We know salvation (sozo) is by grace through faith, and a gift, not of works (Eph 2:8-9). All of the promises of God are included in that word (appearing 110 times in the NT). So we receive them all the same way--entering the rest of receiving by grace through faith--and so we are also to live, in His power (Romans 5:17, Romans 8:37, 2 Cor 13:4, 1 John 4:9) and not by our own strength.
The OT types of entering God's rest:
- Israelites going from wilderness to Promised Land:
- God's grace provided it, but the first generation failed to add faith (Heb 4:2). Psalm 95:7-11: God laments that they would not enter His rest because they knew His works but not His Ways, leading to an evil heart of unbelief (Heb 3:12, 19) and hardened hearts (Heb 3:15).
- So knowing His ways is the key to entering His rest. Caleb's example: Joshua 14:7-15.
- When they did finally go in, they still had a battle (though God fought for them and promised them victory): Hebrews 4:8-10
- The type of the Sabbath:
- Hebrews 4:4, quoting Genesis 2:2
- Exo 20:11: God made this the 4th of the 10 Commandments (right after no Gods before Him, no idols, and not taking His name in vain)--so rest is key. (All the rest of the 10 Commandments were about how people were to interact with each other)
- Blessings associated with keeping the Sabbath: Isaiah 58:13-14
- The Heptadic calendar:
- Week of days – Shabbat (sabbath): the day of rest
- Week of weeks – Shavout
- Week of months – the religious year
- Week of years – the sabbatical year or the shmita year: when the land was to rest
- Seven weeks of years + 1 – Jubilee year: when slaves/captives were to go free
- Is it possible that God used the heptadic calendar, and structure throughout scripture of 7s appearing everywhere, because He intended to emphasize rest?
- But it was always just a type, not about actual works on the Sabbath: Matt 12-1-12
We can't achieve righteousness through our own works--the harder we try, the worse we get (Romans 7:15-20). This is meant to drive us toward giving up (Romans 7:22-25) and receiving righteousness/life from the Holy Spirit, who literally imbues our bodies with it (Romans 8:1-11).
This isn't just about righteousness, or about receiving God's promises (2 Cor 1:20). Our "identity in Christ" also gives us the strength, energy, stamina, courage, etc to do what He has called us to do.
- We "reign in life" through Him (Romans 5:17)
- We were raised in Him to bear fruit to God (Romans 7:4). This includes love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22).
- You can't bear these if you're burned out. "contentions, outbursts of wrath" are rather fruits of the flesh (Gal 5:20) which are consistent with burnout. If the fruit is negative, we're living from our own resources (flesh), not His (Spirit).
- We are full of goodness and complete in knowledge (Romans 15:14).
- We are enriched in every way (1 Cor 1:5).
- We have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16).
- All things are ours (1 Cor 3:21).
- His power is in us (Eph 1:19) - the word eis translated for or toward can also be translated in. Also Eph 3:20
- We are competent and can be confident (2 Cor 3:4-6)
- We can serve others from God's strength (2 Cor 13:4)
- We have every blessing in the spirit realm (Eph 1:3)
- God created good works for us to do, which we do in Christ (Eph 2:10)
- We have grace and peace in abundance (2 Pet 1:2)
- We have power, love, and self-discipline/sound mind (2 Tim 1:7)
- We have everything we need for life and godliness so that we may participate in the divine nature (2 Pet 1:3-4)
- Examples:
- 1 Cor 15:10: Paul labored from God's grace
- Jesus still went out on the boat, but slept through the storm (Matt 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25).
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