The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls
On the Epistle Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia
Text from Hebrews 4:1-2, 9-13
Trinity VIII
1. In Hebrews 3:1-4:13 the writer introduces Moses. Moses and Joshua
could not give lasting rest to Israel. Jesus can do that. In fact, many in
Israel rejected the temporal rest which Moses and Joshua offered them in
the Promised Land. But though Israel in large part rejected not only the
Promised Land but also eternal rest, there still remains a rest for God's
people. Verse 9 tells us: "Therefore there remains a Sabbath Rest for the
people of God." This word "Sabbath Rest" occurs nowhere else in the Bible.
It is heaven.
2. Verses 1-10 of our text establish the fact that there is still a Sabbath
Rest for God's people. Verses 11-13 say: "Don't lose this offered rest."
Many in Israel lost the Promised Land under Joshua, the leader, because
they refused to believe. Verse 8 is pivotal: "If Joshua could have given
them rest, the writer would not have spoken thereafter about another day."
Joshua was an Old Testament type of Jesus. In fact, the Hebrew word of
Joshua and Jesus are the same word. Joshua led believing Israel into the
Promised Land. Jesus is the fulfillment of Joshua. He leads God's believing
people into the Promised Land of heaven, the fulfillment of the Promised
Land of Canaan. That is why verse 9 says: "There remains a Sabbath Rest
for the people of God."
3. The last verse of chapter 3 said: "We see that they could not enter
because of unbelief." There is all hope for a sinner who believes. But if he
refuses to believe, no one can help him. The great warning of our text is
that we should never become guilty of unbelief. Think of Jesus' conflict
with the Jews about the Sabbath Day, John 5:16-18. They refused to
believe that Jesus was and is the true Son of God. They began to hate Him
and then they murdered Him
The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls
On the Epistle Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia
Text from Hebrews 4:1-2, 9-13
Trinity VIII
1. In Hebrews 3:1-4:13 the writer introduces Moses. Moses and Joshua
could not give lasting rest to Israel. Jesus can do that. In fact, many in
Israel rejected the temporal rest which Moses and Joshua offered them in
the Promised Land. But though Israel in large part rejected not only the
Promised Land but also eternal rest, there still remains a rest for God's
people. Verse 9 tells us: "Therefore there remains a Sabbath Rest for the
people of God." This word "Sabbath Rest" occurs nowhere else in the Bible.
It is heaven.
2. Verses 1-10 of our text establish the fact that there is still a Sabbath
Rest for God's people. Verses 11-13 say: "Don't lose this offered rest."
Many in Israel lost the Promised Land under Joshua, the leader, because
they refused to believe. Verse 8 is pivotal: "If Joshua could have given
them rest, the writer would not have spoken thereafter about another day."
Joshua was an Old Testament type of Jesus. In fact, the Hebrew word of
Joshua and Jesus are the same word. Joshua led believing Israel into the
Promised Land. Jesus is the fulfillment of Joshua. He leads God's believing
people into the Promised Land of heaven, the fulfillment of the Promised
Land of Canaan. That is why verse 9 says: "There remains a Sabbath Rest
for the people of God."
3. The last verse of chapter 3 said: "We see that they could not enter
because of unbelief." There is all hope for a sinner who believes. But if he
refuses to believe, no one can help him. The great warning of our text is
that we should never become guilty of unbelief. Think of Jesus' conflict
with the Jews about the Sabbath Day, John 5:16-18. They refused to
believe that Jesus was and is the true Son of God. They began to hate Him
and then they murdered Him. Mark 16:16 says: "He who does not believe will
be damned."
4. There are two pivotal hortatory verbs in our text: In verse 1 we read:
"Therefore let us fear." Why? Because of the danger of unbelief. And verse
13: "Therefore let us be zealous to enter into that rest." Why? Because the
writer had just said: "There remains a Sabbath Rest for the people of God."
5. Verse 2 is a truly remarkable statement. It plainly says that the Old
Testament people of God, Israel, received the Gospel just as we do. For a
parallel passage read 1 Corinthians 10:1-5. Why then were they lost?
Because the preached Word was not received by faith in the hearers. This
verse reminds us of "Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the Word
of God," Romans 10:17. And Luke 11:28: "Blessed are they that hear the
Word of God and observe it." And Jesus frequently said: "Let him who has
ears hear."
6. Verse 4 of our text clearly states that God created the Rest of
everlasting life on the seventh day of creation. This Rest was not
withdrawn when sin entered the world. Nor was it withdrawn when Israel
rejected it. It still remains and we enter it. In fact, that is why David
repeated the thought of this Rest at Psalm 95:11. Since creation God's
message to man has been: "Enter My Rest."
7. It is suggested that verses 9-11 be used as a funeral text. Verses 9-10
describe heaven to us, rest from all labors, and verse 11 is an admonition
to those attending the funeral to take their Christian faith seriously and to
be careful not to become guilty of unbelief as did Israel in the wilderness.
8. Verses 12-13 are a grand passage on the Word of God in both the Old
Testament and the New Testament. Verse 2 had just told us that many in
Israel refused to believe what the Word told them. The Word, both Law and
Gospel, has the power to enter, permeate and transform. For the believer
these are comforting Words but for the unbeliever these are terrifying
Words. Only one thing will remain when heaven and earth pass away, the
Word of God. It is a lamp to our feet, a light to our path. Listen to Him.
The Sermon Outline of Harold Buls
On the Epistle Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia
Text from Hebrews 4:1-2, 9-13
Trinity VIII
THEME: Let Us Fear And Let Us Be Zealous
INTRODUCTION
These two exhortations are taken from verses 1 and 11 of our text. The
first one reads: "Let us fear lest anyone of you fails of the promise of
entering eternal rest," and the other reads: "Let us be zealous to enter that
rest lest anyone fall because of unbelief." Unbelief is the great problem.
Not the sinner but the unbeliever will be damned, Mark 16:16. Jesus prayed
that Peter's faith would not fail. Our text warns us not to be overcome by
unbelief.
I. LET US FEAR LEST ANY OF YOU FAILS TO ENTER ETERNAL REST, verses 1-10
A. God prepared eternal rest for all men at creation, Genesis 2:2. God
rested from His labors on the seventh day. According to our text this is
where eternal rest for all men began. Although sin entered the world,
God did not cease to make eternal rest available to mankind. After man
fell into sin God promised the Savior, Genesis 3:15. At the time of the
flood He saved Noah and his family. They believed the promises of God.
He promised the Savior to Abraham. The patriarchs are now in
everlasting life. He made His Covenant with Israel, but we know that
many in Israel rejected Him. They did not enter the promised land
although they heard the good news of salvation, verse 2.
B. But this eternal rest can be lost. Chapter 3:7-19 tells us of Israel
in the wilderness. They hardened their hearts against the Lord and His
Word. Although they heard the Gospel just as we do (1 Corinthians 10:
1-5), they refused to believe. And so they could not enter God's rest
because of their unbelief. At Jesus' time the Jews treated Jesus in the
same way. John 5 is a good example. It was then that they began to plot
His death. In Psalm 95 David continued to warn the children of Israel
not to walk in the ways of Israel in the wilderness.
II. LET US BE ZEALOUS TO ENTER THAT REST LEST ANYONE FALL IN UNBELIEF
This is the thought in verses 11-13 of our text.
A. There remains a Sabbath Rest for the people of God, verse 9. Here we
learn that the person who inherits eternal life by faith in Jesus Christ
rests from all his labors just as God rested from his labors on the
seventh day of creation. At that time creation, as we now know it, will
be gone, but God, His people, His Word, will reside in everlasting rest.
There is a golden chain from creation to life eternal in heaven.
B. Let us be zealous to enter into that rest, verse 11. We must live
every day in the consciousness that we are citizens of heaven, that
heaven is our home, that here we have no continuing city, that this life
is only a preparation for the life to come. We must live every day in
the consciousness that there are many mansions in the Father's House
and that Jesus has gone before us to prepare a place for us. But how do
we do that? That is the subject of the next part of our sermon.
C. We must listen to the Word of the Lord, verses 12-13. Our text says
that the Word of God is living, active, sharp, piercing, judging. It has
the power to enter, to permeate and transform. This involves us in the
Law and the Gospel. The Law shows us our sin so that we might confess
our sin. The Gospel shows our Savior so that we might receive
forgiveness of sins. This forgiveness of sins leads to God's eternal
rest, everlasting life. And then the Law assists us in leading a
God-pleasing life of faith toward God and love toward our neighbor.
Heaven and earth will pass away but God's Word will never pass away.
And Jesus promises: "Blessed are they who hear the Word of God and
keep it."
CONCLUSION
Remember that Israel in the wilderness heard the Word of God but rejected it.
They were lost in the wilderness and did not enter God's rest. And so our text
warns us: Let us fear lest we fail of God's promises. Let us be zealous to
enter that rest.
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This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
by Marilyn F. Gardner and is in the public domain by permission
of Dr. Buls. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text.
Please direct any comments or suggestions to:
Rev. Robert E. Smith
Walther Library
Concordia Theological Seminary
E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu
Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA
Phone: (219) 452-2148 Fax: (219) 452-2126
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