1. What promise of rest does Jesus give to us?

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Matthew 11:28,29

The Bible says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 3:23; 6:23). However, “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Jesus promises us spiritual rest, and salvation, from sin.

God has the power to save us from our sins, but He never forces us to be forgiven or to give our lives to Him. Instead, He gives us freedom to choose whom we will serve. When we surrender our lives to Jesus and place our trust in Him, we have passed from death to life, for “the just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17). Entering into God’s rest is a great blessing, “for he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works” (Hebrews 4:10).

My Response

How important is this rest that Jesus offers us? What does it reveal about God’s love for us, and about His ideal for each one of us?

Review

What promise of rest does Jesus give to us? (Fill in the blank.)

2. What does God have in store for those that accept Jesus as their Savior?

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Revelation 21:1-4

1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Revelation 22:1-5

God promises eternal life to those that repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Savior. Eternity will be spent living with God in a place without pain, suffering, death, or sorrow. We cannot imagine the joys that God has planned for those that will live with Him through eternity.

Personal Response

What kinds of activities do you look forward to doing in heaven and in the new earth?

Review

What about the Bible’s description of heaven sounds appealing to you?

3. What word does the Bible use to describe God’s promise to save people from their sins?

“For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”

Romans 11:27

The Bible refers to God’s promise to save people from sin as a covenant, something very similar to a will or last testament. Just as a will only goes into effect when someone dies, God’s covenant of salvation from sin hinged on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His atoning sacrifice makes eternal life possible for us! 

Personal Response

John 3:16 says that God “gave” His Son to this world, that “whosoever believers in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” What does this reveal about God’s character and His attitude toward us?

Review

What word does the Bible use to describe God’s promise to save people from their sins? (Fill in the blank.)

4. What is the sign of God’s everlasting covenant to save us from sin?

13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. … 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

Exodus 31:13,17

The Sabbath is the sign of God’s covenant to forgive us of sin and to give us eternal life. The prophet Ezekiel said that the Sabbath is “a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God” (Ezekiel 20:20).

God frequently chooses to represent His promises with signs that are closely connected with those promises. For example, when He promised Noah that a flood of water would never again cover the earth, He chose a rainbow in the sky as the sign of that covenant (Genesis 9:8-17). Also, when God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, He chose circumcision as the sign of that covenant (Genesis 17:1-11).

Personal Response

Is it significant that God chose a segment of time—the seventh-day—to be a sign of eternal life? Why do you think He might have done this?

Review

What is the sign of God’s everlasting covenant to save and sanctify people from sin? (Select the best answer.)

5. What else does God promise to do as part of His covenant to save us from sin?

25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Ezekiel 36:25-27

God promises to give us a new mind and a new heart, so that our thoughts, words, actions, and motives become more like His.

Personal Response

What kinds of idols do we often worship today? How can we better recognize what those idols are in our lives?

Review

What else does God promise to do as part of His covenant to save us from sin? (Fill in the blanks.)

6. Where does God want to write His holy law?

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.”

Hebrews 10:16

God’s everlasting covenant of salvation includes the Holy Spirit writing the divine law on our hearts and minds. As this happens, we begin living out the principles of the Ten Commandments as a natural consequence of our love for Jesus. As Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

Personal Response

What would life be like without any law? Would it be better or worse? Why is law, rightly implemented and justly defended, so essential to the freedom that God promises us?

Review

Where does God want to write His holy law? (Fill in the blanks.)

7. When we truly love Jesus, what will be our attitude toward God’s commands and God’s law?

12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 14:12-15

The Holy Spirit’s work is to “reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). This would be impossible to do without an objective standard of right and wrong. God’s law is that standard, which is why Jesus said that it would never be changed nor removed. He said, “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18).

Personal Response

In John 14:16, Jesus links the promise of the Holy Spirit with our willingness to keep God’s law. Why would it be dangerous for God to promise His Holy Spirit to those who have no desire to keep His law?

Review

When we truly love Jesus, what will be our attitude toward God’s commands and God’s law? (Select the best answer.)