Hebrews 4: Entering Christ's Rest

Hebrews 4

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

A) Reasons
1) Because He is a better person (1:1 - 4:13)
4) Than Joshua (4:1-13)

Christ is better than Joshua, because He gives complete
inheritance "rest", whereas Joshua did not (8). Unbelief,
robbed many redeemed people of profiting from their promised
rest under Joshua. As a result, they wandered in sin as God
severely chastened them. God restated the promise of rest in
the time of David (Psalm 95:6-11), however, and no one should
suppose he has missed the possibility of entering it (1).

It is only through faith in Christ's death and resurrection, that
you can have God's righteousness put to your account
(2 Cor. 5:21), be justified by God (Romans 1 - 5), escape eternal
damnation (Romans 1 - 8), gain victory over the power of sin in
your daily life (Romans 6:1-14), and inherit eternal life and glory
(Romans 8; 1 John 5).

With regard to our struggle with sin, that too comes through faith
in Christ's death and resurrection, as you "know" you have been
baptized with Him in His death to sin, and raised with Him to
newness of life, "count" it to be true, then yield your members as
instruments of righteousness to God (Romans 6:1-14).

Relying on Christ for victory over sin and evil in your daily
life is directly contrasted with yielding your members to sin
(Romans 6:1-14; cf. Gal. 5:16-26), or attempting to achieve
victory in the strength of your flesh--something which is
impossible, and only results in more sin and frustration
(Roman 7).

Hope of glorious deliverance from the very presence of sin,
evil, and trials at the appearing of Christ motivates this
kind of living, and enables us to experience it's benefits
here on earth (Rom. 8; 1 Peter 1:3-25).

The word of God helps us in this struggle, as it is able to discern
between fleshly and spiritual motives, and exposes our condition
before God. Viewing yourself through Scripture should enable you
to rest in Christ rather than your own works, and discourage sin and
unbelief.

--
Have you heard Christ died for our sins, and God raised Him
from the dead? Did you know God saves you from hell and
gives you eternal life through faith in this finished work alone,
not your merits (Jn. 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; Eph. 2:8-10; 2 Thess.
1:8-9)? This is so man cannot boast, and God alone gets the
glory (Eph. 2:8-9).
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