
eighth day to labor for us.
With regard to this passage and Christ, He
suffered once for the sins of the world and rose again for the justification of
all mankind as will be stressed later. He has entered into His rest as God the
Father did His on the seventh day, only Christ’s rest goes on forever in this
sense, as it can be said that God finished His initial physical creation
forever.
Hebrews 4:11 ¶ Let us labour therefore to enter into that
rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick, and
powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not
manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes
of him with whom we have to do. 14
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot
be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted
like as we are, yet without sin. 16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
The idea here is being sincere in your faith.
This is not teaching a works religion. On the contrary Paul has been talking about
the genuineness of our faith, or perhaps, the fraud it represents if we are not
truly believers. The word of God, lowercase S, is capable of showing us the
reality of what is inside each of us. This, to many, is a reference to the
mirror the Bible provides us as we see the truth or fiction of our faith. Some
insist that this is a reference to Christ, although that typically, when Christ
is referred to as the Word, is capitalized. It is also true that when you read
the Bible and let God speak to you through it He will reflect as in a mirror
what is really in your heart. The Bible is like having Christ in written form
and it is what He has left us to guide us. Are you truly a Christian, a
follower of Christ?
Isaiah 49:2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword;
in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his
quiver hath he hid me;
Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD;
and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
1Thessalonians 2:13 ¶ For this cause also thank we God without
ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye
received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God,
which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
1Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but
of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
I take it as a clever dual meaning reference,
referring to Christ, as the context of the passage will say, AND as His Bible
which He has left us to lead our way.
Because the sinless Christ experienced our
life the way we experience it He is able to save us and we are able to come
boldly before the throne of grace to obtain mercy and grace because our God
knows what we feel, what we’ve been through, and what we need in a way that the
gods of no other religion can understand. He, and by extension, His word in His
Bible sees everything and nothing is hidden from Him and it. When we open this
Bible it lays our flesh aside and peers deep into our spirit. There is no
hiding or lying to Christ.
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