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In this first post, we will talk about the assumption the OSAS doctrine teaches, in that, we have our rest now, as opposed to us not obtaining that rest until we are like the cloud of witnesses who before God now.
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The OSAS doctrine teaches that we have already entered into our rest, even as God, Jesus, and the great cloud of witnesses have. The result of that is that there is no need to give heed to all the if...thens, warnings of apostatizing, exhorting to keep in the race, the need to follow God's led towards that rest. So the work of salvation is laid aside and replaced with the notion that we have already entered our rest, although we are still in the flesh and still have works which are to be accounted for.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The following questions should be asked by you and honestly answered: If we are in our sabbatical rest now, then is our rest also constituted with the works of the flesh? That is, has the Spirit cleansed my works and all which remains now are my works done in righteousness through Him? Has He told me as He told Jesus, 'Well done. Now come and rest while I make your enemies your footstool?' Has it yet been said of me as it was said concerning God, 'and God saw all His works, in that they were good, and He rested'? And as long as I are here in the flesh, have I yet become a witness of my fellow brothers as they who have obtained rest and look down upon me as I too run to obtain that same rest? So, if rest is now, why do I yet toil in the works I received upon God's expulsion of us from Eden?[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]G2663 (noun) - a resting place, a putting to rest. From G2664 (verb) - to settle down, to colonize.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]G2664 (verb) -- to desist, restrain, to cause to be at rest, to grant rest.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The reason why God in Hebrews 3:9 did not allow a whole generation to enter His rest was because, as He says, 'they are always lead astray in their heart and have not come to know my ways (courses of conduct)'. This verse is important to take note of. We first see that it is speaking in the present passive (are lead) and then it turns to the second aorist active (they have not come to know). The active second aorist tells us that there is a consequence associated with one's past action. And we clearly see that the consequence of not having come to know God's ways (His will) is that one is lead astray. When one, in having laid aside hearkening to the leading of the Spirit in the new Covenant as a part of the Law of Ordinances (their active second aorist), they are faced with the consequence of continuously being lead astray because they do not rely upon and concur with the guidance of God that His way (the path He is leading on) is the correct path to enter His rest. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]But all the more, because they did not come to know God's ways, even as some do not come to know His ways in the administration of the new Covenant, God says in Hebrews 3:11, 4:5: As I have sworn in my anger, 'As if they shall enter into my rest'. From this, we understand that God becomes angry at those who will not come to know His ways, those who refuse to comply with His will (Heb 3:18). And we learn from John 15:26 that it is the Spirit of Truth which is sent to bear record of God's ways which are now manifested in the doctrine of the Christ and will guide us into all truths as pertaining to God's ways (God's will) (John 16:13). It is by obedience to the Truth which is revealed to us by that same Spirit, that we do purify our souls (1 Peter 1:22) to a condition which will allow us access to our rest, as opposed to those who will receive the second death and will never receive their rest (there will be no intermission (rest)). I therefore exhort you, it is all the more important to understand that if it is not the Spirit of God before your face leading you forward, then it is a spirit which will lead you astray. Let us, therefore, turn our eyes towards God and let Him lead us to His rest so that we do not fall short of that promise (Heb 4:1) . Seeing that it is those who have believed who enters into rest (Heb 4:3), let us labor to enter into rest so that we do not fall after the same example of unbelief as those in the wilderness did and were not allowed to enter into God's rest (Heb 4:11). And because we are still in the flesh, and it is only those who have entered into a sabbatical rest who have ceased from his own works, as God did from His, then there remains a sabbatical rest for the people of God (Heb 4:9-10) to obtain. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Do not be led astray by the OSAS doctrine. The hearkening to God's guidance, inasmuch as it was needful for those in the wilderness to be led by God, is as important now as it was then to obtain a rest from our works. The OSAS doctrine will have you to believe that even this is not necessary. All I ask is that you believe no one, but go yourself and search what the Word of God has to say. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]G373 (verb) -- to cease from movement or labor in order to recover and collect one's strength, refresh, relax, take rest.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]G372 (noun) -- intermission, recreation, rest[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]These two words pertain to taking a break from work, what we call, 'lunch break/sleep', and then returning to work. Inasmuch as we do things during the day and get tired and sleep the night and then return the next day doing those things again, 'taking a rest from our everyday doings'. This is the same meaning which Jesus had when He said, 'Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.' (Mat 11:28-30) He is saying that He will be your break from your works and having rested from your works and waking up in the (next) Day, you will not be burden with the heavy toils performed by the sweet of your brow (physical doings). But that now, your toil is to learn from Him what works are needed (spiritual doings). That is, let Him guide you back to Paradise lost by replacing that curse placed upon man during their eviction from Eden. A curse which says that a man is to submit to the Law to find his way back to that fellowship with God (which way was unfruitful). But, His toil is submit to Him as the means of obtaining what was lost. That is, let Him guide you back, seeing that His way is fruitful (seeing that He, as a man, did obtain what was lost. Seeing that He does set next to God at rest).[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]All the other instances of this word means exactly, ' take a break as to be refreshed'. The same rest the weary looks for but does not have (there is no rest for the weary).[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]One's spirit (1Co 16:17-18, 2Co 7:13), one's body (Mat 26:45, Mar 6:31, 14:41), one's soul (Luk 12:19, Rev 6:11, 14:15), one's compassion (Phm 1:7, 1:20), can be refreshed in this manner. And with that understanding, we, those who are reproached in the name of Christ, are given this sort of rest by the Spirit of Glory and of God (1Pe 4:14). So, in times of stress, in times of both spiritual and physical battles, receive the refreshing rest which comes from God so that we may continue onward in our race to obtain the goal: everlasting life (a forevermore existence in the presence of God, as opposed to an everlasting destruction from His presence).[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]For those interested in the other words which can be translated as 'rest'.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]G1879 (verb (middle voice)) -- to rest upon (in) anything, to settle upon on a thing, to find comfort (derived from G1909 (upon) and G373 (to rest))[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]This sort of rest can best be explained as, 'Go and rest yourself on the couch/bed/chair' and is derived from the same 'rest' which means 'to take a break (G373). Both instances of this word (Luk 10:6 and Rom 2:17) implies, 'to find comfort/is comfortable in'.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]G2681 (verb) – lodge. lodge. As in, we lodge in hope (Act 2:26) until the full manifestation of our Lord. Hope is our hotel we lodge in during our journey.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]G425 (noun) -- a relaxing, liberty, relief. It is a relief given from a vexation (Act 24:23, 2Co 2:13, 7:5, 8:13 2Th 1:7)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The OSAS doctrine teaches that we have already entered into our rest, even as God, Jesus, and the great cloud of witnesses have. The result of that is that there is no need to give heed to all the if...thens, warnings of apostatizing, exhorting to keep in the race, the need to follow God's led towards that rest. So the work of salvation is laid aside and replaced with the notion that we have already entered our rest, although we are still in the flesh and still have works which are to be accounted for.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The following questions should be asked by you and honestly answered: If we are in our sabbatical rest now, then is our rest also constituted with the works of the flesh? That is, has the Spirit cleansed my works and all which remains now are my works done in righteousness through Him? Has He told me as He told Jesus, 'Well done. Now come and rest while I make your enemies your footstool?' Has it yet been said of me as it was said concerning God, 'and God saw all His works, in that they were good, and He rested'? And as long as I are here in the flesh, have I yet become a witness of my fellow brothers as they who have obtained rest and look down upon me as I too run to obtain that same rest? So, if rest is now, why do I yet toil in the works I received upon God's expulsion of us from Eden?[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]A word study of the words translated as 'rest' in the New Testament[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]G2663 (noun) - a resting place, a putting to rest. From G2664 (verb) - to settle down, to colonize.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]G2664 (verb) -- to desist, restrain, to cause to be at rest, to grant rest.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The reason why God in Hebrews 3:9 did not allow a whole generation to enter His rest was because, as He says, 'they are always lead astray in their heart and have not come to know my ways (courses of conduct)'. This verse is important to take note of. We first see that it is speaking in the present passive (are lead) and then it turns to the second aorist active (they have not come to know). The active second aorist tells us that there is a consequence associated with one's past action. And we clearly see that the consequence of not having come to know God's ways (His will) is that one is lead astray. When one, in having laid aside hearkening to the leading of the Spirit in the new Covenant as a part of the Law of Ordinances (their active second aorist), they are faced with the consequence of continuously being lead astray because they do not rely upon and concur with the guidance of God that His way (the path He is leading on) is the correct path to enter His rest. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]But all the more, because they did not come to know God's ways, even as some do not come to know His ways in the administration of the new Covenant, God says in Hebrews 3:11, 4:5: As I have sworn in my anger, 'As if they shall enter into my rest'. From this, we understand that God becomes angry at those who will not come to know His ways, those who refuse to comply with His will (Heb 3:18). And we learn from John 15:26 that it is the Spirit of Truth which is sent to bear record of God's ways which are now manifested in the doctrine of the Christ and will guide us into all truths as pertaining to God's ways (God's will) (John 16:13). It is by obedience to the Truth which is revealed to us by that same Spirit, that we do purify our souls (1 Peter 1:22) to a condition which will allow us access to our rest, as opposed to those who will receive the second death and will never receive their rest (there will be no intermission (rest)). I therefore exhort you, it is all the more important to understand that if it is not the Spirit of God before your face leading you forward, then it is a spirit which will lead you astray. Let us, therefore, turn our eyes towards God and let Him lead us to His rest so that we do not fall short of that promise (Heb 4:1) . Seeing that it is those who have believed who enters into rest (Heb 4:3), let us labor to enter into rest so that we do not fall after the same example of unbelief as those in the wilderness did and were not allowed to enter into God's rest (Heb 4:11). And because we are still in the flesh, and it is only those who have entered into a sabbatical rest who have ceased from his own works, as God did from His, then there remains a sabbatical rest for the people of God (Heb 4:9-10) to obtain. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Do not be led astray by the OSAS doctrine. The hearkening to God's guidance, inasmuch as it was needful for those in the wilderness to be led by God, is as important now as it was then to obtain a rest from our works. The OSAS doctrine will have you to believe that even this is not necessary. All I ask is that you believe no one, but go yourself and search what the Word of God has to say. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]G373 (verb) -- to cease from movement or labor in order to recover and collect one's strength, refresh, relax, take rest.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]G372 (noun) -- intermission, recreation, rest[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]These two words pertain to taking a break from work, what we call, 'lunch break/sleep', and then returning to work. Inasmuch as we do things during the day and get tired and sleep the night and then return the next day doing those things again, 'taking a rest from our everyday doings'. This is the same meaning which Jesus had when He said, 'Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.' (Mat 11:28-30) He is saying that He will be your break from your works and having rested from your works and waking up in the (next) Day, you will not be burden with the heavy toils performed by the sweet of your brow (physical doings). But that now, your toil is to learn from Him what works are needed (spiritual doings). That is, let Him guide you back to Paradise lost by replacing that curse placed upon man during their eviction from Eden. A curse which says that a man is to submit to the Law to find his way back to that fellowship with God (which way was unfruitful). But, His toil is submit to Him as the means of obtaining what was lost. That is, let Him guide you back, seeing that His way is fruitful (seeing that He, as a man, did obtain what was lost. Seeing that He does set next to God at rest).[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]All the other instances of this word means exactly, ' take a break as to be refreshed'. The same rest the weary looks for but does not have (there is no rest for the weary).[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]One's spirit (1Co 16:17-18, 2Co 7:13), one's body (Mat 26:45, Mar 6:31, 14:41), one's soul (Luk 12:19, Rev 6:11, 14:15), one's compassion (Phm 1:7, 1:20), can be refreshed in this manner. And with that understanding, we, those who are reproached in the name of Christ, are given this sort of rest by the Spirit of Glory and of God (1Pe 4:14). So, in times of stress, in times of both spiritual and physical battles, receive the refreshing rest which comes from God so that we may continue onward in our race to obtain the goal: everlasting life (a forevermore existence in the presence of God, as opposed to an everlasting destruction from His presence).[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]For those interested in the other words which can be translated as 'rest'.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]G1879 (verb (middle voice)) -- to rest upon (in) anything, to settle upon on a thing, to find comfort (derived from G1909 (upon) and G373 (to rest))[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]This sort of rest can best be explained as, 'Go and rest yourself on the couch/bed/chair' and is derived from the same 'rest' which means 'to take a break (G373). Both instances of this word (Luk 10:6 and Rom 2:17) implies, 'to find comfort/is comfortable in'.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]G2681 (verb) – lodge. lodge. As in, we lodge in hope (Act 2:26) until the full manifestation of our Lord. Hope is our hotel we lodge in during our journey.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]G425 (noun) -- a relaxing, liberty, relief. It is a relief given from a vexation (Act 24:23, 2Co 2:13, 7:5, 8:13 2Th 1:7)[/FONT]