Our Sabbath Rest

I have been hearing talk of Sabbatarianism lately and how Sunday is to be placed aside as a day of entirely no work.  That this day should be strictly for bodily rest and meditation in order to fulfill the 3^rd commandment (“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”)  Let me say from the onset I agree that the commandment is to be obeyed, however I disagree with many Sabbatarians on what/when this day is and what it means for a believer to obey it.  I by NO means am saying that Sunday is not the “Lord’s Day” and I am by NO means saying that dedicating one day a week for public worship is in error.  On the contrary if you do not do this, you place yourself in danger of sin.  We are one church body in Christ; we are not to forsake fellowship (Hebrews 10:25). We need to encourage one another.  We need to worship our Lord together.  So, get any ideas about not going to church because of this exegesis out of your head.  That is not the authorial intent here.  What needs to be seen in this article is that in attempting to obey the Sabbath as it was given in Exodus 20 we miss it’s New Testament fulfillment in Hebrews 4.   Please read the entire chapter 4 of Hebrews: 

4 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. ² For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.³ For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. ⁴ For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” ⁵ And again in this passage he said,

“They shall not enter my rest.”

⁶ Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, ⁷ again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”

⁸ For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. ⁹ So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, ¹⁰ for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

¹¹ Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

¹⁴ Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Let’s break this up into some questions I had after reading it.

1. What is “our rest”?

This is key.  According to verse 3, it is we who believe who have entered “rest”.  It cannot be the belief itself that is “rest”.  There is no hope in hope alone.  Our rest must come from the object of our belief and chapter 3 (as well as the entire Holy Scriptures) tells us that Christ, his completed work, and sovereign rule is who/what we believe in.  Right off the bat our rest has its source in Christ.  

2. But doesn’t Exodus 20:8-11 specifically point out a day? When are we supposed to set aside our time to rest in the Lord?

Hebrews 4 points out a day as well.  Verse 7 says our appointed day to rest in Christ is “Today”.  Here and Now.  At this moment.  We are to always rest in the peace of Christ that surpasses understanding (Colossians 3:15, Philippians 4:7).  Everything we do is to in Christ and should be for God’s glory (1 Corinthians 10:21) 

The Sabbath rest is everyday for those who believe, for we are now fellow heirs with Christ because of the work he has accomplished for us, undeserved and while we were yet sinners.  You see, that’s the point of chapter 4….the work is done.  We have no other choice but to rest in its completion.  If the gospel doesn’t make you wipe your brow and say, “whew!”  if the gospel doesn’t buckle your heavy laden knees, collapsing you before the throne you can now boldly go to, than no amount of Sunday abstention will give you the slightest true joy and ease.  However, if taking extra time on Sunday to focus on Christ and his work is what you choose to do, than glory be to God!  That’s wonderful.  But this should be done everyday and in everything we do.  So, if going over to friends house to help them with their yard (after church) is how you plan to spend your Sunday.  Praise the lord!  But whatever you do it must be for the glory of God always resting in the belief (the fact) that “Jesus paid it all and all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain but He washed it white as snow.”