The Sabbath, a day of rest unto the Lord. Many religions and denominations of those religions celebrate the Sabbath on either a Saturday or a Sunday. I have even heard people debate over which is correct. Is the day the issue or what then is the issue?
Gen 2:3
So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. See, it doesn't say Saturday or Sunday in fact at this point the days have not even been named. Now look at this next scripture.
2 Pet 3:8
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. And, Gal.4:10 says, You observe days and months and seasons and years! Paul is discussing how we need to get at the root of our spirituality not the form or rituals.
For example, we celebrate ones birth on their birthday. Really we should be giving the gifts and accolades to that person's parents who nurtured them from birth. We celebrate the 4th of July here in America as it commemorates our Independence from England, but isn't our freedom worth more than a day of recognition or celebration? Christians celebrate Christmas and Easter at times of the year that are actually not accurate with the birth or resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So then what is God teaching us when He says in Exodus 20:8-11, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
God was foreshadowing a day that would come that would be the fulfillment of the Sabbath. The day we live in. The seventh day. If we account time as beginning with Adam and the historical account of the Bible we are in the seventh year, 7,000 years since the fall of Adam. 5,000 before Christ and 2,000 years since His coming. A day of rest. Check this out!
Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
“ As I swore in my wrath,
‘ They shall not enter my rest,’ ”
although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,
“ They shall not enter my rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words 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 of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.
The heart of this commandment is that we must honor the Sabbath with a daily understanding of the rest that Christ purchased for us. Look at Matt:11:28-30
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath! Let's Worship Him on Saturday, Sunday and everyday! Let's enter into the rest that He has provided. Just as the Father provided the Heavens and the Earth complete and without error so has the Father provided a place for us in Christ that is secure, complete and perfect. Let us rest in the finished work of Christ and celebrate together corporately on Saturday or Sunday as we declare... HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!
Grace and Peace,
Ed
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