“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His” Hebrews 4:9-10. God’s work of creation followed by rest in Genesis 1-2 forms a perfect picture of His new creation in us “through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” Romans 3:23. When we enter into that work of redemption by faith we become partakers of His rest knowing that “the works were finished from the foundation of the world” Hebrews 4:3; because in God’s foreknowledge He foreordained Jesus for this work, 1 Peter 1:20, with the works of the law only being “added because of transgressions, till the seed (Christ) should come” Galatians 3:19. He is our Sabbath rest from the works of the law, being the end the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” Romans 10:4. This is the true rest for the people of God; Jesus had this to say in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me all you labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” This may often be applied to the natural life in this world, and I believe we can apply it to present life in this world, but I see the real message being that of the eternal spiritual life which Jeremiah 6:16 (in the Amplified Bible) seems to bear witness to saying, “Thus says the Lord, Stand by the roads and look, and ask for the eternal paths; where is the good, old way; then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls…” Romans 3:31 asks “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary we establish the law.” We keep the righteousness of the law because of a changed heart, rather than trying to change the heart by keeping the law! Our rest is in Christ alone.
God’s promise of rest
By Rose Hill
For God’s people there is a rest,
He always gives them what is best.
They are able from works to cease,
And from His word to have a feast.
Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.