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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Rest of God
For if Jesus [Joshua] had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (Hebrews 4:8,9)
The Book of Hebrews refers to the land of promise as the "rest" of God, as the goal of the Christian salvation.
There are three major works of grace in the Christian salvation. They are typified by many things and events found in the Scriptures. The three main episodes of the pilgrimage of the nation of Israel from Egypt to Canaan are a type of the three works of grace of the Christian salvation.
The exodus from Egypt (typifies our initial salvation from the world).
The giving of the Law on Mount Sinai (typifies our sanctification—the work of the Holy Spirit in our life).
The entrance into Canaan (typifies our oneness with God through Christ and the resulting redemption of the material creation).
Christian teaching stresses salvation from the world, and in some instances has extended salvation to include a deeper work of holiness in our life. But the types and principles of the Scriptures reveal clearly there are not two but three works of grace: salvation, sanctification, and oneness with God through Christ (the fullness of God—Ephesians 3:19).
None of these three aspects is a vaguely defined, general quest for God, although all three are part of the one "salvation." There is a "mark" toward which we are to be pressing. That mark is the "rest of God."
The first aspect of salvation is that of death to the world and acceptance to God through Christ. By faith we sprinkle the Passover blood on ourselves. By faith we come out of the world, we repent (turn around and behave in a godly manner). By faith we cross the Red Sea (are baptized in water).
We are born from above—Christ is formed in us. We commence our journey through the "wilderness" of tribulations and joys that attend our entrance into the Kingdom of God. This is what it means to be "saved."
The second aspect of salvation is death to sin (sanctification) and freedom to live in the Spirit. God gives His Spirit to the person who receives Christ and is baptized in water. The Spirit begins to deal with the sins we are committing as Christians: the lusting, lying, occult practices, violence, hatred, strife, jealousy, envy, stealing, covetousness, drunkenness and so forth. The Spirit brings our sins to our attention over a period of time. As the Spirit shows us our sins He also gives us the desire and strength to turn away from them. This is "Mount Sinai"—the giving to us of the Law of God.
Complete sanctification requires a period of time for its accomplishment. But while we are following the Spirit in putting to death the sins of our flesh, the blood of Christ is covering the part of our personality that has not as yet been examined. Sanctification is instantaneous in that we are covered by the blood at once, and progressive in that the Spirit is leading us continually in putting to death the sins of our flesh (Romans 8:13).
To be continued.