15.9 SIT – Laboring to enter the rest of faith
To sit is to rest. Today, we will explore the concept of “resting” vs. “laboring”. Resting is a concept that few Christian understands today. Christians appear always pressurized to do witnessing, to grow church numbers, to multiply cell groups, to find new disciples, to serve, to attend cell-groups, etc. Good as these are, the only problem is that Christians are focusing on laboring. The Bible says that resting is the key. It sounds so illogical doesn’t it? In fact, the Bible says that the only labor is LABORING TO ENTER THE REST!
(Hebrews 4:11, KJV)
11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
The above verse talks about failing to enter the rest because of disbelief. So how do we enter the rest? We enter the rest through faith – by believing in the gospel of the finished work of Christ.
(Hebrews 4:2-3)
2For unto us was 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. 3For we which have BELIEVED DO ENTER into rest…
To rest is not only to enter into faith. It is also to cease from the works of the law.
(Hebrews 4:10)
10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath CEASED FROM HIS OWN WORKS, as God did from his.
Under to Old Covenant, they had to labor under works of the law to attain to righteousness and to blessings. A lot of Christians still live under that system today. But under the New Covenant, we are to rest by faith in the finished work of Christ. Righteousness and blessings come as a gift from Jesus – which we receive by faith. Since we don’t have to labor for it, we simply rest in the fact that Jesus has given them to us by grace.
This new principle is clearly stated by Paul. We are no longer under the law of works (laboring). We are under the law of faith (resting & believing).
(Romans 3:27-28)
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds [works] of the law.
Today you are not under the law of works. You are not under the law of the Ten Commandments. You are under the law of faith – a new system of faith. You do not labor in works – but to are to be diligent to enter the rest! When we walk in faith, we will end up with a new kind of greater works – called works of faith.
(Hebrews 4:11, KJV)
11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
The above verse talks about failing to enter the rest because of disbelief. So how do we enter the rest? We enter the rest through faith – by believing in the gospel of the finished work of Christ.
(Hebrews 4:2-3)
2For unto us was 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. 3For we which have BELIEVED DO ENTER into rest…
To rest is not only to enter into faith. It is also to cease from the works of the law.
(Hebrews 4:10)
10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath CEASED FROM HIS OWN WORKS, as God did from his.
Under to Old Covenant, they had to labor under works of the law to attain to righteousness and to blessings. A lot of Christians still live under that system today. But under the New Covenant, we are to rest by faith in the finished work of Christ. Righteousness and blessings come as a gift from Jesus – which we receive by faith. Since we don’t have to labor for it, we simply rest in the fact that Jesus has given them to us by grace.
This new principle is clearly stated by Paul. We are no longer under the law of works (laboring). We are under the law of faith (resting & believing).
(Romans 3:27-28)
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds [works] of the law.
Today you are not under the law of works. You are not under the law of the Ten Commandments. You are under the law of faith – a new system of faith. You do not labor in works – but to are to be diligent to enter the rest! When we walk in faith, we will end up with a new kind of greater works – called works of faith.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 11:07 PM
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