Title: The True Meaning of Canaanite Rest
(Hebrews 4:2-3)
1. The rebellion of Israel given as our boundary
(1) In the second half of 1 Corinthians 10:6, it is said that this is so that they do not become those who do evil as they do it. For Christians, now we are saved, we will not perish, We are God's people, and we do not have to worry about going to hell, Because we have eternal life, our salvation is sure. It is a warning to those who live.
God's people cannot enjoy doing evil. How can you commit a sin? However, there is no pleasure in sin, and when you know that it is a sin, repenting with a contrite heart is a normal Christian life of faith. If they boast that they are God's people, but do not turn from the way of sin and are courageous to do evil, they will follow God and follow Moses as if they were serving God in the wilderness, but as a result they could not enter into rest and perish. It is a warning that you will not come short of the true rest as you have received.
(2) Please see verse 11 next. It was said that this was to become a mirror. Just as the law and conscience are the mirrors of our hearts that show our sins, God showed us Israel's life in the wilderness as a mirror that enters into rest.
(3) Next, if you look at the second half of verse 11, it is said that it was written as the boundary for us who met the last days. The hope of entering rest is given to the saints living in the last days. But you can't go in with hope alone. It was to show as a boundary the fact that it is clear in the case of Israel.
In particular, there are four points that the Apostle Paul emphasized here. Verse 7 tells us not to worship idols. Covetousness refers to idolatry. If a Christian's life is driven by covetousness, pastors, elders, or saints all become idolaters. The next point emphasized is not to commit adultery. There are two types of adultery: spiritual adultery and carnal adultery. But both of these are fatal crimes for Christians. Since the sin of spiritual adultery is betraying Christ by following heresy or being deceived by false truths, one's life must die. Carnal adultery destroys one's life, destroys the family, and becomes an irreversible sin.
He told me not to test God next time. And he told them not to grumble against God. The people of Israel complained about God and were destroyed by the destroyer. In the Christian life, there should always be something to be thankful for, not to complain.
2. Why Israel Couldn't Enter the Sabbath
Verse 2 tells us about Israel's failure to enter Canaan. “As we are, we too have been preached of the gospel, but the words they heard did not benefit them, because those who heard did not unite in their faith.”
He said it was because they had heard the word of God, but it did not benefit them. If the Word cannot be beneficial to our life, we can hear it. I hear you in the church now, but how many members are there? Then why was it not helpful? The reason is that the hearer is not in harmony with the faith. If faith is not in harmony with the Word, then the Word will not do us any good. The Word of God is beneficial only to those who believe.
Conclusion: The true rest is not over. It still clearly remains. In order to allow us to enter this rest in abundance, he gave us the example of the Israelites' life in the wilderness and gave us a boundary to enter into the rest. We need to take special note of the fact that entering into the Sabbath equates believing the Word with obedience. He said that the rest was given as a boundary to show that we do not enter through hearing, but through hearing and faith. Our hope is a land of rest. I hope that by examining the footsteps of unbelief in Israel, you can become a Christian who can only enter through faith and obedience, without following the example of Israel that was destroyed in the wilderness.