Hebrews 4 is a continuation of the themes developed by Apostle Paul in chapter 3. He outlines three 'rests' in these 2 beautiful chapters. The first 'rest' is found in Jesus Christ, as our High Priest, when we invite him 'Today' to reign over our hearts. The second 'rest' is the one we long to have, and will only be experienced in the New Jerusalem, when He comes to takes to our heavenly home. The third 'rest' is that of the Seventh day Sabbath, which is a weekly reminder that if we live a victorious life every day of the week, that one day we will enter the heavenly rest of the true Canaan.
Some critics of the abiding obligation of the Sabbath have mistakenly understood the following 2 verses in Hebrews 4 to suggest that the Sabbath obligation has been done away with: (9) There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (10) For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
But in the above verses we are, in fact, enjoined to enter the very 'rest' which God had entered. This rest 'remaineth' (i.e., the weekly Sabbath) as a reminder of the rest we will one day experience with our loving Father. Ironically, the very verses in Hebrews 4 which are taken by some to mean the washing away of the Bible Sabbath obligation for the Christian are here used by Paul to remind us of the continuing obligation of the Sabbath as a weekly reminder of the heavenly 'rest' that awaits if we are faithful and obedient. Sabbath keeping as a way of experiencing the 'rest' He desire for us to have is a concept that has been lived by Christ (Luke 4:16 ), the disciples (Acts 16:13-15 ), and His followers (Luke 23:54-56 ). Sabbath keeping will also be found in the heavenly Jerusalem (Isaiah 66:23 ).
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re:vic williams Written by lilly coldivar, March 22, 2010
God told us in his comandments that we shall work seven days and rest on the seventh day.in wich we r to worship him. or do u not believe that we need a day alone for God? He gives us six days to take care of everything we need to do, so that on his seventh day, day of rest, we have nothing else to worry about other than our comunion with him. and about mark 2:27-28 he tells us that the sabbath was made for men and not men for the sabbath. wich means that since we have a creator we must worship him on his holy day wich he set apart for us to worship him.because God wouldnt need his day of worship if he had no one to worship him.so since he created us , he also made the sabbath for us. the sabbath was made for man.when in isaiah he talks about how people were so disobidient that he didnt want their sacrifises or oferings cuz they just went right back and did evil.
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re:vic williams Written by lilly coldivar, March 22, 2010
God told us in his comandments that we shall work seven days and rest on the seventh day.in wich we r to worship him. or do u not believe that we need a day alone for God? He gives us six days to take care of everything we need to do, so that on his seventh day, day of rest, we have nothing else to worry about other than our comunion with him. and about mark 2:27-28 he tells us that the sabbath was made for men and not men for the sabbath. wich means that since we have a creator we must worship him on his holy day wich he set apart for us to worship him.because God wouldnt need his day of worship if he had no one to worship him.so since he created us , he also made the sabbath for us. the sabbath was made for man.
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gods law Written by lilly coldivar, February 16, 2010
dont base ur belives in wut u hear, study ur Bible and ask god to give u wisdom to understand his holy word.
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God's sabbath is not a physical day! Neither 12 or 24 hour. Written by vic williams, January 20, 2010
Christ mentioned the commandments of the Mt Sinai Covenant but never the sabbath day commandment.
When the Lord of the sabbath came he didnot keep the seventh day of the week - a physical day on which the Israelites were commanded to remember the seventh day of creation Sabbath - not the every seventh day of the week but the seventh day which God entered and blessed. God who is Spirit cannot be in a physical day. The Isrealites never really kept the commandment of Ex 20:8-11 = see Isa 1"1-17. Where ever God is it is Sabbath. Vic.
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... Written by DAVID AGALA, January 05, 2010
when christ died on the cross he came to give us rest.which can only be found at the throne of god.jesus being the high priest,our great intercessor is holding us at the mercy seat
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Rest Written by Charles Aaron, December 12, 2009
The greek word for rest is 'katapausis', which means a resting place.
Metaphorically the heavenly blessedness in which God dwells, and of which He has promised to make persevering believers in Christ partakers after the toils and trials of life on earth are ended.
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... Written by icyirene, December 01, 2009 i know i'll never love this way again.
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The Sabbath is not a day but a way of life. Or Mark 2:27-28 - Was man made for one day a week. Written by vic williams, September 28, 2009
It is sad that so many people do not realize that God and Jesus Christ invite us to enter His Sabbath. The completion of His creation in Gen 2:1-3.
His way of life not a day but to be living with them forever - eternity. The heavens and the earth were finished and all the host of them - "finished" Gen 2:1 - The physical shadow was the garden of Eden with the Olive Tree of Life. As Spirit begotten, betrothed members of the body of Christ - His Bride - we have already entered the Sabbath way of Life that God and Christ have now entered. There is no evening and morning in God's sabbath not a day, no evening, Heb "ereb" - dusk - and no morning Heb "boqar" dawning - start of of the another day. On the seventh day of creation God -sabbathed - completed his creation, ceased from creating and lived and enjoyed what he created and it was all good. Jesus in Mark 2:27-28 And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” Jesus does nor mention "day" at all Quote :- The third 'rest' is that of the Seventh day Sabbath, which is a weekly reminder that if we live a victorious life every day of the week, that one day we will enter the heavenly rest of the true Canaan. What a contradictory statement "if we live a victorious life every day of the week" - that must include all seven days then we are living God;s sabbath now all seven days, We have no need of a reminder of what we have accomplished each week. V9 clearly states "remaineth" - present continuous tense - ongoing -every day of our lifetime till Christ returns. Please consider the clarity of Mark 2:27-28 And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” THE SABBATH IS NOT A DAY BUT A WAY OF LIFE ! Vic.
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sabbath rest Written by endtimeelijah, April 11, 2009
This is possibly the only text in the new Testament which actually discusses the 7th day Sabbath. Here it is confirmed as retained/remaining. It was perfectly accepted as part of the new WAY in Christ, and came under no dispute anywhere else in N/T.
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