Hebrews 4:1 - Meaning and Application

Here the apostle says that our privileges in Christ under the gospel are at least as great as, and really greater than, those enjoyed under the law of Moses. He says that a promise of entering into God’s rest still remains for us. That means a promise of coming into a covenant relationship with Christ, living in fellowship with God through Christ, and growing in that life until we are made perfect in glory.

We have clear news about this rest, invitations to enter it, and the best directions for how to reach it. This promise of spiritual rest is left to us by the Lord Jesus Christ in his last will and testament, like a precious gift. Our task is to make sure we are among those who receive it. We should claim that rest and freedom from the rule of sin, Satan, and the flesh, the sinful nature that keeps people in slavery and keeps their souls from true peace. We may also be freed from the burden of the law and its tiring ceremonies and services, and enjoy peace with God in his worship, in his providence, and in our own consciences. In that way, we have both a taste and a guarantee of perfect and lasting rest in heaven.

He also proves that we have these advantages. He says, “The gospel was preached to us just as it was to them” (Hebrews 4:2). The same gospel in substance was preached under both covenants, though not as clearly. It was not presented as fully or as sweetly under the old covenant as under the new. The best privileges the ancient Jews had were their gospel privileges. The sacrifices and ceremonies of the Old Testament were the gospel of that time, and whatever was excellent in them pointed to Christ. If that was their highest privilege, then we are not below them. We have the gospel too, and we have it in greater purity and clarity.

He next gives the reason why so many of the ancient Jews did not benefit from that gospel message, and it was their lack of faith: “The word they heard did not profit them, because it was not mixed with faith” (Hebrews 4:2). The word is preached to us so that we may profit from it and gain spiritual riches. It is a gift placed in our hands to lead us to wisdom, the true treasure of the soul. Many people in every age hear sermons often but gain nothing for their souls. Those who do not profit from hearing are great losers.

The root of all our unprofitableness under the word is unbelief. We do not join faith to what we hear. Faith in the hearer gives life to the word. Even if the preacher believes the gospel and speaks as one who has believed it, the hearers will still gain nothing unless they receive it with faith in their own hearts. That faith must join itself to every word, and it must be active while we are hearing. When we have heard, we should agree that it is true, approve of it, receive the mercy offered, apply the word to ourselves, and respond with fitting feelings. Then we will find great profit and gain from the preached word.

On these truths the apostle bases his strong warning and advice. Those who enjoy the gospel should keep a holy fear and careful watch over themselves, lest hidden unbelief rob them of the benefit of the word and of that spiritual rest offered in the gospel: “Let us fear, then, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, that none of you may seem to have failed to reach it” (Hebrews 4:1). Grace and glory are offered to all under the gospel. There is an invitation, and there is a promise to those who accept it.

Those who may reach these blessings may also fall short of them. Those who might have been saved by faith may miss salvation through unbelief. It is a sad thing even to seem to fall short of gospel salvation, whether in our own eyes, by losing our confident hope, or in the eyes of others, by bringing shame on our profession of faith. If it is so sad merely to seem to miss this rest, it is much worse to really miss it. That loss would be deadly.

One good way to keep from truly falling short, or even seeming to fall short, is to keep a holy fear that we might fail. This makes us watchful and diligent, sincere and serious. Such fear leads us to test our faith and to exercise it. Presumption, by contrast, is the direct road to ruin.

The apostle then confirms the happiness of all who truly believe the gospel. He first states it plainly from his own experience and that of others: “We who have believed enter that rest” (Hebrews 4:3). We enter into a blessed union with Christ and into fellowship with God through Christ. In that state we already enjoy many sweet gifts: forgiveness of sin, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit, growth in grace, and foretastes of glory. We rest from slavery to sin and rest in God until we are ready to rest with him in heaven.

He also proves that believers are truly blessed and do enter this rest. He points first to God’s finishing his work of creation and then resting from it (Hebrews 4:3-4). God set our first parents a pattern by giving them the seventh day as a day of rest in him. Just as God completed his work and then rested from it and was satisfied, so he will bring believers to finish their work and then enjoy their rest.

He also points to God’s continuing the sabbath after the fall and after the promise of a Redeemer. They were to keep the seventh day holy to the Lord, praising him for creating them by his power and praying that he would create them anew by his Spirit of grace. They were also to look in faith to the promised Redeemer and Restorer of all things, and through that faith they found rest for their souls.

He further points to Canaan as a picture of rest for the Jews who believed. Caleb and Joshua, who did believe, really entered Canaan. In the same way, those who believe now will enter rest. He also points to the clear fact that there is another rest besides the seventh-day rest, which was established and kept both before and after the fall, and besides the pictured rest of Canaan, which most of the Jews missed because of unbelief. The psalmist speaks of another day and another rest, showing that a more spiritual and better sabbath still remains for God’s people than the one Joshua gave the Jews (verses 6-9).

This rest that still remains is, first, a rest of grace, comfort, and holiness in the gospel age. This is the rest with which the Lord Jesus, our Joshua, gives weary souls and awakened consciences peace, and this is the refreshment.

There is also a rest in glory, the everlasting Sabbath of heaven. It is the full rest and perfection of both our nature and our grace, where God’s people will enjoy the goal of their faith and the answer to all their desires.

This is also proved by the great forerunners who have already taken possession of that rest, God and Christ. It is certain that God rested after making the world in six days, and it is certain that Christ rested after finishing the work of our redemption. These are not only examples for us, but also a sure sign that believers will enter their own rest. “Anyone who has entered God’s rest has also rested from his own works, just as God did from his” (Hebrews 4:10). Every true believer has stopped trying to earn righteousness by his own works, and has laid down the heavy burden of the law, just as God and Christ rested from the works of creation and redemption.

The apostle also makes clear the misery of those who do not believe. They will never enter this spiritual rest, either the rest of grace here or the rest of glory hereafter. This is as certain as the word and oath of God can make it. Just as surely as God has entered into his rest, obstinate unbelievers will be shut out. Just as surely as the unbelieving Jews fell in the wilderness and never reached the promised land, unbelievers will fall into destruction and never reach heaven. And just as Joshua, the great leader of Israel, could not bring them into Canaan because of their unbelief, despite all his courage and skill, so even Jesus, the captain of our salvation, will not and cannot give final unbelievers either spiritual rest or eternal rest. That rest remains only for the people of God. Others, by their sin, leave themselves in endless unrest.