Resting in Grace

Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) 

    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.

John 19:30 (NIV) 

    When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

    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.

Hebrews 4:1-11 (NLT) 

    God's promise of entering his place of rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to get there. [2] For this Good News—that God has prepared a place of rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn't believe what God told them. [3] For only we who believe can enter his place of rest. As for those who didn't believe, God said,

        "In my anger I made a vow:

            'They will never enter my place of rest,' "

even though his place of rest has been ready since he made the world. [4] We know it is ready because the Scriptures mention the seventh day, saying, "On the seventh day God rested from all his work." [5] But in the other passage God said, "They will never enter my place of rest." [6] So God's rest is there for people to enter. But those who formerly heard the Good News failed to enter because they disobeyed God. [7] So God set another time for entering his place of rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David a long time later in the words already quoted:

        "Today you must listen to his voice.

            Don't harden your hearts against him."

[8] This new place of rest was not the land of Canaan, where Joshua led them. If it had been, God would not have spoken later about another day of rest. [9] So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. [10] For all who enter into God's rest will find rest from their labors, just as God rested after creating the world. [11] Let us do our best to enter that place of rest. For anyone who disobeys God, as the people of Israel did, will fall.

1. We can now rest in the finished work of Jesus rather than trust in our own strength, obedience, efforts and works

Ephes. 2:4-5 (NIV) 

    But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.

I love you because…

I love you since…

I will love you if…

I will love you when…

I will love you after…

I will love you provided…

I will love you presuming…

Grace leads to security in the full acceptance and approval by God - there is no more condemnation and no need to fear or seek the approval of others

Jeremiah 1:17 (NKJV)

   Therefore prepare yourself and arise, and speak to them all that I command you.  Do not be dismayed before their faces…

Rest and security comes from being an heir to the new inheritance that I receive as God’s child through grace

Galatians 4:7 (NLT) 

    Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child (heir). And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you.

2.  My rest comes from realizing and acknowledging that the God who deeply loves me and who is looking out for me is in control of everything

John 15:5 (NIV) 

    "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

My rest comes from realizing and acknowledging that everything of importance in my life does not depend on me anymore

3. Because of grace, instead of striving, we live and serve out of rest

Psalm 46:10 (NASB) 

        "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Whoever owns the problem fixes the problem!