How To Find Rest (6)

Verse 4:11 of Hebrews concludes the Holy Spirit's argumentation on the rest: "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of disobedience". It would seem that with this exhortation everything is closed, that nothing more needs to be said on the subject.

However, next, the Spirit introduces two elements that are inseparably united to the rest of God: one is the Word of God, and the other is the ministry of Christ as High Priest.

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (4:12). This "For" links what is to be said with what has been said before. This "For" indicates that what is to come, explains what came before.

Earlier it was said that it is necessary to believe the word of God ("If ye shall hear his voice today, harden not your hearts"), and now it is said what is the work that this word does in the heart of man, and why it is so important. It separates the soul from the spirit. The soul is our "I" with all its arguments and unbeliefs. The soul hinders the spirit from believing and following the Lord. So, the soul must be uncovered and must be denied. "All things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we have to give an account". That is the work of the word of God, an indispensable work in order to believe God and enter into His rest.

The second element that the Spirit introduces here is the priesthood of Christ: "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession" (4:14). This "Therefore" concludes the reasoning, and this is the conclusion: it is because we have such a high priest that we can retain our profession (or confession of faith).

In two key verses of chapter 3 we were urged to retain confidence that we are God's household, and that we are partakers of Christ (v. 6 and 14). These two things together make up our profession. And here it is made clear to us how it is that we can retain all that: because we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, and who is compassionate, who has been tempted as we are, and so on.

This confession of faith is so resisted by the flesh, the world and hell, that unless we have this double help from above, from the word of God and from our great High Priest, we cannot abide in this faith. This third "let us hold fast" is the definitive one. It is because it is anchored in the heavens themselves. It is the perfect rest of God for his children.

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