Hebrews 3:7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, 3:8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 3:9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. 3:10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, 'They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.' 3:11 So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.' "

They could not enter because of unbelief. They were keeping the "Sabbath day" in the wilderness but they did not enter into God’s "rest". So God’s rest isn’t a day, a period of time out of a week.

Hebrews 4:6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 4:7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, "Today," after such a long time, as it has been said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts." 4:8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 4:9 There remains therefore a "rest" for the people of God. 4:10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. 4:11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that "rest", lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

Let us make every effort to enter that rest? If Saturday was God rest : What effort does it take to have a day off and keep that free for God? Surely that is not too hard to fulfill. What effort can that take?

Remembering that the New Testament indicates with numerous clear and specific text that the 10 Commandments are cast out, put aside, and its adultery to combine the Old and New. One must die to the Old, so where does that leave the Sabbath day which is part of the 10 Commandments that is cast out.

But note the Scripture does not say: there remains then a "Sabbath day" for the people of God, however it correctly says there remains therefore a rest. Let us make every effort to enter that rest.

The key here is two part.

1. There is a rest for the people of God.
2. We are to make every effort to enter into it.

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 11:30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Christ is the Prince of Peace.

He has paid the price for our sin.

He alone broke the bondage - the ensnaring curse of sin for us.

He and He alone gives eternal life and life abundantly.

Example:

Let not sin reign in your body,

Run the race as such a way as to win the prize.

Don’t allow anything disqualify you from the prize.

Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

"Therefore make every effort to enter in": ties in well with Paul’s writings in Romans.

However there is a difference between: Having made "Peace with God and/or having the Peace OF God.

There are many Christians that have made Peace with God but Don’t have the Peace OF God.

Their Christian walk is a type of wilderness experience thus the emphasis on make EVERY EFFORT to enter in.

Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our "old man" was crucified with Him, (so) that the "body of sin" might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

The old self (1) Adamic nature HAS died.

So that: Our (2) body of sin can be done away with

We were born into the body of sin of Adam we were constantly in the body of the flesh. Even the good things that someone may do, they do it according to the body of the flesh, they don’t do it according the Spirit, but according to the flesh. The flesh feels good to give to the poor or stop help some one. But in essence the flesh is fairly rancid.

Even these seemingly good things the flesh is the one who gets the glory, even in the sense of false humility the unregenerate man is of the flesh, he is not regenerated by the Holy Spirit and therefore the flesh can only give birth to flesh. Flesh is only satisfied ultimately in sin- that’s its goal, so even good works will be of the flesh, the flesh achieving its goal of sin through pride or false humility or just outright gloating in the good deeds its performed.

Some may ask:

If I have died (old man crucified) why do I still sin and a conflict continue?

The Scripture gives us the clear indication that we are a dwelling, a house, a temple of the Holy Spirit: therefore:

We are like a house, the old tenant being the "Adamic nature" moved out (died) and the new tenant (the Holy Spirit) moved in. BUT the house is still decorated in the way of the Old Tenant. Example our mind is still fashioned to the way of the old tenant.

It’s important to identify that the conflict is in the "BODY of sin". Which is different to the "old self" or "old man". See Romans 6:6:

That Adamic nature "old man" is (past tense) crucified so that (present tense) The body of sin can be put away, or in essence rendered powerless.

When the new tenant comes into the body (the Spirit) there are still things of the BODY of sin that have yet to come into the obedience of Christ, and that is where the leading of the Grace of God comes in.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 2:12 teaching us (*to say no!) that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

• *in some translations
• Note that it is the "Grace of God" that teaches us to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age.
• Not the Old law the 10 Commandments for they could not change mans heart.

Back to Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our "old man" was crucified with Him, (so) that the "body of sin" might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

The word "done away" with does not mean dead but more correctly means to be put out of business or made powerless.

When we were born again there were things in our life still that were not pleasing to the Lord. The new tenant the Holy Spirit, trains us by his grace to render these things powerless by the obedience to him.

Our brain did not change, our memory did not change, our brain did react the same old way, BUT by the grace of God, he changes the way that we think by his Spirit.

We still have a problem when we are born again (mind, memories, thought patterns) but the Spirit moves in and starts to clean the body of sin.

The old tenant has moved out the new tenant moves in and cleanses up.

So for the New Covenant Christian there is an act our part not for Salvation but for the ongoing walk of yielding to the Spirit etc.

Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

Acknowledging the activity of these changes happen during the Christian walk:

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world,(Flesh) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,(Spirit) (so) that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Gal 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

We don’t have freedom to sin but we have freedom not to sin, freedom by the grace of God to be released from the flesh nature that binds.

We do not seek to become victorious; we are already victorious "IN Christ".

We just need to trained in obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit thus our Christian walk is a walk of Faith in the Spirit.

We don’t walk towards victory, NO we walk in victory. The battle has already been won!

The old man is crucified!

We simply need to learn to appropriate that in our lives.

An Illustration: To secure a young elephant they put a the pole in the ground. The young elephant tries to pull the pole out of the ground but can’t, eventually the elephant develops a mindset that he can’t pull out the pole.

Years later as a mature elephant even though it can easily pull out the pole, but due to conditioning and the previous mindset, the elephant believes it can’t.

The elephant has a bondage mindset.

So it is with Christians today. Many Christians have that bondage mindset.

But we are and can be free. We must understand the power of the Gospel believe it and walk in it.

Understanding the battle is important, the old man is dead however we are dealing with the body of sin –the flesh. Which can be rendered powerless by yielding to the Holy Spirit.

The Grace of God is more powerful and trains us to put off the body of sin.

Where sin abounds does Grace MUCH MORE abound.

We are not in the bondage of sin.

Speaking to Christians Colossians 3:5: "Therefore put to death your members (body of sin) which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry".

Do not let sin reign in your bodies.

We are No longer under the dominion of sin, the reign of sin, the kingship of rebellion/sin.

It’s the Spirit of God that now rules and reigns over us

Who the Son sets free is free indeed!!!!

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

NOTE the words "Shall we" We have the choice! And the answer is no.

Those that are not born again, those under the sin of Adam have no choice all they can do is walk by the flesh. BUT we are IN HIM, being complete in him, having the ability by the Grace of God to not walk in the Flesh the sinful Adamic nature but NOW we can walk in the Spirit by yielding to the Spirit.

Something that can only be done in the life of consecration to God. For we are now a new creation, behold the old has gone and the new has come.

So we can not have only the peace with God but also the peace OF God.

So instead of a wilderness experience for the Born again believer there is a life of walking in victory- walking in the Spirit which is a True rest an Abundant life.

With the apostles 11 of the 12 died by being martyred is that life abundantly?

Yes in the true context of Abundant living they were not slaves to sin but had freedom from sin, the empowering of the Holy Spirit producing the freedom (choice) to not sin. That is true abundant life, true freedom.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Galatians 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to freedom; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Philippians 3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

And there are many more Scriptures encouraging us to continue on in the walk of faith, IN Christ.

So: Hebrews 4:11 Let us make every effort to enter that rest, so that none of us will fall by following their example of disobedience.

Note the warning …so that none of us will fall by following their example of disobedience.

What was the example of disobedience? The answer Hebrew 4:2 ..For those that heard it did not combine it with FAITH.

We as Christians are to walk by faith.

Galatians 3:11 But that no-one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."

What ever is not of faith is sin.

The law was a works orientated system, the ceremonies were a works orientated system.

The sin offerings, the peace offerings, the fellowship offerings etc.

Now we can bypass all that through faith IN HIM.

God himself established the pattern of rest on the seventh day.

But God doesn’t need to rest, tiring has to do with decay, God simply established a pattern for Israel to follow.

But as with many things what is in the Old concealed is in the New revealed.

If we look at the creation account in Genesis on each day the word says "and there was evening and morning the 1^st day, and so on "evening and morning" through each of the days up until and including the 6^th day.

However on the 7^th day there is no evening and morning, the day of rest once entered is a constant state.

God didn’t go back to his creating!!!!!!

Thus as what is in the Old concealed is in the New revealed shows here a great picture of the Salvation that Christ provides. When we enter into HIS rest the days of trying to meet God’s approval of trying in ourselves to attain righteousness through works are over. We can overcome the Bondage mindset, the old man IS dead so that the body of sin might be done away. So we make every effort to enter in, in the putting away the "Body of sin", to walk in the Spirit & Abundant life & Rest that Christ provides.

Now that is the good news.

How is that achieved? By Faith, that is how we enter in.

Thus as we saw before that circumcision was initially an outward sign that would later be fulfilled inwardly by being "in Christ". So is it with the Sabbath. The Sabbath was an outward sign, a day of rest which later is fulfilled inwardly by being "IN Christ".

Make every effort "That we enter that rest" note that in context with this text the previous verses are talking about those that formally had the Gospel preached to them but they did not combine it with FAITH (Hebrews 4:2)

The word here also says "Today if you hear his voice do not harden your heart". (Hebrews 4:7)

Therefore God has set a certain day calling it TODAY. (Hebrews 4:7)

Is the certain day Saturday? - Sunday? No! No! It is TODAY!

So If one hears the voice of God "TODAY" do not harden your heart, accept the Gospel message preached to you with "FAITH" and enter the "REST" that CHRIST provides.

Setting you eyes on the eternal, not using you freedom IN Christ as an opportunity for the flesh etc.

So just as the sign of the Covenant of Abraham sealed with the blood of man (made in God’s image) was a shadow, the revealed truth of the sign being "IN CHRIST". How MUCH MORE is the sign of the Mosaic Covenant only being sealed with the blood of animals (definitely not made in God’s image) is a shadow of the truth, which is revealed IN CHRIST.

The law came through Moses but grace and Truth by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

Jesus really does reveal the truth about the Law of Moses.

The cutting away of the flesh in circumcision (a sign) did not cast away the Adamic flesh, it did not cast away the sinful nature of the old man.

But the revealed Truth "IN CHRIST" does!

The keeping of the Sabbath Day (a sign) does not provide the rest from mans labour to appease God or provide the peace of eternal security of walking in freedom of the Spirit the freedom from sins bondage, the putting away the "Body of sin".

But the revealed truth "IN CHRIST" does!

Jesus Christ is the REVEALED REST.

The Sabbath day was a shadow of that which was to come.

Saturday is not the rest, Sunday is not the rest, but Christ is the rest.

Further more the word "sign" is an indication or an indicator, it points to something but it is not the substance of the thing.

Example a road sign To "Hollywood."

The sign "Hollywood" is not the substance, meaning the sign is not the actual city but it points one toward the city.

The sign of circumcision is not the casting away of the actual flesh nature itself.

Nor is the sign of the Sabbath the actual rest itself.

Both are exactly that, SIGNS, of the revealed truth that was to come and now has come "IN CHRIST".

Or in other words circumcision was a "TYPE", of "casting away the flesh nature" that Christ provides.

So is the Sabbath a "TYPE" of the Rest that Christ provides.

This runs in perfect harmony with the Scriptures for the 10 Commandments are set aside in Christ, we are to cast them out, it is adultery to combine the Old and the New.

Just as to go back to circumcision AFTER a knowledge of Christ "Christ profits you nothing"! Why because one has missed the whole message the whole point, one is undermining that which Christ has done.

So it is the same for the other sign "the Sabbath day".

To hold to it, is to miss the whole point that Christ is the fulfillment of the sign IN HIM

He is the revealed truth, to hold to the "Sabbath Day" as the rest of God is to miss the point and undermine that which Christ has done.

Just as some may justify but I’m being circumcised out of loyalty - obedience to God.

Quoting "If you LOVE God and want to PLEASE him then surely you are going to obey his commandments on circumcision, "faith without works is dead", it is everlasting covenant! The Bible says it, that settles it"!

And again to try to fulfill the requirements of the shadow (foreskin circumcision) even with the "best of intentions" and out of an act of love toward God. "Faith without works is dead". Is to deny what Christ has fulfilled for us. INDEED Christ profits you nothing. For one has undermined and negated the work-or power of the Cross.

The same is true for the other sign "the Sabbath" one may justify if you love God and want to please him then surely you are going to obey his commandment on Sabbath keeping, it is a every lasting covenant, "faith without works is dead". To follow Sabbath keeping on this basis it to deny and negate the power of the cross and the TRUE rest that Christ provides. Indeed one has missed the whole point.

Faith without works is dead.

Having begun in the Spirit are we now going to be perfected in the flesh? [Gal 3:3]

In the same way you received Christ Jesus, so now walk in him. How? Faith!

Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh (the body) I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

The Christian walk is based on faith not works.

Galatians 3:12 "The Law is not based on faith"…

(The law is a works oriented relationship).

The laws premise is to lead us TO Christ, we were held by the law UNTIL Christ is revealed.

We can do nothing to gain Salvation.

The flesh hates this; the flesh wants to do something for God. Do some works to justify itself / ourselves approved by God. The world is full of sincere people doing things FOR God but are they doing it IN God. Only that which is of the Spirit will stand. Flesh gives birth to flesh.

Eph 2:8-10 "For by Grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 2:9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

We can’t boast about our walk even, even that is by faith, if we are prideful in our things that we do for God we become ensnared like the Pharisees.

Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,

MUCH MORE is the remedy of grace than sin.

If we say: "WE keep the 10 Commandments of God" the person who says such things has just become prideful, its of the flesh, such statements indicates one doesn’t understand the purpose of the law nor its full implications.

That is why it is by Grace that we have been saved. The righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled IN us BY Christ through Faith and his Grace.

The 10 Commandments can change the external appearance of man (being external righteousness) but the Grace of God by HIS Spirit changes man from the inside out. To do the things that pleases the Lord. Titus 2:12-14.

Titus 2:11 For the Grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 2:12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

God cares about our heart, the law looks to the outside don’t commit adultery, but the Spirit looks to the heart and teaches us to not even look lustfully.

The Law says "do not murder" But the Spirit teaches us to Love so as to not hate someone, for if you do, you have murdered already in your heart.

The heart condition is of primary importance, God judges the thought and intents of the heart. The Mosaic Law/Covenant cannot change the heart it only condemns it.

Don’t confuse the Mosaic Law /Covenant and the Law of the Spirit/Christ.

The law of the Spirit teaches and guides.

The Mosaic Law/ Covenant only condemns.

Trying to keep the Law the 10 Commandments is like trying to fix the flesh by the flesh. But the purpose of the law was to show the abyss that man had in establishing mans own righteousness relative to Gods, and thus man stood condemned, finding no way out, presenting sacrifice after blood sacrifice UNTIL the ultimate sacrifice was paid. Now through dying to the law we can be raised up to live by the Spirit. The newness of life surpasses that of the Mosaic law it has a greater glory indeed those things are but a shadow. The Spirit that brings life changes mans heart, the law was unable to do that. Christ fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law so that we do not stand condemned but exonerated us from those things that brought death and we are now alive to Christ.

We are to be alive to the Spirit that teaches us to say NO and also produce fruit not out of law, but out of relationship. And the fruit of the Spirit is Gal 5:22

Again did you get the Spirit through the law or by grace? (Galatians 3:2)

Produce works out of relationship with the Spirit! And the works or fruit of the Spirit is:

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

So our walk as Christians is a walk of FAITH being LED by the SPIRIT and out of relationship with the Spirit we produce WORKS being the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 all because of the GRACE of God.

Which now leads us onto the next issue since Biblically the 10 Commandments are cast away, set aside in Christ, It’s Adultery to combine the Old and the New.

Where does that leave us with regard to the Sabbath day specifically, and also since the other Commandments are represented in the New Covenant.

All the others are there why exclude the 4^th.

If the law and 10 Commandments are done away with why is so much of the 10 commandments represented in the New Testament.

Biblical fact: The other 9 commandments of Moses are mention numerous times in the New Testament.

The 4^th commandment being the sign of that Covenant is not mentioned at all as a command for New Testament believers to follow.

If one chooses to follow the 4^th Commandment as a fulfillment of the 10 Commandment

Then: one would be obeying a SIGN a shadow of things to come when the substance "the real thing" as it were, the revealed truth is already arrived.

And we are beseeched to enter into that revealed TRUE rest that Christ provides.

Which is now internal, no longer an external act, in the same way as is the revealed Truth of circumcision is no longer external act but now being internal.

The law and the prophets including the 10 Commandments pointed forward to Christ when Christ arrived those shadows are "overshadowed" but the surpassing glory of the substance. The substance is far better than the shadow.

Thus we now serve not in the Old way of the letter but in the New way of the Spirit. [Romans7:6]

As for so many of the Old laws are being represented in the New then surely we are going to keep the Old as well? No not so! Do we also keep the Passover lamb, physical circumcision, peace offerings, sin offerings, fellowship offerings etc.

They are the shadow of the TRUTH that is revealed IN CHRIST.

We are not under that "government" of that Law including the 10 Commandments any more.

We are now under the law of Christ (Gal 6:2) The law of the Spirit (Romans 8:2)

Many of the law(s) of Christ are similar to the Old.

But does that mean that the Old way or Old Covenant still applies? A = No.

For example a pacific Island may be under the "Government or rule "of England.

Then the island is bought/purchased out of that type of relationship and becomes "Independent" from England’s rule and Government.

They come under a NEW government.

Are some of the NEW laws similar or the same as the old ways of England rule? Yes.

Does England have any legal authority/right in enforcing its rule / laws over this Island now? NO!

So it is with the New Covenant, there are similar aspects to the Old. But the Old is not enforceable we are under a New Covenant/(government). The New Covenant/(government) law applies.

Some have said if we take away the 10 Commandments then we are free to steal, murder and so on.

This is incorrect, that is lawlessness.

We are under a New Covenant (government)

We are under the law of Christ. A law still does apply.[Gal 6:2]

Paul says

Gal 5:13 "do not let your freedom IN CHRIST be an opportunity for the flesh".

Gal 5:16 We are to be led by the Spirit,

Romans 8:2 "and we are now under the law of the Spirit"

2 Corinthians 3:17 "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty".

Gal 5:18 "If you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law".

What law? The Law of Moses. It is the law of Moses that Paul was talking about only just in the previous chapter and still continuing on in its theme in this chapter. Along with the fact that circumcision being complete in us, Paul is saying those that want to follow in keeping the shadow should go and emasculate themselves.

Gal 5:18 "If you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law".

To say that we are not under any law at all is incorrect. That would be lawlessness and lawlessness is sin.

Christ did not redeem us to be free from the law (Law of Moses) to then be in a state of lawlessness or sin.