389. We Enter Into Rest

We enter into rest after we have come to faith. Heb. 4:3.

Faith in the effect of the Word in our inner being creates confidence in God. This causes us to let go of our own works, and it brings us into rest.

The works we are supposed to do were finished from the foundation of the world, and they come to us through the promptings of faith.

God rested on the seventh day from all His works. This Sabbath rest now remains for the people of God.

It remains, therefore, that some must enter into this rest. Joshua was not able to lead the people into God’s rest. They stumbled because they did not believe the Word.

This word, then, remains for us: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your heart.” The Word that we hear must be mixed with faith in our hearts if it is to benefit us and create rest.

Just as the law of the Spirit sets us free from the law of sin and death by bringing death over our sinful life and works, so obedience toward the same Spirit will lead us into God’s rest.

Christ has been raised for our justification; so God’s rest is on resurrection ground. God did not rest from all His works until Christ had been raised, and this is the rest we enter into by faith.

From this we conclude that all the works that come from our carnal will are warring against the law of the Spirit, bringing unrest into our mind. But the works that we do according to the promptings of God lead us into rest.