4:1-3 What does this warning to New Testament Christians refer to?
4:1-3 What does this warning to New Testament Christians refer to?
The writer is warning New Testament Christians here to beware lest they fail to enter into eternal life with Jesus, as the Israelites failed to enter into the promised land of Canaan - God's rest in the Old Testament because they ceased to persevere in faith and obedience to God.
Only those who hear the gospel message and act on it can enter into the rest - eternal life - that God has provided in Christ (CP Psa 78:40-42, 56-58; 95:7-11; Ro 11:17-24; 1 Cor 15:2; He 3:6-19; 12:15).
In light of the terrible fate awaiting those who fail to enter into the eternal state, believers must earnestly strive to enter in (CP Mt 7:13-14, 21-27; Lu 13:24; Eph 2:12; 3:13-14). He 4:9-10 teaches that entering into the eternal state means ceasing from the labours, sufferings and persecutions in this life, and participating in God's own rest - the Sabbath (CP V 9-10 and Rev 14:13 with Gen 2:1-2 and Ex 20:8-11).
The Sabbath was an Old Testament shadow or type, of which Christ is the New Testament fulfilment (CP Col 2:16-17). The Sabbath was instituted by God for the Israelites as a memorial of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt under Pharaoh. It was a day of rest; a cessation from labour (CP De 5:12-15).
In the New Testament, according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible, Sabbath means "the repose of christianity (as a type of heaven):- rest". It is fulfilled for New Testament Christians by faith in Christ (CP He 12:22-24). Christ gives rest to all who come to Him. (CP Mt 11:28-30).