Bible Studies
Hebrews 4:7-9~God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.”
This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God.
We as Christians are not held to the Sabbath law that God ordained through Moses for the sake of the Israelites thousands of years ago, prior to Jesus Christ entering into this world in human flesh. According to Hebrews 4:7-9 (above), God considers “today” as a Sabbath-rest for all true believers; specifying that Jesus Christ is the “Lord of the Sabbath.”
Jesus lived under the law and paid it in full for us so that we are set free in grace and mercy. As long as we continue to live upon this earth; we will be subjected to constant toil, both spiritually and physically, but it is through the saving grace of Christ that we will inherit eternal rest from it in the Kingdom of God.
Sometimes people tend to get caught up in their religious views, rather than God’s views, especially when pertaining to the Sabbath. I have had some people tell me that we should celebrate Saturday as the Sabbath because it is the seventh day, while yet others have told me that Sunday is the holy day which should be honored. However, Bible history foretells that God created day and night of existence and called them the first day. The Holy Book continues to unfold how God completed all creation by the end of the sixth day; and set aside the seventh as a day for His rest.
Genesis 1:5~“God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.”
Genesis 2:2-3~“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”
I think it is important that we also take a break from our hectic schedule of working and scurrying about, trying to squeeze our life’s duties into one week. However, I am not convinced that God ordained a day of rest exactly on any specific day. It is my understanding that every day should be used to honor God; and that we are not to judge others for refusing to honor Him on a specific day, as referenced in the following scriptures:
Romans 14:5-11~One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life, so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written: “As surely as I live,” says the Lord; ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
It is very clear when reading God’s Word, that we are not held accountable to observe any particular day as being more important than the next. All too often people are so busy trying to display their belief through motive filled actions of attending Church on either Sunday or Saturday; that they lose perspective of the true meaning of what faith and worship are all about. Jesus Christ is our Sabbath and should be revered and praised every day and not just one day a week in order to appear as faithful servants for the benefit of others.
The Book of Hebrews (4:1-6) reveals that the Israelites eradicated their rest in God due to their lack of faith and obedience. In Today’s scheme of things, Jesus represents rest for all who seek Him with an obedient heart and faithful spirit. Rest in Christ transcends any and all ritualistic practices, as it constitutes divine rest to edify our souls and spiritual welfare; which goes way beyond the physical rest that was mandated in the Old Testament for the Israelites.
Galatians 4:9-11~“But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.”
We have been set free from the law of sin and death through the grace of Jesus Christ and should continuously and gladly worship God each and every day. Since God made Christ “Lord of the Sabbath,” His expectations are clear in Matthew 12:1-8 which reveals that He “desires mercy and not sacrifice.” In essence, the Sabbath is a perpetual covenant between God and ancient Israel, according to the following scriptures. They clearly express that the Sabbath was ordained strictly for the Israelites:
Exodus 31:13-17~“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.14Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. 15 For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of Sabbath rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.”
God in all of His infinite power and wisdom prophesied His truth through the spirit of Christ as well as through His carefully appointed disciples. It is up to us as obedient children of God to decipher truth from fiction and all other false doctrines of man. Everything we ever need to know is found in the eternal Book of God, where His profound words are the actual bread of life to all true believers and faithful servants.
I will conclude by sharing the following scriptures which perfectly express God’s wishes pertaining to the law of the Sabbath:
Colossians 2:14-17~“Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
I would encourage all of you to meditate on these words and pray for continued peace and discernment in all things relating to the expectations of living as faithful Christians. Be encouraged and blessed by God’s daily Word and the fulfillment of His eternal promises and everything else therein.
~Peace, joy, mercy and love in Jesus Christ~
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His rest is something He has been teaching me over the past few months. To trust Him, find my peace in Him, rest in Him no matter the day of the week. Good teaching.
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