Question: .

I would like to know what your view is on the Sabbath? Aren't God's commandments still in effect today.....and doesn't that include the fourth?

-Tracie

Answer:

Dear Tracie,

No, the commandments are not "in force" today in the sense that you appear to be asking. The Sabbath commandment is not "in force" in the sense that only one day of the week is holy, (whether that day be Saturday or Sunday, but it appears your interest is in Saturday). Further, observance of that one day is not, as many sabbatarians teach, the test commandment. It does not separate true believers from "false" believers, it is not "better or superior" teaching or understanding (than the teaching that Sunday "keepers" have). That is not the meaning of the fourth commandment for Christians.

The commandments for Christians are necessary only as and when they are explained, reinforced, and modified (in some cases made more "demanding") in the New Testament. The cross of Christ, and in particular, the resurrection, are the central event - the watershed - the defining moment in history - for all Christians. The empty tomb, not Sinai. Anything that any Christian does is as a result of being saved - we are saved not by our works, but for works - that we might be his workmanship (Eph. 2:8-10). His workmanship is not described by the old covenant, but by the new.

The fourth commandment was observed by Christ as prescribed under the Mosaic law. However, that fact does not mean that Christians must or should do so today. Jesus was circumcised. In terms of the Sabbath, Jesus kept it in a synagogue - not in a church. Jesus kept old covenant holy days - including some not mentioned in the old covenant but developed by the Jewish religion later (see John 10:22) - what the Jews now call Hanukah). Therefore, if the principle is "do whatever Jesus did because He set us an example" - we would need to keep all of the Jewish days, Saturday, old covenant holy days, Hanukah.

Jesus was a Jew - and lived life as a Jew - including keeping kosher laws, etc. But he also gave us teaching that the New Testament, both in its history that is recorded, and in its teaching that is recorded, shows us the foundation of Christianity. He rose on the third day - and that resurrection became and is the defining moment for all Christians (see 1 Cor. 15). Christians today understand that the rest of Shabbat is the rest that Jesus alone can give - but that rest (see Hebrews 3 and 4) is not confined to one 24 hour period. Jesus is the Lord of all - including the Sabbath. We can come to him, and must come to him - not a day, not any groups of days, not any traditions, not any rituals - we must come to him and he will give us rest (Matt. 11:28-30 - and the continuing context of the "Sabbath controversies" of Matthew 12).

Christians are free to worship on any day - either Saturday or Sunday. Sunday is the day that most Christians reserve for worship as it is a weekly anniversary of the resurrection. But whether the day of fellowship and worship is Saturday or Sunday it cannot be kept/observed in such a way as to give special status of superiority to the adherents/worshippers. There is absolutely no difference between someone who worships on a Saturday or Sunday - unless one of them condemns his brother or sister as an inferior Christian - or as someone who is deceived and is not a Christian at all. (Romans 14 speaks to this issue precisely and cogently. Colossians 2 and the book of Galatians - especially chapter 4 is instructive).

If someone were to say that this approach is permissive or antinomian, that someone would be well advised to read their Bible more closely and read the "sin and virtue lists" of Galatians 5 and Colossians 3 more carefully (among others). Why does the New Testament never list "Sabbath breaking" as something that Christians do not do - while it lists things like slandering, speaking evil of one another, envy, pride, etc. Christians, by definition of what are called "sin and virtue lists" of the New Testament, do not lie, cheat, steal, commit adultery, hate, murder, rumor monger, covet, envy, etc. But Christians are not bound to, and do not live under, the old covenant. That is clear in the New Testament.

We need to understand what the cross and the empty tomb were. What happened at the cross? Who was this Jesus - just a good example, just a teacher with some good principles - just a moral man - or was he God in the flesh, the second person of the Trinity? What happened when he died on the cross? What does his atoning work on the cross mean for us? What is God's grace? Is it grace plus law? Is it Jesus plus law? What saves us - the law or Jesus - or is it both? What is the meaning of the empty tomb?

The books of Romans and Galatians would be a great study - if you want to pursue this question further. I hope this brief answer gives you some thoughts to ponder - let me know if I can be of further help.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht