Significance of the Sabbath

1
Significance of the Sabbath

• How the Sabbath rest affects Christians today

2
Introduction

• Many Christians have a good working knowledge of
  the Sabbath.
• The seventh day of the week, which was a
  commanded day of rest.
• This commandment was given only to the house of
  Israel.
• Thus, we can soundly reason that the Sabbath is
  no longer binding upon Christians under the New
  Testament.

3
Introduction

• What some of us fail to grasp, however, how the
  Sabbath indirectly affects us as Christians
  today.
• Some in pondering this might not see any
  significance of the Sabbath for Christians today.
• Others might place too much in the Sabbath and
  bind a New Testament version of the Old Testament
  Sabbath on Christians today.

4
Introduction

• For this reason we shall
• Review Old Testament teachings regarding the
  Sabbath and its associated principles.
• How those principles help Christians better
  understand our New Testament relationship with
  God.

5
Significance Of The Sabbath For O.T. Hebrews

• Sign of the Sabbath.
• Prior to Gods deliverance of the Israelites from
  the Egyptians there was no formal practice of the
  Sabbath revealed by God.
• Yet, God made it clear that the Sabbath itself
  was a sign between Him and the children of Israel
  for them to celebrate throughout their
  generations as a perpetual covenant. Exo.
  3112-17
• Reason for the sign that the Israelites might
  know that it was the Lord who sanctified them.
  Exo. 3113 (cp. Ezek. 2012)

6
Significance Of The Sabbath For O.T. Hebrews

• Sanctification of the Sabbath.
• Establishing His covenant with Israel God told
  them to remember the Sabbath day, keep it holy.
  Exo. 208
• It was holy because God sanctified and hallowed
  it. Gen. 22-3 Exo. 2011
• The Israelites by faith were to keep the
  Sabbath holy.
• Day of complete rest. Exo. 2010 Exo. 3115
• The only work was that of the priests daily
  sacrifices lamp trimmed, bread replaced. Lev.
  248 Num. 289
• Day to devote to the worship of the Lord. Ezek.
  463

7
Significance Of The Sabbath For O.T. Hebrews

• Sanctification of the Sabbath. (cont.)
• Penalty for not keeping Gods sabbaths.
• Gods people would be sent into captivity while
  the land enjoys its rest. Lev. 2634-35 (cp. 2
  Chr. 3620-21)
• If Gods people would turn from defiling the
  sabbath, and take delight in it, then God would
  also turn away from His wrath against them. Isa.
  5813-14

8
Significance Of The Sabbath For O.T. Hebrews

• Shadow of the Sabbath.
• As implied by scripture and explicitly defined
  sabbath simply means to cease or desist.
• Through an understanding of the word and the
  evolution of the Sabbath rest as used in the Old
  Testament, we should be able to learn the
  significance of this rest as taught in the New
  Testament.

9
Significance of the Sabbath For N.T. Christians

• The Old Testament Sabbath was made for Israel but
  represented a shadow of another day of rest to
  come. Col. 216-17
• Physical creation.
• Sabbath day rest.
• Land of rest (Canaan).
• Spiritual Canaan.

10
Significance of the Sabbath For N.T. Christians

• The significance of the Sabbath shadow. Heb.
  41-9
• Let us fear, lest we come short of entering the
  eternal rest. Heb. 41
• We need to make the good news profitable by
  living faithfully being holy (separate) from the
  bondage of slavery to sin. Heb. 43-5 (cp. Rom.
  6)
• The true rest did not come through Moses or
  Joshua, but through Jesus Christ. Heb. 46-7
• Ultimately (in contrast to the shadow) the one
  who has entered into His Sabbath rest has also
  rested from his works, just as God rested from
  His (from the foundation of the world). Heb.
  48-13

11
Conclusion

• We may not be living under the Law of Moses in
  keeping the Sabbath.
• But the shadowy principle under the Law directly
  affects all Christians today to live a holy life
  (being separate unto God) that we may enjoy the
  true rest He has promised through the Good News.