Father, it is Done
I Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Sometimes a verse brings out the scripture journalist in me. In this one, these elements jump out at me. Who: Jesus, Himself (cf. verse 21)
What: bore our sins in his own body
Where: on the cross
Why: so that we could live in a state of righteousness in the sight of a holy God
How: by identifying, through faith in Jesus, with all the punishment that was laid on him
Our culture, and cultures the world over, consider a proper upbringing to include the good work ethic. Every worldly system offers some benefit in exchange for labor. In general, we respect the man who has worked for his success.
In the spiritual life, which is the eternal life, our challenge as believers is to unlearn the performance-and-merit-based work ethic, when it comes to peace with God through Christ, since God has already done the work of redemption, and it was all done, by Him alone.
Hebrews 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
This verse, for exact understanding, needs all the pronouns clarified. For [the believer] that is entered into [Christ's] rest, [that believer] has also ceased from hiw own works, as God did from [His own].
Yes, there is daily work to be done. We have the daily tasks of sustaining ourselves and our families. And yet, the spiritual rest that Jesus has gained for us, needs to be absorbed into our temporal sphere, too. If, as we press on about the business of living, we can be observed to do all with a true spirit of cheer and contentment, then our faith becomes a living gospel tract.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
"Any man" is the believer from the Hebrews verse, who has entered into the phase of rest and can appreciate these aspects of God's salvation: the old things which are passed away include the identity as a lost sinner, the obligation to follow Mosaic law for righteousness, and the wages of sin, which is eternal death. All of those "old things" comprised the condemnation for sin, which the believer escapes through acceptance of Christ. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1 Part of walking after the Spirit (according to the Holy Spirit) is maintaining a posture of gratitude and rest.
Trusting and Relying - Depending on God
Hebrews 4:11 Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
The fourth chapter of Hebrews opens on the theme of rejecting God's rest, as the Israelites did in the wilderness, where God kept them in plenty most miraculously. Manna fell from the sky, water sprang from the rock, clothing and shoe leather stayed strong and whole...and still they fretted, worried, and rebelled. The children of Israel maintained an attitude of unrest.
Unrest in response to God's mercy and provision, is unbelief.
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