True Sabbath True Sabbath KeepingKeeping

Galatians 4:8-12 and the Galatians 4:8-12 and the Christian’s Relationship to Christian’s Relationship to

the Sabbaththe Sabbath

July 31, 2005 Ryan July 31, 2005 Ryan HabbenaHabbena

The Sabbath CommandsThe Sabbath Commands

EXODUS 20:8 "Remember the EXODUS 20:8 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.sabbath day, to keep it holy.

ISAIAH 56:2 "How blessed is the ISAIAH 56:2 "How blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who does this, And the son of man who takes hold of it; Who keeps man who takes hold of it; Who keeps from profaning the sabbath, And from profaning the sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil."keeps his hand from doing any evil."

What is the Christian’s What is the Christian’s Relationship to the Relationship to the

Sabbath in light of the Sabbath in light of the cross of Christ?cross of Christ?

The Two Scriptural The Two Scriptural Concepts of “Sabbath”Concepts of “Sabbath”

1)The Ritual Observance – 1)The Ritual Observance – Do not do Do not do any work, as prescribed by the any work, as prescribed by the law, on the 7law, on the 7thth day of the week. day of the week.

2)The Theological Principle – 2)The Theological Principle – The The “rest” granted by God to his “rest” granted by God to his people from toil.people from toil. Rest is rooted in Rest is rooted in “Creation” and “Exodus.” “Creation” and “Exodus.”

““Turning Back” to Turning Back” to SlaverySlavery

GAL 4:8-9 However at that time, when GAL 4:8-9 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are slaves to those which by nature are no gods. But now that you have no gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?to be enslaved all over again?

““Observing” in VainObserving” in Vain

GAL 4:10-11 You observe days and GAL 4:10-11 You observe days and months and seasons and years. I fear months and seasons and years. I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.over you in vain.

An Ironic ReversalAn Ironic Reversal

GAL 4:12 I beg of you, brethren, GAL 4:12 I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done become as you are. You have done me no wrong;me no wrong;

A Summary of Paul’s A Summary of Paul’s ArgumentArgument

The coming of the King has The coming of the King has fulfilled the promises to which fulfilled the promises to which the Jewish calendar the Jewish calendar foreshadowed, therefore it is not foreshadowed, therefore it is not necessary to observe them. necessary to observe them.

In fact, we are called in light of the In fact, we are called in light of the cross to abandon these as a cross to abandon these as a condition of covenant obedience. condition of covenant obedience.

We Enter Ultimate Rest We Enter Ultimate Rest through Faiththrough Faith

HEB 4:2-3 For indeed we have had good news HEB 4:2-3 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter that rest who have believed enter that rest

HEB 4:9-11 So there remains a Sabbath rest HEB 4:9-11 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.of disobedience.

Our True Rest is Wholly Our True Rest is Wholly Centered on the SaviorCentered on the Savior

MAT 11:28-29 Come to Me, all who are MAT 11:28-29 Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 12:6-8 "But I say to you that Matthew 12:6-8 "But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means, 'I But if you had known what this means, 'I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,' you desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent. would not have condemned the innocent. "For the Son of Man is Lord of the "For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."Sabbath."

Is Sunday the New Is Sunday the New Sabbath?Sabbath? Romans 14:4-6Romans 14:4-6

Who are you to judge the servant of Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person is able to make him stand. One person regards one day above another, another regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own must be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.thanks to God.

ApplicationApplication

True Rest is Found in True Rest is Found in Christ, and in Christ Christ, and in Christ

AloneAlone

Enticed to “Turn Back”Enticed to “Turn Back”

"This is not a minor issue. (Keeping "This is not a minor issue. (Keeping Saturday Sabbath) This is one of God's Saturday Sabbath) This is one of God's Ten Commandments! Would you Ten Commandments! Would you consider it a minor issue if 98 percent consider it a minor issue if 98 percent of the church was committing adultery, of the church was committing adultery, stealing, lying, murdering, worshipping stealing, lying, murdering, worshipping idols, or using the Lord's name in vain idols, or using the Lord's name in vain continuously week after week continuously week after week throughout each and every year?" throughout each and every year?"

(Modern Sabbatarian)(Modern Sabbatarian)

#1 “Turn away” from the #1 “Turn away” from the Elementary Principles of Elementary Principles of

the Ceremonial Lawthe Ceremonial Law HEB 4:1 Therefore, let us fear if, HEB 4:1 Therefore, let us fear if,

while a promise remains of entering while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.have come short of it.

#2 Turn to the “True #2 Turn to the “True Sabbath”Sabbath”

Colossians 2:13-15Colossians 2:13-15When you were dead in your When you were dead in your

transgressions and the uncircumcision of transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.triumphed over them through Him.

#2 Turn to the “True #2 Turn to the “True Sabbath”Sabbath”

Colossians 2:16-17Colossians 2:16-17

Therefore no one is to act as your Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day -- things which are or a Sabbath day -- things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.but the substance belongs to Christ.

#3 Rest in the Assurance #3 Rest in the Assurance that you are Known by Godthat you are Known by God

1John 4:9-10 1John 4:9-10

By this the love of God was manifested By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.be the propitiation for our sins.