Will you trust Me?” Lesson 18
The Challenge of
living the FAITH-REST LIFE
(3) The Contextual Meaning of rest: Chapter three begins with a comparison between Christ and Moses (3:1-6).
The writer uses the conduct of the Israelites as a means of challenging his readers to a walk of confident faithfulness with God through a faith that rests in the sufficiency of Christ who is the fulfillment of all that is seen in the Old Testament.
(4) The Doctrinal Meaning of Rest.
The term "rest" is a descriptive synonym of God's various provisions for man, beginning with His provision of salvation.
It describes God's provision from the standpoint of means, resting by faith in God's work, and results in, ceasing from works, enjoying and resting in what God has provided.
Rest, as a picture of God's salvation, can be seen in three aspects:
(a) Salvation
from sin's penalty (analogous to
(b) Salvation
from sin's power (analogous to
(c) The future hope and inheritance of believers when they will have rest from their labors on earth, from their enemies, and when they may also have the privilege of reigning with Christ free from the presence of sin in our resurrection body. (cf. Heb. 1:13-14 with 2:5-11).