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9. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.11. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the example of unbelief.12. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.Hebrews 4:9-12 The author talks of a rest to the people of God. Christ came to the Jew first who rejected Him because they did not believe. But Christ is returning to give rest to Israel. Rest is no longer needing to work. This applies to good works trying to earn salvation or keeping the Mosaic law. All all justified through Christ, we may rest with confidence that His work is sufficient. We labor through faith in Christ lest we fall short and doubt. This term fall short meaning coming in no matter how close behind the winner of the race. Only those who have experienced the salvation of Christ will know the power of God's word. It is complete, needing nothing more added. It is powerful to save, heal, and teach. It is able to divide the soul and spirit. In the carnal man, the heart is almost impossible to reach. But every believer has experienced that moment when the word made the dying inner man alive. Therefore, we can come with confidence to Christ and receive from Him forgiveness for what we deserve. And escape the punishment we earned from sin, seeing Christ took that for us. Amen.