Christians, Sabbath, & Sunday

As I prepare to preach on the 7^th day of creation where we see God resting from his work, the Lord’s Word has got me thinking about Sabbath & resting. Should Christians take a Sabbath? To responsibly answer this question I feel that I must ask two other questions first:  1- What is OT Sabbath & 2- Has anything changed since then?

(1) OT Sabbath

a.     Ex. 20:8-11- Sabbath keeping is the 4^th commandment (in the 10 commandments). This means it is a law for God’s people to obey- keep the Sabbath holy & don’t work. This commandment is rooted in Creation with Genesis 2:2-3 being directly quoted.

b.     Ex. 31:14- Breaking the Sabbath for God’s people was very serious business resulted in the death penalty.

c.     Ex. 31:17- Observing the Sabbath is a “covenant sign” between God and his people forever.
(First Century Jews)

d.     Luke 6:6- Jews very carefully observed Sabbath and gathered in synagogues for worship, fellowship, and to read the Law

e.     John 19:31- It was because of Jewish request due to strict Sabbath observance that Pilate has Jesus speared and taken off the cross early (Irony!).
(2) Has anything changed?

a.     Mt. 5:17-18 & 2 Cor. 5:21- Jesus said he came to fulfill the law and He did. Through His cross & resurrection Jesus took our law breaking sin on himself and gives the church his righteous law-keeping life.

b.     Mt. 12:8- Jesus said He was Lord of the Sabbath

c.     Mk. 2:27- Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for man- not man for the Sabbath.

d.     Col. 2:16-17- No Christian should judge another about Sabbaths b/c these things are shadows and Christ is the substance

e.     Rom. 14:5- Paul encourages Christians to have their own conviction before the Lord regarding “one day as holy” vs. “every day alike as holy.”

f.      Luke 13:10, 1 Corinthians 16:2 & Acts 20:7- Jesus’ resurrection was on Sunday, the first day of the week. It was the practice of the early church to meet on the first day of the week for worship, teaching, and fellowship (Sunday). This was the day Jesus was raised from the dead!

g.     Heb. 4:1-11- God’s rest in Genesis 2 represents more than the 7^th day of our week. God’s Sabbath rest is symbolic for heaven. We can only enter this rest through faith in the good news about the person and work of Jesus.
Conclusions

1.     The official Christian day of worship is clearly Sunday.

2.     In Christ Christians are not bound by the law to observe the Sabbath. The Bible gives Christians freedom to develop their own conviction on Sabbath observance.

3.     A “practical” use of the OT law regarding Sabbath ought to lead Christians to consider the blessing of the work/rest principle & enjoying a distinctly sacred day (3 uses of the OT law = pedagogical, political, practical)

4.     Jesus enables us to enter God’s Sabbath rest (eternal life). Christians should enjoy this reality in an already-not yet sense.