Sabbath..

Part 2 of 10

"The law" consisted of three components: the moral law, the civil law, and the ceremonial law. The moral law consisted of the ten commandments. The civil laws consisted of legislation for the community life of Israel. It included health and hygiene laws for their society (Exod 24:7-8; Heb 8:19-20; Deut 31:24-26). The ceremonial laws were detailed laws concerning the priesthood, sacrifices, offerings, the service of the sanctuary, festival occasions, Sabbaths, etc.

The Bible tells us that "the handwriting of ordinances that was against us" was blotted out, and nailed to the cross of Christ Jesus (Col 2:14). Paul tells us we're not "subject to ordinances" (Col 2:20). He tells us that Jesus has abolished in His flesh the enmity, even "the law of commandments contained in ordinances" (Eph 2:15). But which "ordinance" does this refer to? Which law? The moral, civil or ceremonial? Well, we've seen how the New Testament reiterates the moral law to New Covenant believers. Christians are still expected to walk with a high moral standard - not because we have to for fear of death, but because we love Jesus, and are being transformed into His same holy likeness (2 Cor 3:18). This radical love is the fulfilling of the moral law (Rom 13:8-10), and therefore this cannot be what was referenced as being nailed to the cross, and done away with (Col 2:14). Was it the civil law? I don't believe so. These laws were only used to properly govern a nation. Without civil law, there would be absolute chaos! Civil law is referenced in 1 Timothy 1:8-11. Therefore, by the hand-writing of ordinances the apostle most evidently means the ceremonial law: this was against them, for they were bound to fulfill it; and it was contrary to them, as condemning them for their neglect and transgression of it. This law God himself has nailed to the cross and blotted out. These laws were nothing but a figure of the true - a shadow of the substance - a type of the imminent antitype.

Just one of these "shadows" was the Mosaic Covenant Sabbath. Are we still obligated to remember the literal Sabbath day? The simple answer is "No".

What was the Old Covenant Sabbath?

The word "sabbath" simply means "rest, cessation from work". Under the Mosaic Covenant, the people of God were to observe a weekly sabbath (Exod 31:12-18; Lev 23:1-3).They also had sabbath years (Lev 25:1-24), and festival Sabbaths (Lev 23:2, 4, 7, 8, 21, etc). The weekly sabbath was to be a time of rest where no work was to be done. This is because, during creation, God rested from His work on the seventh day (Gen 2:1-3).

Is the Sabbath perpetual?

The Bible does indeed say this was to be a perpetual covenant (Exod 31:12-17), so why don't we observe it in the same manner today? Should we? Again, the answer is no.

This commandment is perpetual, however , upon the emergence of the New and better Covenant, it has gone to and through the cross of Christ Jesus and been elevated to a higher plane - an eternal, perpetual, and spiritual plane. The natural and literal Sabbath has become an eternal spiritual truth now for New Covenant believers. The Bible is very clear regarding the New Testament application of Sabbath rest (Col 2:16-17). It has gone from shadow to substance, type to antitype, literal to spiritual, dead to living, all the while remaining perpetual.

Did Jesus keep the Sabbath?

Some will argue that Jesus kept Sabbath, and therefore so should we. But is this accurate? Jesus was consistently ridiculed for the manner in which He observed the sabbath. He kept sabbath, not according to the letter of the law, but the Spirit. He did this by teaching and preaching on the sabbath, worshipping the Father, healing the sick and diseased, and ministering to the poor and needy. He broke the Talmudic sabbath rituals that were created by men. This is why the Pharisees hated Him (Mk 7:1-13). All of these "violations" were simply the commandments of men (Matt 12:1-14; Lk 6:1-5; 13:10-17; etc). Therefore, even though Jesus honored the sabbath, He did it according to the Spirit in which it was always intended. He said, "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath. Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath" (Mk 2:27-28).

Furthermore, Jesus kept sabbath because He was born "under the law"; the moment He was circumcised, Jesus became a debtor to fulfill the whole law (Gal 5:3). Such an entire fulfillment was necessary to redeem those under the law: "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Gal 4:4-5). He fulfilled the literal Sabbath law in His own person!

Did Paul and the Apostles keep the Sabbath?

The apostle Paul consistently taught on the sabbath (Acts 13:14, 27, 44; 15:21; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4). He taught Jews the spiritual truths of the Sabbath. He taught that the Mosaic Sabbath was simply a shadow of a coming, greater, spiritual reality. The primary reason that Paul did this was to fulfill the Gospel commission: "To the Jew first, and then to the Gentile" (Rom 1:16). Paul was a Jew, and therefore knew that the sabbath day was the best time to teach the Scriptures.

Secondly, the early church was in a transitory period, between the Old and New Covenants (from A.D. 33 until A.D. 70, when Jerusalem was destroyed and scattered). This is why Scripture records their adherence to "the first day of the week" (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:2). The book of Acts covers this transitory period, from A.D. 33 up through around A.D. 63.

Furthermore, you may be surprised to know that while Paul taught on the sabbath, he actually taught against it's Mosaic observance: "But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain" (Gal 4:9-11). Notice how he correlates the unnecessary observance of a day to being "in bondage"! Why? Because Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. For New Covenant believers, everyday is Sabbath rest!

Again Paul says, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ" (Col 2:16-17). The evidence really couldn't be any clearer. Our covenantal obligation has been elevated to a superior, spiritual plane! Those believers who strive to impose the Mosaic Covenant Sabbath on New Covenant believers are covenantally confused.

New Covenant Sabbath?

As already mentioned, the New Covenant believer has a spiritual Sabbath every day of the week (Matt 11:28-30; Heb 4:3-11). Sabbath has become a state of mind - a persistent state of communion between lovers!

"Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls" (Jer 6:16).

The veil has been rent, we now have perpetual access to the presence of God, wherein we find rest. We have the privilege of coming together for worship and teaching on a set day (Heb 10:25), but this privilege is an honor to perform - it is not a Mosaic duty. An Old Covenant duty has been elevated to a New Covenant honor and privilege! Even David prophesied of this coming eternal Sabbath (Ps 27:4).

Our Sabbath is in a Person, not a mere day! "In Christ", there is spiritual and eternal rest. It isn't in the keeping of a day, but in the receiving of a Person - the Lord Jesus.

Are we to honor the Mosaic Sabbath?

Therefore, as we have seen, the answer is "no". We are free from the Mosaic Sabbath for a number of reasons:

(1) Jesus taught that the Sabbath was made for man (Mk 2:27). Therefore, the day is at man's will. Man was not made for the Sabbath, and therefore man is not at the will of a mere day.
(2) Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (Mk 2:28). Therefore, He can alter the day(s) in which rest is given. New Covenant believer exalt the Lord of the Sabbath, not the Sabbath itself.
(3) Even in Old Testament days, the Lord rebuked Israel for their hypocritical Sabbath observances (Isa 1:10-17; 58:13-14; Lam 2:6). He spoke through the prophet Hosea that He would cause their feast days and Sabbaths to cease (Hosea 2:11). He did this at the Cross of Christ Jesus, when He died and fulfilled the literal Sabbath as a passing shadow.
(4) Paul taught that no day is better than another; he never imposed the literal Sabbath on anyone. Rather, he emphasized spiritual Sabbath rest and communion. He told the Romans to be fully persuaded in their own minds and regard everyday (and everything) as unto the Lord (Rom 14:5-7).
(5) The fourth commandment (honor the Sabbath) is never once repeated or reemphasized in the New Testament. It wasn't even listed at the Jerusalem council for the Gentiles to keep (Acts 15:20, 29).
(6) The only people who enforced the Sabbath in the New Testament were Judaizers. Paul called them "foolish" and "bewitched" Galatians, a mixture of law and grace (Gal 3:1).
(7) The Sabbath was a sign and seal of the Mosaic Covenant (Exod 31:12-18; Ezek 20:1-12). It ended there. It wasn't a sign nor a seal to any previous, nor further covenants.
(8) New Testament Christians abide under a New and better Covenant. Our covenant Sabbath rest is found in a Person - the Lord of the Sabbath. It's never to be found in a mere day. Hallelujah!

Friends, the choice is always our own.. Will we cling to Mosaic traditions for religion's sake? Will we chase after mere figures of the true? Or will we recognize the fleeting and passing shadows of the Old Covenant economy, and cling to the ever-glorious Antitype - King Jesus?

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matt 11:28-30).

To be continued...