The Sabbath Rest

There are two important things to consider here. Number one, the Sabbath was given to Israel as the 'sign' of an everlasting Covenant between God and His people in remembrance that it was God who sanctified them (Exodus 31:13-16), and because they should remember God's work in bringing them out of the bondage of Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:13-15). And number two, it was instituted as a day of rest from their labours (Exodus 31:17), coinciding with and commemorating God's rest from His. It was to be observed on the seventh day (saturday), and was to be a Holy day wherein their work would cease.


Matthew 5:17

• "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil".

The law was completed or fulfilled. This is what so many theologians do not understand. Christ didn't do away with the old testament laws, He was that to which those laws pointed. He is the fruition of them.
Luke 24:44

• "And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me."

Christ fulfilled these old covenant laws, which pointed to Him. We now celebrate Christ (the Passover Lamb) through the communion service to remember his broken body. In other words, we now recognize that the law of Moses in sacrificing an animal was merely an old testament 'sign' pointing to the actual sacrifice of his body. And with the coming of the real, our eyes are upon it and no longer upon the 'sign' looking forward to it. We are now looking backward. i.e., the Old Testament law of the 'Passover sacrifice' looked forward to the broken body of Christ, and the 'communion service' looks back at the broken body of Christ. The method of observance has changed, but the observance has not. In Christ, we keep the law of the Passover forever. The blood of the Passover lamb in the true, shed once and for all.

Likewise, the law of the Gifts, the Temple, the Scapegoat, the Altar, the High Priest, the Sabbath, the Atonement, etc., were all mere shadows of the truth. They were not the truth but a shadow thereof. We can see this illustrated in the book of Hebrews:
Hebrews 8:2-5

• A Minister of the Sanctuary, and of the True Tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man.
• For every High Priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
• For if He were on earth, He should not be a Priest, seeing that there are Priests that offer gifts according to the law:
• Who serve unto the Example and a Shadow of heavenly things."

Hebrews 10:1-2

• "for the LAW having a Shadow of good things to come, and not the
• Very Image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect."

Exodus 31:13

• "Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you."

It was a sign or signification between God's children and Him that they know they are sanctified or made Holy by God. Again, something which can only happen in Christ as they are delivered from the bondage of sin.
Colossians 1:22

• "In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:"

Matthew 28:1

• "In the end of the Sabbaths, as it began to dawn towards the First of the Sabbaths, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the Sepulchre."

It was the end of the Old Testament Sabbaths and the dawning of the New Testament Sabbaths. In the 'translation' of your Bible it may read first of the 'week' (an unfortunate translation) but the word there is Sabbaths [sabbaton] from the root Hebrew word [Sabbath]. In Matthew 28:1, the two words, one translated 'week' and the other 'Sabbath,' are the identical words, the plural of [sabbaton]. i.e., Sabbaths! We can understand why translators made this error, as it doesn't 'seem' correct to say, 'in the end of the Sabbaths (plural), as it began to dawn towards the first of the Sabbaths (plural).' But when we understand that it was speaking of an end to the Old Testament era of Sabbaths and the beginning (dawn) of a New Testament era of Sabbaths, it makes perfect sense. 

We can readily understand (though not condone) why they decided to translate one sabbaton as a week and the other identical sabbaton as Sabbath (singular), but in Greek, they are both identical plural words, Sabbaths. Greek scholars confirm this, and there is nothing in the Greek text itself that would promote translating these same two plural Greek words for sabbaths differently here.

In the New Testament epistles, there are only 2 references to the Sabbath (Col.2:16; Heb.4:4); both these passages, the apostle Paul clearly explains that the day is not a required day to be observed by Christians. To the Hebrews in the Old Covenant, they were under obligation. In the New Covenant, neither Jews nor Gentiles are. There is no command after the death and resurrection for the Church to keep the Sabbath as an obligation to Christ.

Why not. Hosea 2:11: “I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her New Moons, her Sabbaths-- all her appointed feasts.” Here we have God himself saying these will come to an end, he is the cause. This is not a permanent end and can be applied to Israel in her captivity, or it can certainly fit in with the New Testament dispensation. Didn’t Jesus keep the Sabbath? 

Yes, but for what reason? He was born under the law and kept all the law, if He violated even the most minor point he would have been disqualified to be the messiah. He would have become a transgressor and a sinner like us. Gal.4:4 says, “God sent forth his son, made of a woman, born under the law, to redeem them that were under the law.” Jesus was the only one who kept it perfectly. 

Many argue that Jesus is our example, so we should imitate him in everything. Well, Jesus was circumcised on the 8th day, he observed all the feast days, and He also kept the entire law of Moses (613  commands). He never married and never had a permanent home. He also boldly stood up to those who challenged the Word and His teaching. In His miracles, He walked on water, instantly healed people of organic diseases, and resurrected many. 

Can we use only the Sabbath to follow him and discard the rest? The point is that he kept all the laws, even the most minor parts, including the law of Moses, that applied to him (ceremonial, civil, dietary, etc. Certain portions of the law Jesus was not under, such as sacrifices for sin).   Do lawkeepers keep the 613 commands? The Jews did.

 Didn't Paul keep the Sabbath? He went into the Jewish synagogues to preach to the Jews on their Sabbath day in Acts 13:14-43, 17:2, 18:4. He kept it as a custom to the Jews, but it was not an obligation. We need to distinguish why it was kept, not just that it was observed. In Acts 13:42-43, They did not go to worship by obligation under the law but simply because this was the best means of reaching their brethren. 

Paul and Barnabas had the freedom to assemble any day they wished. As they congregated together in the temple they invited Paul and Barnabas to come back the following Sabbath to speak to them more about the Gospel, many of the Jews and Gentile proselytes to Judaism followed them Paul and Barnabas admonished them to hold fast to the grace of God. Now, where is grace found? In Christ, verses 44-52, Paul and Barnabas returned the following Sabbath to preach the Gospel to nearly all the inhabitants of Antioch, who were anticipating to hear their message. But they were met with stiff opposition from other Jews, and Gentile converts to Judaism from the city. 

They became very jealous of their success with the people, so they expelled Paul and Barnabas from the area. It wasn’t the law Acts 13 that was being preached, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ, grace, of which they began training them. This is not proof that they kept the Sabbath under the New Covenant. 

Paul explains why he kept the law in 1 Cor.9:19-20: “For though I am free from all men, yet I have made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And to the Jews, I became a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law (the Jews), as under the law, that I might win those under the law. To those without a law (not being without a law toward god but under the law toward Christ), I might win those without law; to the weak, I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

The simple answer is that he made it clear he was not under the law but purposely put himself under it to reach those who were. Paul placed himself in many situations, as one under the law (including the Sabbath), so he could get the Jews with the Gospel. He became all things to all men to present the gospel of grace, the only means of salvation. Paul’s model of evangelism was to the Jews first until they rejected his message; he then turned to the Gentiles.

There is no record of Christians congregating outside the temple of Jews on the Sabbath, only in the temple. This mix was those who believed and those who did not. Indeed, believers do not worship along with those who do not. What makes this interesting is that there are no more references to keeping the Sabbath after Acts 18:4-7. 

This makes one wonder, with the church becoming more Gentile than Jewish, this fact would certainly be addressed in Acts 15 or the epistles if wrong, but it is not. Indeed, it would have been presented as an opportunity for correction as the Gentiles entered the Church. Since they would not be familiar with worshipping on the Sabbath day as the custom of Judaism. In Acts 15, this letter addresses the essential things required for the fellowship of Jewish and Gentile Christians together. Keeping the weekly Sabbath or observance of any feast day is not mentioned. 

There is no command to eat clean and unclean foods, only a command to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, food containing blood, and food resulting from animal strangulation. This letter to the Gentile Christians was written by the guidance of the Holy Spirit through Jewish Christian elders who counseled together in the Jerusalem Church.

Their conclusion was “Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? Acts 15:9: “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Vs.21 “For Moses, from ancient generations, there have been those who preach him in every city since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath (Acts 15:24-25). Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, 'You must be circumcised and keep the law'-- to whom we gave no such commandment!”No such commandment, why? Because they were under a new covenant.

The epistles were mostly corrective letters reinforcing what was taught in person by the apostles and adding further revelation to what had already been taught. There was no warning against Sunday worship that would be construed as pagan worship. In fact, we find it is the opposite; they were given freedom they did not have before. Col.2:16 mentions not to judge on days, and Romans 14:6 says that we can pick whatever day we want to observe to the Lord.

There was a transition from the primordial Church (Acts 20:7). The writings show that the early Jewish Christians kept both without any conflict, not like there is today. There was no challenge, unlike circumcision and the law, which became a huge issue.

Along with the apostle Paul, they believed Rom. 10:4: “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” By trusting in Christ's work, the law is fulfilled perfectly. Christ is the end Greek- telos, meaning he is the goal of its intent. He completed it, and we enter into what he did by faith. Some questions to ask yourself are, who or what did the apostles preach, a day or the death and resurrection of the Savior? What saves someone? 

This is the message of the NT. There are three options: keep the Sabbath day and never be saved by Christ. You can be saved by Christ and never keep the Sabbath day, or you can be saved and keep the Sabbath day by personal choice, but you cannot say for one to be saved, they MUST keep the Sabbath.

Summary

The Sabbath is Elohim's sign, the seal of his authority, and his mark of ownership on the believer.  It was given by Elohim at creation to benefit mankind whom he had created in His image.  Elohim wants all men to benefit from his plan to provide them with rest and fellowship every seventh day.

The Sabbath was observed adequately by the Messiah and his disciples.  The book of Hebrews strongly exhorts all believers to join Elohim on his seventh day of rest as a precursor to joining Elohim in His kingdom rest.  Those who refuse to rest on the seventh day are like the Israelites of old who hardened their hearts against Elohim's way.  Ultimately, refusal to obey Elohim will result in Elohim rejecting the stubborn ones from entrance to his eternal kingdom.

Let it be so that all who love Messiah and are covered by his atoning blood will join the Master and Savior in resting on the seventh day of the week in humble obedience to Elohim's loving plan for each one of us.

Traci Morin
Touch of God International Ministries of Healing and Deliverance - A Christian Healing and Deliverance Ministry - Setting the Captives Free from bondages