HEBREWS 4 (NIV)
- Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.
- For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because thoe who heard did not combine it with faith.
- Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world.
- For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work."
- And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest."
- It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience.
- Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not hearden your hearts."
- For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.
- There remains, then, a Sabbthrest for the people of God;
- for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.
- Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
- For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
- Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bear before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
- Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
- For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin.
- Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
