THE EXPERIENCE OF GOD’S REST
Hebrews 4:1-3

Introduction:     This chapter continues the discussion begun in chapter three. There we saw that the Israelites that followed Moses out of Egypt never enjoyed the abundance of Canaan . They could not, the writer explained, because of unbelief. But what was the exact nature of their unbelief? It was not a lack of belief in the Promised Land. They could see its fertile plains from where they camped on the other side of Jordan . Nor was it a lack of belief in the goodness of the land. The spies had brought back ample evidence of its fruits. No, their unbelief centered upon God. They compared their weaknesses to the strength of the Canaanites and concluded that God didn’t have enough to work with on the one hand, and too much to overcome on the other. Chapter four explains why God’s best can only be experienced by faith: because it is always based upon a finished work. That is why it is called rest. Our part is not to "do," but to rest in faith upon that which has been "done." Only then can we enter experience the abundant life God has promised.

I.          THE FEAR OF COMING SHORT (V.1)

A.        Coming Short Does Not Mean Missing Heaven.

By saying "let us," the writer included himself in this warning. Believers cannot lose their salvation, but they can forfeit the present benefits of their relationship to Christ – victory, peace, joy, provision, etc.

B.         To Fear Coming Short Is A Warning To Be Taken Seriously.

Too often we think that to miss God’s best is regrettable, but it’s not serious. However, everything in our lives is either the product of faith or the product of flesh – and God cannot accept anything that is of the flesh.

II.         THE FAILURE OF UNBELIEF (v.2)
The message preached to the Jews included three things. (Ex. 6:6-8)

            A.        Deliverance From Bondage In Egypt (v. 6)

            B.         A Personal Relationship With God (v. 7)

            C.        Living In The Land (v. 8)

Because the Israelites did not hold the beginning of their confidence steadfast unto the end ( 3:14 ), they came short of all they could have had. As faith in God’s word was needed to get out of Egypt , so it was needed to get into Canaan . Faith is God’s appointed way for obtaining ALL that He has promised.

III.       THE FACT OF A FINISHED WORK (v.3) 

A.                 Fulfillment

As soon as God makes a promise, it is as if the work of fulfillment is already done. When Israel believed God and followed Moses out of Egypt, the NATION was destined to arrive in Canaan. God had promised it – it had to be done. (See verse 6 "some MUST enter") However, it wasn’t the generation that God brought out that saw the fulfillment, but the one that grew up in the wilderness. The first generation missed out because of their unbelief;

            B.         Faith

The next generation entered in because of their faith. Because the work was already finished, faith alone was all that was required for the Jews to experience God’s best in Canaan .

Conclusion:       Those who believe do enter into rest. Faith is the God-ordained way of appropriating that which God has provided for us. The believer does not labor to enter into the fullness of Christ; he believes.