The Way of the Saints – Lesson 4 Rest

Jesus, Who Finished All and Entered Rest

Jesus bore all our sins on the cross, died, and on the third day rose again.Having completed all the work of redemption, He sat down at the right hand of God and entered rest.When we believe in this Jesus, true rest enters our hearts.

“Now we who have believed enter that rest.” — Hebrews 4:3

Although we still live in this physical world, our hearts can already enjoy the peace and joy of heaven.

Jesus Sitting at the Right Hand of God

“Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.”— Hebrews 10:11–12

These verses show two contrasting pictures:priests standing and working endlessly because sin was never truly removed,and Jesus, who offered one eternal sacrifice for all sin and sat down, because the work was finished.

The priests could never rest, but Jesus could—because His sacrifice was perfect and complete.And as Ephesians 2:6 says,

“God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms.”We too are seated with Him, resting in the finished work of Christ.

When God said in Genesis 2:1,

“Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array,”He not only finished the work of creation but also completed the work of salvation and the life of the believer.

But Satan deceives us into thinking there’s still something we must do—something missing.Adam and Eve fell into that deception. They believed they needed something beyond what God had already given,and as a result, sin entered the world.If they had rested in the heart of God who had already “finished everything” in Genesis 2,the tragedy of Genesis 3 would never have happened.

God’s Way: Faith — Satan’s Way: Works

In Matthew 3, God declared over Jesus,

“This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Immediately afterward, in Matthew 4, Satan came to tempt Him:

“If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Here we see the contrast clearly:God’s method is faith, while Satan’s method is works.God confirmed Jesus’ sonship by His Word; Satan tried to make Him prove it by action.

If Jesus had doubted and tried to prove Himself, He would have fallen into Satan’s trap.But Jesus rested in the Word of the Father.Likewise, when we believe God’s Word—“You are My beloved child, and I am pleased with you”—we find rest.But when we follow Satan’s logic—“You must do something to prove yourself”—we fall into labor, frustration, and unhappiness.

Satan used the same method with Adam and Eve.Though God had already completed everything and was resting,Satan tempted them to seek something more—to “be like God” through their own effort.They were already made in God’s image, already blessed, already complete—yet they were deceived into working for what they already had.

In God’s kingdom, faith accomplishes everything, not effort.God says to us,

“You are My beloved child, in whom I delight.”Those who believe this Word live in joy and peace;those led by Satan toil endlessly, chasing after happiness through their own works.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3:16

Salvation and eternal life come through faith alone—not through works.Satan tries to destroy true rest by whispering that we must strive to be good or to stop sinning by our own effort.That is a lie.

God’s Word shows Jesus, who has already finished everything and is now resting:

“I have accomplished everything you need. I am resting now—so you too may rest.”

When we accept that truth, there is nothing left for us to do.We cannot change ourselves or others—only God can.So we simply rest in faith and depend on Him.

True Rest Found Only in Jesus

In Luke 13:10–14, Jesus healed a woman who had been crippled for 18 years by an evil spirit—on the Sabbath day.The synagogue ruler rebuked Him, saying, “There are six days for work; come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

But what truly gave rest to this woman—keeping the Sabbath law or meeting Jesus?For 18 years she had lived through 936 Sabbaths without peace, even while “keeping” the law.Only when she met Jesus did she experience true rest.

Likewise, in John 5, Jesus healed a man who had been an invalid for 38 years—also on the Sabbath.The Jews accused Him of breaking the law, but Jesus was not violating anything,because He Himself is the Lord of the Sabbath.

Under the law, healing on the Sabbath was forbidden;but in the heart of God, who has already finished all things,there is no law that condemns.

How thankful we are that there is now no law that condemns those who are in Christ Jesus!Because of His death, resurrection, and rest, we can now serve God freely and approach Him boldly.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — Romans 5:1

Whatever problems we face, if we dwell in His rest, they no longer control us.To live together with Jesus, the giver of peace, is the greatest blessing of all.

Rest Regardless of Our Condition

Those who are saved can rest in Jesus.Scripture is full of examples of people who received blessing regardless of their condition or merit.

• The younger son in Luke 15 squandered his inheritance but found joy and rest when he returned home, not by his effort but by the father’s love.

• Joseph’s brothers, though guilty of selling him, found peace when they met Joseph, who forgave and provided for them.

• Mephibosheth, lame and forgotten, was brought to King David’s table to eat and live as royalty—not because of anything he did, but because of David’s promise.

In the same way, we rest in what Jesus has already accomplished and prepared for us.True rest cannot be given by a priest or human work—it comes only from Jesus, who completed eternal atonement and is now resting.

God’s Desire: To Give Grace and Peace

“The Lord bless you and keep you;the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you;the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”— Numbers 6:24–26

This is the heart of God—to give grace and peace.This is the same unconditional love shown to the prodigal son, Joseph’s brothers, and Mephibosheth.

Through His grace, we are freed from sin and can rest in every aspect of life.We are no longer bound by anything; we are free to serve and love the Lord.It’s not because we are good or worthy—it’s purely by grace and promise.

Even if others say, “Can a person really live without sin? How can anyone be perfect?”we can boldly reply, “Yes, I am complete in Christ.”Because God has granted us rest concerning sin, we now live not by our own fruit but by what the Father has prepared.

When I realized through the Word that I was already inside God’s love and free to enjoy all things,I was filled with happiness.Everything that belongs to the Father is now mine.I am no longer bound by circumstances—I live freely in Him.

To be free from sin and to live in true peace—where else could such joy be found?Now, our life on earth is lived by faith in Jesus Christ, who rose again and lives in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.When Jesus, the Lord of Peace and the Lord of the Sabbath, reigns in our hearts,we live in happiness and victory in all things.

So, do not seek happiness in the world—but rest freely in the Word of God,and live the life of peace that He has prepared for you.