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FROM: 9/1/02 Radio Program
Question:
You said there is a new covenant today, but this is not true. There is no new covenant today. Hebrews 4:9 speaks of rest, this is the Sabbath day rest.
Answer:
To answer the first part of your question, let's just read the words of Scripture. When the Hebrew writer quoted Jeremiah 31:31-34, he said: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: .... In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." (Heb. 8:8, 13). You tell me whether or not the Bible speaks of a "new" covenant, and an "old covenant." It seems pretty clear to me. Furthermore, this same book says, "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh" (Heb. 10:19-20). Here, we read of a "a new and living way," not the same old way! Yes, there is such a thing as a new covenant and an old covenant spokenof in the Bible.
In considering Hebrews 4:9, let us read the context, beginning in verse 9, and reading down through verse 12. "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Heb. 4:8-12).
Now, let's just say I don't know what this "rest" of Hebrews four is. (I believe I do) For argument's sake, let us say I don't know what this "rest" might be; and let us ask three pertinent questions in light of what we have read.
1) This passage says the rest remains "to the people of God." What about wicked people, those who do not belong to God? Is Saturday a part of their week, too? Does a wicked person's calendar only show 6 days in the week or seven days? Whatever this "rest" is, it belongs "to the people of God" and not to those who are not God's people.
2) After observing the Sabbath day, have you done any work since then? This passage said the one who entered into this rest "ceased from his own works as God did from his." Did God continue creating the world after the seventh day? No. Yet, people who observe the Sabbath will then labor 6 days out of the week! How can we explain that in light of Hebrews four, when that passage says the one who enters into that rest ceases from his work as God did?
3) The passage goes on to say that one must "labour therefore to enter into that rest." Since when did anyone have to "labor" to enter into Saturday? I imagine if one stayed in bed all week, Saturday would still roll around so long as this world stands. Whatever this rest is, we labor to enter into it. Friend, we don't labor to enter into Saturday!
There is no way this passage has reference to Sabbath-keeping. Let's stop putting our own "spin" on passages, and just follow what God has said (I Pet. 4:11).
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