25-0629p Transcript

Preacher: Scott Reynolds

(0:58) Good evening. (1:00) Tonight’s lesson is entitled, Beginning Day 7, Part 2, The Rest of God, a Foretaste of (1:10) Redemption’s Rest.

(1:12) Have you ever collapsed into bed after a grueling week, hoping for rest, only to find your mind (1:19) racing with worries? (1:21) In our fast-paced, chaotic world, filled with deadlines, conflicts, and uncertainties, we (1:29) crave a peace deeper than a day off. (1:33) The Bible offers hope, a rest that satisfies our soul, rooted in God’s plan from creation. (1:42) Tonight we’ll explore how God’s rest on the seventh day, as described in Genesis 2, 1 (1:49) through 3, foreshadows the eternal rest we find in Jesus Christ, as revealed in Hebrews, (1:57) chapter 4, verses 1 through 11.

(2:01) This rest isn’t just a pause, it’s the culmination of God’s redemptive plan, begun (2:09) after the fall. (2:10) We’ll unpack three truths. (2:14) God’s historical rest completes creation, it sets the stage for redemption, and it finds (2:21) fulfillment in Christ.

(2:24) So let’s open our hearts to this promise of rest. (2:28) The context is our lesson from this morning. (2:32) We saw how God’s creation week established two realms, a spiritual realm of sight, bathed (2:38) in everlasting light, with no darkness.

(2:41) For angels, behold, is glory, and a physical realm of faith, beginning in darkness, with (2:48) light breaking in, in Genesis, chapter 1, verses 3 through 5. (2:54) Days 2 through 6 prepare the earth for life, separating waters for atmospheric air on day (3:01) 2, creating plants on day 3, setting sun, moon, and stars day 4, and filling the sea, (3:08) skies, and land with creatures and mankind, made in God’s image, days 5 and 6. (3:16) This divine design was complete by day 6, setting the stage for the plan of redemption, (3:25) which unfolds after humanity’s fall. (3:30) Genesis 2, 1 through 3, records God’s rest on day 7, a historical event that points (3:38) to Christ’s redemptive rest. (3:40) As Hebrews 4, verses 9 through 11 declares, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people (3:48) of God.

(3:49) Let us strive to enter that rest. (3:52) So the purpose of tonight’s message is to connect the literal seven days rest to Christ’s (4:00) finished work on the cross, encouraging us to enter His rest by faith and to defend the (4:06) creation account as the foundation of our hope. (4:10) In a world that questions the Bible’s truth, we’ll see why the Historical Creation Week (4:17) matters.

(4:18) Our first point is the historical rest of day 7. (4:25) God’s rest on the seventh day, as recorded in Genesis 2, 1 through 3, is a historical (4:31) event that completes His creation of the spiritual and physical realms. (4:37) This literal rest grounds our faith and worship, pointing to His sovereign plan. (4:43) It’s a literal rest for a completed creation.

(4:48) Genesis 2, 1 through 3 states, Thus the heavens and the earth were finished. (4:55) On the seventh day, God rested from all His work. (4:59) The Hebrew word Shabbat means to cease or desist, reflecting God’s completion of His (5:06) masterpiece.

(5:07) This rest followed the creation of two realms, the spiritual realm of sight, where everlasting (5:13) light reveals God’s glory to angels, and the physical realm of faith, where light divided (5:19) darkness to prepare the earth for life. (5:23) As a literal historical reading affirms that these were literal 24-hour days, not symbolic (5:31) ages. (5:32) Why does this matter? (5:34) The Sabbath command in Exodus 20, verse 11 says, In six days the Lord made the heavens (5:42) and the earth, and rested on the seventh day.

(5:45) And it relies on a historical creation week. (5:49) Allegorical or evolutionary views weaken this foundation, diluting the basis for both the (5:56) Sabbath and redemption, which hinge on a real fall in Genesis 3. (6:05) The historical rest celebrates God’s masterpiece. (6:09) Imagine a painter stepping back from a finished canvas, admiring its perfection before unveiling (6:17) it.

(6:18) God’s rest on day seven is like that pause, a moment to celebrate His completed creation. (6:25) The spiritual realm, with its unending light, reflects His eternal glory, while the physical (6:32) realm, designed for humanity’s faith, is ready for His redemptive plan. (6:38) This rest isn’t about God being tired.

(6:41) It’s about completion and holiness, as He made the seventh day holy, Genesis 2-3. (6:49) For us, this calls us to trust the historical truth of Genesis. (6:54) In a culture skeptical of Scripture, we must boldly affirm that the literal seventh day (7:01) anchors our worship.

(7:03) When we rest on the Sabbath, we honor God’s sovereignty, trusting His word as the foundation (7:09) of our faith. (7:11) A historical rest defends the creation account. (7:15) A literal, historical reading of this text isn’t just tradition.

(7:21) It’s essential to the gospel. (7:24) If the creation days were millions of years, as some claim, it undermines the historical (7:30) Adam and the fall, which Romans 5-12 says brought sin and death into the world. (7:37) Without a literal fall, why do we need redemption? (7:41) Many Christians think that embracing theistic evolution will reconcile faith and science.

(7:49) But as we saw in our lesson titled, Why Are We Losing Them?, October 20, 2024, denying (7:57) the historical creation weakens trust in the Scriptures. (8:01) Let’s defend the literal creation account, not out of pride, but to uphold the truth (8:07) that leads to Christ. (8:09) Share Genesis with others, showing how it points to God’s plan for rest and redemption.

(8:17) Our second point, the stage is set for redemption. (8:22) God’s rest on day seven marks the completion of creations of design, setting the stage (8:28) for the plan of redemption that unfolds after the fall. (8:33) Every element of creation reflects His care and purpose.

(8:36) The creation was designed for life. (8:40) By day six, God’s divine design was complete. (8:46) On day two, He separated waters to form atmospheric air, essential for breathing creatures.

(8:53) On day three, He created plants providing sustenance. (8:58) Day four brought the sun, moon, and stars to govern time, replacing the initial mysterious (9:04) light of day one. (9:05) Days five and six filled the earth with sea creatures, birds of the air, and land animals, (9:12) and mankind, made in God’s image to reflect His glory.

(9:18) This physical realm, beginning in darkness, tests humanity’s faith, preparing for the (9:24) fall, when sin enters through Adam, Romans 5.12. (9:28) God’s rest on day seven signals that the stage is set, with every element, light, plants, (9:37) creatures, ready for the drama of redemption to begin. (9:42) God’s care in creation. (9:45) So consider the precision of creation’s design.

(9:50) Plants don’t just feed us, they produce oxygen, sustaining life. (9:54) The sun and moon don’t just light the earth, they mark seasons, guiding our rhythms. (10:00) This reflects God’s care, as Psalm 104.24 says, (10:05) How many are your works, Lord? In wisdom you made them all.

(10:10) Think of a farmer who marvels at how soil, seeds, and sunlight work together to grow crops. (10:18) Every detail of creation points to God’s provision, preparing the world for His redemptive plan. (10:26) Even before the fall, God had redemption in mind, knowing humanity would need a Savior, (10:33) 1 Peter 1.18-20. (10:37) This gives us confidence that His plan is perfect, from creation to salvation.

(10:44) So living with gratitude. (10:46) God’s rest invites us to pause and recognize His provision. (10:51) When we eat a meal, see a sunrise, or hold a loved one, (10:56) we’re experiencing creation’s gifts, designed to sustain us as we journey toward redemption.

(11:04) How often do we take these for granted? (11:08) This week, try a simple practice. (11:10) Each day, thank God for one aspect of creation. (11:15) A flower, a breeze, a star.

(11:18) This gratitude deepens our trust in His word and His plan. (11:23) As we rest on the Sabbath, let’s reflect on how creation’s design points to the hope of redemption. (11:31) Trusting that God, who prepared the world for life, has prepared salvation for us through Christ.

(11:38) And our third point, Christ as the true rest. (11:43) Hebrews 4, verses 1-11 reveals that God’s seventh day rest foreshadows the eternal rest we enter through Christ. (11:54) His finished work on the cross fulfills the plan of redemption, offering us true peace.

(12:00) Hebrews 4, verses 9-10 says, (12:04) There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest (12:09) has also rested from His work, as God did from His. (12:16) Just as God rested after completing creation in 1930, completing His work of salvation, (12:24) the spiritual realm’s everlasting light, seen by angels, foreshadows the glory believers will share in eternity. (12:33) Where the city has no sun or moon, for the glory of God gives it light.

(12:38) Revelation 21-23 (12:40) The physical realm’s faith, tested by the fall, leads us to Christ, the second Adam, (12:47) who restores what sin broke. (12:50) Christ bridges both realms, offering rest from the burden of sin. (12:56) The literal creation week is foundational to this rest.

(13:01) Day one’s dual realms, sight for angels, faith for humanity, point to Christ who unites heaven and earth. (13:09) The divine design set up in days 2-6 culminates in His victory over the fall, (13:15) denying a historical creation, as evolutionary views do, (13:21) undermines the need for a historical Adam, and thus a Savior. (13:26) The seventh day’s rest isn’t just a story, it’s the anchor of our hope, (13:32) pointing to Christ’s redemptive rest.

(13:34) By trusting the literal creation account, we affirm the necessity of His salvation. (13:41) So, entering and sharing Christ’s rest. (13:45) Hebrews 4-11 urges us to let us strive to enter that rest, (13:50) and this means trusting Christ’s finished work, (13:52) ceasing from self-reliant efforts to earn salvation.

(13:57) Practically, we enter His rest through faith, prayer, obedience, and worship, (14:03) reflecting God’s creation rest. (14:07) Picture a weary traveler finding a cozy home after a long journey, (14:12) and that’s the peace Christ offers. (14:15) But this rest isn’t just for us, it’s to be shared.

(14:18) So defend this literal, historical view in conversations, (14:22) showing how Genesis points to Jesus. (14:26) So, in conclusion, embracing God’s rest. (14:29) God’s rest on the seventh day, completing the spiritual realm of sight, (14:36) and the event.

(14:38) It’s a foretaste of the eternal rest we find in Christ. (14:43) Creation’s design, from light to plants to mankind, (14:47) set the stage for the plan of redemption. (14:51) Fulfilled in Jesus' finished work, (14:53) the literal seventh day anchors our faith, (14:56) calling us to trust God’s word and defend its truth.

(15:00) So tonight, set aside time this week, (15:03) and perhaps for a quiet hour of prayer or scripture reading, (15:07) defend the creation account, sharing how Genesis points to redemption. (15:13) And a closing illustration, imagine a composer, (15:16) pausing after crafting a perfect symphony, (15:19) ready for its performance. (15:21) God’s rest on day seven is that pause, (15:23) inviting us to join the melody of redemption through Christ.

(15:28) Let’s live that rest, singing his praises. (15:32) And that’s the sermon. (15:34) So, if there’s any that need to come forward, (15:38) the invitation’s being extended.