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For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

“As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’ ” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.”

6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, [1]

Hebrews 4:3-7

Why this is important: We have the promise. It has not been fulfilled yet. We can receive it today even though in the past it has gone unfulfilled. Our job is to obey. If we are disobedient, we will not enter God’s rest. This is a huge deal.

We can obey. We can rest. Today is the day. Now is the time. God is faithful. If we let God take over, we can rest.

Good news: Our place of rest comes in our obedience to God and what He wants to have happen today. He has a plan.

May I listen and obey. That is my part.

The Theology of Jesus: Jesus focuses on the reign [kingdom] of God. Central to any kingdom is obedience. It is one of the primary attitudes we must have. Jesus is King. Jesus is to be obey. It is all about “your will be done, your kingdom come”.

Obedience is defined as “dutiful or submissive compliance to the commands of one in authority.” Using this definition, we see the elements of biblical obedience. “Dutiful” means it is our obligation to obey God, just as Jesus fulfilled His duty to the Father by dying on the cross for our sin.

“Submissive” indicates that we yield our wills to God’s. “Commands” speaks of the Scriptures in which God has clearly delineated His instructions. The “one in authority” is God Himself, whose authority is total and unequivocal. For the disciple, obedience means complying with everything God has commanded. It is our duty to do so.

Having said that, it is important to remember that our obedience to God is not solely a matter of duty. We obey Him because we love Him. Also, we understand that the spirit of obedience is as important as the act of obedience. We serve the Master in humility, singleness of heart, and love.

  • Matthew 7:24–27 — 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
  • James 1:22 — 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
  • Psalm 119:9–11 — 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. 10 With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. 11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
  • Jonah 3:3 — 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Master. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk.
  • Luke 11:28 — 28 But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”
  • John 17:6 — 6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
  • James 2:14–20 — 14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Heb 4:3–7). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

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