Hebrews Lesson #5

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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
HEBREWS 4
LESSON #5
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FULL “REST” OF GOD

MEMORY VERSE: HEB 4:11

• REVIEW:IN CHAPTER 3 WE DISCOVERED THAT THE EXPERIENCES OF THE ISRAELITES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ARE AN EXAMPLE (A TYPE) FOR US THAT PICTURES THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
• THERE WERE 2 STAGES OF FAITH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLE:
• CROSSING THE RED SEA
• CROSSING THE JORDAN RIVER
• THERE ARE 2 STAGES OF FAITH IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE:
• ENTERING INTO SALVATION
• ENTERING INTO THE FULL PROMISES OF GOD
• LIKE THE OLD TESTAMENT ISRAELITES, MANY CHRISTIANS WANDER IN THE WILDERNESS OF UNBELIEF BETWEEN THE TWO STAGES.
• THE WILDERNESS LIFE OF SIN, DISOBEDIENCE, FAILURE, WEAKNESS AND TROUBLE IS ROOTED IN UNBELIEF
• THE FIRST STAGE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS HAVING FAITH TO ACCEPT CHRIST AS SAVIOR.
• THE SECOND STAGE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS HAVING FAITH TO ACCEPT CHRIST AS LORD (YOUR PRIEST/KING).
• THE AUTHOR DOES NOT WANT US TO BE SATISFIED WITH ONLY THE FIRST STAGE. MOST CHRISTIANS ARE SATISFIED WITH AS LITTLE OF GOD AS MAY GET THEM INTO HEAVEN’S DOOR.

• READ HEB 4:1-13
• THERE IS MUCH DISCUSSION IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ABOUT ENTERING GOD’S REST. WE NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IN ORDER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE NEW TESTAMENT.
• READ DEU 12:9-10 EXO 33:14 JOS 1:13.

• THE CREATION “REST”:

• GENESIS SAYS GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY AFTER SIX DAYS OF CREATION. HE DID NOT REST BECAUSE HE WAS TIRED BUT BECAUSE IT WAS FINISHED.
• THEREFORE, THE IDEA OF “REST” IS THE IDEA OF COMPLETENESS.
• THE SABBATH “REST”

• BUILT INTO THE MOSAIC LAW WAS THE CONCEPT OF A SABBATH “REST” OF WHICH MOST OF US ARE ONLY FAMILIAR WITH THE IDEA OF NO WORK ON SATURDAY. IT WAS MORE COMPLEX THAN THAT. THERE WAS A WHOLE SABBATIC SYSTEM:

• THE SABBATIC DAY

• THE WORD SABBATH MEANS “SATURDAY”.
• IT WAS NOT A SPECIAL DAY OF WORSHIP THAT MANY OF US BELIEVE. THE JEWS WERE TO WORSHIP GOD EVERY DAY.
• IT WAS A DAY OF NO WORK.
• THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS ADDED MANY MORE PROHIBITIONS REGARDING THE KEEPING OF THE SABBATH DAY THAN GOD ORIGINALLY INTENDED.
• WHAT WAS GOD’S PURPOSE FOR THE SABBATH DAY?
• TO MARK A PEOPLE, THE JEWS, AS HIS SPECIAL PEOPLE.
• THE SABBATH DAY WAS GIVEN ONLY TO THE JEWS. JESUS REPEATED ALL THE OTHER OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT BUT HE NEVER INSISTED ON A LITERAL KEEPING OF THE SABBATH DAY.
• TO PROVIDE A TYPE OR PREFIGURE FOR THE AGE OF GRACE
• IN CREATION, GOD WORKED 6 DAYS, THEN HE RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY. THROUGH A MAJORITY OF HISTORY, MAN WILL TRY TO WORK HIS WAY TO GOD, BUT ONLY WHEN MAN RESTS IN FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, DOES TRUE PEACE COME.
• THE SEVENTH AGE OF DISPENSATION IS THE MILLENNIUM WHEN CHRIST WILL RULE FOR 1,000 YEARS.
• THE SABBATIC WEEK

• THE JEWS WERE TO CELEBRATE ONE WEEK A YEAR AS A SABBATH WEEK. IT OCCURRED DURING THE WEEK OF PENTECOST.
• PENTECOST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT WAS 50 DAYS AFTER THE PASSOVER.
• WHAT WAS GOD’S PURPOSE FOR THE SABBATIC WEEK?
• TO PROVIDE A TYPE OR PREFIGURE FOR THE DAY OF PENTECOST IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (ACTS 1-2) THIS DAY CAME 50 DAYS AFTER JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED ON PASSSOVER.
• THE SABBATIC MONTH

• THE SABBATH MONTH WAS THE SEVENTH MONTH OF THE JEWISH CALENDAR. IT OCCURS IN THE FALL OF THE YEAR AND CONTAINED 3 OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FESTIVALS OF THE JEWISH CALENDAR.
• 1. THE DAY OF ATONEMENT WHEN THE SINS OF THE NATION WERE PURGED BY ANIMAL SACRIFICE IN THE HOLY OF HOLIES.
• 2. THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS THAT SIGNALED A NEW BEGINNING, A NEW YEAR.
• 3. THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES WHICH WAS SYMBOLIC OF THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
• WHAT WAS GOD’S PURPOSE FOR THE SABBATIC MONTH?
• THE THREE FESTIVALS OF THE JEWISH CALENDAR ARE PROPHETIC ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.
• THE SABBATIC YEAR

• EVERY SEVEN YEARS THE JEWS WERE TO LET THE LAND LIE FALLOW. THEY WERE NOT TO PLOW IT AND PLANT CROPS. IT WAS A REST FOR THE LAND.
• THE JEWS NEVER KEPT THE SABBATIC YEAR BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF FAITH THAT GOD WOULD PROVIDE FOR THEM IN THAT SEVENTH YEAR.
• WHAT WAS GOD’S PURPOSE FOR THE SABBATIC YEAR?
• THE SABBATIC YEAR WAS TO BE A TYPE OR PREFIGURE OF THE LIFE OF FAITH.
• THE SEVENTH SABBATIC YEAR

• EVERY 50 YEARS WAS TO BE THE YEAR OF JUBILEE. THE JEWS WERE TO FREE ALL SLAVES, CANCEL ALL DEBTS, AND RETURN ALL LAND TO ITS ORIGINAL OWNER.
• THE JEWS NEVER KEPT THE YEAR OF JUBILEE BECAUSE OF GREED.
• WHAT WAS GOD’S PURPOSE FOR THE YEAR OF JUBILEE?
• IT WAS TO BE A TYPE OR PREFIGURE OF THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM WHERE PERFECT JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL RULE.
• THE WHOLE SABBATIC SYSTEM WAS A TYPE OR PREFIGURE OF MAN’S COOPERATION WITH GOD…FAITH ON MAN’S PART, AND PROVISION AND GRACE ON GOD’S PART. THE FULFILLMENT OF THIS PROPHETIC SYSTEM WAS ALL PURCHASED BY JESUS CHRIST ON THE CROSS AND COMES TO COMPLETION IN THE MILLENIUM.
• THE CANAAN “REST”:

• GOD PROMISED THE LAND OF ISRAEL TO HIS PEOPLE, BUT THEY HAD TO HAVE FAITH TO TAKE POSSESSION OF IT. JOSHUA LED THEM INTO THE PROMISED LAND, BUT THEY HAD TO FIGHT FOR THE LAND AND STRUGGLE TO KEEP IT. IT WAS NOT A TIME OF REST, BUT OF WAR EVEN THOUGH GOD CALLED THE PROMISE LAND A “REST”.(JOS 11:23)
• THE ISRAELITES NEVER POSSESSED ALL THE LAND GOD GAVE THEM. THEREFORE, THEY NEVER POSSESSED THE COMPLETION OF GOD’S “REST”. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT?
• 500 YEARS LATER IN PSALMS 95:11 DAVID SPEAKS ABOUT A “REST” THAT STILL REMAINED.
• GOD’S PURPOSE FOR GIVING THE CANAAN “REST”:
• TO PROVIDE A TYPE OR PREFIGURE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIAN LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST REFERRED TO IN HEBREWS 4.
• THE SALVATION “REST”:

• THE SALVATION THAT WE HAVE BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST IS THE FULFILLMENT OF ALL THE OTHER “RESTS” IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. HEBREWS, THEREFORE, TELLS US THAT THIS LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST IS THE “BETTER REST” AND CONTAINS ALL THE PROVISIONS AND BLESSINGS OF GOD. THIS “REST” IS OBTAINED BY FAITH IN CHRIST
• **WHAT WAS THE OLD TESTAMENT CONCEPT OF “REST”?
• FREEDOM FROM ENEMY ATTACK
• GOD’S PRESENCE
• THE PROMISE LAND WITH ALL ITS PROVISION
• WHAT DOES HEB 4:10 ADD TO THE DEFINITION OF “REST”?
• FREEDOM FROM SELF-WORKS
• WE ARE FREE FROM HAVING TO OUTWARDLY KEEP THE OLD TESTAMENT SABBATIC SYSTEM.
• WHAT IS THE NEW TESTAMENT DEFINITION OF “REST”:
• HEB 4:2 SAYS THE “GOSPEL” WAS PREACHED TO THE OLD TESTAMENT ISRAELITES. THAT’S NOT THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION BUT THE “GOOD NEWS” OF BLESSINGS AND REWARDS THAT GOD WILL POUR OUT UPON HIS CHILDREN WHO ARE FAITHFUL AND OBEDIENT TO TRUST HIM.
• READ MAT 11:28,29
• THE ASSURANCE THAT IF WE CEASE FROM OUR OWN SELF-WORKS AND BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, WE WILL HAVE SALVATION, FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD, DOMINION OVER THE ENEMY, ALL GOD’S BLESSINGS OF PROVISION AND ABOVE ALL “PEACE”.
• THE FULL PROMISES OF GOD PURCHASED ON CALVARY OF WHICH WE FALL SHORT.:
• REDEMPTION FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW
• READ GAL 3:13,14,29
• WHAT IS THE CURSE OF THE LAW?
• CURSE OF POVERTY DEU 28:15-17;38-40 PHI 4:19 MAT 6:33 LUK 6:38
• CURSE OF SICKNESS DEU 28:15-22,27-29,35,58-61 ISA 53 MAT 8:17 1PE 2:24
• CURSE OF SPIRITUAL DEATH GEN 2:17 EPH 2:1
• HOW DO WE ENTER INTO THAT NEW TESTAMENT “REST”?
• BELIEF (HEAD KNOWLEDGE) MIXED WITH FAITH (HEART KNOWLEDGE) RESULTING IN OBEDIENCE (ACTION).
• JOSHUA LED THE PEOPLE INTO THE PROMISE LAND OF “REST”.
• JESUS AND JOSHUA ARE THE SAME NAME IN 2 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. JESUS LEADS US INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT “REST”.
• WE ARE TO ENTER INTO GOD’S “REST” EVERY DAY. MAT 6:11
• SUMMARY:

ENTERING GOD’S REST
HEB 3 – 4

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• WHAT IS GOD’S REST?
• IT WAS FIRST A SABBATH DAYEXO 16:23
• THEN IT WAS A SABBATH WEEK-FEAST OF PENTECOSTLEV 23:15-16
• THEN IT WAS A SABBATH MONTH WITH 3 SABBATH FEASTS
• FEAST OF TRUMPETSNUM 29:1
• DAY OF ATONEMENTLEV 16
• FEAST OF TABERNACLESLEV 23:34
• THEN IT WAS A SABBATH YEAREXO 23:10-11 LEV 25 DEU 15
• THEN IT WAS A LAND-THE PROMISE LANDJOS 11:23 HEB 3:7-19
• ALL THE ABOVE ARE O.T. TYPES OR PICTURES OF GOD’S REST NOW
• NOW IT IS A RELATIONSHIPHEB 4:9,16
• WHAT DOES GOD’S REST INCLUDE NOW?
• SALVATION AND ALL GOD’S PROMISED BLESSINGS MAT 11:28-29 HEB 4:1
• WHAT KEPT THE ISRAELITES FROM ENTERING THAT ALSO KEEPS US FROM ENTERING?
• HARDENED HEARTSHEB 3:8
• NOT KNOWING GOD’S WAYSHEB 3:10
• LACK OF BELIEFHEB 3:18
• LACK OF FAITHHEB 4:2
• HOW DO WE ENTER GOD’S REST?
• REMEMBER AND ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT GOD HAS DONEJOS 4:20
• DEDICATION OR RE-DEDICATION TO GOD WITH HUMILITYJOS 5:3-6
• DEDICATED WORSHIP AND THANKSGIVING TO GODJOS 5:10 HEB 11:6
• BELIEF THAT GOD’S PROMISES ARE TRUE HEB 11:6
• BELIEF = HEAD KNOWLEDGE WITH NO ACTION INVOLVED
• FAITH IN GOD’S PROMISESHEB 11:6
• FAITH = HEART KNOWLEDGE WITH CORRESPONDING ACTION
• FEED ON THE WORD OF GOD EXPOSING UNBELIEFJOS 5:12 HEB 4:12
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• WHAT DOES HEB 4:11 MEAN IN YOUR OWN WORDS?
• “LABOR” (WITH DILIGENCE) = MEANS TO MAKE HASTE, BE IN EARNEST, PUT YOUR WHOLE HEART INTO IT; ?SEE THAT YOU DO IT!
• DID YOU THINK “REST” MEANT THERE WAS NO WORK?
• NO, REST IS NOT INACTIVITY, BUT GOD-DIRECTED ACTIVITY.
• WE HAVE TO WORK, IN OTHER WORDS, FIGHT THE BATTLE, TO FIND THE WAY TO ENTER IN. WE FIGHT SATAN AND HIS DEMONS
• EPH 6:12-18
• WE FIGHT AGAINST OUR OWN FLESH NATURE
• ROM 7:22-25
• WE FIGHT AGAINST OUR OWN SELF-WORKS
• COL 1:29
• WHAT EXPOSES UNBELIEF IN A HARD HEART?
• THE HOLY SPIRIT USES THE LIVING WORD OF GOD (12) TO PENETRATE THE HARDNESS OF A HEART (JER 23:29). THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND IT ENEGIZES US.
• OUR SOUL IS THE THRONE OF OUR SELF-WILL.
• OUR SPIRIT IS THE THRONE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
• THE HOLY SPIRIT USES THE WORD OF GOD TO DETERMINE WHICH ONE IS RULING.
• SUMMARY:
• THE SABBATH REST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT WAS A TYPE (A LITTLE PICTURE) OF THE NEW TESTAMENT “REST” OF HEBREWS.
• READ HEB 4:14-16
• THE AUTHOR FINISHED HIS PARENTHESIS BREAK (THE WARNING) AND NOW RETURNS TO HIS DISCUSSION OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR HIGH PRIEST.
• JESUS IS OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST
• HIS MINISTRY AS A PRIEST DID NOT BEGIN UNTIL HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN.
• FOR THE 33 YEARS HE WAS ON THIS EARTH, HE WAS A PROPHET.
• AT THE SECOND COMING HE WILL BECOME THE KING.
• NOW, IN THIS AGE OF GRACE, HE IS A PRIEST.
• REVIEW OF WHAT WE LEARNED BEFORE:
• JUST LIKE THE OLD TESTAMENT PRIESTS,
• 1. JESUS WAS MADE FLESH LIKE US TO MAKE RECONCILIATION FOR OUR SINS HEB 2:17-18
• 2. JESUS WAS CALLED BY GOD. HEB. 3:1
• NEW FACTS ADDED:
• 3. UNLIKE THE OLD TESTAMENT PRIESTS, HE ENTERED INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES IN HEAVEN. HEB 4:14
• 4. HE WAS TEMPTED BUT DID NOT SIN. HEB 4:15
• CHAPTER SUMMARY:
• THERE ARE 4 EXHORTATIONS IN THIS CHAPTER:
• 1. 4:1 LET US BE AFRAID OF COMING SHORT OF GOD’S “REST”
• 2. 4:11 LET US LABOR TO ENTER INTO THAT “REST”
• 3. 4:14 LET US HOLD FAST OUR PROFESSION
• 4. 4:16 LET US COME BOLDLY (WITH GREAT FREEDOM OF SPEECH) TO THE THRONE OF GRACE
• **A FOOTNOTE**

SABBATH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AGE OF GRACE
MAR 2:28

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• DEFINITION: WHAT AND WHEN IS THE SABBATH?
• IT WAS A DAY OF PHYSICAL REST FOR THE JEWS GIVEN IN THE MOSAIC LAW.
• IT WAS NOT A DAY OF WORSHIP OR PUBLIC MEETINGS.
• IT BEGAN ON SUNDOWN ON FRIDAY AND CONTINUED UNTIL SUNDOWN ON SATURDAY.
• TO WHOM WAS THE SABBATH GIVEN AND WHY?
• IT WAS GIVEN TO ISRAEL AND TO NO OTHER NATION. EXO 31:12-17
• GENTILES DO NOT HAVE THE LAW ROM 2:14
• IT WAS A SIGN BETWEEN GOD AND THE ISRAELITES EZE 20:20
• GOD GAVE THE JEWS 2 SIGNS TO DISTINGUISH THEM AS HIS SEPARATE PEOPLE:
• THE SABBATH — A SPIRITUAL SIGN
• CIRCUMCISION — A PHYSICAL SIGN
• IT WAS TO REMIND THE JEWS THAT GOD BROUGHT THEM OUT OF EGYPT DEU 5:15
• WHEN WAS THE SABBATH FIRST GIVEN?
• THE FIRST REFERENCE TO THE SABBATH IS IN EXO 16:23.
• WHILE GOD RESTED THE SEVENTH DAY OF CREATION, HE DOES NOT TELL MAN TO KEEP THAT DAY SPECIAL UNTIL THE MOSAIC LAW WAS GIVEN. NEH 9:13-14
• WHEN IS THE SABBATH TO END?
• HOS 2:11 IS A PROPHECY THAT THE SABBATH WOULD ONE DAY CEASE
• COL 2:14-17 SAYS THAT ALL OF THE LAW INCLUDING THE SABBATH WAS NAILED TO THE CROSS OF CHRIST WHEN HE WAS CRUCIFIED.
• JESUS CHRIST FULFILLED THE LAW AND THE SABBATH.
• MAT 5:17 GAL 4:4,5
• THE LAW AND THE SABBATH HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE IN THIS AGE OF GRACE. IT WILL BE RESTORED IN THE MILLENNIUM, ANOTHER PERIOD OF LAW, AS A MEMORIAL OF ISRAEL’S PAST HISTORY. ISA 66:23
• THE PRACTICE OF KEEPING THE SABBATH IN THE EARLY CHURCH
• THE SABBATH IS MENTIONED IN THE BOOK OF ACTS ONLY IN CONNECTION WITH THE JEWS WHEN DISCIPLES WENT TO THE SYNAGOGUE NOT TO OBSERVE THE LAW BUT TO PREACH TO THE JEWS. ACT 13:13-43; 17:2; 18:4 1CO 9:20
• WHAT DAY SHOULD THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH OBSERVE?
• NO SPECIFIC DAY!!!! ROM 14:5
• NO ONE DAY IS BETTER THAN ANOTHER. WE ARE TO HAVE A DAILY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. GAL 4:10-11
• WE ARE NOT TO FORSAKE GATHERING TOGETHER WITH OTHER BELIEVERS HEB 10:24-25
• WE ARE NOT TO JUDGE OTHERS BY WHAT DAY THEY WORSHIP
• COL 2:16
• THEN, WHAT IS THE CHRISTIAN’S SABBATH? THERE IS NONE!
• THE OLD TESTAMENT SABBATH WAS A PRE-FIGURE OF THE REST FOR THE SOUL IN JESUS CHRIST. HEB 4:1-6

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HOMEWORK FOR HEBREWS 5

THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF HEB 4:
• WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS REPRESENTS YOU IN YOUR CEASING FROM SELF-WORKS?
• THE NON-BELIEVER’S ATTITUDE IS: “IT’S NOT CHRIST BUT I.”
• THE LAZY, CARNAL CHRISTIAN’S ATTITUDE IS: “IT’S I AND CHRIST”.
• THE GROWING CHRISTIAN’S ATTITUDE IS: “IT’S CHRIST AND I.”
• THE SPIRITUAL CHRISTIAN’S ATTITUDE IS: “IT’S NOT I BUT ALL CHRIST.”
• WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THAT MIGHT HELP YOU ENTER IN MORE FULLY INTO GOD’S REST?
• HOW DO THE FACTS YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT JESUS, YOUR HIGH PRIEST, HELP YOU TO ENTER INTO GOD’S “REST”?
• PREPARATION FOR HEBREWS 5:
• READ HEB 5:1-10 AARON AND THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH PRIEST
• WHAT TWO PRIMARY DUTIES ARE EXPECTED OF EVERY HIGH PRIEST? (1)
• AARON IS A PREFIGURE OF CHRIST AS A HIGH PRIEST. FILL IN THE FOLLOWING CHART FROM THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES AND FROM WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT PRIESTHOOD.

SCRIPTURE:	AARON’S PRIESTHOOD	JESUS CHRIST
HEB 5:1-10
EXO 29:7-9
EXO 29:10-25

• (FOR THE DILIGENT STUDENT): MORE BACKGROUND, READ LEV 1:1-6:7
• MEMORY VERSE: HEB 4:16