Observing the Sabbath
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton
Text: II Corinthians 3:1-11
I. A well-known, active group is the Seventh-Day Adventist
A. They hold an odd mixture of beliefs:
1. They won’t accept medical treatment, relying solely on prayer instead;
2. They believe in modern-day prophecy, making many wild claims that never seem to come true;
3. And they hold to the idea that the Ten Commandments are God’s universal law for mankind.
B. In particular they believe that the Sabbath is to be the day of worship for all mankind.
1. From a letter sent to me in February 2000: “The Sabbath was established by God on the very first seventh day, when all was new and perfect. In that week of creation the seventh day was made holy by God and set aside to honor Him as creator.”
2. The belief is that the Ten commandments were established by God at creation and remain in effect to this day and will continue until the world ends.
C. We will focus on the fourth commandment, the keeping of the Sabbath.
II. The origin of the Sabbath
A. Despite the assertion quoted earlier, the first mention of the Sabbath day appears in Exodus 16:4-5, 22-30.
1. Notice that Moses had to explain to the people what the Sabbath meant and how to observe it. They had not encountered this rule before.
2. Even though Genesis records over 2,000 years of history, no mention is made of the observation of a day of rest.
B. The next mention of the Sabbath is in Exodus 20:8-11 as part of the Ten Commandments.
1. Actually the Ten Commandments were the prologue of a long series of commands that run from Exodus 20 to 23.
2. They were written down by Moses in Exodus 24:3-4
C. However, the command was not given to the whole world
1. Exodus 31:16-17 - This was between God and the sons of Israel.
a. Ezekiel 20:5, 10-12 - Israel only received these laws and no other nation
b. Deuteronomy 4:5-8 - No other nation has these laws
2. The Sabbath was a time to remember God’s creation, and it was a time for the Israelites to remember their slavery in Egypt - Deuteronomy 5:15
a. This can only be for the Israelites.
b. No other nation was enslaved in Egypt.
3. In fact, go back to the beginning of chapter 5, where Moses recounts the origin of their laws. - Deuteronomy 5:1-5
a. Notice that the Law was for Israel, delivered to Israel, and that it was not given to their ancestors!
4. Notice the command in Deuteronomy 5:16.
a. Many mention the live long, but notice that it may go well in the land the Lord gives you.
b. The only group God has given land is the Israelites.
III. The end of the Sabbath
A. Jeremiah prophesied that the law given at mount Sinai would end; to be replaced with a different law - Jeremiah 31:31-32
B. Christians have died to the Law of Moses - Romans 7:4-7
1. Notice Paul’s example of the law we left: the tenth commandment!
C. Colossians 2:11-17 - The debt paid by Christ removed the handwritten ordinances with their special feasts, Sabbaths and new moon celebrations – these refer to the old law!
D. Ephesians 2:15 - It was abolished in order to bring Jews and Gentiles together
E. To live under the Law is to live under a curse - Galatians 3:10-29
F. We are not under the law from Mount Sinai - Galatians 4:21-26, 31
G. The Old Law brought about death - II Corinthians 3:6
H. You cannot pick and choose what you will follow - James 2:10
I. There is no command in the New Testament law to keep the Sabbath
IV. Objections answered
A. But Jesus kept the Sabbath
1. Jesus also was circumcised and kept the Passover, yet these are not commanded of us today.
2. The law changed at Jesus’ death, not at his coming. (Colossians 2:14)
B. But you observe the other nine commandments
1. True, we do not worship idols, steal, commit adultery, or any of the other nine commandments. However, the reason we do these things is because of the New Testament laws, not the Ten Commandments.
2. Lying is wrong - Ephesians 4:25
3. Adultery is wrong - Hebrews 13:4
4. Idol worship is wrong - I Corinthians 10:7
C. People were observing the Sabbath after Jesus’ death - Matthew 24:20
1. People are still observing the Sabbath, but that doesn’t mean that Christians should be observing the Sabbath.
2. The passage refers to the fact that Jews closed the gates of Jerusalem. There were still Jews in AD 70 who did not accept the teachings of Christ and his apostles.
3. By the way, it should be noted that those advocating the keeping of the Sabbath day today do not obey the rules of its keeping.
a. They do not offer sacrifices
b. They travel further than proscribed by God
V. As Christians, our holy day is the first day of the week
A. It was on this day that Jesus arose (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20)
B. The church was established on this day (Acts 2, Leviticus 23:15-16)
C. The church worshiped on this day - Acts 20:7, I Corinthians 16:2
D. Will you not join us as children of God, living and worshiping God in accordance with his word?
