May He Increase

Posted By Joe on February 19, 2009

In the first post, we reviewed Christ being superior to Moses and the catastrophe of unbelief in the redemptive work of Christ. The second post talked about the consequences of that unbelief.

There is a cure for unbelief which we will talk about now.

Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fail, through following the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. --Hebrews 4:11-12.

Paul is saying that the rest is there, but we need to enter it, God isn't forcing the rest upon us. That wouldn't be love. Indeed, Paul is saying that a diligent faith is required to enter that rest, not a passive one. It is a matter of choice. Salvation is a free gift of God. But don't mistake this: just as someone gives you a gift for your birthday, for example, you have to receive the gift. It's a choice. You don't have to accept it in spite of it being given to you freely. So it is with Christ's cross: He did the work for you to enter the kingdom of God. But you can chose not to believe it/receive it. The Israelites parished in the wilderness because they didn't believe God's promise to lead them to the promised land. Do you believe that Christ paid for your sins at the cross?

Paul then goes on to describe how God's word is sharper than any two-edged sword. I've been cut by this sword. In fact, the day I became a Christian I felt that blade cut deep into my heart and made me realize that I was in need of God's rest. I found myself out of excuses and my soul laid bare before Almighty God.

Even now the sword finds its way deep into my soul and shows me the things that please or displease my heavenly Father. The word plumbs the depths of the heart and gets to the secret places that only God can see. It can cut to the quick when it exposes selfish motives and unrighteousness.

On more than one occasion, during church services, it was as if the pastor was speaking directly to me, my needs, my thoughts, or my unconfessed sin. That was not the pastor! That was the Holy Spirit skillfully wielding the two-edged sword that is the word of God!

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. --Hebrews 4:13-15.

All things are open to God and laid bare for the day we will give an account to Him! But praise to God that we have a high priest in Christ who knows our weaknesses and was tempted like us, but is without sin. We are truly blessed that we have Jesus as our high priest as opposed to the Israelites who had a high priest that could only offer animal sacrifices to God as an appeasement for sin. Our high priest is Christ Jesus who is the propitiation for our sins!

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. --Hebrews 4:16.

God's grace comes in our time of need. Because of the cross, we can approach God's throne and find mercy (not getting what we deserve: death for our sins) and grace (getting what we don't deserve: eternal life with God). This is God's perfect rest. May you enter into it today and May He Increase!

Categories: Christian Living, Hebrews
Tags: faith, grace, rest, salvation