(Second part)
Memory verse: (Hebrews 4:2-3) “ For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “ So I swore in My wrath, ‘ They shall not enter My rest ’ although the works were finished from the foundation of the world ”
The gospel must be mixed with faith to produce results. The scripture is showing us that the gospel was preached to the house of Israel by Moses. God’s purposes and plans to bless us, to do us good were finished from the foundations of the earth, but we don’t see these blessings, joy, peace, success, victory etc not because we don’t hear them or read them but just because of lack of faith to believe what God’s word says. The old covenant had so many good promises, (Deut 28:1-14), the blessings of their father Abraham etc. God sent Moses many times to present to the house of Israel these wonderful promises of good things. But they did not believe them, instead they kept complaining about the things they lacked and lusted after many things and missed out on what God had prepared for them. They missed to enter the rest of God; they kept on struggling and toiling yet God’s plan for their blessing was complete.
So is with us, the redemption plan of God is complete, the covenant of God is already cut through the death of His son, Jesus Christ, the covenant has better promises. This new and everlasting covenant contains everything God could ever do for the redeemed and restored man, it contains everything we need for life and godliness (2Pet 1:3-6), eternal life, peace, forgiveness, joy, restoration, justification, sanctification, healing, deliverance (Col 1:13), the blessings of Abraham, the glory of God (Rom8:29-30), the Holy Spirit (Gal 3:13-14), doing the works of Christ (Jn14:12) etc, i.e. the list is endless. When Jesus was dying on the cross, he cried out, ‘IT IS FINISHED’. The heir does not enter into his inheritance until the father dies. When Jesus died, it was the time for us to enter into the fulfillment of the new covenant. There is no work we are to do except believing the work Jesus accomplished through his death on the cross and what he is doing as Lord at the right hand of the Father.
We will continue this subject tomorrow.
