I just finished writing about the Old Covenant of law as compared to the New Covenant of grace that we are now under if we have put faith in Jesus. So does that mean that the law is wrong, and we can just go out and steal, murder and commit adultery whenever we want? Of course not! The law is good and holy, but we are not to use the law to bring us to righteousness. We are to look to Jesus, who is our righteousness, and by keeping our eyes on him and believing in his love for us, our hearts will be changed and we will end up following the law better without even trying.
So, with that being said, I want to talk about the true meaning of the Sabbath. I know this is going to get some people fired up, but God has put it on my heart to share about this and I have learned to do what he tells me to do. I believe it will set some people free.
Under the old covenant, the Sabbath represented a day of the week that people were to refrain from all their work so they could focus on God and trust in his provision. The Sabbath was from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Many people who try to keep the Sabbath today arent even doing so, because the Sabbath was not Sunday.
This Sabbath that was represented under the old covenant was symbolic; a shadow of what was to come, meaning Jesus. Colossians 2:16-17 states, So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
Hebrews 4:4-5, 9-10 says, For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: And God rested on the seventh day from all His works, and again in this place: They shall not enter My rest (talking about the people of Israel). Therefore remains a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
For the sake of space I didnt write all the verses in between, and this may sound confusing, but let me explain. Under the new covenant, the Sabbath is representing a relationship, not a day. Under the old covenant, the Sabbath was the day they ceased from their works, but now it is about a lifestyle of ceasing from our works (not talking physical work, so dont claim this as an opportunity for laziness). Now we are constantly to be resting in what Jesus has done for us, and not trusting in our own works. Resting in the fact that through faith in him we are righteous with God, and we dont have to try to earn it through our actions. Trusting in him to take care of us and provide for us; not us trying to do it in our own strength. It is about a relationship of continual rest in our Savior.
I used to be very hypocritical when it came to the Sabbath (or what I thought was the Sabbath). I would do work inside, but not outside, because I didnt want people to see me. I remember one time an old neighbor of mine, who happened to be a preacher, was mowing on a Sunday. I was appalled. He is mowing on a Sunday and he is a preacher? I thought to myself. Well, I think that preacher man knew a lot more about the new covenant meaning of the Sabbath than I did!
Physical rest is good for our bodies, and I think taking a day off to relax is beneficial for us. But sometimes some work can be relaxing. I know of a guy who loves to mow. He wishes he could mow each Sunday, and has questioned why, if it relaxes him, God wouldnt allow him to mow. As far as I know he still doesnt mow on Sundays. I doubt the new covenant definition of the Sabbath has ever been explained to him. I sure hope he is reading this because I want him to know that God has given him the green light to mow away. Make sure to have plenty of copies of this article to hand out when people give judgmental looks, so they can understand the true meaning of the Sabbath as well.
Remember, its not about a day, but about a lifestyle. Ceasing from our works and trusting in the one who did the work for usJesus.
Questions or comments? Amber can be reached at amberdeemiller32@gmail.com.
