Jesus is the Never-Ending Age of R.E.S.T.
- kingdomcitizensinc
- Feb 10
- 6 min read
Welcome to the kingdom citizens blog!
Putting God first assures us that we will be ushered into restoration, edification, stability, and tranquility...R.E.S.T.
Hebrews is known as the book of faith. In chapters 3 and 4 we can see how Jesus being the Sabbath transitions us out of the old covenant of the law into the new covenant of grace. We cannot be saved under the law. The only sacrifice that could atone for our sins, now and forever, is the Lamb of Christ. The New Testament isn’t just about new rules and regulations but offers freedom from the bonds of the law, animal sacrifice, washing and cleansing rituals, and most importantly - separation from God.
Transition of A Covenant
Let's observe how the New Testament book of Hebrews transitions the scriptural ideas of the Sabbath from a natural day when we cease from all work to an age of R.E.S.T. I've highlighted in purple verses of emphasis that pertain to entering the rest of Christ:
Hebrews 3:7-19
7 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says,
“Today if you hear His voice,
8 Do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me,As on the day of trial in the wilderness,
9 Where your fathers put Me to the test,And saw My works for forty years.
10 Therefore I was angry with this generation,And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart,And they did not know My ways’;
11 As I swore in My anger,‘They certainly shall not enter My rest.’”
The Danger of Unbelief
12 Take care, brothers and sisters, that there will not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another every day, as long as it is still called “today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we keep the beginning of our commitment firm until the end, 15 while it is said,
“Today if you hear His voice,Do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me.”
16 For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
Hebrews 4:1-11
The Believer’s Rest
4 Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but the word they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united with those who listened with faith. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,
“As I swore in My anger,They certainly shall not enter My rest,”
although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this passage, “They certainly shall not enter My rest.” 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who previously had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 He again sets a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before,
“Today if you hear His voice,Do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience.
Hebrews 4:15-16
15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.
Scriptural Reflection
Hebrews makes it clear that entrance into the Promised Land of Canaan was just a foreshadowing age of rest. Only those who truly believe in the Lord will enter into the true rest to come, as written in Hebrews 4:8. The Sabbath that remains for the people of God is not a specific place or day but a specific person, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the totality of the Sabbath and our true Rest. Hebrews 4:16 confirms that we “receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need” in our high priest, Jesus, Who sympathizes with our weaknesses.
The Sabbath isn’t a Saturday or Sunday but Jesus Christ. He rose from the grave with all power in His hands on Sunday, which is why many believers at the time began to worship and honor the Lord on Sunday. Theologians believe that Sunday worship began in Judea, in the mid-1st century, during the period of the Acts of the Apostles.Historical records have proof that gentiles held Sunday services as early as A.D.115.
It’s also believed that this was a universal practice by the 2nd century. In A.D. 321, Roman Emperor Constantine officially decreed that Sunday would be a day of rest. Regardless of when believers began worshiping on Sunday instead of Saturday, these days still remain a shadow of the perfected rest we’ll share in the next age to come, eternal life with Christ in His glory after His triumphant return.
Jesus is the day (age) of rest we have now and yet look forward to in our glorification. He is the greater and more perfect tabernacle, making the old covenant obsolete with the new covenant that has been established by His blood (Hebrews 8 and 9). We can have a daily sabbath now, resting in Jesus as children of the Most High God. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, leaning into the daily grace He offers us, doing good works in His light.
In the meantime, before Jesus returns, we are still to gather in His Name often. Hebrews 10: 23-25 makes it clear to follow this instruction for our own benefit as believers:
23 Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Thoughts For the Road
The Lord’s Sabbath is about restoration, edification, stability, and tranquility (R.E.S.T.). Church is a symbol of the age we’ll spend in the Lord’s eternal rest. So though it doesn’t matter which day we meet, we should meet so that the presence of God will meet us there in His power and glory. It is a wise way to rest by recharging our batteries in fellowship with like-minded believers. With Jesus as our daily Sabbath, we can rest easy knowing that His grace keeps us, His virtue restores us, and His Holy Spirit has sealed us as a promise of our inheritance into the everlasting rest of the Lord (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Make sure to stay tuned in for this next blog post so you don't miss out on your word of encouragement... In the meantime, don't forget to R.E.S.T. in the power and peace of Jesus Christ. Thank you and God bless!
Scripture of Emphasis:
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV)
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”
Thank You and God Bless!
Thank you for reading this blog. Your support and contribution is treasured here. Please continue to share this content so that God may work through us to be a benefit to others. I invite you to leave a comment and stay tuned in for the next blog. I pray that this blesses you and honor’s God. Let’s continue growing together as Kingdom Citizens in Christ. Show love, be kind, and trust in God. Thank you and God bless.
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