Questions on the Sabbath

Sabbath recognition in the OT was to foreshadow the coming of Christ. The sacrifices and rituals of the OT simly show and reflect the great significance of the coming Christ.
Now that Christ has come He alone is our sabbath, our rest.

Read Walter Chantry's 'Call the Sabbath a Delight'.
Also, read the book of Hebrews.

Listen to these explanation of Sabbath that will clarify a biblical picture of its significance:

http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?speakerWithinSource=&subsetCat=&subsetItem=&mediatype=&keyword=Richard%5ECaldwell%5EJr.&keyworddesc=Richard+Caldwell+Jr.&currsection=sermonsspeaker&AudioOnly=false&SpeakerOnly=true&keywordwithin=sabbath

I'm still kind of on the fence on the Sabbath issue. Here's what the Heidelberg Catechism has to say about the 4th commandment:

Q 103. What does God require in the fourth Commandment?
A. In the first place, God wills that the ministry of the Gospel and schools be maintained, and that I, especially on the day of rest, diligently attend church to learn the Word of God, to use the Holy Sacraments, to call publicly upon the Lord, and to give Christian alms. In the second place, that all the days of my life I rest from my evil works, allow the Lord to work in me by His Spirit, and thus begin in this life the everlasting Sabbath.


Hebrews 4 says a lot about how the Sabbath is to be understood in the new covenant. The focus here doesn't seem to be on a particular sabbath day, but on the eternal sabbath rest in which we have yet to be consummated and yet enjoy as it breaks through into this present age. Regardless of which side of the sabbatarian debate you're on, it is very clear that there is something we're commanded to do, somewhere we're commanded to be, on the day the apostles set apart as the Lord's Day. We are commanded to worship God with His people, and to receive His gifts through the Word preached and the Sacraments given. We do not have the option of treating it just like any other day. Beyond that, I'm afraid I can't say much. The Catechism leaves us with a good deal of liberty when it comes to the rest of the day. And if I'm not sure that I agree with the sabbatarian view of, say, the Westminster standards, nevertheless I think they have a very good point, that this isn't a day to be concerned with our worldly employments and worries, but a day for worship and love.

If I were you, I wouldn't accept a job that requires me to work on Sunday. I can't at this time say that as a scriptural mandate, but I think the spirit of the day, and of gratitude to my Lord for His redemptive work and for drawing me into His kingdom and family, necessitates that I refrain from work as best as I can on this day so that I can dedicate it to public and private worship, and the enjoyment of His creation.

I am a passionate Sabbatarian. I would suggest that you read or listen to these:

1. The Lord's Day by Joseph Pipa
2. The Means of Grace: The Sabbath by Joseph Pipa
3. Theses Sabbaticae by Thomas Shepard
4. The Sabbath is a Day to Keep by J C Ryle
5. The Fourth Commandment by Thomas Watson
6. The Lord's Day by Thomas Watson
7. Proper Sabbath Observance (The Sojourner's Sabbath) by Herman Hoeksema
8. Sabbath, The Day Changed: The Sabbath Preserved by A A Hodge
9. On the First Day of the Week by Iain D Campbell (I heard Rev Campbell speak at Durham Presbyterian Church on this issue and he was excellent!)

I thought the following was a v. good sermon on the sabbath, from a series that my church did on the ten commandments.

World and its priorities - Chris Green

I too am a Sabbaterian--my church used to be but has gotten more. . .uh, culturally relevant and really isn't anymore. . .but I still am and hold strong convictions on the matter--though I must admit that your friends' way of going about getting you to agree with them is probably not the best way to convince someone. The books that Richard suggested are all very good.

Old Testament Laws:
Must We Observe the Law of Moses and the Sabbath Today?



A FEW MORE THOUGHTS ABOUT SABBATH KEEPING
Colossians 2:16-17
DON FORTNER



THE LORD OF THE SABBATH
Mark 2:27-28
DON FORTNER


NO SABBATH KEEPING ALLOWED

Don Fortner

My church leans towards recognizing the Lord's Day - not as an obligation that we should feel guilty about not keeping, but as an opportunity to rest in God and to enjoy the fellowship with our Christian brothers and sisters.

We regularly meet at someone's house after worship for a casual meal and fellowship time. After our Sunday evening service we again, meet at someone's house for "Spurgeon." (our term for fellowship and theologic discussion).

It used to be that I did my grocery shopping on Sundays because that was my one day off work. I've made a concerted effort to change that pattern and feel that I've benefited from the change.

I do think that repealing blue laws has made the church more like the world - not too long ago we probably wouldn't have been having this discussion, we simply recognized that Sundays were for God and spending time with family.

edie

Yes I too celebrate the wonderful day that the Lord gave us to rest in Him with gladness in my heart.

I think that too many Christians see the keeping of the sabbath day as some kind of "work" that makes them seem as if they were trying to please God by keeping the day Holy. However, by the grace of God, I see it not as some kind of burden that I cannot work, nor make anyone work for me, ect... but it really is a very good time to truly REST in the Lord, and FORGET ALL worldly interactions and give all praise, honor, and glory to God on the day that He has given us to observe in reverence to Him as He so rightly deserves. We do not keep the day because we feel convicted to keep it as the Jews were to keep the ceremonial law, but because He has given us the desire to keep it and to find the joys in resting in Him and getting a whole day to spend with Him, as we will in eternity.

Yes, we do fall short at times and by the old natures that care for the world in us, we fail time and again as with all sin in our lives, and let the old nature creep into our time with the Lord and we fall into sin on the Lords day. These are things that our heart should grieve over. That when we take ourselves away from that beautiful rest that He has given to us all and what He has commanded us to remember.

People are quick to shout the "legalism" term in most cases, even professing Christians. But my question is this...
The Lord God gave His children the day to rest in Him and commanded us to remember this, if He has given us a day of rest, what gives us the right to make other people work for us on that day?

And also, if it would be considered "legalistic" to keep His day holy and to keep the commandment of not working or not making others work for you and be in observance of His day in time and study with Him, If you don't have to keep that commandment, then, why don't we go murder, rob a bank, or go and commit adultery on our husbands and wives? Is it legalistic to keep those commandments as well?

I struggled with the Sabbath for a long time. I read some Puritans, R.L. Dabney and others, but the one person that I most agree with is John Calvin.

Unlike many of his theological descendents, John Calvin was not a sabbaterian. He enjoyed lawn bowling on Sunday evenings.

Kenith

Rom 14,5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [alike]. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Col 2,16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]:

(AV)

5solas said:

Rom 14,5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [alike]. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Col 2,16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]:

(AV)

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Amen!!!!!

Kenith

The way I see it there are two parts of the sabbath-

1) Worship/fellowship. This is obviously done during Sunday church services, and also at lunch, hanging out, dinner etc. It is great to focus on God and his people on this day. For this reason we try to avoid other activities that would conflict.

2) rest from work. God gave us the sabbath as a rest day, and we have a sabbath rest day- but it's not always Sunday. At the moment it is convenient for it to be Sunday. DH doesn't work that day, I make sure I get all my housework done on the other days so Sunday can be a rest (apart from meal preparation etc).

But for those in full time ministry, Sunday is a day for 1) but not 2). Sunday is a work day- services to lead, sermons to preach, people to visit, meetings to run etc. So it makes sense for their 'sabbath' to be a separate day, when they can focus on God (maybe with family or close friends) but also have a rest.

I think keeping the idea of 'sabbath' but without being legalistic is tricky but important.

sparassidae said:

The way I see it there are two parts of the sabbath-

1) Worship/fellowship. This is obviously done during Sunday church services, and also at lunch, hanging out, dinner etc. It is great to focus on God and his people on this day. For this reason we try to avoid other activities that would conflict.

2) rest from work. God gave us the sabbath as a rest day, and we have a sabbath rest day- but it's not always Sunday. At the moment it is convenient for it to be Sunday. DH doesn't work that day, I make sure I get all my housework done on the other days so Sunday can be a rest (apart from meal preparation etc).

But for those in full time ministry, Sunday is a day for 1) but not 2). Sunday is a work day- services to lead, sermons to preach, people to visit, meetings to run etc. So it makes sense for their 'sabbath' to be a separate day, when they can focus on God (maybe with family or close friends) but also have a rest.

I think keeping the idea of 'sabbath' but without being legalistic is tricky but important.

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For the most part I agree with your assessment. Regarding those in the ministry - both of my pastors are bi-vocational. They would both tell you that all they do for the Lord's day (i.e. preaching a sermon) is an act of love for God, not a work.

edie

edb19 said:

For the most part I agree with your assessment. Regarding those in the ministry - both of my pastors are bi-vocational. They would both tell you that all they do for the Lord's day (i.e. preaching a sermon) is an act of love for God, not a work.

edie

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My dh has been a pastor (and will be going back to it next year most likely). Yes, he does it for love. But it is still work, in the sense that it is physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting.

Over here (at least in our circles) to not have a 'day off' is to invite burnout.

Been there, done that.

Sorry to get off topic.

sparassidae said:

My dh has been a pastor (and will be going back to it next year most likely). Yes, he does it for love. But it is still work, in the sense that it is physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting.

Over here (at least in our circles) to not have a 'day off' is to invite burnout.

Been there, done that.

Sorry to get off topic.

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I don't think you're off topic.

And as I said, I agree with your post. In reading back what I didn't make clear is the fact that my pastors take a day off from their "week" job not from their "church" job (if that makes sense).

edie

edb19 said:

I don't think you're off topic.

And as I said, I agree with your post. In reading back what I didn't make clear is the fact that my pastors take a day off from their "week" job not from their "church" job (if that makes sense).

edie

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Makes much more sense. When I said "full time ministry" in my first post I meant those who work for the church only.