Hebrews 4:8-13
8 “For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer.”
Sabbath rest: As God rested on the seventh day, so believers are to rest in the finished work of Jesus. The sabbath day was a foreshadowing of the spiritual rest in Christ.
Make every effort to enter the rest: The author of Hebrews plays on words. The Gospel is designed to relax us. So, the author of Hebrews wants us to make effort in order to get to know the Gospel. As we think on truth it enables us to rest. As the eyes of our hearts are opened, we will rest more. We are saved when we believe in Jesus, but we can daily enter into rest by maturing in our faith.
Word of God…Soul and Spirit: The word of God is the Gospel, and the Gospel penetrates the innermost being of humans. The author wants his readers to get to know the Gospel and allow it to transform them at the core of their beings and in their souls or psychology. As we do this we will experience the rest that only the Gospel can offer.
