We might title Hebrews 4:1-13, “Heaven: Don’t Miss it for the World!”
We could call Hebrews 4:14-15, “You Have a Friend in High Places – Jesus.”
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4:1-13 Heaven – Don’t Miss it for the World!
4:1-3a God’s
Promise is Conditional. We must fear.
Did the Israelites ever enter God’s promised rest?
In a limited sense, yes (2nd generation).
Josh 21:44; 23:1
In a complete, ultimate, eternal sense, no.
Hebrews: “So, God’s promise of rest still remains.”
The door is open to us! You and I
may enter that rest!
But, the “gospel” the Israelites heard did not profit them.
Why? They failed to enter through
unbelief / disobedience.
Will the gospel we heard profit us … if we turn from it?
“We who believe enter that rest.”
Should we really fear that we might come short of it? Yes!
4:3b-11 God’s
Rest is Eternal. We must be diligent.
“My rest” … God “rested” on the seventh day, when He finished His “works”
(of creation).
Hebrews connects God’s creation rest …
with the Promised Land rest
…
with the eternal
rest (heaven). Rev 14:13
Since the Israelites missed God’s rest, God (in David) set another day to
offer His rest: “Today.” Ps 95:7
This offer proves that Joshua did not give this rest.
Since God entered the Sabbath rest after finishing His work, we will
enter God’s Sabbath rest after finishing ours.
Let us then be diligent, lest we fall as they did.
“Joshua” or “Jesus”
in Heb 4:8?
The King James Version has “Jesus” in Heb 4:8. The apparent reason for
this is the fact that the Greek word can refer either to Jesus or to Joshua. The
verse is actually saying that, if Joshua had
provided the ultimate rest, God would not have spoken of another day after
Joshua’s time. All other major translations, including the New King James
Version, correctly translate the word as “Joshua.”
The names “Joshua” (Hebrew) and “Jesus” (Greek) are identical. The
meaning is, “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh is salvation.” See Matt 1:21. It’s clear
that Joshua is the OT type or shadow, and Jesus is the NT antitype or
fulfillment. What the first “Joshua/Jesus” did not do, and could not do, the
second, perfect “Joshua/Jesus” did.
Is there a “Christian
Sabbath?” Not on earth, but in heaven!
Some mistakenly teach that the fourth commandment (Ex 20:8-11) requires
Christians to observe the seventh day, rather than the first day, as the
appointed day of worship. The New Testament contradicts that doctrine,
insisting upon the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:1), also called “the
Lord’s Day” (Rev 1:10).
Others mistakenly teach that the OT Sabbath has no NT fulfillment, that
only the other nine commandments are noted in the Christian covenant. Hebrews 4
is very clear that the Christian’s “Sabbath” is fulfilled, not in a weekly
observance here, but in the eternal “seventh day” of God’s rest in heaven. The
promise that a Sabbath rest remains for the people of God (Heb 4:9) spurs us on
to serve him wholeheartedly during our “six days” here.
4:12-13 God’s
Word is Alive. We must give account.
God breathes and gives life through His Word. Gen 1
Just because it is God’s Word, it cannot die. 2 Tim 3:16
It is not man’s own interpretation.
2 Pet 1:20-21
Whether spoken or written, it is always at work.
It accomplishes its purpose. Isa
55:10-11
It is the Spirit’s sword. Eph 6:17
It cuts and cures. It hurts and
heals.
It diagnoses and distinguishes …
It exposes and energizes … 1 Cor
4:5
It calls us to account …
How does Heb 4:12-13 fit the context of Heb 4:1-11?
4:14-15 Jesus – Our Friend in High Places
“A great High Priest … into the heavens.”
Jesus understands my
temptations.
Was Jesus really tempted?
In all the ways we are? Yes!
Single temptation: to abandon one’s confession.
When, where, and how was Jesus tempted?
Peirazo: to try, try on, test, examine, tempt.
“God tests but does not tempt.”
With what does temptation begin?
How does it progress? Where does
it end? Jas 1:13-15
Jesus sympathizes
with my struggles.
What is sympathy? Who needs
it? When?
Jesus, without His
own sin, can handle mine.
How did He avoid sin? What if He had
sinned?
Jesus offers mercy
and grace, just in time.
The throne of judgment is the throne of grace.
“Therefore, let us” … draw near and claim it!
Again Hebrews follows an
indicative truth – “Jesus is our High Priest” – with a “therefore” exhortation –
“Let us draw near!”
1 comment:
Amen
Thank you brother Cory
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