How To Enter God’s Rest?–Part 3: The Premise for Its Basis

While some of the views presented in my previous blog may be aspects of the nature of experiencing God’s Sabbath-rest, here and now, on this earth, and in this life, they are not the faith and belief basis for entering this final-rest opportunity and reality—in my opinion.

 

Here’s my premise for the basis required for entering. Each of the four “rest” scenarios in Scripture follows the completion of something significant.

 

– #1 – God rested on the seventh day following completion of his six-days of physical creation.

– #2 – The rest God commanded for Israel on the Sabbath follows the completion of each six-day workweek. It was a token that commemorated God’s resting on the seventh day following the physical creation and looked forward to another, future rest. On this day the Israelites were to do no work.

 

– #3 – The rest God promised to his people in the land of Canaan, the Promised Land would follow his completion of the Old Covenant creation and their completion of wilderness wanderings and entering into and settling this land.  Notably, as we shall see later in this teaching series, this land that God gave them was termed both “the resting place/the rest,” and “an inheritance” (Deut. 12:9-10; 2 Sam. 7:1). Equally important, and as was true with all the physical institutions of the Old Covenant, this land was a type and shadow of a better, greater, and antitype rest/inheritance for God’s people that was yet-to-come.

 

– #4 – In a similar manner and continuity, I’m suggesting that God’s fourth and final promised rest—God’s Sabbath-rest discussed in Hebrews 3 & 4 and elsewhere—also follows a significant completion.  That was God’s completion through Jesus Christ of his plan of redemption for all humankind—i.e., the New Covenant creation. I am further suggesting that this third creation was completed exactly within the time period specified by Jesus—his “this generation” and when expected by every New Testament writer and the early church as they were guided by the Holy Spirit “into all truth” and told about “what is yet to come” (John 16:13)—i.e., circa A.D. 70.

Hence, each rest differs from but is built upon and better than the previous one. Consequently, there are intriguing parallels, continuities, and consistencies from which we can draw to aid in our understanding of how we today can enter and remain in his Sabbath-rest. However, the major and belief-based continuity running through each of the four rests is—rest follows completion. Rest did not come at “halftime,” or at partial completion, but only after completion.

 

See if you can substantiate and agree with my premise and this pattern of rest follows completion as you again read through Hebrews 3:11-4:11, carefully, thoughtfully, exegetically, and line-by-line as my Bible study group and I are now doing. I believe you will discover, as we are, that there is much for us to re-discuss if my above premise for the faith and belief basis of God’s Sabbath-rest is correct.

 

I’ll close this blog with two other “rest” verses and a few questions to ponder:

 

– Matthew 11:28-29 – Was this “rest” available when Jesus spoke these words?  At the  cross? After his resurrection?

At Pentecost? After A.D. 70? Or is it still not?

Moreover, is this promised rest an earthly or heavenly opportunity/reality?

 

– Revelation 14:13 – When was this “rest” made available? Or is it still not?

Moreover, is this promised rest an earthly or heavenly opportunity/reality?

 

I welcome your comments.