The Christian Sabbath
Lesson Text: Hebrews 4:1-11
“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 (they
shall not*) 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 (they shall not*) enter into my
rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that
some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in
because of unbelief: Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so
long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your
hearts. For if Jesus (or Joshua**) had given them rest, then
would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the
people of God. For he that is entered
into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from
his. Let us labour therefore to enter
into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” – Hebrews 4:1-11
*Quoted
from Psalm 95:11
**Joshua
and Jesus come from the same word. The
OT was translated from Hebrew, and the NT was translated
from Greek.
I.
The Three Basic Views of the Sabbath
Sabbath – a ceasing of work; rest
a.
The Sabbath is
still applicable today and we must observe it on Saturday
b.
The Sabbath has
been moved to Sunday, but is still binding.
c.
The Sabbath is a
type that is fulfilled by Christ.
II.
The Lord’s (Resurrection) Day, The first day of the
week
“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of
the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake:
for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the
stone from the door, and sat upon it.
His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake,
and became as dead men. And the angel
answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus,
which was crucified. He is not here: for
he is risen, as he said. Come,
see the place where the Lord lay.” – Matthew
28:1-6
“And upon the first day of the week,
when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready
to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” – Acts 20:7
“Then the same day at evening, being the
first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were
assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith
unto them, Peace be unto you.” – John
20:19
“Now concerning the collection for the
saints, as I have given order to the churches of
III.
Getting Tripped Up Over a Day
“And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and
not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” – Mark
2:27-28
“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: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the
body is of Christ.” – Colossians 2:16-17
IV.
The Importance of Rest and Reflection on God
The
Sabbath day was instituted before the law was given…
“Thus the heavens and the earth were
finished, and all the host of them. And
on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the
seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and
sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God
created and made.” – Genesis 2:1-3
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day,
and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and
Omega, the first and the last…” –
Revelation 1:10-11(a)
V.
The Importance of Assembling the Church
“And he came to
And let us consider one another to
provoke unto love and to good works: Not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-25
VI.
Why do we choose Sunday to go to church, rest, and reflect
upon the Lord?