Genesis 2:1-3

The Sabbath

Introduction

Differing opinions about theology

Baptism

Church membership

Civil liberty

Most claim to be solid on Moral Law

10 commandments

Yet, Christians functionally excise the 4th commandment from the moral law

Sabbath has been abused in Church history

Scottish Presbyterians

Locking up playgrounds

Forbidding other actions

Perhaps not necessarily wrong, but poor application

Puritans

Always put in negative light for some reason

Had a great theology of Sabbath

Not about what you “cannot” do

Rather, what you “get” to do

Worship, Scripture, prayer, etc.

Sabbath is of great benefit to the Christian

Come for rest after 6 days of hard work/labor

6 days of suffering under the effects of the Fall

Finding rest in what we were created to do, namely, worship

Proof that moral law rests in hearts of mankind as imago Dei

Germany’s sabbatarianism

Recognition of rest princ.

Prop: Have a better Sabbatarian practice

Main Points

[1] The explanation of the Sabbath

[2] The doctrine of the Sabbath

[3] The usefulness of the Sabbath

[1] The explanation of the Sabbath

Michael Morales, quotes Abraham Heschel w/r/t the Sabbath

“Last in creation, first in intention,” the Sabbath is “the end of the creation of heaven and earth.” ’

The seventh day is not only the first day to be blessed, and the only day mentioned three times, but it is also the first object ever to be set apart as holy by God

Look at the text to see how this is articulated

“Thus”

Grounding clause based upon all that has happened

“Heavens/earth/host”

Entirety of creation was completed

Even the angels, created beings

Satan is not co-eternal with God

Subjected to being created as well

“were finished”

No continued creative work

No evolutionary processes

An assessment of that which is very good

God finished his work, what He had done

Calvin, “this language is intended merely to express the perfection of the fabric of the world; and therefore we must not infer that God so ceased from his works as to desert them, since they only flourish and subsist in him”

God is not now “inactive” in creation

He continues to uphold all things

Exercises His sovereignty over all things

“he rested”

lit. he “sabbathed”

Both word for Sabbath and “seventh” are very similar.

Already in the word seventh is an implication of rest

3 actions by God in the Sabbath

“blessed”

“barach”

Specific blessing to this day

“made it holy”

All the preceding days God called either “good” or “very good.”

This day alone he sanctified.

Nothing in the creation context that is connected with space is called holy

Qadosh, to be holy, to be set apart

One day of rest set apart from the other days

WCF 21.8, This sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts and ordering of their common affairs before-hand, do not only observe a holy rest all the day from their own works, words, and thoughts about their worldly employments and recreations; but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy

“rested”

Resting looks forward to that which is earned upon merit

Adam would have earned this eternal life, more later

We cannot earn this eternal rest, we break the Law, sinners

All mankind is longing for rest, shalom, harmony, etc.

All of creation groans for the eternal Sabbath

God’s resting does not imply inactivity but rest from this creative work

[2] The doctrine of the Sabbath

Doctrine under four headings

Creation

Fall

Redemption

Glorification

The Sabbath and Creation

By being created man owe’s obedience to God

Created to worship, obey, serve

Created as a corporate body, male/female

Created as ambassadors

God’s moral law is eternal (not created)

What is the moral law of God?

Primary importance to establish a proper doctrine of God

God is immutable/unchangeable in his being

If God changes, we have no certainty of what happens next

God’s Law represents His being (WSC 4)

External reflection of the internal attributes of God

Infinite, eternal unchangeable

God is infinite and eternal, so also is his Law

Wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, truth

His law is wise and makes man wise

His law has power

His law is holy, set apart

His law is the proper execution of justice

His law is good

His law is absolute truth

God’s law is eternally binding

Why rid ourselves of the 4th commandment?

Not a matter of conscience, God’s law is not a matter of conscience or convenience

Matter of conviction

Self overrides God, unfortunately

I can’t be a professional sport athlete if I do not play/practice on Sabbath

What is more important?

I don’t have enough time in the week

Do you doom scroll? Do you binge watch?

The Fall and the Sabbath

Sabbath/rest is poisoned from Fall

Adam’s obedience in CW would have led to entering into eternal Sabbath

Tree of life was sign in Garden

Now, no more rest

Man must toil all the days of His life

Even in the Fall, man is obliged to obey God’s moral law

Sabbath is eternally binding despite where you lie

Redemption and the Sabbath

True rest in Christ alone

We enter into His rest by His works alone

Hebrews 4:3–10

Beautiful passage on the nature of the Sabbath

Often quoted rebuttals on Sabbath

Colossians 2:16 “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.”

“Judge not”

What is Paul’s points? Context?

Forgoing ritualistic, ceremonial laws for the sake of the Gospel

“A Sabbath” not the Sabbath

Passage referring to ceremonial observances

More than one “Sabbath” for Israel, just as festivals

No longer in play in NC

John Woodhouse reframes passage “Don’t let anyone pass judgment on you for not keeping the Old Testament dietary laws, or for not observing the Old Testament calendar”

Paul is not referring to the moral law of God

Matthew 12:1–8

“Lord of the Sabbath”

Assumption that it has been “abrogated”

Back to previous presuppositions, is God changeable?

Does God’s Law change?

Context:

Pharisees imposed legalistic restrictions upon the people

Could not heal on Sabbath

Could not pick grain

None of which was declared by God

Christ’s exercise as “Lord of the Sabbath”

Refers to Him being God

Really supports previous passage Mat 13.28-30.

We find true, eternal rest in Jesus Christ

Glorification and the Sabbath

Eternal nature of rest in Christ

Accessed by Christ, not us

“Thy works not mine O Christ”

Perfectly suited to worship God as He ought to be worshipped

Eternal Sabbath was in mind before the resting of the Sabbath day

God chose us “in Him (Jesus)” before the foundations were even laid

God knew the sins, trespasses, disobedience, sin nature

And still granted eternal life in Christ

[3] The usefulness of the Sabbath

The Sabbath is dedication

103. What does God require in the fourth Commandment?

In the first place, God wills that the ministry of the Gospel and schools be maintained, and that I, especially on the day of rest, diligently attend church, to learn the Word of God, to use the Holy Sacraments, to call publicly upon the Lord, and to give Christian alms. In the second place, that all the days of my life I rest from my evil works, allow the Lord to work in me by His Spirit, and thus begin in this life the everlasting Sabbath.

Hebrews 10:24–25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

How sad is it when we choose games, sports, work, unhealthy habits over gathering together?

The Sabbath is to be desired

It is part of God’s law

“law of God meditate, desired, etc”

The Sabbath requires discipline

It takes discipline to be self-controlled, joyful in all circumstances

It takes discipline to obey God’s Law as empowered by the Spirit

Proverbs 12:1 “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.”

1 Cor 9, Paul talks about disciplining his own body

The Sabbath requires discipline as well

Perhaps, rather than scrambling Sunday morning, we prep for the Sabbath

WCF 21.8 and LBCF 22.8 “after a due preparing of their hearts and ordering of their common affairs before-hand”

Prepare food

Lay out children’s clothing

Pick out your own clothing

Pack the bag

Get gas

Having a Sabbath mind on Saturday to enjoy the rest

Discipline in worldly distractions

Saying no to unimportant activities

You are perfectly able to choose God or sports/activities/etc.

You follow what you love most

Putting phones away

Not being distracted

The Sabbath strengthens doctrine

The Sabbath encourages discipleship

“whole day in thinking about the Lord”

Talking about godly things with other believers

The Sabbath