The Christian Sabbath

  • The Question: Are all the commandments regarding the Sabbath in the Old Testament binding on us?

Arguments for

  • Creation ordinance
  • 10 Commandments:
    • Moral
    • Ceremonial
    • Civil
  • The O.T. Prophets spoke very strongly
    • Isa 58:13 “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; 14 then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
  • Jesus rose from the dead on the 1st day, making it the start of the New Creation
  • Many people through the ages have been blessed by keeping it (and honoured by God)
  • It is healthy to rest one day in 7
  • The N.T. church met on the “Lord’s Day”

Arguments against

  • God rested at creation, but no command to keep it till the wilderness
    • Abraham didn’t keep the Sabbath
    • First mention was with giving of mana and was a total surprise
  • Ex 31:13 the Sabbath is the sign of the Covenant of Moses
  • Must be consistent:
    • Evening to evening
    • no cooking at all! or even heating
    • Didn’t have to go to church!
  • The main point was rest, which required faith in that society, to rest and see God provide all their needs.
  • no 3-part division
  • the other 9 are all repeated
  • This passage in Rom 14:5f
  • Col 2:16
  • Heb 3:7f
  • “Come unto me all you that labour and are heavy laden...”
  • Any command to meet together?
  • Jesus was “Lord of the Sabbath”
    • chose to do miracles on the 7th day
    • because they pointed to him as the fulfillment, the one who brought freedom
    • “A greater than David is here”

Is Sunday special in any way?

  • Yes, we remember Jesus’ victory. But not in any legalistic way