Peace, Grace and Mercy of the LORD Jesus Christ be toward:
@Phoneman777 @Brakelite @BarneyFife
i did not ignore your question but
was waiting for you to SEE what God said is His REST.
The Letter to the Hebrews,
at that time, was written for Jews who were still under the law
and for the Jews who were turning back to the law.
The Temple was still in operation and Jews were reluctant to believe on the LORD Jesus Christ because of the persecutions,
most of which were coming from the religious leaders in control of the Temple in Jerusalem.
They murdered Stephen = Acts chapter 7
This is whom chapter 4 addresses immediately:
Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.
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,’ ”
Notice the Comparison/Contrast of Truth = GOSPEL REST versus old covenant ritual/law apart from 'faith'
A crucial 'Life or Death' WARNING is given here to us!
We either, by faith, believe the Gospel and enter into GOD'S REST or we remain under the law and perish.
Furthermore, the Author of Hebrews specifically connects the Prophecy of God from Genesis 2:3 to the GOSPEL
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh
day in this way:
“And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”;
and again in this
place: “They shall not enter My rest.”
The only REST that remains for Jews & Gentiles is the GOSPEL = the 7th DAY of God's REST
Rejoice my Brothers, in the Grace offered to us, which is God's REST in CHRIST = TODAY, if you hear His Voice
Since therefore it remains that some
must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 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.”
For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.
There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.
For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God
did from His.