Letter to the Hebrews Volume 30

 The Eternal Rest for All of God the Father's Adopted Children Part 3

Hebrews 4:3-5 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. For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all His works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into My rest. KJV

There is a misunderstanding certainly among non-believers and sadly even among some believers that there is no way a person can be certain that they are going to heaven when their body dies, but this is not factual according to the Word of God. Here the writer of Hebrews wants to assure those Hebrew Christians then and we Christians today and of every era and generation that we who have truly believed the Gospel have already entered into the rest promised by God, as it is written here, "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." (Hebrews 4:3) (KJV). The little English phrase 'do enter' is translated by the Greek word eiserchomai meaning to enter (literally or figuratively), to come in or to go in; for we are not entering in or on our way to entering in, but we are 'in Christ', which means we have actually and really already entered in to the rest of God for His people. Heaven is our true home and we are simply pilgrims on the earth (Hebrews 11:13). The Apostle John made it very plain and clear when he wrote these words, "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:12-13) (KJV). Do not miss what the Apsotle John writes here in verse 13 'ye have eternal life', not you will have eternal life when you die, but that you already (right now) have eternal life by way or virtue of your faith/trust/belief in Jesus Christ the Son of God and God the Son, that is, the One True and Only God. God the Father has provided a key to the door of heaven, as it is written, "I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." (John 10:9) (KJV), that is, for every human being that has ever lived in the past, for those alive now, and for those who will live in the future, however, the unbeliever will be locked out of heaven because of his or her unbelief only, just as those early Hebrews who came out of Egypt were locked out of the promise land of Canaan by them all dying in the wilderness, so too will every unbeliever in Jesus Christ as Lord, Master, and Savior be locked out of heaven forever and placed in hell also forever. Faith in Jesus Christ is the key that unlocks the door to eternal life in heaven (John 14:6). The writer of Hebrews (in the next two verses) declares again for us how God the Father rested from His work of creation on the 7th day as a Word Picture of our resting from our own works of righteousness and resting in the righteousness given to us by Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:9), "For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all His works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into My rest." (Hebrews 4:4-5) (KJV).

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of the rest of God for we believers and of the rejection of that rest from every unbeliever (verses 3-5), "He illustrates and confirms it that those who believe are thus happy, and do enter into rest. From God's finishing His work of creation, and so entering into His rest (Hebrews 4:3, Hebrews 4:4), appointing our first parents to rest the seventh day, to rest in God. Now as God finished His work, and then rested from it, and acquiesced in it, so He will cause those who believe to finish their work, and then to enjoy their rest. From God's continuing the observance of the sabbath, after the fall, and the revelation of a Redeemer. They were to keep the seventh day a holy sabbath to the Lord, therein praising Him who had raised them up out of nothing by creating power, and praying to Him that He would create them anew by His Spirit of Grace, and direct their faith to the promised Redeemer and restorer of all things, by which faith they find rest in their souls. From God's proposing Canaan as a typical rest for the Jews who believed: and as those who did believe, Caleb and Joshua, did actually enter into Canaan; so those who now believe shall enter into rest. From the certainty of another rest besides that seventh day of rest instituted and observed both before and after the fall, and besides that typical Canaan-rest which most of the Jews fell short of by unbelief; for the Psalmist has spoken of another day and another rest, whence it is evident that there is a more spiritual and excellent sabbath remaining for the people of God than that into which Joshua led the Jews, and this rest remaining. A rest of grace, and comfort, and holiness, in the Gospel state. This is the rest wherewith the Lord Jesus, our Joshua, causes weary souls and awakened consciences to rest, and this is the refreshing. A rest in glory, the everlasting sabbatism of heaven, which is the repose and perfection of nature and grace too, where the people of God shall enjoy the end of their faith and the object of all their desires. This is further proved from the glorious forerunners who have actually taken possession of this rest - God and Christ. It is certain that God, after the creating of the world in six days, entered into His rest; and it is certain that Christ, when He had finished the work of our redemption, entered into His rest; and these were not only examples, but earnests, that believers shall enter into their rest: He that hath entered into rest hath also ceased from his own works as God did from his, Hebrews 4:10. Every true believer hath ceased from his own works of righteousness, and from the burdensome works of the law, as God and Christ have ceased from their works of creation and redemption. The Apostle confirms the misery of those who do not believe; they shall never enter into this spiritual rest, either of grace here or glory hereafter. This is as certain as the word and oath of God can make it. As sure as God has entered into His rest, so sure it is that obstinate unbelievers shall be excluded. As sure as the unbelieving Jews fell in the wilderness, and never reached the promised land, so sure it is that unbelievers shall fall into destruction, and never reach heaven. As sure as Joshua, the great captain of the Jews, could not give them possession of Canaan because of their unbelief, notwithstanding his eminent valour and conduct, so sure it is that even Jesus Himself, and the Captain of our salvation, notwithstanding all that fullness of grace and strength that dwells in Him, will not, cannot, give to final unbelievers either spiritual or eternal rest: it remains only for the people of God; others by their sin abandon themselves to eternal restlessness."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…