The Sabbath Day

• The commandment to keep the Sabbath is still in force
  • it is part of God's law, written on man's heart. Rom 2 vs 14-15.
  • it is a creation ordinance, given to man AS MAN before the Fall. Gen 2 vs 1-3.
  • it is 1/2 of one of the Ten Commandments, none of which have been withdrawn.
  • the whole moral law is still in operation - as we have recently seen. Matt 5 vs 17, Rom 3 vs 31.
  • Jesus Himself taught that man needs the sabbath; that it is for his benefit; and that without it he is poorer. Mark 2 vs 28.
  • but do not confuse the permanent command with the temporary ceremonial regulations. Those have passed away, but the sabbath has not.
  • it is the unalterable will of God for all people of all times.
• It is now to be observed on the first day of the week
  • the fourth commandment did not specify which day, but simply the 1 in 7 principle. WHICH day is decided by other factors.
  • God's own pattern was to be the pattern for His image bearer - Adam.
  • Being part of the moral law, it continued after the Fall - Sinai did not establish it, but only underlined its perpetuity. Exod 16 vs 22-31, 20 vs 8-11.
  • Jesus observed the sabbath, and declared Himself to be its Lord. The Saturday of His burial was 'the lasts of the Sabbaths', and the day of His resurrection 'the first of the Sabbaths' (Greek). He then Himself hallowed that day with many redemptive acts.
  • Sunday observance was therefore the practice of His church - John 20 vs 26, Acts 2 vs 1, 20 vs 6-7, 1 Cor 16 vs 1-2 , Rev 1 vs 10. (This also fulfils Old Testament typology).
  • Some early believers continued also with a Saturday Sabbath, but this eventually fell away. It is to this that the following texts refer Romans 14 vs 5-13, Col 2 vs 16, Gal 4 vs 10-11.
• The way it is to be observed is perfectly clear
  • NOT :-
    • in copying the Pharisees. Sunday is the God-ordained day of rest. But we are not to impose upon it Mosaic regulations which have passed away like Exodus 35 vs 2-3 and Numbers 15 vs 32-36; Nor a man made list of do's and don'ts, like in Matthew 12 vs 1-2.
    • In working. All that comes under the Bible meaning of the word "work" (earning your living: recreation: the thought which goes into both etc..) is to be laid aside. Nor are we to cause others to do these things. This is not because these things are sinful or unholy, but because God has commanded that they should be done on the other six days of the week. Exodus 20.
    • in doing nothing. God's rest after creation is not inactivity, but a ceasing from one sort of activity (John 5 vs 17). Sunday is to be a holy resting from one set of objectives, in order to pursue other objectives, as we now see :-
  • BUT:-
    • in coming together with other Christians. Acts 2 vs 1, 20 vs 7, John 20 vs 26.
    • the purpose should be edification - and both preaching and the Lord's Supper should figure in the church's weekly Sunday pattern. Acts 20 vs 7.
    • in evangelism. The spirit's coming on the assembled church at Pentecost consecrated the day to this purpose. Acts 2.
    • in works of mercy. Luke 6 vs 9, Matthew 12 vs 5, 10-13, Luke 13 vs 10-17, 14 vs 1-6, John 5 vs 6-17.
    • in works of necessity. We must not narrow these down to just those things which are necessary for our survival! The Sabbath was made for man - for his welfare. Mark 2 vs 27. Keeping the Sabbath and our best interests are not opposites. see Matthew 12 vs 1-8, 11-12.

     

* All this is a summary of what the Word of God teaches on this subject.

* Now see 

        1 John 2 vs 4-6
        Luke 12 vs 48
        Romans 14 vs 12
        2 Cor 5 vs 9-10.