Finding Eternal Rest in Christ

Hebrews 4:1-5 

1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.  4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” 

God promised eternal rest, peace with Him, to His chosen people through the prophets and recorded in all of the scriptures.  The chosen seemed at first to be only those of Israel, but the promise in Eden and later to Abraham was to those called out of all nations, not just Israel out of slavery in Egypt.  The gospel preaches this faith of reconciliation and eternal Sabbath rest in Jesus Christ alone for as many as He calls out of every people, tribe, and tongue.  Hearing God’s word brings faith (Romans 10:17) as He opens deaf ears and blind eyes and stony hearts.  This is why here we are told the word of the gospel only profits the one who accepts the truth by that God-given faith, trusting Him who spoke and had those words written down for us.  We who believe, therefore, do enter His Sabbath rest from doing our works and resting on His complete work in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.  His work in us was complete from the beginning of creation, meaning that He laid out our salvation before we had faith to choose Christ.  Those without ears unstopped to hear and eyes opened to see cannot enter God’s rest as on the seventh day of creation.  We whom He gave understanding do see and hear and so stop trying to earn salvation by our works and instead enter into His finished work on the cross.  We then find rest for our souls in Him alone (Matthew 11:29).