Hebrews 4

Hebrews 4:3:
For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Mans rest with Him was planned from the beginning. The rebels are barred from this rest, but those who believe do enter into God’s rest.
His rest: The Greek word for rest is katavpausiß Katapausis (kat-ap’-ow-sis); means to ceasing from work or from any kind of action, “The calming of the winds”.
The idea of “Rest” has several layers of meaning, The “Promised Land” was the destination for Israel. For the believing Christian the “Promised Land” is a type of “Victorious living” and eventually the “salvation”. For Israel, the “Promised Land” was the fulfillment of obedience resulting from faith. Israel, as a nation, lacked faith in God’s promise and failed to enter in his rest.
The writer is warning the Hebrews of making the same mistake Israel did in the wilderness. Brought to the edge of the “Promised Land”, they failed to enter it. The fear is for first century Hebrews, to make the same mistake Israel made in wilderness. “Any of You” could apply to both the “Saved” and “Unsaved”. The saved reader could miss the “Promise Land”, the Lord’s “Rest” because they are fail to trust in Christ’s “finished work”. And either through “Carnal living” or “Works oriented” salvation wander in a restless wilderness, rather then “Rest” in the “Promise Land”. To the unsaved, “to come short of it” applies to those who heard the Gospel, but lack of faith, and therefore fail to enter the “The Land of Promise”, like those who did not believe who came out of Egypt.
Failure to rest often creates a religious piety or even bargaining with God because of a sense of failure which could lead to even more excessive piety in an effort to gain the approval of the God we think we have failed. However, the most we can do for God….at least for it to have any eternal ramifications, is to rest. I have sent many religiously zealous prayers to God for requests of things or even energy to do the things I think I should do for Him, or that I believe I am called to do for Him. God has the ways and means to accomplish His will and His ends. I am to rest.

Hebrews 4:9:
There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.

The anonymous author of Hebrews found different ways of describing the superiority of the Lord Jesus Christ. One of them, which forms the underlying motif of chapters 3 and 4, is that Jesus Christ gives the rest that neither Moses nor Joshua could provide. Under Moses, the people of God were disobedient and failed to enter into God’s rest (3:18). Psalm 95:11 (quoted in Hebrews 4:3) implies that Joshua could not have given the people “real rest” since “through David” God speaks about the rest he will give on another day (Heb. 4:7). This in turn implies that “There remains a sabbath rest for the people of God” (Heb. 4:9). In speaking of this rest (3:18; 4:1, 3–6, 8) the author consistently used the same word for “rest” (katapausis). Suddenly, in speaking about the “rest” that remains for the people of God, he uses a different word (sabbatismos, used only here in the NT) meaning specifically a Sabbath rest. In the context of his teaching, this refers fundamentally to the “Sabbath rest” which is found in Christ (“Come … I will give you rest,” Matt. 11:28–30). Thus we are to “strive to enter that rest” (4:11).
--Sinclair Ferguson

Hebrews 4:10-11:
for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

We no longer have to work to earn salvation. The command is to rest. Anything outside of that is disobedience. Those who have entered into "his" (God's) rest, cease from their own works, as God ceased from His works. God's rest is not idleness nor shall ours be when we enter his rest. While the Sabbath means resting in God's redemptive act, it also means some kind of laboring. "Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest."

John Calvin wrote: But though completion of this rest cannot be attained in this life, yet we ought to ever strive for it. However, there are others who say that the rest mentioned here is not for here, but is the rest in heaven.

Adam fell. He ruined everything, including the Sabbath. Instead of walking with God, he hid from God (Gen. 3:8). It was the Sabbath, Father’s Day, but God had to look for him!
This new context helps us to understand the significance of the fourth commandment. It was given to fallen man — that is why it contains a “you shall not.” He was not to work, but to rest. Externally, that meant ceasing from his ordinary tasks in order to meet with God. Internally, it involved ceasing from all self-sufficiency in order to rest in God’s grace.

Considering this, what difference did the coming of Jesus make to the Sabbath day? In Christ crucified and risen, we find eternal rest (Matt. 11:28–30), and we are restored to communion with God (Matt. 11:25–30). The lost treasures of the Sabbath are restored. We rest in Christ from our labor of self-sufficiency, and we have access to the Father (Eph. 2:18). As we meet with Him, He shows us Himself, His ways, His world, His purposes, His glory. And whatever was temporary about the Mosaic Sabbath must be left behind as the reality of the intimate communion of the Adamic Sabbath is again experienced in our worship of the risen Savior on the first day of the week — the Lord’s Day.

But we have not yet reached the goal. We still struggle to rest from our labors; we still must “strive to enter that rest” (Heb. 4:11). Consequently the weekly nature of the Sabbath continues as a reminder that we are not yet home with the Father. And since this rest is ours only through union with Christ in His death and resurrection, our struggles to refuse the old life and enjoy the new continue.
--Sinclair Ferguson

Hebrews 4:12-13:
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

The Word of God is living and active. It is God’s Word that has been Spirit breathed to those who wrote it down. It is sharper than any two-edged sword. It cuts right through our fleshly arguments, our false assumptions, and our deeply hidden secrets. God uses it to discern the very thoughts and intentions of our hearts. When we tell the truth to those who refuse to obey it, they are actually building up wrath against their rebellion. When they are judged, these acts of rebellion will be used against them. This is why we must rebuke them via the Word of God, not our emotions, not our intellect, not our learning. Instead, we must exegetically show the truth to them. If they repent then praise God! If they don’t then they are actually building the case against themselves in God’s court. They have become accountable to the truth they have heard. When we obey God it is costly to those who observe us or hear us or read what we have written. Why? God’s truth always forces a decision on our part. Either we believe and obey or we disbelieve and disobey. Fortunately, God is gracious.

Adam was created from the dust of the earth and became a living soul. Because of this, our senses, which are contained in our souls, are attuned to the earth. That is why our feelings shift and change according to what is happening around us. Everything that is of the earth is unsteady and changeable, which is why a person who allows their soul to control their life is never at rest. Through the soul – through my senses and feelings – I am in contact with people. Someone who lives according to the soul is always in unrest with regard to what other people think and say about him.
Through my spirit I am in contact with God. However, when I am soulish I live according to my understanding, my senses, which are earthly, and my body is used to serve this world. Then my spirit is also filled with that which is of this world, with the result that I have little or no contact with God. Salvation in Christ is meant to change this relationship so that I become spiritual and heavenly instead of soulish and earthly. The result is a life of faith instead of a life according to my human understanding.
Sigurd Bratlie; Active Christianity

There is no better description of the Word of God than that which is provided by the Word itself. It is a lamp to light the path of righteousness (Psalm 119:105), it is settled, immutable, unchanging (Psalm 119:89; Matthew 24:35), it is truth (John 17:17). But of all the synonyms and adjectives that are provided in the Word about the Word, there is perhaps no more searching reality than that which is quoted above from Hebrews 4.

The Word of God is the Christian's greatest source of comfort and his greatest source of conviction. In times of trial or sorrow, Scripture brings joy to the one in despair. But in times of self-confidence or complacency, it can cut to the quick for the one who is being polished and sanctified by the Lord.

Christians are called to examine themselves, and this practice is done under the searchlight of Scripture. Contained in its pages are detailed descriptions of what it is to be a godly man or an upright woman who desires holiness. This examination is one that true believers ought to embrace, in spite of its bittersweet nature. Bitter because the Word will always shine a light into a dark, dusty corner of our heart that remains to be swept clean. Sweet because the true Christian recognizes this as a blessed work of God as He faithfully reveals our sin to us and then empowers us to mortify that sin as we continue in sanctification. The man or woman who has been saved by God welcomes the gentle rebuke of a loving Father that inevitably comes through study of the Word.

There are several passages within Scripture that the Christian may visit to engage in such a self-soul examination. Many are quick to turn to the wonderful epistle of 1 John—a book which lays out unapologetically how it is that one may honestly discern whether or not he belongs to the Lord. Fewer Christians may find themselves in the book of Psalms for such a soul-searching exercise. However, Pastor Don Green of Truth Community Fellowship recently took his congregation to Psalm 15 and delivered a sermon that undoubtedly left every listener convicted, though not without hope.

The righteous man will bear fruit demonstrative of his regeneration. Yet, even as believers we fall short and sin; but those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ can take comfort in knowing that He and He alone lived the righteous life that they cannot, and that He died the death that they deserve, and that He rose again, making possible eternal life for all who would believe. Indeed, God delivers daily sustaining grace to those who are His. Our worship of this God is meaningless unless it is accompanied by a true, inner change wrought by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. Are you born again? Will you one day dwell with God?
--Do Not Be Surprised

Hebrews 4:15:
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

"this is a God who truly understands you, from the inside of your experience.”
-Tim Keller

“…He has come to share the danger as well as the drudgery of our everyday lives. He desires to weep with us and to wipe away our tears. And what seems most bizarre, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, longs to share in and to be the source of the laughter and the joy we all too rarely know.” -Michael Card

Temptation is a universal human experience. And because it’s so directly associated with sin, many too easily equate being tempted with sinning. But temptation is not the same as sin. If it were, how could the Scriptures say to us that Jesus was tempted in every way we are and yet was without sin? (Heb 4:15) Hence, the simple experience of temptation is not sin. It is true, however, that our past indulgence in sin can make us more susceptible to temptation.

However, properly understood, temptation is a form of suffering—even a kind of martyrdom—that the faithful must endure, and through it bear witness to the abiding and surpassing power of God’s grace.

Yes, temptation is a form of suffering that we must endure daily. Too many people, however, feel guilty merely for being tempted. Perhaps they think they are already sinning simply because the thought of sin comes to mind. To be sure, temptation does speak to our desires and hence presents what at least seems to be a pleasurable prospect. It would not be temptation if it did not have this quality. We are not tempted by something odious or by something that has no pleasurable dimension. Nevertheless, feeling tempted is not a sin. And thus in temptation the Christian should not think of himself or herself as somehow displeasing to God. Rather, we should remember that God is our helper, someone to whom we should turn in time
---Charles Pope

Hebrews 4:16:
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me and rescued me from all my fears.” — Psalm 34:4

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” — Matthew 11:28-30

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 8:38-39

“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6-7

“There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love.” — 1 John 4:18

Matthew 6:25-26: Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?