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 labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Hebrews 4:9
Our word for labor is spoudazo. A Greek word meaning:
- to hasten, make haste
- to exert one’s self,
- endeavor,
- give diligence
To enter is like gaining admission to the theater and then driving to the theater and going in. Just getting a ticket is not the same as entering. When we enter for instance a theater , we are there to view a movie. If we have a ticket for the World Series, we have not entered until we redeem that ticket, enter the stadium and view the game. It is the same principle with the swimming pool and the skating rink.
When we enter in to His rest as described in Hebrews 4, we enter into the sphere of God’s completed work.
We are not creating, reinventing, displacing, crafting, fabricating or building the rest. Just entering in.
2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Our word Subtilty comes from Greek word meaning– Adroit — goes back to an Old French word. Some definitions include:
- “handsome or elegant”
- skilled in combat.”
- cleverness that achieves one’s purpose in spite of difficulties.
These can be positive qualities, however, in the case of Satan, they were used to deceive.
Stolen in the case of Eve was her “Simplicity.” The word means:
- free from pretence and hypocrisy
- The opposite of self-seeking, or having a secret agenda.
- openness of heart manifesting itself by generousity
So taken from Eve through the serpent’s Suave, through combative skill, and through cleverness was her, innocence, and it’s resulting openness and generosity.
2Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Again we have our Greek word for “study”, “Spoudazo” which we translate as, hurry up, endeavor, give diligence. Again, we are not creating, reinventing, displacing, crafting, fabricating or building. We are acting by faith to exhibit (not to perform, but to show) yourself accepted, (This Greek word dokimos, means the opposite of disqualified) or adokimos, translated “reprobate.”
Workman -A practitioner or teacher, who is not ashamed. (to be a practitioner or teacher requires industry, diligence, and application, and for which no man is sufficient without the grace of God)*
Required is the position of acceptance , the result is a manifestation that proceeds from that acceptance by grace.
So, a Christian, not an unbeliever, can rightly divide the Word of truth as he or she first
- studies (with diligence).
- discovers the place of approvedness, in identity and behavior resulting from that approval.
- shuns guilt by applying the blood of Christ, once and for all, and also as needed throughout a day. (Seven times).
2Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
Lastly, but not leastly, we return again to–“Spoudazo” – make an effort to “make.”
The word “poema” means to write the poem – of what?
Beloved we simply make sure or firm up our calling. how? We make it sure through Bible study, review, meditation on the Word. and application.
What do we make sure? — the glorious summons, you have been personally invited. Called out ones are we all and elected – you have been personally selected.
In closing, “be ye steadfast immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” 1Corinthians 15:58
love ya