Hebrews 4:1-13 (Part 2)

Augustine "You move us to delight in praising You; for You have formed us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in You."

I. God has given opportunity to enter His rest "Today."
-fixes = orizo = mark out a boundary, appoint, designate
a. Those who heard failed to enter because of disbelief.
-disobedience = apeitheia = disobedient, unbelief
-John 3:36
b. Joshua didn't fulfill the promise of rest.
c. There remains an opportunity to enter Sabbath rest.
-rest = katapauo = to cause to cease, to rest
-Sabbath rest = sabbatismos; from verb sabbatizo = to celebrate or observe the Sabbath in ceasing from labor
-Exodus 20:8-10, Deut. 5:14-15
d. Be diligent to enter God's rest.
-diligent = spoudazo = to make haste, be in earnest, concentrate energey on, spare no effort

II. God's Word has the power to reveal us.
a. It is living and active.
-living = zao = live, be alive;
-active = energes = energetic, active, productive.
-Is. 55:11
b. It penetrates and discerns.
-sword = machaira = short, doubled-edge blade
-thoughts = enthumesis = reflection, feeling, idea, thoughts
-intentions = ennoia = thought or intent
c. It renders us open and exposed before His searching gaze.
-open = gumnos = without clothing, open
-laid bare = trachelizo = to expose, lay bare; perfect passive verb; from noun trachelos from which we derive trachea

Hebrews 4:1-13 (Part 1)

I. God's rest is still valid.
-remains = kataleipo = leave behind; idea of still being open
-promise = epangelia = what is promised, promise
a. Beware of coming short of God's rest.
-seem = dokeo = to seem, appear, suppose, found or judge
-to have come short = hustereo = fall short, be late, fall behind
b. When the message is heard it must be received.
-united = sunkerannumi = to mix together, blend, unite

II. God's rest is still available.
a. We who believe are entering that rest.
-John 5:24
-Guthrie "Christian realities have been inaugurated but have yet to be consummated. Therefore, the 'rest' is something a beleiver enters (and thus experiences) now, but his rest in its fullness remains a promised destination in the future."
1. Rest from legalism.
2. Rest from worry.
3. Rest on Christ.
4. Rest from doubt.
b. We receive God's rest.
-Morris " The writer is saying that God’s rest was available from the time Creation was completed. The ‘rest’ was thus the rest He Himself enjoyed. The earthly rest in Canaan was no more than a type or symbol of this.”