April 05, 2011

Jesus is Our Sabbath

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 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."~Colossians 2:14-16

There is no Sabbath Day today for the Christians. Col. 2:14-16 tells us that the ceremonials laws were nailed to the cross, including the Sabbath Day. Jesus became the fulfillment of what the Sabbath represented in the Old Testament. The Sabbath Day was a ceremonial Law, only for the Jews in the Old Testament. It pictured resting in Jesus Christ for salvation. This is plainly taught in Heb. 4:1-5...
"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest."
Here is what C.I. Scofield says concerning sabbath:
"The Sabbath commemorates God's creation rest, the first day Christ's resurrection. On the seventh day God rested, on the first day Christ was ceaselessly active. The sabbath commemorates a finished creation, the first day commemorates a finished redemption. The sabbath was a day of legal obligation, the first day one of voluntary worship and service"~The Scofield Referrence Bible.
The 6-days of men working pictured man's self-righteousness, which could never save (Isa. 64:6Rom. 3:20). When we cease from our own self-righteous labors and rest upon the Lord for salvation, we are eternally saved. In the Old Testament people were to labor and rest. In the New Testament, God 's people are to rest first in Christ and then labor for God's glory (Matt. 11:28-30). In the Old Testament God required righteousness in believer's life to worship and serve Him; in the New Testament, Jesus give His righteousness to the believer so that he can worship and serve the holy God (Rom. 10:42 Cor. 5:21). God requires perfect holiness and righteousness in the part of the believer—without these man's worship and service is futile. The truth is, man can only be perfect in God's sight when man is standing in Christ by faith (Rom. 5:1-2Col. 1:21-22).

Today, Christians honor the Lord on Sunday (1 Cor. 16:2), the first day of the week; but there is no Sabbath Day anymore. Jesus is our Sabbath and in Him alone do we rest for our salvation. All of the Old Testament ceremonial laws were nailed to the cross with Christ. Jesus became the fulfillment of the Law for the righteousness of everyone who believe (Matt. 5:17Rom. 10:4). Thank God the Father for giving us His only begotten Jesus Christ to be our Precious Sabbath!

2 comments:

Louie said...
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Louie said...

That is a good word. So many stumble over the law for their righteousness. True righteousness can only come by Faith in the finished work of Christ. Thanks for sharing this article and speaking the truth about our Sabbath rest in Christ.