I believe that Scripture draws a clear distinction between the eternal Sabbath rest of our Lord, which was lost for mankind in the garden, and the Sabbath day which is enjoined to the Mosaic covenant found in Exodus chapter 20. There are some who argue that there is a permanent obligation to uphold a Sabbath “day” observance instituted at creation by God Himself as one of the creation ordinances supposedly prescribed for the people. This appeal is based upon Genesis 2:2-3. Yet these verses neither prescribe nor command adherence to a Sabbath “day” of rest for man. Therefore the principle of a weekly Sabbath day of rest cannot be based on the so-called creation ordinance. I’ll do my best to explain my hermeneutical reasoning in a moment.
Historically, the institution of the Sabbath day comes with the travel to the promised land (Ex. 16:23) and the Sinai legislation (Ex. 20:11). This covenant was given by God to Moses on tablets of stone. There is a highly significant passage which buttresses Duet. 5 and Exodus 20 and confirms when the Sabbath command (not the promised Sabbath rest) was instituted:
You came down also at Mt. Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them just ordinances and true laws, good statues and commandments. You make known to them your holy Sabbath and commanded them precepts, statutes and laws, by the hand of Moses, your servant. Nehemiah 9:13,14 (See also Ezekiel 20:12).
This text confirms that the Sabbath day of rest command was instituted with the giving of the law by Moses. In fact the context immediately preceding and following these verses gives a brief synopsis of the Israelite forefathers beginning with the creation of the world, then the Abrahamic covenant of grace, then also the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai, followed by the disobedience which led to bondage in Egypt and so on.
Moses makes it quite clear as to who the Sabbath was given to, what it represented and once again a reference to Genesis 2:2-3 is made:
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. Exodus 31:16
(Please note Genesis 17:13 states that circumcision is stated as an “everlasting/ perpetual covenant“. Certainly proponents of an eternal sabbath day since creation should also argue that we are yet still bound to the covenant ofcircumcision, as well as the Sabbath command, because it’s also designated as perpetual throughout their generations……correct?)
At this juncture it’s vitally important to observe that mention of any command to observe the Sabbath day is conspicuously absent from any of Moses account throughout Genesis and even then not until Exodus chapter 16. After Exodus 20 the floodgates of Sabbath observance commands flow forth from the same author who penned the entire Pentateuch. Certainly a command so integral and holy to the Israelite forefathers would have been mentioned with the same frequency both before and after the Mosaic covenant took effect. Nehemiah 9:13,14 provides us with a clear explanation as to why Moses never mentions it.
So what of the Sabbath rest mentioned in Genesis 2:2-3. It was a permanent rest God entered into after He finished His creation. It is the only day of the seven which has no evening. It was also the rest that Adam and Eve enjoyed for an unknown period of time in the garden until they sinned. Following the fall, the effects of sin produced “hard” work and banishment from the garden where they had previously walked with the pre-incarnate Christ. A seventh day of rest for Adam and Eve prior to the fall can neither be implied nor logically deduced since they were presently already enjoying God’s rest.
After the fall, Scripture is almost entirely silent concerning the Sabbath until the giving of the law. Most assuredly there were laws and regulations that reflect God’s holy nature that were passed down from generation to generation, some of which are not recorded in Scripture since they were most likely orally communicated. Moses also records various offerings given unto the Lord. Almost certainly there was a weekly time of worship, as present believers now enjoy, that was manifest in some manner, this is not in dispute.
I believe the New Testament illuminates and typifies the pre-Mosaic view of Sabbath rest. We need only to look at the very heart of the law, Christ Jesus. For presently even believers in our Lord Jesus Christ remain under the Law of Christ instead of previously being under the supervision of the law (Gal. 3:19-25) which included the Sabbath day. The law of Christ reflects His very nature and is indeed eternal. Yet we are justified by grace as was our forefather Abraham, who also was not under the covenant of law, but enjoyed and was justified by a covenant of grace. Scripture says that through the Law no one will be justified (Gal. 2:6). In fact, Paul goes on to say that all who rely on the law are under a curse (Gal. 3:10). This includes the Ten Commandments. If you are in doubt about this then I would invite you to delve into 2 Cor. 3:7-18 which talks about the ministry that brought death engraved on letters of stone. This law was added until Christ would fulfill (not abolish) its requirements (Gal. 3:15-25). Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us. He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus. Christ forgave all our sins, having cancelled the written code and nailed it to the cross (Col. 2:14). Therefore we are not to judge anyone in regards to any Sabbath day, which was a shadow of things to come. The substance/ reality is found in Christ. Scripture also says that the righteous will live by faith and that the Law is not based on faith (Gal. 3:11,12). This includes any commandment including the fourth one as Paul makes clear in Romans 7:7,8 where he quotes and argues straight from the Decalogue.
In summary, if a distinction between the eternal Sabbath rest of God and the Sabbath day of the Mosaic covenant is not made then Christians who worship on the first day of the week are guilty of abandoning an ordinance declared from the beginning of creation. Seventh Day Adventists would argue that the Sabbath day (Saturday) is morally binding not only until Christ returns but for all eternity. Yet in fact the New Testament clearly demonstrates that the first day if the week is the day of worship for the early church. This can be demonstrated easily by a quick perusal of the early church history which is very well documented. However, it is never called the Sabbath by the Apostle Paul, Peter, James, John, Timothy or anyone else. It is instead referred to as the Lord’s Day. The Law, the whole Law, was the schoolmaster that brought us to Christ. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the Law (Gal. 3:23). There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God, for anyone who enters God’s rest, also rests from his own work, just as God did (Genesis chapter 2). Let us then make every effort to enter that rest and be not like our forefathers who were unable to enter His rest due to unbelief (Heb 3,4). They kept the Sabbath day yet never entered into His Sabbath rest (which is found in Christ) thus the distinction which I have posited from the very beginning.
How then is the Christian walk accomplished without the Law and the fading ‘ten’ one will most certainly ask? Scripture tells us: Live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. If you are led by the Spirit you are not under Law. (Gal. 5:16, 18). For what the Law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son to be a sin offering (Rom. 8: 3,4). Christ in the end of the (entire) law so that there might be righteousness for everyone who believes (Rom. 10:4)
James
Written: December 26, 2007
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