Hey Gang,
We have been reviewing from the beginning Bible stories that fit together to tell one story – God’s Story. This 13-week study will help us understand the Bible’s story, our place in the story, and its implications for our lives today. This study is important because it can lead us not only to understand the Bible’s overarching message but also to encounter the Lord God who is its ultimate Author. After all, it is His story.
The lessons in this series are:
- June 2 - God Begins the Story
- June 9 - God Chooses a People
- June 16 - God Delivers His People
- June 23 - God Instructs His People
- June 30 - God Dwells Among His People
- July 7 - God Establishes a Kingdom for His People
- July 14 - God Disciplines His People
- July 21 - God Restores His People
- July 28 - God Promises the Messiah
- August 4 - God Sends His Son
- August 11 - Jesus Is Crucified and Raised
- August 18 - Jesus Commissions His Church
- August 25 - God Completes the Story
Click Here to Watch
Life Goal
Choose to live in obedience to God’s commands.
What do you believe the purpose of the Ten Commandments were?
Choose to live in obedience to God’s commands.
What do you believe the purpose of the Ten Commandments were?
I. SHOW LOYALTY TO GOD – EXODUS 20:1-4, 7-8
20 Then God spoke all these words: 2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. 3 Do not have other gods besides Me. 4 Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth.
7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses His name. 8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy:
LOYALTY: Since it’s so hard to find examples of it in today’s culture, maybe some synonyms will help: adhesion, allegiance, attachment, commitment, constancy, dedication, devotedness, devotion, faithfulness, fidelity, and steadfastness. Seems like an all or nothing proposition, doesn’t it?
How do you think the world view’s Christians’ loyalty to God?
How do you think the community view’s our church member’s loyalty to God?
How might people who know you view your loyalty to God?
How did God identify Himself before giving the Ten Commandments?
- Other rulers would set laws in motion, but these laws have the authority of God behind them. To break them is, first, an offense against the Lord.
- How much do you buck when someone tries to teach you something? What if the Someone is God?
What is the main idea that forms the basis for this set of laws?
- Right relating to God sets the stage for all other relationships and purposes in life.
- Notice the way God and His values help you know how to manage a challenge. Then how He forms your character. Then how He gives you security. Then something else.
1. The right standard for living as God’s people is God’s standard.
2. The most important of all relationships is our relationship to the Lord.
3. A right relationship with the Lord is foundational for a right relationship with others.
II. RESPECT EACH PERSON – EXODUS 20:12-17
12 Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 13 Do not murder. 14 Do not commit adultery. 15 Do not steal. 16 Do not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17 Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
RESPECT: Do you think people are generally more concerned with getting respect or giving it? Why?
What did Jesus teach about respect?
Were His instructions in contradiction or connection to the Ten Commandment? Explain.
How does God’s Spirit guide you to show respect, even when things are unfair? Even when others disrespect you?
1. The Lord has expectations for how His people are to relate to one another and to all others.
2. God’s people are to treat other people with respect in all areas of life.
III. OBEY GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS – EXODUS 24:4-8
4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early the next morning and set up an altar and 12 pillars for the 12 tribes of Israel at the base of the mountain. 5 Then he sent out young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord. 6 Moses took half the blood and set it in basins; the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 He then took the covenant scroll and read it aloud to the people. They responded, “We will do and obey everything that the Lord has commanded.” 8 Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you concerning all these words.”
4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early the next morning and set up an altar and 12 pillars for the 12 tribes of Israel at the base of the mountain. 5 Then he sent out young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord. 6 Moses took half the blood and set it in basins; the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 He then took the covenant scroll and read it aloud to the people. They responded, “We will do and obey everything that the Lord has commanded.” 8 Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you concerning all these words.”
MOTIONS, EMOTIONS, OR HEART? What are some ways you have symbolically demonstrated commitment to God:
____ Baptism ____ Participating in the Lord’s Supper ____Giving monetary offerings ____ Kneeling in prayer ____ Raising hands in worship ____ Saying thoughtful words ____ Other
How could each of these be faked? What, in your Monday through Saturday behavior, would show whether or not these actions actually show honor of and obedience to God? What else does God want you to add to the list?
See 24:3 for why Moses built an altar.
What did the people say they would do about the Lord’s commands?
God establishing the standards of right and wrong are an important part of His Story. God’s laws to His people can be characterized by loyalty to God and respect for people. Jesus echoed this truth in Matthew 22:34-40. Hundreds of choices every day reflect your commitment to those principles, or your denial of them. What do your choices say about your love for God, or lack of it? What do your choices say about your love for people, or lack of it?
1. The revelation of God and His offer to covenant with a people calls for a response.
2. The covenant relationship of Israel with the Lord was sealed by the blood of sacrifice and foreshadowed the blood of the new covenant sealed in the blood of Jesus.
3. The people of God willingly commit themselves to obeying the word of the Lord.
Which commandment concerning your relationship with the Lord do you need to reaffirm?
Which commandment concerning your relationship with others do you need to reaffirm?
While Moses was gone, why did the people beg Aaron for something to worship?
The Ten Commandments or the Tablets of the Law are the laws that God gave to the people of Israel through Moses after leading them out of Egypt. In essence, they are a summary of the hundreds of laws found in the Old Testament Law and are recorded in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. They offer basic rules of behavior for spiritual and moral living.
The following is a modern-day paraphrase of the Ten Commandments:
The historical context of the Ten Commandments provides a very important foundation for the purpose of the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments were more than just ten good rules. They were a written version of a verbal covenant that had been made by God years earlier with a man named Abraham. The Ten Commands or Decalogue (name given by Greeks) was also referred to as the Tables of Testimony because they were a testimony to the world of the covenant of God made with Israel.
From the very first sin (Adam and Eve) God designed a plan to restore mankind to relationship and fellowship with himself. This plan, given to Israel, was called a covenant. The covenant was originally given to Israel and in turn was to be shared with the whole world. The covenant was binding upon both parties (God and Israel). It could not be broken without severe consequences. God's covenant was a promise that His people accepted in faith believing God would do what He said. In turn, the people promised God complete devotion and dedication to Him.
God established a spoken and written (Ten Commandments) set of obligations and responsibilities the people must obey in order to demonstrate their devotion to God and separation from sin. It was through these laws that Israel could learn the character of God and the dangers of sin.
God's chose Israel to be the messengers of God's love for all mankind through His covenant. The Ten Commandments were a key element of the covenant God made with Israel. Throughout the generations God chose certain people with whom to carry out His covenant. Mankind had been alienated from God because of sin. When God made a covenant He made a promise to restore (redeem) the relationship that had been lost. The covenant required three ingredients: 1) union with God, 2) mutual promises, and 3) separation from sin.
The covenant demanded a way of life that was distinct from the "fleshly way of life" (whatever feels good-do it!) toward which all humankind is prone.
Those who entered into God's covenant were considered His chosen people. These were not of higher worth or greater value, but as part of the covenant they were separated out and a distinction was made. God's name and character was proclaimed worldwide through this separated people. To non participants in the covenant the separation of His people combined with the miracles, blessings, and faithfulness of God and plainly visible character and power of God became a testimony to which many non believers were attracted and by which many were converted. Read how the faithfulness of three young men to the covenant influenced a king and nation. Daniel Chapter 3. The covenant was initiated with Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:15), established with Abram (Gen. 17:1-8), and fulfilled in Christ. It was woven throughout the generations beginning with Adam to Seth, Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abram, Isaac, Jacob, etc.
Approximately 2070 BC the Lord established His covenant with a man named Abram. Abram believed God and was renamed Abraham which means "the father of many nations". God promised him that through his children all the people of the earth would be blessed. His children through the generations eventually included Jesus - the Messiah who would make salvation from sin available to all.
The promise continued to Abraham's son Isaac and his son Jacob whom God renamed Israel. Jacob (Israel) had twelve sons who became the twelve tribes of the newly established Nation of Israel. One of Jacob's sons, Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by his jealous brothers. God chose Joseph to preserve the Nation of Israel during a severe famine. Israel continued to reside in Egypt for 400 years during which time they became enslaved by Egypt. God called a man named Moses to deliver them from slavery and bondage. Through the miraculous delivery God again reminded Israel of His covenant with them and established their distinction from Egypt. The great exodus began with Israel’s release from Egypt - shortly after their exodus from Egypt God gave Israel the Ten Commandments. They were originally spoken by the voice of God in the hearing of the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-20).
Afterward the Ten Commandments were written on two stone tablets twice by the finger of God (Exodus 31:18; 32:15-16; 34:1, 28; Dt. 10:4). The first set of tablets were shattered by Moses when he threw them to the ground upon seeing Israel breaking the law by the sin of the golden calf. The second set of tablets were kept in the Ark of the Covenant (Ex. 25:16; 40:20).
The Ark of the Covenant was a gold plated wooden box containing the two tablets of Decalogue, Aaron's rod, and a pot of manna. It served as a symbol of God's guidance and presence with the people. It was a constant reminder of God's covenant with His people and played a significant role in various times of Israel's history such as the crossing of the Jordan River and the fall of Jericho.
Keeping the Ten Commandments meant more than just obeying the law. Keeping the commandments was synonymous with keeping the covenant with God. Practicing a life of obedience to the law demonstrated loyalty and dedication to God and faith in His promise to send a Savior who would redeem mankind from their sin. Thus, salvation was obtained through faith, not in the works of the law – though the works of the law are what God required as a demonstration of faith and commitment to God's covenant.
Disobedience to the law symbolized a breaking of the covenant with God and brought with it severe consequences. Sin alienates mankind from God. After Adam's sin God knew man was not capable of living a sinless life. God's covenant with His people, was not for the purpose of eliminating sin. Sin would be ever present. Nor did God sit in the heavens waiting for His people to disobey so He could enjoy punishing them. The purpose of the covenant was to separate a people unto Himself, provide the promise and hope of salvation, and to demonstrate the need for the "new covenant" in Jesus Christ.
God, in His mercy, required sacrifices to be made for sins. The penalty for sin is death and God allowed the death of an animal as payment for the sin. The sacrifices God required were symbolic of the future sacrifice made by the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ) for sin. The practice of obedience to the law, faith in God's promises, and sacrifice for sin demonstrated keeping God's covenant. Though God's people were by no means perfect, living a life in covenant brought God's blessing and protection upon His people.
Remember, this covenant was only part of God's plan to restore mankind to Himself. This covenant was inadequate to accomplish God's ultimate purpose. Does this indicate that God was shortsighted? Not at all. The old covenant (covenant with Israel) served as a shadow of things to come. It helped establish the need for a better way. It gave value to the work of Jesus Christ and became a physical tangible symbol of what Christ actually accomplished. "The old system in the law of Moses was only a shadow of the things to come, not the reality of the good things Christ has done for us. The sacrifices under the old system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. But just the opposite happened. Those yearly sacrifices reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins… "Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or grain offerings or animals burned on the altar or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he added, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to establish the second. And what God wants is for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time" (Hebrews 10:1-4, 8-10.
“This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts so they will understand them, and I will write them on their minds so they will obey them.” Then he adds, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” Now when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices" (Hebrews 10:16-18).
The Ten Commandments are not an isolated set of rules that come from the Bible. They were part of a Divine covenant that has been fulfilled in a new covenant established in Christ.
"But our High Priest [Jesus] has been given a ministry that is far superior to the ministry of those who serve under the old laws, for he is the one who guarantees for us a better covenant with God, based on better promises. If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. But God himself found fault with the old one when he said: “The day will come, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the Lord. But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds so they will understand them, and I will write them on their hearts so they will obey them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their family, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will already know me. And I will forgive their wrongdoings, and I will never again remember their sins.” (Hebrews 8:6-12).
Are Christians today still under the Ten Commandment laws? (This is one opinion)
This is a very good question, and one that is answered clearly in the Law & Grace section of this site. In short, the Ten Commandments were specifically written to Israel as a covenant with God. It was a covenant that pointed to the promised Messiah (Jesus Christ) who would fulfill the requirements of the covenant and thus, institute a new covenant of salvation in Jesus Christ. Christians today are not bound to keep the Ten Commandments in the same way Israel was. They kept them as a demonstration of faith in the promise that was to come (Jesus Christ). When Jesus instituted a new covenant for all people, the old covenant law was transformed into new covenant law. It is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus which sets us free from the law of sin and death.
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:2-4, KJV).
Should Christians today observe the Sabbath Day Commandment?
(This is one opinion)
The Sabbath Day commandment is one of the most debated theological issues of our day. Unfortunately, it has also been a point of contention and very divisive in the Church.
Sabbath day views are derived by how we answer these two questions:
Is the Sabbath Day commandment a moral law equal to the other nine moral laws?
And if so, do these ten moral laws apply in exactly the same way today as they did then?
A Biblically sound view will be achieved when we examine the Sabbath Day in the context of the whole Bible.
As explained in detail in Law & Grace, the Bible from cover to cover is about God's covenant with people. Thus, the Bible has been divided into two parts: the Old Testament (Old Covenant) and New Testament (New Covenant). Scripture is clear that the Ten Commandments written by the finger of God for Moses to give to the people was God's covenant with Israel. And I emphasize "ISRAEL". The Ten Commandments, though a very moral law with great application for society today was God's covenant with Israel during the old covenant.
When Jesus came, He fulfilled the Old Covenant and instituted a New Covenant for all peoples of the world. The Old Covenant was transformed into a new one. Those of us living in the era of grace (new covenant, present day) are not bound to keep the Ten Commandments in the way and for the same purpose Israel did. Where Israel kept the covenant of the Ten Commandments in faith of the promise that was to come (Jesus Christ); we today look back at the Ten Commandments through the new covenant in Jesus Christ.
If we neglect to understand or consider "covenant", we will miss the distinctions made between the Old and New Testament and the significance of Christ's work on the cross.
Where no distinction is made between covenants, the Ten Commandments are viewed the same today as they were when presented to Israel.
For example, we say that the command "You shall not murder" applies the same today as it did then. Jesus also addressed the sixth commandment by adding further stipulation. It is also wrong to hate your brother. So we see that the sixth commandment applies today literally "You shall not murder" and applies to the heart issue of hating our brother.
This thinking seems to work fine until the fourth commandment (Sabbath Commandment). Many say that the Sabbath commandment applies in terms of the heart issue: setting aside one day a week for God. The specific day could be Sunday in line with first fruits principle, Christ rose from the dead on Sunday, and the early church often met together on Sunday. This idea has become very traditional. But if we seek to apply this commandment literally we run into a problem. God clearly stated a specific day and it was the Sabbath (Saturday), last day of the week. Nowhere in the New Testament (New Covenant) was the Sabbath day changed to Sunday or any other day of the week.
So while many apply nine of the commandments literally as presented in the Old Covenant, and with deeper heart meaning as presented by Jesus Christ; the same do not apply the Sabbath day commandment literally, but only with deeper heart meaning. In other words, this type of thinking gleans a principle out of the fourth commandment, but neglects or disregards the obligation to keep the literal meaning of the commandment.
This is an inconsistency and a dangerous method of interpreting Scripture. It is a subtle twisting of the Scriptures to fit a particular theological viewpoint however traditional the viewpoint may be.
The other view is that all Ten Commandments were intended to be kept literally today as they were during the Old Covenant. Thus, all Ten Commandments have equal morality and as we apply the commandment to not murder (literally), so we are obligated to remember the Sabbath (last day of week) day to keep it holy (literally). This would mean that the larger percentage of the Christian church today is in grave error by observing Sunday rather than the Sabbath (Saturday).
Again, the previous unbiblical conclusions regarding the Ten Commandments are achieved when no distinction is made between the Old Covenant and New Covenant.
Before moving on, let’s address a couple major misconceptions about what God intended when He commanded a Sabbath day.
Sabbath day does not equal going to church on Saturday or Sunday. It was never the purpose of the Sabbath day to gather together for worship. Those who think they are keeping the fourth commandment by going to church on Sunday or Saturday are in error. The Sabbath was a command to rest from labor as God did from His when He created the universe.
The Sabbath day is not about giving God our time. If it were it would likely have been consistent with the first fruits Biblical principle and would have been instituted on the first day of the week - Sunday rather than the last.
The Old Covenant Sabbath Day
The Bible clearly states that the Sabbath commandment was a sign to Israel of the covenant.
Any covenant God made with his people was accompanied by a sign. When God made a covenant with Noah after the flood the sign of the covenant was a rainbow.
"And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth" (Genesis 9:12-17, NIV).
When God made a covenant with Abraham, the sign of the covenant was circumcision.
"This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant" (Genesis 17:10-14).
And when God made a covenant with Moses and Israel the sign was the Sabbath day.
"Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy."
”‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested’” (Exodus 31:12-17, NIV).
These signs of the covenant served as distinguishing marks that set Israel apart from other nations of the world as well as a constant reminder of God's covenant with them.
It is interesting to note that when Jesus instituted the New Covenant, the sign of the covenant was communion.
"For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes" (I Corinthians 11:23-26, NIV).
Through keeping the Sabbath day, God wanted Israel to remember that they served the Creator of the universe who Himself rested on the seventh day and sanctified it as holy. It was a reminder to Israel of God's sovereignty and rule in their lives. It was also God's act of mercy toward His people in allowing them a day of rest from all their labors.
The Sabbath day was listed in the covenant with the other nine commandments, but in addition it was also the sign of the covenant with Israel and as such is distinctly unique from the other nine commandments.
The Sabbath day command is like a badge on the uniform of a police officer: it is a sign that represents the responsibility and authority of the office. It is part of the whole uniform, but serves the unique roll of identification.
Just like the other elements of the Old Testament (including circumcision), the Sabbath day was a foreshadow of the future. It was a physical picture communicating a spiritual reality of that which was to come in Jesus Christ. Keep in mind that God's purpose for the nation of Israel was to bring forth the Savior for all mankind - Jesus Christ. The Old Covenant with all its laws and prophets point to this.
Jesus said (after He was accused of breaking the Sabbath, John 5:16-17), “You search the Scriptures [Old Testament] because you believe they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me so that I can give you this eternal life" (John 5:39-40).
Just as Israel worked six days and entered God's rest on the Sabbath, in the new covenant entering into God's rest means ceasing from our own works (for salvation) and accepting (resting in) Christ's work. In the Old Covenant God sanctified the Sabbath day, separating it and making it holy. Keeping the Sabbath day was demonstrating faith in the promise of a new day of rest that would come in Jesus Christ.
"For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they [Israel] did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
“So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”
And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.” And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”
It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience" (Hebrews 4:2-11, NIV).
Jesus Christ fulfilled the Old Covenant sign of the Sabbath day and transformed it into a new Sabbath rest in Jesus Christ. This is why in Matthew 12:8 Jesus calls Himself Lord of the Sabbath. Those who are in Jesus Christ have entered the Sabbath rest and thus, fulfill the purpose of the Sabbath. Just as the Sabbath day was sanctified and made holy by God in the Old Covenant, so Jesus was a sanctified and Holy rest for all who would believe in Him in the New Covenant. The Old Covenant rest required faith in God's provision (because they were not working). The New Covenant rest also requires faith because it's not by our works of righteousness that we are made right with God; but through the work of Jesus Christ.
With the exception of the Sabbath commandment, the new covenant (New Testament) restates each of the other nine commandments. The Sabbath commandment is not restated as a commandment to keep in the way Israel kept it because its purpose as a sign was fulfilled in Christ much like the command of circumcision first given to Abraham. To keep a literal Sabbath day is to disregard the work of Christ and the Sabbath rest that was established in the new covenant.
The Sabbath commandment was transformed into a Sabbath rest in Christ. This is why the New Testament does not restate the need to observe the Sabbath Day, or command keeping the Sabbath Day; nor does it change the Sabbath Day to a different day.
"So do not let anyone make rules for you about eating and drinking or about a religious feast, a New Moon Festival, or a Sabbath day. These things were like a shadow of what was to come. But what is true and real has come and is found in Christ" (Colossians 2:16-17, NCV).
It is no longer about resting on a particular day. It is about entering the rest of a particular Person - Jesus Christ. In the Old Covenant, keeping the Sabbath was an acknowledgment of Creator God's sovereignty (authority) and partaking in His mercy of rest. The same is true in the New Covenant. Those who enter into Christ's Sabbath rest acknowledge the Holy Spirit's sovereignty (authority) and partake in God's mercy.
This does not mean it is not wise to take a one day of rest in the week. The Sabbath Day commandment establishes a healthy principle. Our bodies and minds need rest. To work a seven day week as a matter of habit or lifestyle will eventually result in unhealthy consequences. It is like the covenant sign of circumcision. Though we are not bound to this law, circumcision is proven to be a healthy choice. And circumcision on the eighth day after birth as directed to Israel in Scripture is medically shown to be the best day. The principle is also very similar to the food we eat. God gave Israel directives about the clean foods and unclean foods. Though we are not bound to obey these old covenant laws there is wisdom in eating right as stewards of the bodies God has given us. The old covenant laws contain excellent principles that when taken into consideration can add to our health and well-being. The problem comes when we take these principles and make them into a law similar to old covenant law. If a person has a conviction to rest on a particular day, that's ok. But keeping a particular Sabbath day is not required in the new covenant and that conviction must not be imposed upon others who do not share such conviction.
The Sabbath Day view as outlined here does not discount the value of setting aside special time with God, but this is not what the Old Covenant command was about, nor is it what the new covenant Sabbath rest means. If we wish to address the idea of setting aside a day or days in the week for corporate worship, then we must do so out of the context of the Sabbath day commandment and Sabbath rest offered through Christ. Setting aside time for corporate worship, teaching, fellowship, and accountability are very Biblical. But there are no laws specifying one day over another as more important. We should not judge one another in respect to the particular day(s) that are chosen to worship God.
"In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. Each person should have a personal conviction about this matter. Those who have a special day for worshiping the Lord are trying to honor him" (Romans 14:5-6, NLT).
Meeting together as believers is commanded, but is unrelated to the Sabbath commandment.
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV).
The Ten Commandments are some of the most familiar words from the Bible. In recent years they have been the subject of much debate in the public sector as some officials sought to post them in public buildings and opponents took extensive legal efforts to prevent it. Whether posted on walls or not, the Ten Commandments have been the primary moral code and foundation of law for societies throughout history, especially those commandments that deal with the way people relate to each other. Certainly more important than posting them on walls is obeying them. God’s people need to be at the forefront in living out not just the letter of these laws but the spirit behind them.
____ Baptism ____ Participating in the Lord’s Supper ____Giving monetary offerings ____ Kneeling in prayer ____ Raising hands in worship ____ Saying thoughtful words ____ Other
How could each of these be faked? What, in your Monday through Saturday behavior, would show whether or not these actions actually show honor of and obedience to God? What else does God want you to add to the list?
- God is not asking you to tear your clothes, but you might need to mourn some present or past misbehavior.
- How might God want you to heal people you’ve hurt? What commitment will you make?
See 24:3 for why Moses built an altar.
- Worship brings us close to God through: appreciation, learning, regret and change, and more. Though worship is in the heart, outward actions show what’s in us.
- Read each of the Ten Commandments (20:1-17) and name a way obeying each shows worship for God and love for people.
What did the people say they would do about the Lord’s commands?
- Jesus used the 24:8 concept of “the blood of the covenant” at the last supper (Matt. 26:28). Jesus fulfilled the old covenant and established a new one.
- Repeat the people’s words in 24:7b. Why are you willing to let God tell you what to do? Why do you trust Him?
God establishing the standards of right and wrong are an important part of His Story. God’s laws to His people can be characterized by loyalty to God and respect for people. Jesus echoed this truth in Matthew 22:34-40. Hundreds of choices every day reflect your commitment to those principles, or your denial of them. What do your choices say about your love for God, or lack of it? What do your choices say about your love for people, or lack of it?
1. The revelation of God and His offer to covenant with a people calls for a response.
2. The covenant relationship of Israel with the Lord was sealed by the blood of sacrifice and foreshadowed the blood of the new covenant sealed in the blood of Jesus.
3. The people of God willingly commit themselves to obeying the word of the Lord.
Which commandment concerning your relationship with the Lord do you need to reaffirm?
Which commandment concerning your relationship with others do you need to reaffirm?
While Moses was gone, why did the people beg Aaron for something to worship?
- The answer, I believe, is that humans are created to worship. We will either worship God, ourselves, money, fame, pleasure, success or things. An idol can be anything (or anyone) you worship by giving it more importance than God. When you follow the trail of your time, energy, and money, you find a throne. And whatever or whomever is on that throne is the object of your worship! Do you have an idol that is keeping the one true God from being on the center of your throne of worship?
The Ten Commandments or the Tablets of the Law are the laws that God gave to the people of Israel through Moses after leading them out of Egypt. In essence, they are a summary of the hundreds of laws found in the Old Testament Law and are recorded in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. They offer basic rules of behavior for spiritual and moral living.
The following is a modern-day paraphrase of the Ten Commandments:
- Do not worship any other god than the one true God. All other gods are false gods.
- Do not make idols or images in the form of God. An idol can be anything (or anyone) you worship by giving it more importance than God. If something (or someone) has your time, attention and affections, it has your worship. It could be an idol in your life.
- Do not treat God's name lightly or with disrespect. Because of God's importance, His name is always to be spoken of with honor.
- Dedicate or set aside a regular day each week for Sabbath rest and worship of the Lord.
- Give honor to your father and mother by treating them with respect and obedience.
- Do not deliberately kill a fellow human being.
- Do not have sexual relations with anyone other than your spouse. God forbids sex outside of the bounds of marriage.
- Do not steal or take anything that doesn't belong to you, unless you have been given permission to do so.
- Do not tell a lie about someone or bring a false accusation against another person.
- Do not desire anything or anyone that does not belong to you. Comparing yourself to others and longing to have what they have leads to jealousy, envy and other sins. Be content by focusing on the blessings God has given you and not what He has not given you.
The historical context of the Ten Commandments provides a very important foundation for the purpose of the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments were more than just ten good rules. They were a written version of a verbal covenant that had been made by God years earlier with a man named Abraham. The Ten Commands or Decalogue (name given by Greeks) was also referred to as the Tables of Testimony because they were a testimony to the world of the covenant of God made with Israel.
From the very first sin (Adam and Eve) God designed a plan to restore mankind to relationship and fellowship with himself. This plan, given to Israel, was called a covenant. The covenant was originally given to Israel and in turn was to be shared with the whole world. The covenant was binding upon both parties (God and Israel). It could not be broken without severe consequences. God's covenant was a promise that His people accepted in faith believing God would do what He said. In turn, the people promised God complete devotion and dedication to Him.
God established a spoken and written (Ten Commandments) set of obligations and responsibilities the people must obey in order to demonstrate their devotion to God and separation from sin. It was through these laws that Israel could learn the character of God and the dangers of sin.
God's chose Israel to be the messengers of God's love for all mankind through His covenant. The Ten Commandments were a key element of the covenant God made with Israel. Throughout the generations God chose certain people with whom to carry out His covenant. Mankind had been alienated from God because of sin. When God made a covenant He made a promise to restore (redeem) the relationship that had been lost. The covenant required three ingredients: 1) union with God, 2) mutual promises, and 3) separation from sin.
The covenant demanded a way of life that was distinct from the "fleshly way of life" (whatever feels good-do it!) toward which all humankind is prone.
Those who entered into God's covenant were considered His chosen people. These were not of higher worth or greater value, but as part of the covenant they were separated out and a distinction was made. God's name and character was proclaimed worldwide through this separated people. To non participants in the covenant the separation of His people combined with the miracles, blessings, and faithfulness of God and plainly visible character and power of God became a testimony to which many non believers were attracted and by which many were converted. Read how the faithfulness of three young men to the covenant influenced a king and nation. Daniel Chapter 3. The covenant was initiated with Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:15), established with Abram (Gen. 17:1-8), and fulfilled in Christ. It was woven throughout the generations beginning with Adam to Seth, Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abram, Isaac, Jacob, etc.
Approximately 2070 BC the Lord established His covenant with a man named Abram. Abram believed God and was renamed Abraham which means "the father of many nations". God promised him that through his children all the people of the earth would be blessed. His children through the generations eventually included Jesus - the Messiah who would make salvation from sin available to all.
The promise continued to Abraham's son Isaac and his son Jacob whom God renamed Israel. Jacob (Israel) had twelve sons who became the twelve tribes of the newly established Nation of Israel. One of Jacob's sons, Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by his jealous brothers. God chose Joseph to preserve the Nation of Israel during a severe famine. Israel continued to reside in Egypt for 400 years during which time they became enslaved by Egypt. God called a man named Moses to deliver them from slavery and bondage. Through the miraculous delivery God again reminded Israel of His covenant with them and established their distinction from Egypt. The great exodus began with Israel’s release from Egypt - shortly after their exodus from Egypt God gave Israel the Ten Commandments. They were originally spoken by the voice of God in the hearing of the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-20).
Afterward the Ten Commandments were written on two stone tablets twice by the finger of God (Exodus 31:18; 32:15-16; 34:1, 28; Dt. 10:4). The first set of tablets were shattered by Moses when he threw them to the ground upon seeing Israel breaking the law by the sin of the golden calf. The second set of tablets were kept in the Ark of the Covenant (Ex. 25:16; 40:20).
The Ark of the Covenant was a gold plated wooden box containing the two tablets of Decalogue, Aaron's rod, and a pot of manna. It served as a symbol of God's guidance and presence with the people. It was a constant reminder of God's covenant with His people and played a significant role in various times of Israel's history such as the crossing of the Jordan River and the fall of Jericho.
Keeping the Ten Commandments meant more than just obeying the law. Keeping the commandments was synonymous with keeping the covenant with God. Practicing a life of obedience to the law demonstrated loyalty and dedication to God and faith in His promise to send a Savior who would redeem mankind from their sin. Thus, salvation was obtained through faith, not in the works of the law – though the works of the law are what God required as a demonstration of faith and commitment to God's covenant.
Disobedience to the law symbolized a breaking of the covenant with God and brought with it severe consequences. Sin alienates mankind from God. After Adam's sin God knew man was not capable of living a sinless life. God's covenant with His people, was not for the purpose of eliminating sin. Sin would be ever present. Nor did God sit in the heavens waiting for His people to disobey so He could enjoy punishing them. The purpose of the covenant was to separate a people unto Himself, provide the promise and hope of salvation, and to demonstrate the need for the "new covenant" in Jesus Christ.
God, in His mercy, required sacrifices to be made for sins. The penalty for sin is death and God allowed the death of an animal as payment for the sin. The sacrifices God required were symbolic of the future sacrifice made by the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ) for sin. The practice of obedience to the law, faith in God's promises, and sacrifice for sin demonstrated keeping God's covenant. Though God's people were by no means perfect, living a life in covenant brought God's blessing and protection upon His people.
Remember, this covenant was only part of God's plan to restore mankind to Himself. This covenant was inadequate to accomplish God's ultimate purpose. Does this indicate that God was shortsighted? Not at all. The old covenant (covenant with Israel) served as a shadow of things to come. It helped establish the need for a better way. It gave value to the work of Jesus Christ and became a physical tangible symbol of what Christ actually accomplished. "The old system in the law of Moses was only a shadow of the things to come, not the reality of the good things Christ has done for us. The sacrifices under the old system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. But just the opposite happened. Those yearly sacrifices reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins… "Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or grain offerings or animals burned on the altar or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he added, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to establish the second. And what God wants is for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time" (Hebrews 10:1-4, 8-10.
“This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts so they will understand them, and I will write them on their minds so they will obey them.” Then he adds, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” Now when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices" (Hebrews 10:16-18).
The Ten Commandments are not an isolated set of rules that come from the Bible. They were part of a Divine covenant that has been fulfilled in a new covenant established in Christ.
"But our High Priest [Jesus] has been given a ministry that is far superior to the ministry of those who serve under the old laws, for he is the one who guarantees for us a better covenant with God, based on better promises. If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. But God himself found fault with the old one when he said: “The day will come, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the Lord. But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds so they will understand them, and I will write them on their hearts so they will obey them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their family, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will already know me. And I will forgive their wrongdoings, and I will never again remember their sins.” (Hebrews 8:6-12).
Are Christians today still under the Ten Commandment laws? (This is one opinion)
This is a very good question, and one that is answered clearly in the Law & Grace section of this site. In short, the Ten Commandments were specifically written to Israel as a covenant with God. It was a covenant that pointed to the promised Messiah (Jesus Christ) who would fulfill the requirements of the covenant and thus, institute a new covenant of salvation in Jesus Christ. Christians today are not bound to keep the Ten Commandments in the same way Israel was. They kept them as a demonstration of faith in the promise that was to come (Jesus Christ). When Jesus instituted a new covenant for all people, the old covenant law was transformed into new covenant law. It is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus which sets us free from the law of sin and death.
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:2-4, KJV).
Should Christians today observe the Sabbath Day Commandment?
(This is one opinion)
The Sabbath Day commandment is one of the most debated theological issues of our day. Unfortunately, it has also been a point of contention and very divisive in the Church.
Sabbath day views are derived by how we answer these two questions:
Is the Sabbath Day commandment a moral law equal to the other nine moral laws?
And if so, do these ten moral laws apply in exactly the same way today as they did then?
A Biblically sound view will be achieved when we examine the Sabbath Day in the context of the whole Bible.
As explained in detail in Law & Grace, the Bible from cover to cover is about God's covenant with people. Thus, the Bible has been divided into two parts: the Old Testament (Old Covenant) and New Testament (New Covenant). Scripture is clear that the Ten Commandments written by the finger of God for Moses to give to the people was God's covenant with Israel. And I emphasize "ISRAEL". The Ten Commandments, though a very moral law with great application for society today was God's covenant with Israel during the old covenant.
When Jesus came, He fulfilled the Old Covenant and instituted a New Covenant for all peoples of the world. The Old Covenant was transformed into a new one. Those of us living in the era of grace (new covenant, present day) are not bound to keep the Ten Commandments in the way and for the same purpose Israel did. Where Israel kept the covenant of the Ten Commandments in faith of the promise that was to come (Jesus Christ); we today look back at the Ten Commandments through the new covenant in Jesus Christ.
If we neglect to understand or consider "covenant", we will miss the distinctions made between the Old and New Testament and the significance of Christ's work on the cross.
Where no distinction is made between covenants, the Ten Commandments are viewed the same today as they were when presented to Israel.
For example, we say that the command "You shall not murder" applies the same today as it did then. Jesus also addressed the sixth commandment by adding further stipulation. It is also wrong to hate your brother. So we see that the sixth commandment applies today literally "You shall not murder" and applies to the heart issue of hating our brother.
This thinking seems to work fine until the fourth commandment (Sabbath Commandment). Many say that the Sabbath commandment applies in terms of the heart issue: setting aside one day a week for God. The specific day could be Sunday in line with first fruits principle, Christ rose from the dead on Sunday, and the early church often met together on Sunday. This idea has become very traditional. But if we seek to apply this commandment literally we run into a problem. God clearly stated a specific day and it was the Sabbath (Saturday), last day of the week. Nowhere in the New Testament (New Covenant) was the Sabbath day changed to Sunday or any other day of the week.
So while many apply nine of the commandments literally as presented in the Old Covenant, and with deeper heart meaning as presented by Jesus Christ; the same do not apply the Sabbath day commandment literally, but only with deeper heart meaning. In other words, this type of thinking gleans a principle out of the fourth commandment, but neglects or disregards the obligation to keep the literal meaning of the commandment.
This is an inconsistency and a dangerous method of interpreting Scripture. It is a subtle twisting of the Scriptures to fit a particular theological viewpoint however traditional the viewpoint may be.
The other view is that all Ten Commandments were intended to be kept literally today as they were during the Old Covenant. Thus, all Ten Commandments have equal morality and as we apply the commandment to not murder (literally), so we are obligated to remember the Sabbath (last day of week) day to keep it holy (literally). This would mean that the larger percentage of the Christian church today is in grave error by observing Sunday rather than the Sabbath (Saturday).
Again, the previous unbiblical conclusions regarding the Ten Commandments are achieved when no distinction is made between the Old Covenant and New Covenant.
Before moving on, let’s address a couple major misconceptions about what God intended when He commanded a Sabbath day.
Sabbath day does not equal going to church on Saturday or Sunday. It was never the purpose of the Sabbath day to gather together for worship. Those who think they are keeping the fourth commandment by going to church on Sunday or Saturday are in error. The Sabbath was a command to rest from labor as God did from His when He created the universe.
The Sabbath day is not about giving God our time. If it were it would likely have been consistent with the first fruits Biblical principle and would have been instituted on the first day of the week - Sunday rather than the last.
The Old Covenant Sabbath Day
The Bible clearly states that the Sabbath commandment was a sign to Israel of the covenant.
Any covenant God made with his people was accompanied by a sign. When God made a covenant with Noah after the flood the sign of the covenant was a rainbow.
"And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth" (Genesis 9:12-17, NIV).
When God made a covenant with Abraham, the sign of the covenant was circumcision.
"This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant" (Genesis 17:10-14).
And when God made a covenant with Moses and Israel the sign was the Sabbath day.
"Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy."
”‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested’” (Exodus 31:12-17, NIV).
These signs of the covenant served as distinguishing marks that set Israel apart from other nations of the world as well as a constant reminder of God's covenant with them.
It is interesting to note that when Jesus instituted the New Covenant, the sign of the covenant was communion.
"For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes" (I Corinthians 11:23-26, NIV).
Through keeping the Sabbath day, God wanted Israel to remember that they served the Creator of the universe who Himself rested on the seventh day and sanctified it as holy. It was a reminder to Israel of God's sovereignty and rule in their lives. It was also God's act of mercy toward His people in allowing them a day of rest from all their labors.
The Sabbath day was listed in the covenant with the other nine commandments, but in addition it was also the sign of the covenant with Israel and as such is distinctly unique from the other nine commandments.
The Sabbath day command is like a badge on the uniform of a police officer: it is a sign that represents the responsibility and authority of the office. It is part of the whole uniform, but serves the unique roll of identification.
Just like the other elements of the Old Testament (including circumcision), the Sabbath day was a foreshadow of the future. It was a physical picture communicating a spiritual reality of that which was to come in Jesus Christ. Keep in mind that God's purpose for the nation of Israel was to bring forth the Savior for all mankind - Jesus Christ. The Old Covenant with all its laws and prophets point to this.
Jesus said (after He was accused of breaking the Sabbath, John 5:16-17), “You search the Scriptures [Old Testament] because you believe they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me so that I can give you this eternal life" (John 5:39-40).
Just as Israel worked six days and entered God's rest on the Sabbath, in the new covenant entering into God's rest means ceasing from our own works (for salvation) and accepting (resting in) Christ's work. In the Old Covenant God sanctified the Sabbath day, separating it and making it holy. Keeping the Sabbath day was demonstrating faith in the promise of a new day of rest that would come in Jesus Christ.
"For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they [Israel] did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
“So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”
And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.” And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”
It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience" (Hebrews 4:2-11, NIV).
Jesus Christ fulfilled the Old Covenant sign of the Sabbath day and transformed it into a new Sabbath rest in Jesus Christ. This is why in Matthew 12:8 Jesus calls Himself Lord of the Sabbath. Those who are in Jesus Christ have entered the Sabbath rest and thus, fulfill the purpose of the Sabbath. Just as the Sabbath day was sanctified and made holy by God in the Old Covenant, so Jesus was a sanctified and Holy rest for all who would believe in Him in the New Covenant. The Old Covenant rest required faith in God's provision (because they were not working). The New Covenant rest also requires faith because it's not by our works of righteousness that we are made right with God; but through the work of Jesus Christ.
With the exception of the Sabbath commandment, the new covenant (New Testament) restates each of the other nine commandments. The Sabbath commandment is not restated as a commandment to keep in the way Israel kept it because its purpose as a sign was fulfilled in Christ much like the command of circumcision first given to Abraham. To keep a literal Sabbath day is to disregard the work of Christ and the Sabbath rest that was established in the new covenant.
The Sabbath commandment was transformed into a Sabbath rest in Christ. This is why the New Testament does not restate the need to observe the Sabbath Day, or command keeping the Sabbath Day; nor does it change the Sabbath Day to a different day.
"So do not let anyone make rules for you about eating and drinking or about a religious feast, a New Moon Festival, or a Sabbath day. These things were like a shadow of what was to come. But what is true and real has come and is found in Christ" (Colossians 2:16-17, NCV).
It is no longer about resting on a particular day. It is about entering the rest of a particular Person - Jesus Christ. In the Old Covenant, keeping the Sabbath was an acknowledgment of Creator God's sovereignty (authority) and partaking in His mercy of rest. The same is true in the New Covenant. Those who enter into Christ's Sabbath rest acknowledge the Holy Spirit's sovereignty (authority) and partake in God's mercy.
This does not mean it is not wise to take a one day of rest in the week. The Sabbath Day commandment establishes a healthy principle. Our bodies and minds need rest. To work a seven day week as a matter of habit or lifestyle will eventually result in unhealthy consequences. It is like the covenant sign of circumcision. Though we are not bound to this law, circumcision is proven to be a healthy choice. And circumcision on the eighth day after birth as directed to Israel in Scripture is medically shown to be the best day. The principle is also very similar to the food we eat. God gave Israel directives about the clean foods and unclean foods. Though we are not bound to obey these old covenant laws there is wisdom in eating right as stewards of the bodies God has given us. The old covenant laws contain excellent principles that when taken into consideration can add to our health and well-being. The problem comes when we take these principles and make them into a law similar to old covenant law. If a person has a conviction to rest on a particular day, that's ok. But keeping a particular Sabbath day is not required in the new covenant and that conviction must not be imposed upon others who do not share such conviction.
The Sabbath Day view as outlined here does not discount the value of setting aside special time with God, but this is not what the Old Covenant command was about, nor is it what the new covenant Sabbath rest means. If we wish to address the idea of setting aside a day or days in the week for corporate worship, then we must do so out of the context of the Sabbath day commandment and Sabbath rest offered through Christ. Setting aside time for corporate worship, teaching, fellowship, and accountability are very Biblical. But there are no laws specifying one day over another as more important. We should not judge one another in respect to the particular day(s) that are chosen to worship God.
"In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. Each person should have a personal conviction about this matter. Those who have a special day for worshiping the Lord are trying to honor him" (Romans 14:5-6, NLT).
Meeting together as believers is commanded, but is unrelated to the Sabbath commandment.
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV).
Prayer of Commitment
Dear Lord, I renew my commitment to learn from Your instructions and to live by Your standards, all for Your glory. Amen.
Dear Lord, I renew my commitment to learn from Your instructions and to live by Your standards, all for Your glory. Amen.
The Ten Commandments are some of the most familiar words from the Bible. In recent years they have been the subject of much debate in the public sector as some officials sought to post them in public buildings and opponents took extensive legal efforts to prevent it. Whether posted on walls or not, the Ten Commandments have been the primary moral code and foundation of law for societies throughout history, especially those commandments that deal with the way people relate to each other. Certainly more important than posting them on walls is obeying them. God’s people need to be at the forefront in living out not just the letter of these laws but the spirit behind them.
We will see you on Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
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