Hebrews 4

Hebrews 4

Hebrews 4

Shawn Bumpers / General

Hebrews / Christ as Priest, God, Grace, Mercy, Jesus, Chief Priest, High Priest, Sabbath, Rest, Israel, Canaan, Moses, Law, Grace, Works

Introduction:

The author of Hebrews never introduced himself.

He was passionate for Christ.

Jude 3 NKJV

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

As Dr. Harry Ironside – “He wants it kept pure. He does not want it mixed with any of man’s theories or laws; He does not want it mixed up with religious ordinances or anything of that kind. The Gospel is God’s own pure message to sinful man.”

Preserving the Gospel as God has delivered it to us is of the greatest importance.

Hebrews 2:3 NKJV

how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

Hebrews 1:2 NKJV

has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

1 Corinthians 10:1–2 NKJV

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

2 Corinthians 1:10 NKJV

who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,

Hebrews 4:8 NKJV

For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.

John 14:2–3 NKJV

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

The High Priest

Moses led Israel, but Aaron was the High Priest.

v1-2

Transition

And so with verse 1 we have the concern of the author … that the reader might come short of entering God’s rest.

Verse 2 gives his reason for this concern.

“Let us fear” sounds severe.

φοβέω phobeō  “fear; be afraid.”

v3-5

Those who heard the Word of the Gospel and did believe have entered into a kind of rest … as they are now under grace.

However, we are also “in the process” of entering God’s rest.

v6-10

“Since therefore” tells us that the author is building on what he has previously said.

We now find out what the implication is.

Matthew 11:28 NKJV

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

John 14:2–3 NKJV

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

καταπαύω katapauō  “rest; cause to cease.”

σαββατισμός sabbatismos joining in praise and adoration of God

Philippians 1:6 NKJV

being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

1 John 1:8–10 NKJV

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

v11-13

Because of how great the rest we experience in Christ is, both the rest from the works of the law and the future joining in with God in His rest, that is when He has complete His work in us let us apply ourselves diligently to enter that rest.

σπουδάζω spoudazō be eager; be zealous

So then, this is a forward looking diligence … attention toward the accomplishment of a task.

diligence vs “drifiting” of chapter 2.

We give diligence by paying close attention to the Word of God. 

Romans 10:17 NKJV

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

In comparing the Word of God to a sword, the writer is not suggesting that God uses His Word to bring injury to believers. 

The Greek word translated “sword” means “a short sword or dagger.”

Ephesians 6:10 NKJV

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Ephesians 6:17 NKJV

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Of course, as verse 13 further elaborates, God sees our hearts … nothing is hidden from Him.

We, on the other hand, do not always know what is there in our hearts. 

Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

God uses His Word to enable us to see the sin and unbelief in our own hearts.

In the Word we see God, and we also see how God sees us. 

And all of this is possible because of the finished work of Jesus Christ.

We are at rest from the works of the law if we are “in Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Colossians 3:10 ESV

and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Psalm 51:5–6 NKJV

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

1 Corinthians 15:51–56 NKJV

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

Romans 8:29 NKJV

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

v14-16

A crossroad

Roads to this point:

Jesus the Son is better (a continuing theme)

The importance of faith

God’s continued work of conforming us.

This intercessory role was that of the High Priest in Old Testament times.

He was the main representative between the nation of Israel and God.

Jesus Christ is “Greater” for several reasons:

• He is both God and Man.

• But Jesus is greater not only in His person, but also in His position Jesus Christ is great.

• But there is another wonderful thing about Christ’s position: not only is He in heaven, but He is enthroned.

• Another great thing, is that He is ministering mercy and grace to those who come for help.

James 1:2–4 NKJV

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

1 Peter 1:6–9 NKJV

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.