Rest in God

Rest in God

When there is talk about rest, it must be understood that there is a work that precedes it which, after it has yielded a good result, produces rest.

“For he who has entered His rest [emphasis added] has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” Heb. 4:10.

Then what about His rest? “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good [emphasis added].” Gen. 1:31. This is the mystery of rest. “And He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.” Gen. 2:2. How could He rest from His work? He rested because everything was very good.

We notice that rest follows a perfect work. Can we do perfect works as human beings? Yes, that is what the Scriptures teach, not only in one place but in many places—for example, in James 1:4; Matthew 5:48 and Philippians 3:15—that we both can and must come to the point of doing perfect works in order to partake of rest in God.

Can anyone rest from an imperfect work? Not at all! It must be done over again.

“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.” Heb. 4:9. The interesting point here is that it is possible to enter into His rest.

How do we enter into rest? We enter into rest by faith, for we who have believed enter that rest. Heb. 4:3, 6. What are those works from which we are to rest? They are works in which we overcome sin. Sin has always hindered man from entering into rest; therefore Jesus was charged with the work of putting sin in the flesh to death. He was tempted in all points, and He overcame in everything, and is enjoying eternal rest from everything. Now the way is open, and everyone who consecrates himself to the death of Christ enters into this salvation by faith. By what faith? The faith that the old man is crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20, 24; Rom. 6:6, 11), the faith that sin shall no longer rule over us so we can consider ourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

This faith produces works that bear fruit unto eternal life, leading us into His rest. But it takes time, and no one jumps into God’s rest; it takes place only after you have suffered in the flesh and have tasted death.

“For you have need of endurance [patience], so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” Heb. 10:36. The promise is rest in God, and we need patience so that we can endure until we enter into His rest.

“He shall deliver you in six troubles, yes, in seven no evil shall touch you.” Job 5:19. The six troubles indicate a timespan during which we are delivered into the death of Christ, and by enduring and not growing weary and not giving up, we obtain the seventh. Then death has entered on that point and we rest from our works that we did during the six trials. That is the Sabbath rest.

Many people believe in the forgiveness of sins but not in God’s rest. They believe that Jesus atoned for their sins, but not that their old man was crucified with Him. They believe in the atonement, but not in liberation from sin.

These people expect to enter into rest once they have died a natural death. But what is it that will then be able to rest? It is the body that is able to rest in grace, the body that has toiled and labored. For, man was taken out of the ground, and to it he shall return. But the spirit, our consciousness of having lived in defeat and imperfect works, has nothing from which to rest; everything is undone except that Jesus bore our punishment so that the spirit should not be punished but live forever.

Others pervert God’s Word by saying that they must not do anything, for Christ has done it all. If Christ has done it all and rests from His works, what are those people supposed to rest from who neither have done nor shall do nothing? This is all a deception. “Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.” Luke 1:27.

But Jesus says to those who are upright and who labor to do works of righteousness: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28.

Those who then believe come to Jesus and learn from Him. The others will not enter into rest because of unbelief.