Introduction
The concept of Sabbath and how it relates to the incarnation of Christ Jesus, the Messiah, is discussed. The conception of Sabbath in this piece of writing is taken from the books of Moses and Pauline Epistles.
Sabbath of Rest
“But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it, thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates” (Exo 20:10).
The law on Sabbath rests on the premise that God ended His work on the seventh day so He rested on that day. God blessed this day and sanctified it because he rested from all His works (Gen 2:2-3). Men, therefore, were charged to observe the seventh day as a holy day and a Sabbath of rest to the Lord. This Sabbath of rest was not intended to be observed forever. It looked forward to the coming of God. It is against this background that Paul writes that:
“Let no man, therefore, judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holiday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ” (Col 2:16-17).
The strict observance of the Saturday Sabbath of rest was to end with the coming of Christ. It was only a shadow of Christ. People could, therefore, worship God on any day of their choice without any condemnation. According to Paul:
“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth, not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. ..” (Rom 14:5-6).
Paul explains that as many of us that have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior have entered into the Sabbath rest of God (Heb 4:3-4). It is said that the people who were first promised the seventh-day rest never entered into the complete rest because Joshua could not give them that rest. Therefore, it still remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, because those who have the rest of God have ceased from all their works as God did on the seventh day (Heb 4:5-10).
Conclusion
Sabbath is not just a day or event to be observed but the celebration of a lifetime freedom realized through faith in Christ. People who have truly accepted Christ as their savior have ceased from their own works, and have entered into the Sabbath rest of God. So, in Christ, whether a believer would celebrate the Sabbath or not is insignificant in our Christian faith.
Prayer: God, we ask of you to continue to enlighten us as we study your Word. In Jesus’ name. AMEN!