THE PROMISE OF ENTERING GOD'S REST

Hebrews 4:1-13 / Keywords 4:12

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

 

4:1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.[a] 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,

    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”[b]

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”[c] 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,

    do not harden your hearts.”[d]

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,[e] just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Footnotes

a. Hebrews 4:2 Some manuscripts because those who heard did not combine it with faith

b. Hebrews 4:3 Psalm 95:11; also in verse 5

c. Hebrews 4:4 Gen. 2:2

d. Hebrews 4:7 Psalm 95:7,8

e. Hebrews 4:10 Or labor

1. As Christians, we live with the hope of entering God’s rest. The idea of God's rest was described in Genesis 2:2. God meant for his creation to share in his rest. God called his people out of Egypt that they might dwell with him, but they refused to believe and perished in the desert. They only incurred God’s wrath. Under Joshua, the next generation entered the Promised Land, but the true and eternal rest that God promised still remains. David wrote about it in Ps 95: "Today" is now, the time to hear God’s voice. We taste God’s rest whenever we receive his word.

 

2. God's word is sharper than a double-edged sword. We cannot hide our real motives or the thoughts of our hearts from God. his word penetrates the soul and judges the thoughts of the heart. His word of promise is sure. When we believe and obey his word, he dwells in us to rule and bless. And we have sure hope of entering God’s eternal Sabbath rest.

 

Prayer Lord, help me hold your living word in my heart, obey you, and claim your promised rest.

One Word God’s word is a double-edged sword