Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made earth and heaven. (Genesis 2:1-4)
There’s not much to say about the seventh day. The purpose for the creation was to provide His Son with a bride –one who would love Him for who He was and what He did. There was nothing that she could do to make herself attractive –or earn her way into His heart. He finished doing everything needed for our salvation and there’s nothing we can do to add to it!
What in this whole analogy indicated that man could do anything to earn favor with God? Nothing! God did it all. He provided everything before He ever put us here: A plan for redemption; provisions to live on during our short lives here; and the ability to live an abundant life above all of our circumstances.
For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; (Hebrews 4:3-4)
There is but one thing left for each person to do. It’s to merely accept God’s gift of His Son. It’s a “limited time offer.” There will be a time when we will not be able to do that any more –death happens for most at a very inopportune time. His message is basically: Don’t blow your chance to live eternally with Me!
And again in this passage, “They shall not enter My rest.” Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. (Hebrews 4:5-8)
Rest is not only for the lost; it’s also for the Christian. The way to please God is to quit striving to live the good Christian life. It can’t be done. The only thing He asks is for us to trust wholly in Jesus. When we learn how trustworthy He is, then we can begin to love Him in response rather than duty.
So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:9-12)
To further understand the role of a Christian please read through the studies dealing with Law and Grace and Die to the Law. With a firm grasp on that subject living a Godly life becomes easy because it’s His yoke we pull and His burden we carry –with Him at our side doing all of the work.
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:13-16)
And with Him leading us every step –knowing full well that there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus– we can run to the Father in confidence. We are clothed in His Son and because of that He is also well pleased with us.