Ep. 342. Hebrews 3-4 | There is a Rest

EPISODE 342

THERE IS REST: HEBREWS 3-4

There truly is rest for the believer, but it isn't the rest of the Jewish Sabbath. It isn't about taking a single day off a week. It isn't even about the Jews entering the Promised Land when led by Joshua. The true rest of and for the believer is entering into the salvation provided by God through Jesus Christ. We, believers, get to REST in the work of God and cease from our own works for salvation. We are not redeemed through the works of the law, but through faith in Christ. After all, no one can be made righteous through works. To put it another way, the only "work" God requires is that we believe in the one whom he has sent. (John 6:29)

The author here seems to be warning his particular audience not to take God's teaching lightly, like those who died in the wilderness due to their disobedience and disbelief. He seems to be challenging the reader to put faith in Jesus or to "enter into the rest" supplied by God.

I will tell you that when I was just starting to preach, and certainly in my youth, I thought all the parts of the Bible were written to and for Christians. As I will explain further in this video series, I think that Hebrews is written to a group of Jews who are faithfully serving God but may not have put faith in Jesus as the Messiah yet. I know that my view is not widely accepted, and I realize I may be wrong in my assessment, but for now, it is where I land, though previously, I believed all of Hebrews to be addressing what we might call Christians.

ADDITIONAL READING: 2 Corinthians 3:6-11; Numbers 12:7; Psalm 95:7-11; Psalm 95:7-8; Matthew 11:28-30; Exodus 20:11; Genesis 2:1-2; Galatians 2:16; Exodus 31:13