HEBREWS 7


     We will begin this lesson in Hebrews 4:1 "Let us therefore fear,
lest, a promise being left [us] of entering into his rest, any of you
should seem to come short of it."

     We will see in many Scriptures throughout the Bible that it is
possible for a person to have walked with God, and then turned their
back on God and missed heaven. The best example is, of course, Judas
Iscariot. One of the best explained Scriptures of a person missing the
promised land because of backsliding is: Numbers 14:34 "After the
number of the days in which ye searched the land, [even] forty days,
each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, [even] forty
years, and ye shall know my breach of promise."  Numbers 32:13 "And
the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander
in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done
evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed."  The promised land of
God is not for the sinful man, whether it be the Holy land promised to
the descendents of Abraham in the flesh, or whether it be his
descendents in the spirit, {Christians}.

     The thing that concerns me in our society today, is that too many
people believe that just the fact that they were baptized will get
them to heaven. They are really not living in the will of God. They
act as if they have purchased their {fire insurance} and they will go
ahead and live just like all of the other people in the world. They
believe that they are safe, because they have made that one time
confession of faith. Salvation is a day to day walk. We will either
grow stronger in the Lord each day, or we will return to sin. This
next few Scriptures in Jesus' own words tell it all. Matthew 7:21 "Not
every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom
of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven." Matthew 7:22 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out
devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" Matthew 7:23 "And
then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye
that work iniquity." When Jesus comes back for His bride, He is coming
for those who continue to walk faithfully. Notice in this next
Scripture that all ten of these women were virgins {Christians}. They
were wearing the name of Christian, but they did not stay prepared, in
other words, they backslid. Matthew 25:1 "Then shall the kingdom of
heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went
forth to meet the bridegroom." Matthew 25:2 "And five of them were
wise, and five [were] foolish." Matthew 25:3 "They that [were] foolish
took their lamps, and took no oil with them:" Matthew 25:4 "But the
wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." Matthew 25:5 "While
the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept." Matthew 25:6
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh;
go ye out to meet him." Matthew 25:7 "Then all those virgins arose,
and trimmed their lamps." Matthew 25:8 "And the foolish said unto the
wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out." Matthew 25:9
"But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for
us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for
yourselves."  Matthew 25:10 "And while they went to buy, the
bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the
marriage: and the door was shut." Matthew 25:11 "Afterward came also
the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us." Matthew 25:12 "But
he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not." This
leaves absolutely no doubt that our walk with God is every day until
He returns.


     Hebrews 4:2 "For 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]."

     I truly believe, that all who are the true ministers of God
desire, more than they desire life itself, to see everyone saved.
I Corinthians 1:21 "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by
wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to
save them that believe." There are two things that happen when we
preach. Some, who hear the Word of God, receive it unto salvation:
others do not receive it and are damned. We see in the next few verses
that God sent the message first to His chosen family. When they
refused it, then God sent it to the unbelieving world that all who
would receive His message might live. II Thessalonians 2:12 "That they
all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness." II Thessalonians 2:13 "But we are bound to give
thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God
hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification
of the Spirit and belief of the truth:"

     Hebrews 4:3 "For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he
said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest:
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world."

     As we have discussed many times in these lessons, I believe this
rest spoken of here is the thousand year Sabbath of rest, when Jesus
and His followers will reign in peace for one thousand years.
Revelation 20:4 "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and
judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were
beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which
had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received
[his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and
reigned with Christ a thousand years." We see in this next Scripture
that God Himself established 6 days of work and one day of rest. It
really does not matter whether this day is 24 hours or one thousand
years. Exodus 20:11 "For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day:
wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."

     One of the greatest promises that Jesus made was the rest for the
believer. We find this in His own words in Matthew 11:28  "Come unto
me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest." Matthew 11:29 "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am
meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

     Hebrews 4:4 "For he spake in a certain place of the seventh [day]
on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works."

     The one thing, as I said before, is that God does not measure
time the same way we do. This rest for the Christian is following 6000
years of work here on this earth brought on by the curse of the ground
brought on Adam. It has been nearly 6000 years since that time. The
1000 year rest for the believer is about to begin. Let me show the
Scripture that leaves no doubt, that with God 1000 years can be a day.
II Peter 3:8 "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that
one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years
as one day."  One more time, I say that the 6 hours that Jesus spent
on the cross was His 6 days of work, and then He said, IT IS FINISHED.
Be ready, Jesus Christ will come back and set up this 1000 year reign
in an hour when you think not. Luke 12:40 "Be ye therefore ready also:
for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not."

     Hebrews 4:5 "And in this [place] again, If they shall enter into
my rest."

     We can not say enough about this rest of the Lord. Work for the
night cometh, when no work can be done. John 9:4 "I must work the
works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no
man can work."

     Hebrews 4:6 "Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter
therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because
of unbelief:"

     Abraham believed, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
There is only one way to heaven and this rest with our Lord Jesus
Christ. We must believe, not only with our mind, but in our heart, the
Lord Jesus. Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith [it is] impossible to
please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and
[that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." One of the
best Scriptures, in all the Bible on this, is Romans 10:10 "For with
the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation."

     Matthew 21:43 "Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall
be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits
thereof." Jesus came to His own in power and great glory and they did
not receive Him. John 1:11 "He came unto his own, and his own received
him not." We know that Jesus did every thing He could to show them who
He was and they just did not believe. Their lack of belief opened the
door for the Gentiles to receive salvation. Romans 11:11 "I say then,
Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but [rather]
through their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, for to
provoke them to jealousy."





                             Questions 7

1.  What lesson are we to learn from Hebrews chapter 4 verse 1?
2.  Who is the best example of someone walking with God and then
    turning against Him?
3.  Where in the Scriptures, do we find a people losing their chance
    to enter the promised land for backsliding?
4.  The promised land of God is not for whom?
5.  Why did God make the doubters wander 40 years?
6.  What is the thing that concerns the author in our society today?
7.  What does Matthew chapter 7 verse 22 tell us about those who
    profess Christianity, who do not really live it?
8.  Who are all 10 virgins in Matthew chapter 25 symbolic of?
9.  Why were 5 of them not acceptable to Jesus?
10. Who are the {them} in Hebrews chapter 4 verse 3?
11. Why did the message given not become profitable to them?
12. The world by wisdom knew ___ ___.
13. What are the two things that happen when we preach?
14. God hath chosen you from the beginning to salvation through what?
15. For how long have the works of salvation been done?
16. What does Revelation chapter 20 verse 4 say the Christians will be
    doing, during the thousand year rest?
17. Who established the 6 days of work and one day of rest?
18. What is one of the most wonderful promises Jesus made the
    believer, found in Matthew chapter 11?
19. What caused the people of the earth to have to work the land for a
    living for the last approx. 6000 years?
20. Where do we find the Scripture that a day can be as a thousand
    years with God?
21. When is the return of the Son of man?
22. Abraham's _______ made him righteous in the sight of God.
23. He that cometh to God must ________ _____ ___ __.
24. Without what, it is impossible to please God?
25. With the _____ man believeth unto righteousness: and with the
    ______ confession is made unto salvation.
26. What did the Jew do, that opened the door to the Gentile for
    salvation?