1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Howdy and good morning friends and faithful listeners, 2 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 1: and welcome to the Bible Explained Podcast on this lovely 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 1: Tuesday morning. Since it's Tuesday, we are in the Book 4 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: of Hebrews. As you guys know, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 1: I do a New Testament episode, and on Mondays and Wednesdays, 6 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: I do an Old Testament episode, and then on Fridays, 7 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: of course, that is for the members and we are 8 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 1: going through the Book of Psalms over on the Bible 9 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: Explained on Fridays. But I do have an exciting announcement 10 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: for you guys speaking of the Friday podcast. This Friday, 11 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 1: because it is good Friday, I will be putting out 12 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: an episode for you guys. So I'm looking forward to 13 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 1: that and I hope you all are as well. Before 14 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: we begin today's episode from Hebrews chapter four, here's a 15 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: quick ad break from the first sponsor. Okay, let's turn 16 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: to Hebrews four and read verses one through seven. We 17 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: read this already a couple days ago on Thursday, but 18 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: on Thursday it did something very different where I actually 19 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: talked about a completely different portion of scripture the entire time, 20 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 1: rather than our reading for the day, and that is 21 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 1: not something I usually do. So today we're going to 22 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: go back to Hebrews four and read verses one through 23 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: seven and talk about the entire thing once again. However, 24 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 1: if you didn't get a chance to listen to Thursday's episode, 25 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 1: even though it was different, I highly recommend that you 26 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: all do, because it is a good episode that all 27 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: of us, I think really should understand. It's how to 28 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,560 Speaker 1: be assured of your salvation, how to understand that you 29 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:33,679 Speaker 1: truly have faith in Jesus, because this is something that 30 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: a lot of Christians do struggle with. They think, maybe 31 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: God doesn't love me, maybe I don't truly have faith 32 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: like I think I do. So we'll hopefully ease some 33 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: of the questions you've been having. Or for those of 34 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 1: you who do dip your toes into Christianity but never 35 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: took that step into faith, maybe it will actually help 36 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 1: you take that step into a true faith in Jesus. 37 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: So I do recommend going back and listening to that episode. 38 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: But for today, let's go ahead and read Hebrews four 39 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 1: one through seven. As always, I'll be reading from the web. 40 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 1: Grab your favorite cup of coffee or a cup of tea, 41 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: this morning, and actually I am drinking tea this morning. 42 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 1: For the first time in months, I am drinking a 43 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: hibiscus tea. It is one of the few teas that 44 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: I actually do enjoy and can tolerate. Now I'm teasing you, guys, 45 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: I actually do like tea from time to time. It's 46 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,079 Speaker 1: a good nighttime drink if you want something warm or 47 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 1: when you're cold. I do enjoy a good cup of 48 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: tea from time to time. But I am definitely not 49 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: a crazy tea drinker. I will never claim that title. 50 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: You guys are the crazy tea drinkers. I am a 51 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,640 Speaker 1: crazy coffee drinker. All righty, grab whatever hot beverage you want. 52 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:39,959 Speaker 1: Let's read a Hebrews four one through seven. Let's fear therefore, 53 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 1: lest perhaps any one of you should have seemed to 54 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:44,360 Speaker 1: come short of a promise of entering into his rest. 55 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 1: For indeed, we have had good news preach to us, 56 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: even as they also did. But the word they heard 57 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 1: didn't profit them, because it wasn't mixed with faith by 58 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:55,679 Speaker 1: those who heard. For we who have believed, do enter 59 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:58,080 Speaker 1: into that rest, even as He has said, as I 60 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: swore in my wrath, they will not enter into me rest, 61 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,359 Speaker 1: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 62 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 1: For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day. 63 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 1: God rested on the seventh day from all of his works. 64 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: And in this place again they will not enter into 65 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: my rest. Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter 66 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: into it, and they to whom the good news was 67 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 1: preached before, failed to enter in because of disobedience. He 68 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 1: again defines a certain day today, saying through David, so 69 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: long as time afterward, just as has been said today, 70 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 1: if you will hear his voice, don't harden your hearts. 71 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: On Thursday, we discussed only the first two verses of 72 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: this passage, and those two verses say, let's fear therefore, 73 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: lest perhaps any one of you should seem to have 74 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: come short of a promise of entering into his rest. 75 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 1: For indeed, we have had good news preach to us, 76 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: even as they also did, but the word they heard 77 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 1: didn't profit them because it wasn't mixed with faith by 78 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: those who heard. Now, a lot of people have this 79 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 1: misconception that the Book of Hebrews teaches them that a 80 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 1: person can lose their salvation. But I argued that Jesus' 81 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: is salvation is powerful, because Jesus is powerful. So the 82 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 1: salvation that he gives us is not something that we 83 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: can lose. Once we have it. We have it, and 84 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: that's what Jesus said. Actually, I believe in John chapter 85 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 1: ten was the verse that I mentioned where Jesus says 86 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 1: he knows his sheep. The sheep follow him, and nobody 87 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:24,480 Speaker 1: can take the sheep out of his hand. And if 88 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 1: we have salvation, we are the sheep. But what Hebrews 89 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 1: is talking about is not necessarily the loss of salvation, 90 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 1: but the fence sitting Christians, potentially the lukewarm Christians, the 91 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 1: people who just kind of dip their toes into Christianity 92 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: without taking the full dive. And how they do that 93 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: is they attend church, they listen to the sermons, they 94 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 1: might even do ministry in the name of Jesus, but 95 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 1: they don't actually have the faith of Jesus truly in 96 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 1: their heart. It says in Romans chapter ten, verse nine, 97 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, 98 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 1: and believe in your heart that God raised him from 99 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 1: the dead, you will be saved. It also says in 100 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: Ephesians two eight and nine. For by grace you've been 101 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: saved through faith, and this is not of your own doing. 102 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:12,600 Speaker 1: It is the gift of God, not a result of works, 103 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:15,039 Speaker 1: so that no one may boast. So faith is not 104 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 1: a work, but it is something that we have to 105 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: have in order to take hold of that free gift 106 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: of salvation. Hebrews eleven, verse six says, without faith, it 107 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 1: is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to 108 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,920 Speaker 1: him must believe that He exists and that he rewards 109 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:34,280 Speaker 1: those who earnestly seek him. So there you go. Faith 110 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:36,840 Speaker 1: is necessary in order to please God and in order 111 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 1: to have salvation. So who Hebrews is talking about here 112 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: is the people who say that they're Christians. Might actually 113 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:47,719 Speaker 1: believe that God exists, but they don't have the true 114 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 1: faith in their heart. That's why the author of Hebrews 115 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 1: four says, let's fear therefore, lest perhaps any one of 116 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 1: you should seem to have come short of a promise 117 00:05:56,480 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 1: of entering into his rest. For indeed, we have had 118 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:02,599 Speaker 1: good news preached to us, even as they also did, 119 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: meaning the Israelites back in the wilderness. But the word 120 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 1: they heard didn't profit them because it wasn't mixed with 121 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:12,159 Speaker 1: faith by those who heard. So like I said on Thursday. 122 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:14,359 Speaker 1: The people in the wilderness, you know, they knew God existed. 123 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 1: They could see him right in front of their eyes, 124 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 1: you know. I mean I just talked about a verse. 125 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 1: Was it yesterday? I think it was how God actually 126 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:26,040 Speaker 1: spoke to them from Mount Horeb. They all heard God's voice, 127 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:29,919 Speaker 1: they knew God existed, but they didn't have faith in God. 128 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:33,240 Speaker 1: So the thing that I really hit home on Thursday was, 129 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:35,719 Speaker 1: how do you know if you have that true faith, 130 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,280 Speaker 1: how can you be assured of your salvation? And that's 131 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 1: where I directed everybody to the Book of First John, 132 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,840 Speaker 1: because that is exactly what the entire Book of First 133 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: John talks about, how you can be assured of your salvation. 134 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 1: But let's continue on. In Hebrews four, verse three, it says, 135 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 1: for we who have believed, do enter into that rest, 136 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:59,279 Speaker 1: even as he has said, as I swore in my wrath, 137 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,719 Speaker 1: they will not enter into my rest, although the works 138 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 1: were finished from the foundation of the world. So that's 139 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:08,919 Speaker 1: kind of a confusing verse because it talks about three 140 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 1: different ideas in one verse. The first thing is that yes, 141 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 1: we who have believed, do in fact enter into that rest. Secondly, 142 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: as I swore in my wrath, they will not enter 143 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: into my rest. And that's the verse that the author 144 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: keeps repeating here. And I believe that verse is from Psalm. 145 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 1: Was it Psalm eighty five? I think it was. Nope, 146 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 1: I just looked it up a Psalm ninety five, verse eleven. 147 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: So if you go to Psalm ninety five, it talks 148 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: about the rebellion of the people in the wilderness, and 149 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 1: it says in verse ten, for forty long years, I 150 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 1: was grieved with that generation and said, they are people 151 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 1: who aer in their heart. They have not known my 152 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 1: ways verse eleven. Therefore I swore in my wrath they 153 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 1: won't enter into my rest. And that is the verse 154 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: that the author of Hebrews is quoting here. And the 155 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 1: reason he quotes it is because certain people, even if 156 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 1: they claim to be God's people, are not going to 157 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: enter into that rest. And then in the same verse 158 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 1: he alludes to what this rest actually is. He says, 159 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: although the works were finished from the foundation of the 160 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 1: world verse four. For he has said this somewhere about 161 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 1: the seventh day. God rested on the seventh day from 162 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: all his works. And in this place again, they will 163 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 1: not enter into my rest. Now I'm not gonna lie. 164 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 1: When I first read this, I was extremely confused because 165 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 1: I'm like, what does God resting on the seventh day 166 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 1: have to do with his rest now? And I'm not 167 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:35,559 Speaker 1: gonna lie. I didn't get a lot of good answers 168 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 1: about this until I talk to my mom. My mom 169 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:42,679 Speaker 1: is really good at like breaking things down, so I 170 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 1: understand them really well. I don't know. She's a teacher. 171 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 1: She was my teacher growing up, I was homeschold, and 172 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 1: she's just really good at what she does. So she 173 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 1: brought it to my attention that this rest that God 174 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 1: is talking about is both an earthly rest and also 175 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 1: a heavenly rest. Let's talk about the earthly rest first 176 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 1: by going to Genesis chapter two one through three, where 177 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 1: God institutes the first rest. It says in verse one, 178 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:13,199 Speaker 1: the heavens, the earth, and all their vast array were 179 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: finished on the seventh day. God finished his work which 180 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:18,319 Speaker 1: he had done, and he rested on the seventh day 181 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 1: from all his work which he had done. God blessed 182 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 1: the seventh day, and he made it holy because he 183 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 1: rested in it from all his work of creation which 184 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: he had done. So that is talking about how God 185 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: made everything in the first six days, and then on 186 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 1: the seventh day, he rested from creating, and he blessed 187 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 1: that day and made it holy because he rested on it. Now, 188 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 1: let's not to say that God needs to rest, but 189 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 1: the reason he instituted a day of rest was actually 190 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 1: for humanity. Humans need that day of rest. And that's 191 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 1: actually what Jesus told the Pharisees when they were getting 192 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:57,320 Speaker 1: really mad at Jesus for performing miracles on the Sabbath day. 193 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 1: Jesus said, Sabbath was made for man, not man for 194 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 1: the Sabbath, because you know, the Pharisees believed that the 195 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: Sabbath day, because it was holy, you couldn't do anything fun, 196 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 1: you couldn't do good deeds, you couldn't do anything really, 197 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: you can only take a certain amount of steps. They 198 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 1: are making it ridiculous and completely unenjoyable. But the fact 199 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 1: is that the Sabbath day of rest is supposed to 200 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:24,679 Speaker 1: be an enjoyable experience for humans. The Sabbath day was 201 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:29,359 Speaker 1: made for humans, is what Jesus tells us. But unfortunately 202 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 1: humans have this need to complicate everything. So they see 203 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:38,679 Speaker 1: that God made a holy day and then they institute 204 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 1: all these rules of how to make yourself holier than 205 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 1: what God actually ordained. And that's where we get all 206 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:49,199 Speaker 1: this legalism coming in. You know, all these extra rules 207 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:51,719 Speaker 1: about how you can become holy. So you can't do 208 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 1: certain things on the Sabbath Day. You can only sit 209 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 1: in misery and reflect on yourself and maybe pray, maybe 210 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: take a nap. That's about it. In fact, I had 211 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: a family that went to the church that I grew 212 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 1: up in, and I remember them telling me that on 213 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: the Sabbath Day, or on Sunday, which is when they 214 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 1: celebrated it, they would only take naps. That was the 215 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 1: only thing they were allowed to do on the Sabbath day. 216 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 1: And I remember thinking how miserable that sounded, because as 217 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 1: a kid, I hated naps. I hated them. I didn't 218 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 1: want anything to do with them. I wanted to go 219 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 1: out and play. I was a very active kid, and 220 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 1: to this day, I really don't nap very much. I 221 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: am not a napper. So sitting there napping all day 222 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: just sounds like an absolute drudgery of a task. And 223 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 1: yet that's the kind of legalism that people bring into 224 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:42,559 Speaker 1: the Sabbath day. So if we go back to Hebrew's 225 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: Chapter four, Our Passage for Today. I believe that's kind 226 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 1: of what the author is getting at here. It's these 227 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 1: people that aren't entering into God's rest because they don't 228 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:57,959 Speaker 1: have the faith associated with what actually makes the Sabbath 229 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 1: day holy. Instead, they have all of the tradition and 230 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 1: all of the legalism, the stuff that isn't actually making 231 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:08,080 Speaker 1: them any holier, even though they feel like they are 232 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:11,080 Speaker 1: being holy. So they're missing out on the day of 233 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 1: rest and what it could really mean for them, the 234 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: piece it could give them. Because of all of this 235 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:20,079 Speaker 1: legalism that they are bringing in, they're missing out completely. 236 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 1: So these would be the kind of people that are 237 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:26,440 Speaker 1: going to church only for feeling like they're getting closer 238 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:29,199 Speaker 1: to God, feeling like they checked off a box, like 239 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 1: a holiness box, or feeling like their works are actually 240 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 1: what's going to save them. Those are the people that 241 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: bring all of this legalism into the Sabbath day. And 242 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:43,520 Speaker 1: now the Sabbath Day, don't forget was very important to 243 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 1: the Hebrews, which is who the author is writing to here. 244 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 1: He was writing to the Christian Hebrews broadly. Obviously, you 245 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: know the Bibles for everybody, but he was writing specifically 246 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 1: this letter to the Hebrew Christians who had a lot 247 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 1: of that legalism associated with it. And I think what 248 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 1: the author is trying to do here is explain that 249 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 1: people are missing the mark of entering into this Sabbath 250 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 1: day rest because they don't have faith mixed in. They're 251 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: making Sabbath into a chore, into a drudgery. So what 252 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 1: is Sabbath actually supposed to do? How does it look 253 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: when you actually mix faith into the Sabbath Day. Well, 254 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 1: there's somebody that I'm very close to who actually does 255 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 1: celebrate the Sabbath day, and that is my mom. She 256 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 1: celebrates the Sabbath every single Saturday. And this is why 257 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 1: I got a lot of clarity from talking to her, 258 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 1: because she's been doing this for years now, and she 259 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 1: told me, she's like, when I first started, I had 260 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:41,199 Speaker 1: some of that legalism associated with the Sabbath day where 261 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: I was like, I can't do this thing and I 262 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 1: have to be home at a certain time, and she's like, 263 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 1: and I was making the Sabbath day miserable because it 264 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: was all rule based, and my Mom's like, and I 265 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 1: learned from that, and now I celebrate the Sabbath day 266 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:57,080 Speaker 1: and I actually have fun. In fact, my mom and 267 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 1: I on Saturday this past Saturday, we actually went to 268 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: this like art fair thing and we walked around and 269 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:06,320 Speaker 1: we had a ton of fun. And that was my 270 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:10,640 Speaker 1: mom's Sabbath Day. The Sabbath day is not about rules. 271 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:14,839 Speaker 1: It is about getting closer to God and having fellowship 272 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 1: with other people and helping other people. That is what 273 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 1: the Sabbath day is actually about. Taking an opportunity to 274 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 1: ignore the things of this world, the cares of this world, 275 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 1: whether it's your job or the chores that you have 276 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 1: to do or anything else like that, ignoring the unpleasant, 277 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 1: miserable parts of this world, and taking time to just 278 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 1: rest and relax in God's presence and in fellowship with 279 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 1: other believers. So when my mom put it to me 280 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 1: in that perspective, because I am not somebody, I'm gonna 281 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 1: admit this right now, I don't celebrate the Sabbath day. 282 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 1: I do take days off, but I don't on a 283 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: weekly basis celebrate a Sabbath. I don't take time for that. 284 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 1: So quite honestly, I didn't unders stand a lot about it. 285 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 1: So taking some time to just relax, putting the cares 286 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,040 Speaker 1: of this world on a hold for a little bit 287 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: where you can actually enjoy time with God. That honestly 288 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 1: does sound very RESTful to me. And so the author 289 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 1: is warning these Christians that they're not fully entering into 290 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: rest the way that they could be, because they're just 291 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 1: dipping their toes in. They don't have faith associated with 292 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,880 Speaker 1: the Sabbath day. They think that it's workspaced. They think 293 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 1: if they do something good, it's going to get them 294 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 1: closer to God, not understanding that the Sabbath Day in 295 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:43,800 Speaker 1: and of itself is a day of rest and relaxation, 296 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 1: getting closer to God by having dedicated time of fellowship 297 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: with him. That is what the Sabbath day is about. 298 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 1: It's about faith. It was made for us. We were 299 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 1: not made for the Sabbath day, it says in verse six. 300 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 1: Here therefore it remains that some should enter into it, 301 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 1: and they to whom the good news was preached before, 302 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 1: failed to enter in because of disobedience. He again defines 303 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 1: a certain day today, saying through David, so long a 304 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 1: time afterward, just as has been said today, if you 305 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: will hear his voice, don't harden your hearts. The author says, 306 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 1: you can start having this true Sabbath rest today, instead 307 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 1: of making it miserable, instead of making it a chore 308 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 1: for yourself or just another to do box on your list, 309 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 1: You can start making the Sabbath day a genuinely RESTful 310 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: time in your life. You can start doing this today. 311 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: He says, this is an urgent thing that the author 312 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 1: is bringing forth, saying, unfortunately too many people that go 313 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 1: to church are not actually celebrating the Sabbath Day the 314 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:55,479 Speaker 1: correct way. But it goes far further than just the 315 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: temporal Sabbath day then you and I would choose to celebrate. 316 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 1: It goes way further than that, because entering into God's 317 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:06,600 Speaker 1: rest is actually a picture of entering into Heaven itself. 318 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 1: We know that that is when we finally truly have rest, 319 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:15,399 Speaker 1: We have rest from everything we did here on the earth. 320 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 1: That is why at funerals when somebody dies they often 321 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 1: say rest in peace. It's an idea that when you die, 322 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 1: you enter into rest if you are saved. So that's 323 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:29,640 Speaker 1: the second thing that this rest is signifying. There are 324 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 1: some people who claim to be Christians that are not 325 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:36,679 Speaker 1: going to go to Heaven, and honestly, that should make 326 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 1: us afraid. That should make us analyze, do we truly 327 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:43,360 Speaker 1: have faith in Jesus. Do we truly believe in the Bible? 328 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:46,040 Speaker 1: Because we don't want to miss out on that rest 329 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 1: talked about in Hebrews chapter four. And honestly, that is 330 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:52,919 Speaker 1: what everybody is looking for, aren't we, like true deep peace, 331 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 1: relaxation and rest. Can you imagine if you eternally missed 332 00:17:57,040 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: out on that gift. And that's why the author of 333 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 1: Hebrews is warning us so harshly. He says, do this today, 334 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:07,080 Speaker 1: Do not wait until tomorrow. Do this today, meaning you 335 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 1: can start having faith rite at this very minute. In fact, 336 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 1: Jesus gives up parable about this very thing in Matthew 337 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 1: twenty five thirteen through thirty from the Web version. Jesus says, 338 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: watch therefore, for you don't know the day nor the 339 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:24,439 Speaker 1: hour in which the Son of Man is coming. For 340 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:27,040 Speaker 1: it is like a man going into another country, who 341 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: called his servants and entrusted his goods to them. To one, 342 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: he gave five talents to another, two to another, one 343 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:37,360 Speaker 1: to each according to his own ability. Then he went 344 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 1: on his journey. Immediately, he who received the five talents 345 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 1: went and traded with them and made another five talents. 346 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:46,680 Speaker 1: In the same way, he who also got the two 347 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:49,919 Speaker 1: gained another two. But he who received the one talent 348 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:51,879 Speaker 1: went away and dug in the earth and hid his 349 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 1: lord's money. Now, after a long time, the lord of 350 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:57,920 Speaker 1: those servants came. He who received the five talents came 351 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:00,919 Speaker 1: and brought another five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered me 352 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 1: five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents in 353 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 1: addition to them. His lord said to him, well done, 354 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 1: good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a 355 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 1: few things. I will set you over many things. Enter 356 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 1: into the joy of your lord. He who also got 357 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:19,119 Speaker 1: the two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered to 358 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 1: me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents 359 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 1: in addition to them. His Lord said to him, well done, 360 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 1: good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a 361 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 1: few things. I will set you over many things. Enter 362 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 1: into the joy of your lord. He also, who had 363 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:37,480 Speaker 1: received the one talent, came and said, Lord, I knew 364 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:40,160 Speaker 1: that you were a hard man, reaping where you didn't sow, 365 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:43,199 Speaker 1: and gathering where you didn't scatter. I was afraid and 366 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:46,200 Speaker 1: went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, 367 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,120 Speaker 1: you have what is yours. But his Lord answered him, 368 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:52,360 Speaker 1: You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap 369 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:54,439 Speaker 1: where I didn't sow, and gather where I didn't scatter. 370 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: You ought, therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, 371 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:00,399 Speaker 1: and at my coming I should have received bad my 372 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:03,719 Speaker 1: own with interest. Take away therefore the talent from him 373 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:05,639 Speaker 1: and give it to him who has the ten talents. 374 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 1: For to everyone who has will be given, and he 375 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: will have abundance. But from him who doesn't have, even 376 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: that which he does have will be taken away. Throw 377 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 1: out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where their 378 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 1: will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. So you can 379 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:25,960 Speaker 1: see in that story that unfaithful servant knew that God existed, 380 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:29,200 Speaker 1: He was the servant of God. Even he did things 381 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:32,399 Speaker 1: for God, but he did not have a true faith 382 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:35,520 Speaker 1: in God. Maybe didn't believe that God would ever return. 383 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 1: Maybe thinking, oh, I have plenty of time. I'm not 384 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:40,680 Speaker 1: going to worry about this. I am going to just 385 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: enjoy my life and bury the things that God gave 386 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 1: me and the opportunities that he gave me, and just 387 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:49,520 Speaker 1: do whatever I want to do. And then God indeed 388 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 1: did return, and that servant had nothing to offer him, 389 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:57,400 Speaker 1: and God threw that servant, it says, into the outer darkness, 390 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 1: where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth. Now here's 391 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 1: a caveat about the outer darkness. And I don't know 392 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:05,360 Speaker 1: if this is the truth or not, and I'm going 393 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:09,120 Speaker 1: to tread very lightly on this topic. I don't know 394 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:12,880 Speaker 1: if the outer darkness is the same thing as Hell. 395 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:15,679 Speaker 1: I have not done any research on this, so I 396 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 1: don't want to specifically say that it is different than Hell, 397 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:22,600 Speaker 1: because I might be wrong. However, when I say that, 398 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,120 Speaker 1: it does not seem like the outer darkness is going 399 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:29,359 Speaker 1: to be any better than Hell, because it is separation 400 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:32,959 Speaker 1: from God. Jesus said, there's going to be weeping and 401 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:37,040 Speaker 1: gnashing of teeth in this outer darkness. That doesn't sound good. 402 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 1: That sounds like pain and anxiety and misery and sickness 403 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 1: and all the other awful things that we experience here 404 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: on earth. So we don't want to be in that 405 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:51,399 Speaker 1: outer darkness, whatever it is. We don't want to be 406 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 1: those fence sitting Christians that refuse to have true faith 407 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 1: in Jesus. We don't want that. We want to be 408 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:02,399 Speaker 1: able to enter into his rest as what Jesus called it, 409 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 1: actually in the parable of the talents. He says, enter 410 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:08,240 Speaker 1: into my joy. So you have a choice. Are you 411 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: going to enter into Christ's joy or are you going 412 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:16,679 Speaker 1: to enter into misery? That is the two choices that 413 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 1: you have. Going back to Hebrews four six and seven, 414 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:23,600 Speaker 1: it says, seeing therefore it remains that some should enter 415 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:25,679 Speaker 1: into it, and they to whom the good news was 416 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 1: preached before, failed to enter in because of disobedience. He 417 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:34,720 Speaker 1: again defines a certain day today, saying through David, so 418 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:38,399 Speaker 1: long a time afterward today, if you will hear his voice, 419 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 1: don't harden your hearts. So don't harden your hearts any longer. 420 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:45,919 Speaker 1: Those of you who are going to church, those of 421 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 1: you who are listening to this podcast, you might be 422 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:52,880 Speaker 1: missing out on the rest that Jesus offers you because 423 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:55,320 Speaker 1: of your lack of faith. There is no work that 424 00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:59,119 Speaker 1: you can do to let you gain salvation, nothing, not 425 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:02,160 Speaker 1: a single word, no matter how good it is, no 426 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 1: matter how much money you donate, no matter what you do, 427 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:07,239 Speaker 1: there is not a single work that will get you 428 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 1: into heaven. The only thing that will get you into 429 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:15,640 Speaker 1: heaven is Jesus's sacrifice, and that takes faith knowing that 430 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:19,239 Speaker 1: you are not holy enough to get into heaven, but 431 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:22,160 Speaker 1: that there is somebody holy enough to get you into heaven. 432 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:25,479 Speaker 1: You have to have faith in that that your works 433 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:27,680 Speaker 1: aren't going to save you. They're not going to give 434 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:31,359 Speaker 1: you the true rest and relaxation you need. The only 435 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 1: thing that can is trusting in Jesus. Having faith in Jesus, 436 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 1: knowing that he is the one who actually makes you 437 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:43,200 Speaker 1: holy and righteous and gives you a true rest, whether 438 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 1: it's rest on the Sabbath day or the eternal rest 439 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:50,240 Speaker 1: that we are all looking for. Well, faithful listeners, I 440 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:52,439 Speaker 1: have a couple last words I'd like to say to 441 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:55,120 Speaker 1: you guys, But before I do and close out this episode, 442 00:23:55,400 --> 00:24:00,480 Speaker 1: here is our last sponsor for today. One thing that 443 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:04,440 Speaker 1: I should mention with all of this is just because 444 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:09,359 Speaker 1: scripture says that good works don't save you, it doesn't 445 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 1: mean that good works shouldn't be done. I think a 446 00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:15,920 Speaker 1: lot of people misunderstand that it's like, oh, because good 447 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 1: works don't save me, I shouldn't do any good works. 448 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:21,640 Speaker 1: But in the Book of James it says I will 449 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:24,360 Speaker 1: show you my faith through my works and you might 450 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:26,480 Speaker 1: be like super confused at this point because it's like, well, 451 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:29,080 Speaker 1: do I do works or don't I do works? Well, Yes, 452 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:32,360 Speaker 1: obviously good works are good because you are helping somebody else, 453 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:34,439 Speaker 1: and that is what Jesus tells us to do. I mean, 454 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 1: if you look at Jesus's life, he did good works 455 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 1: all of the time, and we are supposed to imitate Jesus. 456 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:43,760 Speaker 1: But what actually matters is the heart behind your good works. 457 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:46,800 Speaker 1: If you are only doing them because you think that 458 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:49,119 Speaker 1: is what's going to get you to heaven, that is 459 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:52,159 Speaker 1: not the right motivation. If you are doing them because 460 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:54,919 Speaker 1: they make you feel good about yourself, you are not 461 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:58,399 Speaker 1: doing them for the right motivation. Good works should be 462 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:02,920 Speaker 1: done to benefit an edify other people so that they 463 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:05,639 Speaker 1: can actually know who Jesus is. We are supposed to 464 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 1: shine our lights as Christians, and one of the ways 465 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:11,120 Speaker 1: we do that is by doing good works. But those 466 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:16,200 Speaker 1: good works should point to Jesus rather than ourselves, and 467 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 1: that's where it starts to matter. Good works are not 468 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:23,600 Speaker 1: for yourself, there for other people. If there's any selfish 469 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:27,359 Speaker 1: motivation with good works, you are not doing them for 470 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 1: the right reason. Works cannot save you, but in their 471 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:34,280 Speaker 1: own way, they are still important to do, all right, 472 00:25:34,280 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 1: Faith the listeners, I hope you enjoyed today's episode. I 473 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:39,120 Speaker 1: hope that last little bit didn't confuse you too much. 474 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 1: But if it did, I encourage you to read Hebrews 475 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:46,320 Speaker 1: for yourself and see how it ties in to other 476 00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 1: parts of scripture. And maybe that's why I like the 477 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 1: Book of Hebrews as much as I do, because it 478 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:55,919 Speaker 1: ties in so well to other parts of scripture. Because 479 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 1: the Bible as a whole is all interconnected. You can 480 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 1: just read one passage without reading other passages of scripture. 481 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 1: It all ties in hand in hand with each other. 482 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 1: And that's why in the Book of Hebrews I have 483 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 1: been jumping around a lot, far more than I've done 484 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 1: in other books of the Bible, because Hebrews ties everything together, 485 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:21,200 Speaker 1: and the entire Bible is the truth of God's Word. 486 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:23,400 Speaker 1: So if it looks like I'm jumping around a lot 487 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 1: in scripture is because it's all God's word. It's not 488 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:31,520 Speaker 1: just about individual verses or individual passages in and of themselves. 489 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:34,879 Speaker 1: You have to understand the context of scripture. I mean, 490 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:37,040 Speaker 1: even the Book of Hebrews does this. How often does 491 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:40,200 Speaker 1: the author reference verses from the Old Testament, like every 492 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:44,199 Speaker 1: few verses. He's doing this because the Bible ties itself together. 493 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:47,920 Speaker 1: So that's why I'm specifically focusing on that right now 494 00:26:47,960 --> 00:26:49,880 Speaker 1: in the Book of Hebrews. And I hope you guys 495 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 1: have been enjoying. It might be a little bit daunting 496 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:54,560 Speaker 1: for some of you that are newer to the scriptures, 497 00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:57,160 Speaker 1: but just keep going with it. I think it'll start 498 00:26:57,200 --> 00:27:00,679 Speaker 1: to make more sense as we continue along. Soe for listeners, 499 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:04,240 Speaker 1: have a fantastic and wonderful rest of your day. As always, 500 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:12,840 Speaker 1: happy listening and God bless. I just want to take 501 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:14,760 Speaker 1: a second to thank the team at Life Audio for 502 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:17,960 Speaker 1: their partnership with me on the Bible Explain podcast. In fact, 503 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 1: if you go to lifeaudio dot com you will find 504 00:27:20,119 --> 00:27:23,120 Speaker 1: dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've 505 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:26,480 Speaker 1: got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.