Notes And Quotes For Today
Rest For The People of God – II
He who Fears God has nothing else to fear!
“ For unto us is the gospel preached as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” (again ‘ rightly dividing the word of truth’!) here the phrase , “ to them” speaks of the people at Kadesh Barnia, the people who in unbelief missed their goal: the promised land! The gospel, the good news was preached unto them, and what was the good news that they had been preached? “ here is a land, that God has given you! A land filled with milk and honey go and possess it for an inheritance!!” By the way, when they sent spies, it was not God’s idea! God has promised them the land! And He expected them by faith and confidence in His promise that they step out! God has said in effect, “ the land is mine! And I am going to give it to you!” But as you read in Deuteronomy, instead the people went to Mosses and asked if they could send out spies! They didn’t need spies ! They have the word of God! His promises which are ye and amen! And that’s it!! Beloved we don’t need anything else but the Word of God! And the Spirit of God to illumine us and to empower us!
And “ “ For unto us is the gospel preached as well as unto them…” what is the Gospel preached unto us? Are we looking for a land? Now we are in the sense “ looking for the city Abraham looked for! whose builder and maker is God..” But that is not the salvation that God has promised unto us!! God has promised to us is the salvation of sins forgiven and eternal life forever and ever!
1st Corinthians 15:3-4, we read, “ For I delivered unto you first of all that which i also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again according to the Scriptures……….” friends, that is the Gospel that gives eternal life!! to believe in Jesus Christ; what to believe in Him? To believe in His death, burial and resurrection. That is the saving message! By which ye are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain.” There is again this possibility of believing in vain!! There is nothing wrong with the Gospel, nothing wrong with the promises of God, but some peoples profession of faith is defective!! It – is -not – true faith. There is again this possibility of believing in vain!!
There are some people who teach that Jesus was not actually dead! He was really battered and beaten on the Cross that He fainted or passed out! And that when they placed His body in a cold tomb he revived! And some how, despite the Roman guards and everything else, His disciples helped Him to get away! People believe that!! They won’t believe the Gospel! But we have a gospel of eternal salvation of the soul, and of the body too! Obviously at the resurrection!
Going back to our text, Hebrews 4, their gospel was the promised land and our gospel is salvation by grace alone through faith alone and in Jesus Christ alone!! In verse 3 of Hebrew chapter 4 we read, “ for we which have believed do enter into rest as he said, ‘As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundations of the world.’ Now in this verse the word “ rest” speaks of ” the eternal rest! “ we which have believed do enter into!! is talking about us if we believe we enter into God’s rest! Salvation is settled! Amen!! but, beloved there is a whole life to live after salvation!! “ workout your own salvation with fear and trembling!” it means live up to it! Exercise it! That’s is the rest of the Bible and that is walking according to the Word of God!! and then he goes back to them, that is to those at Kadesh Barnia; “ …. as I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest… of the world.” The land of Canaan was ready for them! And all – they have to do was believe God and enter into it but they did not do it!! he says, “ We who believed have entered that eternal rest of God.”
By the way, God said he gave them that land, and now we know that they have to fight with the habitat of the land under the leadership of Joshua! And so forth!! nonetheless it was God’s gift to them!! Salvation, eternal salvation of souls is God’s gift to those who believe the Gospel, in this age! Yes! Their rest was ready for them! But they weren’t ready! They did not believe God!
God’s rest is waiting for you today! Christ took care of it 2000 years ago on the Cross!! Are – you – really saved?? Are your sins forgiven? As a result of that do you have eternal life??? if you believe that, “ Christ died for your sins and was buried and rose again the third day” then you are saved, and you have eternal life!!” otherwise you don’t have eternal life!!
Hebrews 4:r4 we read, “ For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.” Now this is a different rest!! this is not the rest in Canaan! This is not the rest of eternal life. Notice it says, “ … God did rest on the seventh day!” and this can only be at creation! Six days God made the heavens and the earth and the hosts of them that are there in, and on the seventh day he rested!! Why did God rest? Was He tired? He only spake a word, and created everything by the power of His words!! God never tires, no! no! He is all powerful! He rested because creation is completed, there is nothing more to create! Nothing more to be done!! So God’s rest on the seventh day signifies the completion of creation!!
Friends, so is salvations work, “ it is all done!” nothing more to be done! No more ransom, no more sacrifice! That is why Jesus on the Cross cried with a loud voice, “ It – Is – finished!!” What a salvation we have in the Lord Jesus!! The longer I live (I don’t know if that is too strong a term of expression or not, but) the more I hate the doctrine that says, “ a saved person can be lost!” it impugns (call in question; )the testimony God, it impugns the sacrifice of Jesus Christ!!
If you are not saved, just like some of these Hebrews, who weren’t saved, they have a problem, oh! Yes they know about God, they saw God working in that church, and they are very well oriented in the Scriptures!! Just like many in our days, but for some reason or other, as we said before, some times people sitting in fundamental churches suppose we think they are saved, when in fact they are not!! Friend, if you are under the blood you are saved.!!
God does not save us by passing over our sins, but by putting away our sins!!
Not Everyone that makes profession has a possession!
To Be Continued……………………………….
From The Peoples Gospel Hour Staff