Old Testament Laws and Sabbath

Is the Law and Sabbath for Us?

With all the laws that we see in the Old Testament, the Christian has to ask at some point: “Are these for Christians? Should I obey them? All of them? Which ones?”

Which laws should the Christian keep? As Christians, we are not under the Old Covenant and its laws. At the same time, we are called to imitate Christ and to live lives that reflect Him, His will, and His ways.

We make some distinctions between laws that were given to the Hebrew nation and to New Covenant Christians. We make distinctions between moral laws, civil laws, ceremonial laws and dietary laws.

The moral law, loving others as ourselves is forever binding. Loving God with all our soul, mind and strength and loving others can be found in the New Testament, in the teachings of Christ. Ceremonial law governed Israel’s worship and its life in the temple. Jesus fulfilled this and now we have direct access to God through Christ, and our bodies are the temple of God, in which we commune with God in spirit and in truth. The civil law was specific to the nation of Israel and governed its people.

When Jesus died on the Cross, He put an end to the Old Testament law (Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:23-25; Eph. 2:15). Christians are under the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). Matthew 22:37-39: Jesus teaches us the greatest commandments for us to follow. This is under Christ, not the O.T. Law. Jesus fulfilled all of the O.T. requirements, so we are following everything Christ teaches us under the New Covenant.

Jesus wants us to imitate Him. Jesus wants us to be holy. Jesus wants us to do what is right. Jesus does not want us to be immoral. Which brings up a debate...

2. Does Jesus say anything about sexuality? Yes. (Matthew 5:28; Matt. 15:19; Matt. 19:4-9; Mark 10:7-9). Jesus always affirms unions between a man and woman. Only these two, the opposite sex, should have sex and be married. Jesus’ Apostles taught the same things (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10; Jude 1:7).

The O.T. (Leviticus 18:24-25; 20:23) declares that sexual immorality/homosexuality was a universal sin. It was a sin before Israel came into the land among the other nations.

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Sabbath

Nine of the Ten Commandments are repeated in the New Testament under “Christ’s Law.” But what is the one we do not clearly see?

3. Remember the _______________day and keep it holy (Ex. 20:8).

4. Read Colossians 2:16-17. What does it say?

5. Read Romans 14:5-6. What does it say?

Acts 15:19-20 - When Gentiles began coming into the Church, the Jewish Christians gave them some guidelines initially, possibly for peace and unity to be sustained. Sabbath keeping is not one of them.

The Jewish Sabbath, the day of rest, follows the creation order, as God rested on the seventh day… He establishes this day to be set apart and used as such. You have 6 days to work, but you give the 7th day to God… following God’s example.

Note: Their Sabbath is on our Saturday, starting at 6:00 pm on our Friday and concluding on 6:00 pm our Saturday.

6. When do Christians meet?

Acts 2:46-47 - Christians met ______ day, houses and in the temple. If there is one day that they set apart, it was the first day of the week, the day Jesus was resurrected. On the ________ Day, Sunday, Christians meet on a regular basis (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2). This is NOT law, but the practice of the church since the beginning.

7. Do Christians have freedom to worship any day and every day?

We do not see a commandment that Sunday is our Sabbath, and we do not see the commandment to worship only on Sunday.

The Bible never calls the Lord’s Day our “new” Sabbath. Jesus is the Christian’s Sabbath/Rest (Hebrews 4). Jesus said , “I will give you rest,” Matthew 12:1-14. There is rest and freedom in Christ (Romans 8:21; 2 Cor. 3:17; Galatians 5:1). Christ has fulfilled the Sabbath.

However, the principle of Sabbath, a day of rest, may be a very good and helpful practice for Christians to follow. Coming together and worshipping is biblical (Hebrews 10:25). Trusting God to provide for you working 6 days a week and choosing to set a day apart to imitate God and be refreshed in his presence, with worship and physical rest, is needed and wise. Any day can be set aside. We have that freedom.

Study Scripture and Be convinced in your mind (Romans 14:5 and do not pass judgment on others (Col. 2:16-17).