Question 358: What Is Rest In The Christian Life?

An Anglican Catechism (Expanded Version)

Question 358: What is rest in the Christian life?

Rest in the Christian life is the gift of peace and renewal that comes from trusting in God, abiding in Christ, and living in the rhythm of grace. God calls His people to physical, spiritual, and eternal rest—rest from toil, rest in worship, and rest for the soul. True rest is found in Christ, who frees us from the burden of sin and invites us to find refreshment in Him. Rest is both a present practice and a future hope, pointing to the eternal Sabbath in God’s presence. (Matthew 11:28–29, Hebrews 4:9–11, Exodus 20:8–10, Psalm 62:1, Isaiah 30:15)

Full Scripture References

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me… and you will find rest for your souls.” – Matthew 11:28–29 (BSB)

“So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God… Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest…” – Hebrews 4:9, 11 (BSB)

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God…” – Exodus 20:8–10 (BSB)

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.” – Psalm 62:1 (BSB)

“For this is what the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest you will be saved; in quietness and trust is your strength.’” – Isaiah 30:15 (BSB)

Expanded Explanation of Catechism Question

Rest is not idleness—it is holy renewal. In the Christian life, rest means pausing from labor to delight in God, to recover strength, and to remember that our worth is not in our productivity, but in our identity as His beloved. Bishop Charlie Masters (ANiC, Diocese of the Living Word) writes, “God commands rest not as a restriction, but as a blessing. In Christ, we learn to stop striving and start trusting.” (Sabbath and the Soul, 2022)

The Christian rests spiritually by ceasing from the futile attempt to earn God’s favor. Justification by faith assures us that Christ has accomplished our salvation. Fr. Isaac Rehberg (ACNA, All Saints San Antonio, TX) explains, “The gospel begins with rest: ‘It is finished.’ We live from that rest, not toward it.” (The Restful Gospel, 2021)

The Sabbath principle remains vital in Christian discipleship. It is not legalism but wisdom—God’s gift of space for worship, reflection, and renewal. Fr. Caleb Evans (Anglican Orthodox Church, St. Stephen’s Mission, GA) teaches, “Sabbath rest reorients the heart. It is a protest against hurry, and a declaration that God—not our labor—is our provider.” (Cease and Worship, 2020)

Rest also includes rhythms of quietness, prayer, recreation, and healthy limitations. The believer is not called to burnout, but to balance. Fr. Thomas Buchan (Anglican Union, St. Mark’s Anglican Church, VA) writes, “The rhythm of rest trains us to live as creatures, not machines. We are most fruitful when we abide, not strive endlessly.” (The Grace of Stillness, 2021)

Canon George Grant (ACNA, Parish Presbyterian Church, TN) adds, “True rest is found not in escape but in communion. The Sabbath whispers of Eden restored and eternity embraced—where every tear is wiped away, and the soul is forever satisfied.” (Recovering Anglican Piety, 2019)

Early Church Fathers On Catechism Question

“Rest in God is the peace of the soul that no burden can disturb. This is the Sabbath that never ends.” – Augustine of Hippo, Confessions, c. 398 AD

“The command to rest is a mercy to man. Let the body be still, and the soul rise to heaven.” – Basil the Great, Homily on the Sabbath, c. 370 AD

“Christ is our Sabbath. In Him we cease from works and enter into joy.” – John Chrysostom, Homily on Matthew 11, c. 390 AD

“The Lord grants rest to His people—not to lead them into sloth, but into worship and renewal.” – Cyprian of Carthage, On the Gift of the Lord’s Day, c. 250 AD

An Anglican Catechism (Expanded Version)

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An Anglican Catechism (Expanded Version)