"Rest"
Hebrews 4:3
The apostle asserts that "we which have believed do enter into rest." It is a rest
that was pictured and typified by several things in the Old Testament.
THE ENTRANCE OF THE JEWS INTO THE LAND OF CANAAN WAS TYPICAL OF THE BELIEVER'S ENTRANCE
INTO REST IN CHRIST. We sometimes think of Canaan as a type of heaven, but that is not
accurate. Canaan is typical of the believer's entrance
into a state of grace in this world. In heaven there will be no Hivites and
Jebusites to be driven out,but here there are (Gal. 5:17; Rom. 7:14-23). Moses, who represented the law,
could not bring Israel into Canaan. Only Joshua, who pictures Christ Jesus,
could do that, because we are saved by grace in Christ, not by legal works
(Rom. 3:19-20).
The reason many perished in the wilderness and failed to enter the land of rest
was unbelief (Heb. 4:2). Even so, the only reason many who hear the gospel
today perish under the wrath of God is their own unbelief (Mark 16:15-16; John
3:36).
THE KEEPING OF THE OLD TESTAMENT SABBATH
PORTRAYED THE BELIEVER'S ENTRANCE INTO REST (Heb. 4:3-4; Gen. 2:3; Ex.
20:8-11). We do not, and must not, observe any legal sabbath
days in this dispensation of grace (Col. 2:16). We keep the sabbath
spiritually, by faith in Christ. This spiritual sabbath
of rest is what the Old Testament sabbath days portrayed. To keep the sabbath is to cease from work, totally. When sinners come to
God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ they cease from their own works, they
cease working for acceptance with God. The weekly sabbath
portrayed the beginning of the life of faith (Matt. 11:28). Salvation is rest!
THE SABBATICAL YEAR PICTURED THE LIFE OF
FAITH (Ex. 23:10-11;
Lev. 25:2-7; Deut. 15:1-11; 31:10-13). Though they claimed to do so, I do not
recall reading anywhere that the Jews ever once obeyed this law. But God gave
it as a perfect picture of the life of faith in Christ. Every seventh year the
Jews were required to let their land rest. They were to eat only that which grew of itself,
without toil. They were to do no work for twelve months, consecrating
themselves entirely to the worship and service of God. That is the life of
faith. We live upon a work done in the past (Heb. 4:3), consecrating ourselves
to God (Rom. 12:1-2), and refuse to return to our own
works (Gal. 5:1-4).
Don Fortner