Here are some observations about what the Scripture says about the Sabbath – the holy day of rest during the week. This isn’t a full out proof, per se, but is meant for a starting place for us to look at the Scriptures. I think the combined force of what follows shows us that the Sabbath is indeed for Christians. That said, some observations:
1) Jesus in talking about the Sabbath never canceled it.
2) The 10 commandments are viewed as a distinct unit and the unit that governs the rest of the Laws in the OT.
3) The 10 commandments are binding on our activity as believers, though we’re not judged by them.
4) The 10 commandments are what is written on the hearts of believers.
5) Keeping a day as separate for the Lord started with creation – not with the nation of Israel.
6) Sabbath worship is for worship of God (it’s holy), but it is also for the good of the people of God.
7) That’s because Sabbath worship is to entail communion with God through the means he’s established (preaching, worship, prayer, the sacraments, fellowship in the Church).
8) The Sabbath points to resting in Jesus. Though it’s true that this rest has entered history, it is a grave error to believe that it is fulfilled now in our world or experience. We look forward to a future rest, just as the Israelites did; we just view it as having begun in history.
9) The NT Church continued to meet together regularly on the first day of the week, putting worldly pursuits aside.
10) Though our whole lives are to be about worship, certain things are instituted so that we will worship apart from normal, daily activity – with all of who we are focused on God.
11) Nowhere in Scripture is the (weird!) notion that God removed the old commandments and completely put new commandments into effect. Jesus exposited the Law (itself an exposition of the first command ever given in Genesis 1) – he didn’t replace it!
I appreciate this post, because at church Sunday the Sabbath was preached on and I didn't remember exactly you said about it biblicaly in the NT.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post Derek, I learned alot from you this past week =)
ReplyDeleteHi Derek,
ReplyDeleteCould you explain your thinking on the Sabbath in light of Romans 14, where Paul suggests that "esteeming each day alike" is acceptable and perhaps even preferable for Christians?
Thanks.
Ellie
Ellie! Good to see you 'round.
ReplyDeleteRomans 14:5 is best understood in light of Galatians 14:10 and Coossians 2:16 - and in light of the ceremonial law in which there were particular holy days and particular Sabbaths to be celebrated in a certain way.
That is to say - it's not esteeming a particular day out of the week as special that Paul's getting at - it's esteeming particular days in a year calendar.
Great question!