The Weblog of Trenton & Nichole Adams

The Sabbath of Work

I'm just astounded at the title I just came up with. I thought it was supposed to be the sabbath of rest? Well, that's what this blog entry is all about. Unfortunately for many, rest is not in their thinking, when in reference to the Good News. Part of that good news is doing away with the works of the LAW. Not that the LAW is not Holy (Romans 7:12), or that it has no value, GOD FORBID (Romans 3:31, Galatians 3:21). But, in all too many cases, it is used unlawfully (1 Timothy 1:8). There are many who believe that the feasts of the Lord are still binding to us today. They won't proclaim that we need to partake of them to be saved, but you have to wonder if they think it. They do claim that they are the appointed times of God, and that we should not ignore God's appointed times for approaching Him, like somehow we can only approach Him on those days.

Keep in mind, while reading this, that it is written in a mindset that is not against doing the sabbath, but against burdening people with the sabbath, or the feasts.  When I say burden, I am of course referring to making it a requirement that we must partake in those days as physical days.  (Acts 15:1,24)

I could quote scripture after scripture about us not being justified by the LAW, or that salvation DOES NOT come by the LAW, and that a person who believes they are in ANY WAY justified by the LAW, has fallen from Grace. I could quote how the only way to approach God now, is through faith, and that his death has torn down the wall of partition between us. Anyone who reads their bible knows these scriptures, so I'm not going to quote all of them. Hey, even those who believe that we need to partake in the feasts, and the Sabbaths, etc, know these scriptures. Hopefully you will see that what I am writing is directly from the Word.

Now, I must agree, we are bound to the LAW in some form or another. It has not been done away with in the sense of it being of no use. You can read my blog entries on the LAW and the Prophets (Part 1, Part 2) for more information. It is very profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction in righteousness, etc. However, there has been a shift in fulfillment of the LAW. The LAW is now fulfilled through faith in Christ ALONE (Romans 3:31). There is no other name in heaven, by which mean must/can be saved. There is no other method by which we can be saved. There is no other method by which we can become beloved of the Father. There is NO OTHER MEANS to come to God, and to approach God, except through FAITH IN CHRIST (Hebrews 9:8).

Now, the OT says that the same laws that apply to the Israelites would also apply to any stranger in the land, if they wanted to serve God. And, it is written over and over again that it is a PERPETUAL covenant that never ends. What this means is that as Christians we absolutely CANNOT do away with the LAW, if we want to serve the same God that the Israelites served. If we try to do so, we will be CUT-OFF from among His people. In other words, we will not be saved. But, because of the sacrifice of our most precious saviour, Jesus Christ the righteous, the covenant has been transformed, just as it was prophesied that it would be.

What the Israelites had was a portion of the Gospel, what we have is the very IMAGE (Hebrews 10:1). When we read Hebrews 10, it describes to us a precept of doing away with the LAW, and replacing it with faith, which fulfills the LAW in it's original intentions. In other words, the letter kills and the Spirit gives life. So, what we end up having is the spirit of the LAW, as it is called. I find it quite amusing that Hebrews 10:1 has "Christianity 101" contained with in it. i.e. Salvation by faith and grace, not by the works of the law, by which no man can EVER be justified

I was reading Exodus 31 within the last couple of days. As I was reading Exodus 31:12-17, a concept was impressed upon my mind with great clarity. I was astounded that I had missed such clarity for so long. Observe what Moses wrote...

Exodus 31:12-13 (KJV) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 13Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. 14Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

I want to present some precepts of how this scripture applies to us. As described earlier, the LAW is not useless, and indeed is good for doctrine, for reproof, for correction in righteousness, etc, etc.

So the Israelites had to meet up to this letter of the LAW, because they did not have any other way. We must also meet up to this LAW, but in a MUCH different light. Let's observe what the requirements are here...

1. We absolutely MUST keep the sabbath. It is one of the ten commandments, and cannot be changed
2. It is created so that we can know that the Lord is the one that sanctifies us
3. If we choose not to keep the sabbath, then we shall be found to not be saved, and shall surely be put to death
4. If we do any work, we shall be cut off from among His people.
5. It is a perpetual covenant, meaning it cannot be done away with
6. It is a sign that we are His servants
7. God Himself obeyed the sabbath

So, at this point I'm expecting people to maybe think I'm preaching that we must obey a physical sabbath. I guess that's kind of expected. hehe. But, that's not what I'm talking about here.

Let us look at another scripture that brings to light what our part in keeping the sabbath is really all about. I highly recommend reading the entirety of Hebrews 4 at this time, as it is all relevant. But, I'm only going to quote a section of it from Hebrews 4:4-11.

Hebrews 4:4-11 (KJV) 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. 5And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7Again, 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. 8For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

1. Again, God ended his works and rested the seventh day
2. The OT speaks of entering God's sabbath rest, yet they had the 7th day, so what is it REALLY talking about?
3. There is a rest for the people of God, that goes beyond a physical sabbath. i.e. There remaineth a rest to the people of God. Or, more to the point, the sabbath was not the be all, end all, for the reason the LAW has the sabbath.
4. The rest of God will cause us to cease from our own works, and they will become God's works.
5. We are to labour ONLY to enter that rest. Labouring in anything else is not faith, but works.
6. The word "unbelief" in v11 is specifically "obstinate and rebellious".

So, what do we learn from all of this? We learn that the REAL rest of God, is in complete faith in Him. That is what the sabbath rest is all about. It's about trusting Him. Do you remember when the Israelites had manna falling from heaven, and yet still went out on the 7th day to try and collect it again, when they were told NOT to? They were REFUSING to trust God for their provision. They were walking in obstinate rebellion, though they had seen many mighty works at His hands.

So, can one honestly partake in the sabbath, and still be saved? Sure, as long as you don't honestly believe that it some how makes you more justified, or in better standing with God. By trusting God for His provision, and having faith in that ultimate sacrifice, and that he will finish the good work in us, we are partaking in the sabbath rest of God.