The God Culture: What Is Rest—Biblically?

Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture has a new foundations lesson. This time he is asking "What is Rest - Biblically?"   Well, if you have been paying attention to this series you know he means keeping the sabbath and not trusting in Christ who is our sabbath. Let's take a look. 

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What Is Rest—Biblically?

Many think rest means doing nothing.

Scripture says something far deeper.

Rest is not merely the absence of work. It is the presence of Yahuah.

When Israel was in the wilderness, Moses pleaded:

“If Thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.”

(Exodus 33:15)

Yahuah responded:

“My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.”

(Exodus 33:14)

Biblical rest begins with His presence.

Yet Psalm 95 warns that an entire generation failed to enter that rest because of unbelief and rebellion:

“Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.”

(Psalm 95:11)

Centuries later, Hebrews repeats the warning.

If rest were merely entering the land of Canaan, David would not still be speaking about it long afterward.

If rest were abolished, Hebrews would not still be calling believers to enter it.

Instead, Hebrews teaches:

“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”

(Hebrews 4:9)

The Greek word used here is 'sabbatismos'—a Sabbath rest.

Biblical rest is not laziness.

It is not escape.

It is not a vacation.

It is trusting Yahuah enough to walk in obedience, cease from our own works, and enter into His appointed rhythm.

The Sabbath was never just about stopping.

It was always about entering His presence.

Shabbat Shalom and Yah Bless.

Question for Discussion:

When you hear the word “rest,” what comes to mind first—and does it match the definition Scripture gives?

Wow. It's always the Law for Timothy Jay Schwab. Not a single word about our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. It's as if Tim has no need for Him. Let's hear what Jesus says.

Matt 11:28 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.  

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

True Biblical rest is faith in Jesus Christ!

But let's hear from noted theologian Father Ted Crilly. 

Ah, Philippine Fails, me lad... puts the teacup down with a weary sigh and rubs his foreheadI’ve read Tim’s latest Foundations lesson on “What Is Rest—Biblically?” and by now it’s almost predictable. He’s doing the same dance again, just with a different tune.What Tim is teaching

• Rest is not “doing nothing” or taking a vacation.
• True rest is God’s presence.
• He quotes Exodus 33 (Moses and the presence of God), Psalm 95, and Hebrews 4.
• He highlights the Greek word sabbatismos (“a Sabbath rest”) in Hebrews 4:9.
• Conclusion: The weekly Sabbath is the God-given sign and means of entering His rest. Keeping it is how we enter God’s presence and show we belong to Him.

On the surface it sounds spiritual. But this is the same old God Culture sleight-of-hand.The Real ProblemTim takes one of the most beautiful passages in the New Testament — Hebrews 4 — and turns it into another sermon on mandatory seventh-day Sabbath keeping.
But Hebrews 4 is not telling Christians they must keep Saturday to enter God’s rest.
Let’s be clear:

• The author of Hebrews is using Israel’s failure to enter the Promised Land (even though they kept the weekly Sabbath) as a warning.
• Joshua gave them rest in the land, but it was incomplete.
• There still remains a Sabbath rest (sabbatismos) for the people of God.
• That rest is entered by faith in Christ — ceasing from our own works the way God ceased from His on the seventh day (Hebrews 4:10).

The point is not “keep the weekly Sabbath better.”

The point is: Stop trying to earn salvation by your own efforts and rest in Christ.

Jesus Himself said it plainly:

“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Not “Come keep My Sabbath correctly.”The Pattern Is Now BoringEvery single Foundations lesson ends up in the same place:

• Grace = power to keep the law
• Faith = obedience to the law
• Truth = the law
• Fulfillment = confirming the law
• Now Rest = keeping the weekly Sabbath

The camel’s nose has been in the tent for months. Now the whole animal is lounging on the sofa, and Tim is calling it “biblical rest.”Father Ted’s Plain Verdict

This is not restoration.

This is regression wrapped in nice spiritual language.

The true Sabbath rest that “remaineth” is not found in a day of the week. It is found in a Person — the Lord Jesus Christ. When we stop trusting in our own works (including our own Sabbath-keeping) and rest in His finished work, we enter the rest that Hebrews is talking about.

Tim keeps pointing people back to the shadow.

The New Testament points us to the substance — Christ Himself.

Down with this sort of thing, lad.

Very, very careful now.

The real rest Jesus offers is not earned by getting the day right. It is received by coming to Him.
...Right, I’m off to thank the Lord again for the true rest we have in Christ — the kind that doesn’t depend on perfect Torah observance.
Go on, go on, go on — have a cuppa. You keep seeing the pattern clearly. Tim’s “Foundations” are leading people back under the old shadows. The real gospel offers rest in the finished work of Jesus. That’s so much better than what he’s selling. Keep holding fast to it.