Introduction : These days many people work seated on a chair. However, in the past ages of farming and hunting, to work meant to do one´s work in a standing posture. After working, they sat down and rested. They couldn´t sit while working. Being seated symbolized that they had finished working. That´s why today´s Scripture reading is very meaningful which says, "God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus."
1. God rested on the seventh day (Heb 4:4). 1) God created heaven and earth, working in a standing posture for six days (Ge 2:1-3). He sat down and rested on the seventh day (Heb 4:10). 2) Adam´s first day was the Sabbath day when God rested. (1) God finished working on the sixth day (Heb 4:4). (2) On the Sabbath day of God, Adam began his life - That means, since God had worked, Adam was created to enjoy his life in a sitting posture, for the work belonged to God. What Adam had to do was nothing but to enjoy the work that God had done for him by believing, serving, and obeying God (Ps 8:3,4; Mt 6:33). However, Adam refused to live seated in the grace of God, rejected His grace, and fell to work standing by himself (Heb 4:1-3; Ge 3:19).
2. The rest of salvation that Jesus gives. 1) Corrupt humanity wanted to be saved. No matter how hard they tried, they weren´t able to be saved (Ro 3:23). 2) The salvation of Jesus (Eph 2:4-6). (1) Saved by grace - Jesus has done everything. He suffered on the Cross, died, and rose from the dead (Mk 14:24; Jn 19:30; Ro 4:25). (2) Saved, being seated (Eph 2:6). The table of salvation is served to Christians in a sitting posture. ¨ç The table of forgiveness and righteousness (Ro 3:25). ¨è The table of the fullness of the Holy Spirit and godliness (1 Co 6:19,20). ¨é The table of healing and health (Mt 8:17). ¨ê The table of the blessing of Abraham and prosperity (Gal 3:13,14). ¨ë The table of resurrection, eternal life, and heaven (Jn 5:24,25; 2 Co 5:1). Enjoy salvation only by faith and obedience (Heb 4:9-11).
3. A life that is seated in the grace of God (Eph 2:6; Heb 4:10). 1) Look to God. (1) God who works (Jer 33:3). (2) God who bears our burdens (Ps 68:19). (3) Do not linge (Ex 14:13,14). Understand the life that has been seated in the grace of God. 2) Believe in the work of God (Heb 4:1,2). To have faith is to believe in the omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence of God, but not to understand (Heb 11:3; 1 Co 2:9; Pr 3:5,6). 3) Ask for help (2 Co 6:1,2; Mt 7:7,8). 4) Give lots of thanks and praise (Php 4:6,7; Heb 13:15). 5) Strongly confess that God works for you, bears your burden, hears your prayer, and helps you (Ps 55:22; Mt 11:28; Mk 11:23).
Conclusion : The descendants of fallen Adam have always worked, standing by themselves. As a result, they are ignorant of the way of life that is seated in the grace of God and feel uneasy. However, God has seated us believers with Jesus in heaven. We have to accept this fact. Now we should live our lives seated in the grace of God, for He bears our work and our burdens.
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