Hebrews 4 Last week: Entering God’s rest Israel’s Failure at Kadesh Barnia Joshua & Caleb’s Faith The Rebellion of Unbelief Old Testament Reality The Sabbath.

Hebrews 4

Last week: Entering God’s restLast week: Entering God’s rest

Israel’s Failure at Kadesh BarniaIsrael’s Failure at Kadesh BarniaJoshua & Caleb’s FaithJoshua & Caleb’s FaithThe Rebellion of UnbeliefThe Rebellion of Unbelief

Old Testament RealityOld Testament Reality

The Sabbath Rest of God:The Sabbath Rest of God:

• Possession of CanaanPossession of Canaan

• Provision & ProsperityProvision & Prosperity

• Personal SecurityPersonal Security

• Political TheocracyPolitical Theocracy

• Peace Within Her BordersPeace Within Her Borders

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 What Went Wrong At What Went Wrong At

Kadesh Barnea?Kadesh Barnea?

• Vote of no confidence in GodVote of no confidence in God

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 What Went Wrong At What Went Wrong At

Kadesh Barnea?Kadesh Barnea?

• Vote of no confidence in GodVote of no confidence in God

• Fear of depending on GodFear of depending on God

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 What Went Wrong At What Went Wrong At

Kadesh Barnea?Kadesh Barnea?• Vote of no confidence in GodVote of no confidence in God

• Fear of depending on GodFear of depending on God

• Hardening of the heartHardening of the heart

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 What Went Wrong At What Went Wrong At

Kadesh Barnea?Kadesh Barnea?• Vote of no confidence in GodVote of no confidence in God

• Fear of depending on GodFear of depending on God

• Hardening of the heartHardening of the heart

• Resulted in permanent lossResulted in permanent loss (an entire generation lost)(an entire generation lost)

Hebrews 4Hebrews 44:1 Therefore, since 4:1 Therefore, since the promise of the promise of

entering his rest still standsentering his rest still stands, let us be , let us be careful that none of you be found to careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.have fallen short of it.

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 22 For we also have had the gospel For we also have had the gospel

preached to us, just as they did; but preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.heard did not combine it with faith.

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 3 Now we who have believed enter that 3 Now we who have believed enter that

rest, just as God has said, "So I declared rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" And yet his work has been enter my rest.'" And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world.finished since the creation of the world.

4 For somewhere he has spoken about the 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And seventh day in these words: “And on the on the seventh day God rested from all his workseventh day God rested from all his work.”.”

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 3 Now we who have believed enter that 3 Now we who have believed enter that

rest, just as God has said, "So I declared rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" And yet his work has been enter my rest.'" And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world.finished since the creation of the world.

4 For somewhere he has spoken about the 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And seventh day in these words: “And on the on the seventh day God rested from all his workseventh day God rested from all his work.”.”

Genesis 1

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 3 Now we who have believed enter that 3 Now we who have believed enter that

rest, just as God has said, "So I declared rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" And yet enter my rest.'" And yet his work has been his work has been finished since the creation of the worldfinished since the creation of the world..

4 For somewhere he has spoken about the 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And seventh day in these words: “And on the on the seventh day God rested from all his workseventh day God rested from all his work.”.”

The reason he restedThe reason he rested

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 5 And again 5 And again in the passage abovein the passage above he he

says, "They shall never enter my says, "They shall never enter my rest."rest."

6 6 It still remains that some will enter It still remains that some will enter that restthat rest, and those who formerly had , and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience.go in, because of their disobedience.

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 7 Therefore God again set a certain 7 Therefore God again set a certain

day, calling it Today, when a long day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke time later he spoke through Davidthrough David, as , as was said before: "Today, if you hear was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."his voice, do not harden your hearts."

8 For if 8 For if JoshuaJoshua had given them rest, had given them rest, God would not have spoken later God would not have spoken later about another day.about another day.

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 7 Therefore God again set a certain 7 Therefore God again set a certain

day, calling it Today, when a long day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke time later he spoke through Davidthrough David, as , as was said before: "Today, if you hear was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."his voice, do not harden your hearts."

8 For if 8 For if JoshuaJoshua had given them rest, had given them rest, God would not have spoken later God would not have spoken later about another day.about another day.

•More than 400 More than 400 years after Joshuayears after Joshua

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 99 There remains, then, There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the a Sabbath-rest for the people of Godpeople of God

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 1010 for anyone who enters God's for anyone who enters God's

rest also rests from his own rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.work, just as God did from his.

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 1010 for anyone who enters God's for anyone who enters God's

rest also rests from his own rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.work, just as God did from his.

Original meaning:Original meaning:

Entering The Promised LandEntering The Promised Land

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 1010 for anyone who enters God's for anyone who enters God's

rest also rests from his own rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.work, just as God did from his.

Original meaning:Original meaning:

Entering The Promised LandEntering The Promised Land

1. Step of faith1. Step of faithJoshua 3:15,16 “As soon as the Joshua 3:15,16 “As soon as the priests who carried the ark priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan reached the Jordan and their and their feet touched the water's edgefeet touched the water's edge, , the water from upstream stopped the water from upstream stopped flowing.”flowing.”

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 1010 for anyone who enters God's for anyone who enters God's

rest also rests from his own rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.work, just as God did from his.

Original meaning:Original meaning:

Entering The Promised LandEntering The Promised Land

1. Step of faith1. Step of faith

2. Total dedication2. Total dedicationJoshua 5:2 At that time the Lord Joshua 5:2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the knives and circumcise the Israelites again.”Israelites again.”

Israel wandered in the wilderness Israel wandered in the wilderness because of their disobedience. Those because of their disobedience. Those

who entered the wilderness were who entered the wilderness were included in the covenant by included in the covenant by

circumcision. But they died in the circumcision. But they died in the wilderness, and those who were born in wilderness, and those who were born in

the wilderness had never entered the the wilderness had never entered the covenant. Now as they prepared to enter covenant. Now as they prepared to enter

the land, it was necessary for each of the land, it was necessary for each of them to perform the ritual and enter the them to perform the ritual and enter the covenant. covenant. But what does it mean to us?But what does it mean to us?

Circumcision is an Circumcision is an

Old Testament thing, right?Old Testament thing, right?

Paul mentions circumcision 22 times in his Paul mentions circumcision 22 times in his letters alone. letters alone.

28For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Romans 2:28-29

11In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. Colossians 2:11-14

Just as God required Joshua and the Just as God required Joshua and the Israelites to renew their covenant by Israelites to renew their covenant by being circumcised before they being circumcised before they entered into the promised land, so He entered into the promised land, so He requires us to renew our covenant of requires us to renew our covenant of faith before we can receive in faith faith before we can receive in faith what He has promised us.what He has promised us.

What, then, is the New Testament equivalent of circumcision?

•How do we do it?

•Who may participate in it?

•How does it apply?

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 1010 for anyone who enters God's for anyone who enters God's

rest also rests from his own rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.work, just as God did from his.

Original meaning:Original meaning:

Entering The Promised LandEntering The Promised Land

1. Step of faith1. Step of faith

2. Total dedication2. Total dedication

3. Abandon self-confidence3. Abandon self-confidence

4. Dependent action4. Dependent action

Joshua 6:3,4 March around the city Joshua 6:3,4 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.blowing the trumpets.

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 1111 Let us, therefore, make Let us, therefore, make

every effort to enter that every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of by following their example of disobedience.disobedience.

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 1111 Let us, therefore, make Let us, therefore, make

every effort to enter that every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of by following their example of disobedience.disobedience.

Application For Us:Application For Us:

Spiritual growthSpiritual growth

Hebrews 4Hebrews 41111 Let us, therefore, make Let us, therefore, make

every effort to enter that every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of by following their example of disobedience.disobedience.

Application For Us:Application For Us:

Spiritual growthSpiritual growth

1. Trusting God will come 1. Trusting God will come throughthrough

Hebrews 4Hebrews 41111 Let us, therefore, make Let us, therefore, make

every effort to enter that every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of by following their example of disobedience.disobedience.

Application For Us:Application For Us:

Spiritual growthSpiritual growth

1. Trusting God will come 1. Trusting God will come throughthrough

2. Setting aside autonomous 2. Setting aside autonomous solutionssolutions

Hebrews 4Hebrews 41111 Let us, therefore, make Let us, therefore, make

every effort to enter that every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of by following their example of disobedience.disobedience.

Application For Us:Application For Us:

Spiritual growthSpiritual growth

1. Trusting God will come 1. Trusting God will come throughthrough

2. Setting aside autonomous 2. Setting aside autonomous

solutionssolutions

3. Taking Dependent action3. Taking Dependent action

Waiting on God and Trusting God:Waiting on God and Trusting God:Does not imply inactivity, but Does not imply inactivity, but Honest Dependent Action.Honest Dependent Action.

This is a Learned Skill, which must be This is a Learned Skill, which must be developed through trial and error.developed through trial and error.The Church, the Community of Faith, is The Church, the Community of Faith, is meant to be a laboratory, in which meant to be a laboratory, in which people learn through experience and people learn through experience and encouragement.encouragement.

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 1212 For the word of God is living and For the word of God is living and

active. Sharper than any double-active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.heart.

This passage is often used in reference to This passage is often used in reference to the Bible, but note that the Word spoken the Bible, but note that the Word spoken of here is actually Jesus. of here is actually Jesus.

An interesting scholarly puzzle here entails how the An interesting scholarly puzzle here entails how the writer of Hebrews writer of Hebrews picks up John’s Greek Construct picks up John’s Greek Construct of the Word.of the Word.The most probable answer is that they were both The most probable answer is that they were both

influenced by Alexandrian theology.influenced by Alexandrian theology.Note that all O.T. quotes in Hebrews are LXX.Note that all O.T. quotes in Hebrews are LXX.

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 1313 Nothing in all creation is hidden Nothing in all creation is hidden

from God's sight. Everything is from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must the eyes of him to whom we must give account.give account.

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 1414 Therefore, since we have a Therefore, since we have a

great high priest who has gone great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.firmly to the faith we profess.

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 1515 For we do not have a high For we do not have a high

priest who is unable to priest who is unable to sympathize with our sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was way, just as we are--yet was without sin.without sin.

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 1616 Let us then approach the Let us then approach the

throne of grace with throne of grace with confidence, so that we may confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time grace to help us in our time of need.of need.

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4 1616 Let us then approach the Let us then approach the

throne of grace throne of grace with with confidenceconfidence, so that we may , so that we may receive mercy and find receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time grace to help us in our time of need.of need.

Next WeekNext Week1.1. MelchizedekMelchizedek

2.2. Why we don’t need a go-Why we don’t need a go-between in our between in our relationship with Godrelationship with God

Hebrews 4Hebrews 4Comments?Comments?Questions?Questions?