Book of Common Prayer

The Sabbath or rest of the Christian. The punishment of unbelievers. The nature of the word of God.

4 Let us fear, therefore, lest any of us, forsaking the promise of entering into his rest, should seem to come behind. ² For to us it has been declared as well as to them. But it did not profit them to hear the word, because they who heard it did not couple it with faith. ³ But we who have believed do enter into his rest, while contrariwise he said to the others: I have sworn in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest.

And he spoke this long after the works were made and the foundation of the world laid. ⁴ For he spoke in a certain place about the seventh day this way: And God did rest on the seventh day from all his works. ⁵ And then again in this place: They shall not come into my rest. ⁶ We see therefore that it follows that some will enter into his rest, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter in due to unbelief. ⁷ Again, speaking in David, he appointed a certain present day after so long a time, saying as mentioned above, this day, if you hear his voice, be not hard-hearted.

⁸ For if Joshua had given them rest, then he would not afterward have spoken of another day. ⁹ There remains therefore yet a rest for the people of God. ¹⁰ For the person who has entered into his rest does cease from his own works, as God did from his.

¹⁶ For God so loves the world that he has given his only Son, so that none who believe in him should perish, but should have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world through him could be saved. ¹⁸ Whoever believes on him shall not be condemned. But whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he does not believe in the name of the only Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation: that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness more than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light lest his deeds should be reproved. ²¹ But whoever does truth comes to the light, so that his deeds may be known, that they are wrought in God.