Throne of grace

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For indeed the good news came to us just as to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

‘As in my anger I swore,

“They shall not enter my rest” ’,

though his works were finished at the foundation of the world. For in one place it speaks about the seventh day as follows: ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.’ And again in this place it says, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’ Since therefore it remains open for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he sets a certain day—‘today’—saying through David much later, in the words already quoted,

‘Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts.’

For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later about another day. So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labours as God did from his. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.

Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

- Hebrews 4:1-16

What does it mean to enter into God's rest? I read that for this Greek word 'sabbatismos' or Sabbath rest, there were three types of rest understood in the Jewish faith: one is the Sabbath rest - the day on which God rested from His works; the second is the rest from Egyptian bondage, which the Israelites coming out of Egypt experienced in Canaan; the third is the rest in the Kingdom, the ultimate Sabbath rest found in heaven established by Messiah. But it seems that in this reference to rest in the epistle to the Hebrews, Paul is addressing Christians as those who are able to enter into rest now, 'today', through worship and faith.

And then there are these words, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account. Paul reminds us that we worship the living word. Our faith is in this living word that has knowledge of the deepest parts of ourselves, that searches us out - and that His truth is that which pierces everything. In other words, our deepest responses to this word are what is revealed and known in this kingdom. This is a kingdom of the depth of the heart, so faith plays a much greater role in this rest than in the past.

And further, we are told that this "piercing sword" sits upon the throne of grace. Although discernment is all and enters into our depths, we must remember also that our Messiah by whom we enter into this rest is known for grace and mercy. This discerner of all things has been tempted in the same ways we are, by all that we are. He has passed through our experiences and shared our lives - and even more importantly is there for us when we need help. This is the Christ who has passed through the test of all that the world can throw at him, and our rest is in him, his discernment and his grace and mercy.