Christ’s Rest is Salvation (Part A)

Goals in the wilderness of Paris. They heard God's word.

They saw God signs the perished in unbelief nonetheless dislikes some children were raised in a Christian family that come the church.

The year to come to this church to hear wonderful preaching what they hear the word of God preached there exposed to God's word. If they don't get it.

They don't believe they rejected was going to happen to them. Satan's going to get hold.

That's what's going to happen. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Hebrews. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in the book of Hebrews chapter 4. As he begins a new message called Christ's rest is salvation. You have your Bibles was open to Hebrews chapter 4 chapter 4 verses one through 10. Therefore, since a promise remains of entering his rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it, or indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them with the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it or we who have believed do enter that rest, as he said, so I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest. Although the works were finished from the foundation of the world, for he has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day. In this way God rested on the seventh day from all his works and again in this place, they shall not enter my rest. Since therefore, it remains that some must enter it in those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience again. He designates a certain day, saying in David, today, after such a long time as it has been said today you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, Joshua had given them rest, then he would not afterward have spoken of another day 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 Christ rest. It is salvation.

Now there are degrees of this rest will talk about it some and just reading it cold and when I say cold as we just read it detached from the preceding chapters.

It can be a little difficult to follow but if you are reading it through and you're following it from chapter 13 right and before then you you stay with the speaker scribe of Hebrews and then that's what all the writers of the Bible are really they are scribes. They simply write down what they are commanded to write down what is been put before them by God and we we have been reminding ourselves of this. Every session in Hebrews and we will continue because if you loose if you lose sight of this fact. Then the Hebrews document/letter can become very confusing. He is writing to the Hebrews were looking to go back to Judaism, out from Christianity.

Some of them for persecution.

Some of them because the grass is greener on the other side for whatever reasons, there may be and so the writer is really taking them to task and he is not pulling any punches.

He mentioned in the earlier verses of of the latter verses of the previous chapter that a generation, an entire generation the exception of two their corpses littered the wilderness. That's how serious this is not talking about… Have Christian joy. It is a place for that is a place for that inscription in many places for that whatever joy you get in Christ you got the fight to keep by the way what is going much deeper than just the Christian life. Christian behavior is talking about adhering to the faith remaining close with Christ a lot a lot of Christians great Bible teachers do not like to approach it that way. The reason is is because it upsets the creeds goes against seminary doctrine. Or, two, three, 4000 and very few are willing to go against that it would have this in the science world if you don't believe in evolution. Your blackballed amongst the scientists well in Christianity that the same things. If you do not lockstep with certain established perspectives of Scripture.

Your blackballed Christian pastors and Christian people was never believe something they read in the Scripture simply because someone they respect told him to believe it that way. You've got to see it yourself and if it doesn't register if it doesn't make sense. Doesn't matter if the other person wrote books on her has PhD's are was a pastor of a church or whatever if it doesn't line up then you cannot drink the Kool-Aid. You cannot join them and the of this issue before us this morning is a is a passionately argued one. You know many Christians. They believe in. Once saved always saved, because they been told that and if you do not agree with that old brother you going to have to deal with their emotional-ism. And that's not right that is not right if you don't agree. That's fine, but there's no need to act as though the ground not swallow you up for disagreeing with them.

Well anyway, some of you are following me on this. Others are just say well I got the part about I'm supposed to understand what I read and believe it before the Lord.

This is why you are.

We are supposed to mimic the Parisians who search the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so when the great apostle Paul came to Berea and he preached that Christ is Messiah the Jewish believers and listeners. They went to their Scripture and they said let's see turned to where he said that he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our sins and they would turn to Isaiah whatever book it was the old made his point from and they would sit there it is. He's right and the other ones.

The other Jews is a winner turning we don't believe that we never accepted that when I go to start now. Well that's something we don't want to be guilty of. So with that brief warning and introduction we look at the first verse. Therefore, since a promise remains of entering his rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to come short of it. What is continuing.

What started really in verse seven of the previous chapter, and will follow through right to the end. That is why he starts of this. What we call chapter forward that word.

Therefore, he is continuing and he is joining the thought.

Look with me at chapter 3 of Hebrews verse 12 he said, beware of brethren is a Christian, she wouldn't say that to non-Christians. In this context, lest there be any of you an evil heart of unbelief and departing from the living God.

You see, that says just what it says and no one can take that away no matter how much they insist okay so what does that have to do with me. Well my Bible is saying you better treat your salvation very seriously. What is the most important thing about you, what you think about God. That's the most important thing about you and he wants to see to it is a good Shepherd is to do, not the good Shepherd that would be Christ.

But there are good shepherds. Nonetheless, under Christ, and he's doing his work is saying listen you need to be afraid of these thoughts that are entering into your head about departing from Christianity to go back to Judaism so we look at verse 17 of chapter 3. Now, with whom was he angry 40 years, was it not with those who sin is corpses fell in the wilderness and to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who did not obey.

So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Therefore, since a promise remains verse one of chapter 4. I'm in Hebrews now of entering his rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it, so he pictures this entire generation who perished in the wilderness and he brings it to their mind he's going to use them as a parallel to mark out for them the wrong course versus the correct course for those in the wilderness. It was the promised land. But for these believers is heaven. Ultimately, it's getting to heaven and our thoughts about who God is. Is everything to do with that. So those in the wilderness of Paris. They heard God's word. They saw God signs they perished in unbelief nonetheless dislikes some children are raised in a Christian family. They come the church. They hear what they come to this church to hear the wonderful preaching though they hear the word of God preached there exposed to God's word. If they don't get it. They don't believe it. If they rejected was going to happen to them. Satan's going to get hold of and that's what's going to happen and so we try to preach and then behave in such a way that they have no bomb excuse for not believing and this is a reminder that you can hear the word of God.

You can see wonderful things God does.

But you still have got to believe it is got to go beyond intellectual comprehension. I understand that while that's not enough. Do you believe it do accept it to embrace it would do you rejected. The question is, what did they lack why did the parish faith is what they lacked unbelief is why they perished in the wilderness messages.

There was a good message was preached they had no excuse. God's word and his promises will not benefit you if you reject them they will turn against you. As a matter of fact, and no one can say audience over Bible preaching family Bible preaching church. No one can claim ignorance. I did not know how could you not to regard as Jack rejected his promises are forfeited. He says here in verse once since a promise remains of entering his rest so I sang the destination for them was Canaan. They blew it. The majority of them.

The great majority of the destination for us is heaven. Don't mess it up you go back offering sheep at the temple you going to fall short you and miss. I fear that if the Jews were to build a rebuilder temple and I believe they will, and the church is still here at the church will not be here, but if it were, I fear that many we Christians would want to tour Jerusalem and going off or something at the temple you would be sinning if you did the apostate church will be here the fake church, the false church.

It will survive or it will not be rapture to continue to do business and be judged in the midst of it.

But back to what were considering here since a promise remains of entering his rest here in this life through the spirit there is rest to be had for Christians, but it's temporary. It's a take five kind of rest. Anyone who serves in ministry in any capacity who genuinely serve. Serves knows that there are times of rest in their times of no rest so it is not fulfilled in its entirety. But heaven we get there. There will be total rest now here's what the Jews out of Egypt. How they grieved Moses so often every chance they God numbers in it. If you if you're one of those that self-appointed critic of everyone else, if your standard of perfection is high and everyone needs to meet your standard and therefore you're always complaining about everybody else you might want to read the book of numbers and see how God deals with complainers because as irritating as they can be to us. There are pretty irritating to got to where here's just one listening to the voice of yesterday there in the wilderness. This is their complaint towards Moses.

They were slaves in Egypt. There the young boys were being they were telco to kill the young newborn boys that came from the women. God delivered them through Moses and they didn't like how things turned out after that. So they said we remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt. Numbers 11 verses five and six, the cucumbers, the melons, the leaks, the onions and the garlic making you hungry some of but now our whole being is dried up. There is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes.

That was their complaint against God they didn't like God did business. They remembered the good things about Egypt, but how convenient do not remember the evil things, loss of their again newborn baby boys. So he takes his audience. The writer of Hebrews does back to that moment and says don't be like this don't start hurling complaint to Christ. As you getting persecuted for Christ expect to be persecuted. Rose your faith that it is genuine. People are persecuted for a lot of things you happen to be being persecuted for the truth. Stand fast in it is less.

Let us fear lest any of you seem to come short of it. This is frustrating to see how many want to say no, it doesn't mean come short, it means something else. It means just what he is saying the prophet with this left us. 13 of these. Let us appears in this Hebrew writing and the reason why is the writer is not putting himself above the people is including himself with the people I'm one of you whatever warnings come from heaven that apply to you. They apply to me to all the prophets included themselves because they are not above the message will get to this next session in Hebrews. In the 12th verse of this chapter that the word of God is a two edged sword cuts both ways, and whoever is in the way gets cut prophet and people alike Peter when he wrote to the persecuted Christians in the fifth chapter of his letter.

He said to the elders to the shepherds to the pastors of the flock. He said shepherd the flock of God which is among you, not shepherd the flock of God that your above shepherd the flock of God because you're one of the sheep to you've just been given teeth a little bit sharper and you've been given. Assignment little bit different, but that's the flock that that belongs to the Lord, and he says, serving as overseers, not by compulsion, but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly he says here now again in verse one comes, lest you fall short of it. Hebrews 3 again.

Now, with whom was he angry. Verse 17, 40 years, was it not those who sin whose corpses fell in the wilderness that they came short, what difference does it make if you swim almost to safety. It's about the finish line is about getting all the way there. That's why Paul with the with the word of relief. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge give to me on that day and not to me only to all those who have loved his appearing. When Paul makes as you say this is the great apostle Paul expressing that finally is reaching the finish line.

He knows they going to chop his head off is only hoping that the henchman makes a clean-cut so he can get out of here is something wonderful. No Christian need to be paranoid about these things. We have an advocate with the father. One reason why so many Christians get so emotional about this.

I don't believe that hardly want something always because they think of you stand as a Christian, but now you lost. We have an advocate with the father we have someone who speaks on our behalf. He stands and intercedes, it is Jesus Christ who died for us. Didn't die for you, so that if you get angry at your neighbor you now go to hell getting a die die views of you commit some great sin.

Look at the sins of those in the Old Testament David King David.

What he did. Yet even David has an advocate with the father will head David is now in glory.

But until the resurrection. He had an advocate with the father and that's how he makes it into no Christian need be paranoid. I believe in blessed assurance of the saved those who love Christ. I believe there is no blessed assurance for those who reject him is plain and simple. There is now therefore no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. What is that mean you would hear to the Lord you walk with him to stay with him. How wonderful is that why would I want to walk that back at you.

24 you you know he is able to present you faultless for the presence of his glory with exceeding joy in spite of yourself with exceeding joy and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Surely goodness and running these verses what is the jobs that he captures what the Christian spirit on salvation should be all those who love the Lord can say this. I know that my Redeemer lives and he shall stand at last on the earth and after my skin is destroyed, this I know that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself and my eyes shall behold, and not another.

How my heart yearns within me.

That is the voice of the righteous bickering about my safe yes you are safe if you love the Lord believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.

That was for the Philippian jailer and it is for everyone else to what warnings abound in our Scripture. They abound. Nonetheless, just take two of them. Second Corinthians 511 pulses knowing. Therefore, the terror of the Lord we persuade men is process we know the people reject Christ going to go to hell. So we print, we persuade them with truth. Hebrews 1031. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, and judging hands.

That is, that two edged sword is not if you want to be spared of sped fed if you want to be spoonfed.

That's the word I was looking for words that are lies, but they make you feel good. There plenty of those workplaces outside these walls crouched outside these walls like a roaring lion if you want to be fed lies. What are you doing in the house of God who would dare come into God's house, expecting to be told lies who would dare come into God's house with the script in their hand. This is what I want to hear from you and if you don't tell me what I want to hear from you on out or the pastor should be out where church is this.

I'm going to some serious problems in my life.

I want to know about how God's going to fix those problems as blasphemy to dictate to God. So many have gone before you with the same, and worse problems coming into the got house of the Lord just simply wanting his presence wanting him to just minister to them as only he can and he does do that he doesn't have to do it in his else, but he does do it in his house. Verse two. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them with the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard you see the writers who wrote the Scriptures presuppose that the audience were not fools. They knew their audience were going to keep up with them and what they spoken. If they did not they would take the time and explain as best they could. The gospel that they heard this good news but not the good news of the New Testament developed gospel. As we have that's not possible.

Jesus himself said that Luke's gospel chapter 10 verse 24 and I have to put this here, someone will certainly come up while I'm a literalist familiar not knowing can be not and still make sense of things. But anyway, I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see. Would you see and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear and have not heard it. Peter talks about it to another places it's mentioned, but the point is, they had the good news of God, we belong to that unbroken witness. The same God that spoke to them in the wilderness is the same God that speaks to us and his will was expressed to them. This care was made available to them.

That is the good news for them to make that distinction a little further down work on all say I'll use that word. The secret word today is distinction word distinct feel he'll come and make that again will get scrambled if I jump to it too early. Therefore, to them.

The good news of their deliverer of Yahweh and all that he revealed himself to be was given to them what they did with it is not belief. Simply said, yet we know you're speaking to us but we all think you can do what you said you can do because the giants in the land and we can get past these giants so we don't believe that I'm I'm simplifying it, but that's what they did and that is what brought the ire of God upon them. They had the promise of entering the promised land and they said the promise is no good.

So God was angry was infuriated with them is just been expressed in chapter 3, and some of the verses we've taken from chapter 3, so now he tells his audience don't you think you with a better gospel message or more developed message I should say you are the more developed message. Don't you think for one moment that if you reject that message you're going to be spared.

They weren't spared and they did not have the life that you have and if you mess up here, you deserve what you get is no reason to mess up here. He says, but the word which they heard did not profit them. The word which they heard. That is, the distinction is that word that that's the point that distinguishes the New Testament gospel that we have from the good news that they had. They did not know Jesus by name to go to the cross and live there since they had that symbols they had types and emblems they had shadows substance did not come until the New Testament and we'll talk about that later on in chapter 10 Hillview really hammer that point again and again move you've been listening to cross reference radio the daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick asked Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. As we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast. Today's teaching is available free of charge at our website. Simply log on to cross reference radio.com that's cross reference radio.com would also like to encourage you to subscribe to the cross reference radio podcast subscribing ensures that you stay current with all the latest teachings from Pastor Rick, you can subscribe cross reference radio.com or simply search for cross reference radio your favorite podcast to the next time as Pastor Rick continues teaching through the book of Hebrews right here on cross reference radio