Labor To Enter Into What Rest?

[VictoryinJesus]

In Hebrews 4:9, believers in Christ were told that there remains a Sabbath rest unto the people of God, and in v.11 that they were to labor to enter into that rest.

What was it/ is it, and how were they/ are we to labor to enter into it?

Revelation 14:13
[13] And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

 

[Waiting on him]

Alright. So why then was Paul comparing himself as well as the entire Corinthian church to those who were still in the wilderness, and had not entered the promised land yet?

There’s no comparison. They were bPtized into Moses. We are baptized into Christ

 

[Hidden In Him]

Revelation 14:13
[13] And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Hi, Victory. :) That passage is actually talking about literally resting from their labors after suffering physical death. That's a different thing than I think you may have been trying to argue for.

 

[Hidden In Him]

There’s no comparison. They were bPtized into Moses. We are baptized into Christ

But he's citing the story specifically to make a comparison, and then adds that the drink the Israelites drank of was Christ; the same One they were now drinking of.

1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

 

[Waiting on him]

3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

Look at the parallels that VIJ quotes from revelation 14, it’s the works of the Spirit Of God that follows (Christ) not dead works

 

[Waiting on him]

The rest is ceasing from dead works. This is solely a work of God

 

[Waiting on him]

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

It’s the Spirit that we walk in or even better stated by. Many that the letter is addressed to are infants in Christ. Just a we were once, it’s the washing and regeneration of the word that brings rest. The rest is agreeably only fully completed apon physical death, we die all the day long.

 

[Hidden In Him]

It’s the Spirit that we walk in or even better stated by. Many that the letter is addressed to are infants in Christ. Just a we were once, it’s the washing and regeneration of the word that brings rest.

I don't want to pick at you too much, Waiting, but I think the passage contradicts what you are saying here. That they "all ate the same spiritual food" means they too ate of the word of God, and yet it did not keep them from sinning. Thus, they did not enter into His rest according to how you are interpreting it.

 

[brakelite]

Well, just finished the first page of comments and back and forth (bbyrd, HiH, Dave) best chuckle I've had for days. Now for page 2.

 

[Dave L]

At least....not yet. The Millennial reign of Christ and His saints is training for eternity...and is the sabbath rest of this world's history. Jesus is returning to earth soon to begin this phase of history.

Jesus said his kingdom is here now and comes without observation. And only the born again can see or enter it.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Well, just finished the first page of comments and back and forth (bbyrd, HiH, Dave) best chuckle I've had for days. Now for page 2.

It turns a little dark, LoL. There's only so much Dave I can take before things get a little confrontational.

 

[Dave L]

Thy Kingdom Come thy will be done on EARTH as it is in heaven.

The kingdom is here now and God's will being done. But only the born again can see or enter the kingdom.

“But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you.” (Luke 11:20) (NET)

 

[Waiting on him]

Jesus said his kingdom is here now and comes without observation. And only the born again can see or enter it.

1 Corinthians 4:20 KJV
[20] For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
POWER?
Tecarta Bible

 

[Dave L]

No you don't! :) Admit it, you're just a troll. That's all you do on this Forum all day long. Troll, troll, troll, troll, troll...

Seriously, you're going to have to answer to God one day for it. Don't you have other hobbies that aren't offensive and annoying to people? I'm honesty asking you. You really need to think about it. I've learned to not get angry with you, since it's just the way you are, but I've never entertained this childishness of yours to make you think it was acceptable. After months and months and several exchanges with you, you are STILL in child mode with no end in sight. I believe it's because you have always gotten away with it.

The sad thing is that I don't see anyone stopping you from acting this way on the Forums either, so you will likely continue in it until you stand before the King of Kings to answer for it.

Oh, well. Others may not have warned you about it, but I didn't just let it slide. When you and I converse in eternity you will remember I didn't.

Could you surprise me for once and not post something that was childish and immature in response?

I understand your frustration. But we should stop name calling and study scripture to see if we might be wrong in a matter.

 

[brakelite]

If we cease from all work, how may we become fellow-labourers with Christ?
While God may have ceased from His works of creation, He certainly has not ceased from working to uphold His creation through His work of redemption.
So ceasing from our own "works" cannot mean to cease from all activity. To enter into the "rest" that Christ offers us, is not to cease from work altogether...just those related to work
Israel failed to enter Canaan on one count... entered not in because of unbelief. They doubted God's ability to overcome the giants in the land they considered unbeatable. They refused to enter on account of fear, and their lack of faith resulted in their being forbidden to enter.
Thus the "rest" they refused to enter into was closely connected to faith, but still involved their actually doing something as a result of that faith...entering Canaan, allowing God to fight their battles and accomplish the victories they needed in order to occupy that land. Pity they had to wait 40 years to do so, and only two of the original million or so went in.
Heb.4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 ¶ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
So what giants are we facing? What are we refusing to do on account of a lack of faith in God's ability to overcome on our behalf? Give up the sin which so easily besets us? Are we refusing to actually do anything out of fear of not "resting". Are we afraid that repentance, true repentance, is a "work" we mistakenly believe is beyond us? Do we even go to the extreme to think that giving up sin by allowing God to overcome that giant, is a work of our own which we must shun? Israel rested alright, but under sand in the wilderness. Are we sure we have it right when we speak of "resting" in Christ's "finished work". Is He really finished? Is the resting in Christ such as that we cease from all work and endeavour, reducing ourselves into a state of disobedience..which word is also meant by
543 ἀπείθεια apeitheia ap-i’-thi-ah
from 545; n f; TDNT-6:11,818; {See TDNT 611}
AV-unbelief 4, disobedient 3; 7
1) obstinacy, obstinate opposition to the divine will

 

[Waiting on him]

If we cease from all work, how may we become fellow-labourers with Christ?
While God may have ceased from His works of creation, He certainly has not ceased from working to uphold His creation through His work of redemption.
So ceasing from our own "works" cannot mean to cease from all activity. To enter into the "rest" that Christ offers us, is not to cease from work altogether...just those related to work
Israel failed to enter Canaan on one count... entered not in because of unbelief. They doubted God's ability to overcome the giants in the land they considered unbeatable. They refused to enter on account of fear, and their lack of faith resulted in their being forbidden to enter.
Thus the "rest" they refused to enter into was closely connected to faith, but still involved their actually doing something as a result of that faith...entering Canaan, allowing God to fight their battles and accomplish the victories they needed in order to occupy that land. Pity they had to wait 40 years to do so, and only two of the original million or so went in.
Heb.4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 ¶ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
So what giants are we facing? What are we refusing to do on account of a lack of faith in God's ability to overcome on our behalf? Give up the sin which so easily besets us? Are we refusing to actually do anything out of fear of not "resting". Are we afraid that repentance, true repentance, is a "work" we mistakenly believe is beyond us? Do we even go to the extreme to think that giving up sin by allowing God to overcome that giant, is a work of our own which we must shun? Israel rested alright, but under sand in the wilderness. Are we sure we have it right when we speak of "resting" in Christ's "finished work". Is He really finished? Is the resting in Christ such as that we cease from all work and endeavour, reducing ourselves into a state of disobedience..which word is also meant by
543 ἀπείθεια apeitheia ap-i’-thi-ah
from 545; n f; TDNT-6:11,818; {See TDNT 611}
AV-unbelief 4, disobedient 3; 7
1) obstinacy, obstinate opposition to the divine will

The Holy Spirit works through us, we rest. The more we labor in the word,the more this becomes apparent. Unless we are under an indoctrination of men, then we just simply follow the crowd and repeat what we are told.

 

[brakelite]

I understand your frustration. But we should stop name calling and study scripture to see if we might be wrong in a matter.

Dave. Just of late I have been convicted strongly to share with several on this forum(and have done so ) the importance of refraining from taking scriptures in isolation to prove a point or substantiate a doctrine. So many do this, myself included at times, without more careful consideration to other scriptures that dwell upon the same subject which complement the ones we so often use, but contribute a more complex but complete understanding. What we are guilty of doing so often is both sides of a debate fire scripture at one another as if they contradict and prove opposite perspectives. This to my mind is madness.
Ad when we speak of the kingdom of God, as a prime example, we end up with two opposing camps. The one saying it is all spiritual and in the here and now, the other that it is physical and literal, and takes place when Jesus comes back, the New Jerusalem descends, and the new heaven and the new earth is created. And of course there are plenty of scriptures that appear to support both camps. But why not put them together, and believe all the scriptures that speak of God's kingdom, allow them to complement one another instead of opposing one another, and accept that the answer lies in the kingdom of God being both spiritual right now within, (as a direct result of Christ's coming spiritually by His Spirit thus never leaving us nor forsaking us) sanctifying us and preparing us for the literal physical kingdom that will be established when Christ returns literally and physically to take His bride home. (The differences so many of us have on where that physical kingdom will be is another discussion...some say earth, some heaven, some say one place for Israel anther place for the church, etc etc; again though, we need to take all scriptures into consideration, then things become clearer). God bless.

 

[brakelite]

Unless we are under an indoctrination of men, then we just simply follow the crowd and repeat what we are told.

Or, as took place in my life, I laboured in the word and God led me to a group of people who had discovered common truths.

 

[Hidden In Him]

I understand your frustration. But we should stop name calling and study scripture to see if we might be wrong in a matter.

I do a lot better when I don't take you seriously, Dave, so from now on I think I'm just gonna respond with things like this:

Or maybe this:

See, I can get down on anybody's level eventually, LoL.

 

[Dave L]

Dave. Just of late I have been convicted strongly to share with several on this forum(and have done so ) the importance of refraining from taking scriptures in isolation to prove a point or substantiate a doctrine. So many do this, myself included at times, without more careful consideration to other scriptures that dwell upon the same subject which complement the ones we so often use, but contribute a more complex but complete understanding. What we are guilty of doing so often is both sides of a debate fire scripture at one another as if they contradict and prove opposite perspectives. This to my mind is madness.
Ad when we speak of the kingdom of God, as a prime example, we end up with two opposing camps. The one saying it is all spiritual and in the here and now, the other that it is physical and literal, and takes place when Jesus comes back, the New Jerusalem descends, and the new heaven and the new earth is created. And of course there are plenty of scriptures that appear to support both camps. But why not put them together, and believe all the scriptures that speak of God's kingdom, allow them to complement one another instead of opposing one another, and accept that the answer lies in the kingdom of God being both spiritual right now within, (as a direct result of Christ's coming spiritually by His Spirit thus never leaving us nor forsaking us) sanctifying us and preparing us for the literal physical kingdom that will be established when Christ returns literally and physically to take His bride home. (The differences so many of us have on where that physical kingdom will be is another discussion...some say earth, some heaven, some say one place for Israel anther place for the church, etc etc; again though, we need to take all scriptures into consideration, then things become clearer). God bless.

Thanks for the comments. Jesus refuted the pharisaic notion of a physical kingdom throughout the gospels. That is part of why they killed him. I can produce those scriptures on demand. But the physical kingdom buffs cannot support their claims with anything but the highly symbolic Revelation 20 with pharisaic concepts read into it.