You may remember in lesson 1 “being crucified with Christ” was to be joined “by faith” (see Galatians 2:20). Here we see the same promise of “resting” one can enter into when united by faith. It isn’t ”what we do” but who we rest in. And this rest is connected with the work Jesus finished on the cross for the church. We are united in Jesus’ death and burial by believing the “good news”, as faith comes by “hearing” and hearing the Word of Christ.
”But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ“ Romans 10:16-17 ESV
So we share the word of Christ, that Jesus died for you. That he bled for you. That He was torn for you. That He breathed His last breath for you. Then He was buried in a tomb and took your sins and mine to the grave where Jesus ”rested from His work” as God rested from His.
”For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” 6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 4:4-7 ESV
Friend, when we minister to others, we must deliver the message of the gospel which keeps our focus on Jesus’ finished work. We aren't sharing programs or the ”works” of man, but we are teaching, preaching and testifying, that the church might hear by faith, believe the message over and over, and enter into God’s rest.
“For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.” Hebrews 4:8-10 ESV
Do you see it? There remains a ”Sabbath rest” for who? ”The people of God.” That is, you and I who by faith have heard the message and believe that Jesus died to set captives free and give us rest through His work on the cross!
This is the message that not only needs to be preached and taught but needs to be heard to bring life and freedom! It is believing the gospel message by faith that we join Jesus’ death on the cross, are buried in the grave we find rest with Him on the Sabbath Day. In other words, by believing the message of the cross, we have obeyed the Sabbath Day and the command to ”rest” on it. Our old man rests in the grave with Jesus just as He rested on the Sabbath. And what are we resting from? Our own works of righteousness, programs, step groups and philosophies.
”he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” Titus 3:5 ESV
Question 2: Since Jesus rested on the Sabbath Day in the grave, keeping it holy, (Exodus 20:8), fulfilling the law perfectly, we enter into Jesus’ rest from our own labor and efforts trying to find freedom from sin.
Jesus Christ fulfilled the law perfectly and by faith in Him we rest from our own efforts and programs (Romans 10:4), our own understanding, and we submit to the mercy and washing and renewal we receive at the cross. We know that we are not saved by obeying the law because one who attempts to obey the law must obey it perfectly and continuously (Galatians 3:10), and we see that following the law is opposed to living “by faith” in the finished work Jesus has done on the cross.
As we preach or teach the good news to others, we invite them to look at the work Jesus has done on the cross and how He is the end of the law for righteousness (Romans 10:4). By seeing Jesus dying for us, fulfilling the law perfectly, “by faith” we are deemed to have fulfilled the law perfectly in Christ (Romans 8:4).
Question 3: According to Romans 8:4 and Romans 10:4, what do we see by faith when we look at the cross?