What is the Sabbath rest for all those in covenant with God

[Hobie]

Many people say "Christ is the Sabbath rest for all those in covenant with God in Christ", but what does that mean. '

Well lets start with what it tells us, "Remember the Sabbath day," in the Ten Commandments and it continues. "For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy" (Exodus 20:8, 11). So here the Law given to Moses sends us back to the creation of the world. The Sabbath goes back to what God did at creation.

John 1:1-3."In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 The same was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
Then further at verse 10 we have "He [Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not." John 1:10

We find in Colossians,: "For by Him [Jesus] all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. Col. 1:16

Thus Jesus Christ is our Creator. The One who created the world, made the animals and birds and sea creators and Adam and Eve and rested. So we see He is our Creator there at the beginning  and He declares that the Sabbath was created or made at Creation for man.

Now keep in mind merely refraining from work is not God's idea of Sabbath-keeping. It may be Sunday-keeping or Friday-keeping or Monday-keeping; but it is not Sabbath-keeping. It is not Sabbath-keeping, because the idea of Sabbath is spiritual rest. And the Creator set aside one day of the week for spiritual rest and He wants us to come to Him for rest. The reason why we cease from our labor on the seventh day, the Sabbath of our Lord Jesus Christ, is that we may  be free to contemplate God as manifested to us in Jesus Christ. Christ our Creator wants to commune with us, He made and gave us the gift of the Sabbath so we have a time to rest not only from our work and daily labor but to have spiritual rest in Christ on the day He made for us.

Now at the burning bush we have the identification of who gave Moses the Law. Exodus 3:13-14 "13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" 

Now compare John 8:56-59  "56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by."

The New Testament also is clear that Jesus created all things, He was there at the begining. So now we begin to understand who Jesus is and what John 1:1-3 means.
"1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 The same was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.." (John 1:1-3)
"13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Colossians 1:13-17)
"27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath." Mark 2:27-28 So we see that Jehovah, the great I AM, our Redeemer and Saviour, " Who is the image of the invisible God",  "the Angel in whom was the name of Jehovah," the Lord of the Sabbath, He is the One who gave us the Sabbath and the Ten Commandments.

[Hobie]

Now some people may say well you can rest on Sabbath, but worship on Sunday and that is following God. But this was not the practice of either Jesus or Paul. They didn't rest on the Sabbath and worship on Sunday. It is not enough just to see the biblical truth of the seventh-day Sabbath rest, but, if you are going to worship the Creator, why not do so on the day that He picked out and made for man?

If we really want to please the other person when we pick out a gift, wouldn't it be better to find out what he or she would really like? God has not left it hidden as to which day He prefers, and He promises:

"... them that honor Me I will honor ..." 1 Samuel 2:30.

Putting aside all these false arguments as to why Sunday is a day of worship, why cant Christinans give God His due by giving God His day?

[Rella]

@Hobie

Can you explain:

Acts 20:7 which says, "On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and he prolonged his speech until midnight."

This seems to be a formal gathering for the Lord's Supper on Sunday evening, the first day of the week. (It could have been Saturday evening since by Jewish reckoning the day begins at 6:00 PM the previous evening. But Luke probably uses the Roman way of reckoning days from midnight to midnight. Cf. 4:3; 23:31f.) So it looks as though the switch to Sunday for worship had already begun.

Or...

another verse that points in this direction is 1 Corinthians 16:2. Paul is trying to prepare the Corinthians for a collection that he is taking up from the churches for the saints in Jerusalem: "On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that contributions need not be made when I come."

It seems that the first day of the week is now the day when Christians are performing special religious exercises.

Better said here, and not by me...

https://christianpure.com/learn/jesus-sabbath-rest/

What did Jesus mean when he said he was the Lord of Sabbath?
When Jesus declared that he was the Lord of the Sabbath, he was making a powerful statement about his divinity and authority. In the Old Testament, the Sabbath was a day of rest and reverence for God, symbolizing the covenant between God and his people. By claiming to be the Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus asserted his role as the fulfillment of the Sabbath and its symbolism.

Jesus fulfills the role of the Sabbath by bringing believers into communion with God through his teachings and sacrifices. He offers spiritual rest and restoration to those who come to him, providing a more powerful rest than the physical rest of the Sabbath. In Jesus, believers find true fulfillment and peace, experiencing a spiritual Sabbath that transcends the limitations of the Old Testament Sabbath.

Key points that illustrate how Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Sabbath include his teachings on rest and renewal, his sacrificial death and resurrection, and his role as the Son of Man prophesied in the book of Daniel. These prophecies from Daniel and the New Testament references emphasize Jesus' divine nature and authority as the Lord of the Sabbath.

When Jesus proclaimed himself as the Lord of the Sabbath, he was pointing to his identity as the fulfillment of the Old Testament Sabbath, the source of true communion with God, and the provider of eternal rest for believers.

In Hebrews 4:9-10, the Bible declares, "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his." This verse signifies that Jesus is our ultimate Sabbath rest. In the Old Testament, the Sabbath was a day of rest and worship, symbolizing the completion of God's creation. Jesus fulfills this as our rest by offering us spiritual rest in Him, which is not bound by a specific day but is always available to us. He invites us to enter His rest, where we find peace, renewal, and freedom from striving to earn God's favor through our works. By accepting Jesus as our Sabbath rest, we acknowledge that our true rest comes from Him, not our efforts. This allows us to live in the freedom and grace of God's love, experiencing His rest in every aspect of our lives.

Key takeaways:

Hebrews 4:9-10 highlights Jesus as our Sabbath rest
In the Old Testament, the Sabbath was a day of rest and worship
Jesus fulfills the Sabbath by offering us spiritual rest in Him, not bound by a specific day

[Jaime]

Rella, i am not supporting or arguing with the following link. I just find all of this discussion interesting. In my old age, I seem to find myself on the contrarian side of most issues. At this point in my life  I am questioning a lot of things I formally accepted and didn't know why. "Just  because" or "that was decided long ago" seems inadequate to me now. I may come back to where I was, but I am definitely trying to get my head around some long held beliefs that I inherited. I want to convince myself with Bible Study and study of The history of Christianity and why we do things the way we do. I want to settle in my own mine the apologetics i try to defend. For instance, even my beliefs about baptism are are fair game in my mind. I have never satisfactorily settled the Sabbath issue in my mind. My questions on Mathew 5:17 are a more recent phenomenon. Also, I grew up with a different view of the Jews than I have now. I have actually heard several sermons in my life about what my tribe referred to as the "paranthetical chapters" of Romans 9 through 11 where Paul addresses the relationships between Jewish Christians and the Gentiles.

https://www.sabbathtruth.com/free-resources/article-library/story/id/916/t/where-s-the-evidence-that-the-sabbath-was-changed-/gad_source/1/gbraid/0aaaaaopyls3vveo3pclsujlu5xuvnznq3/gclid/cj0kcqias5i8bhdmarisage4xhwvdgzospfdo1b-ydast3d9cilxhos0k18bgcqokdv7xy_skd20uygaarizealw_wcb

[Rella]

Rella, i am not supporting or arguing with the following link. I just find all of this discussion interesting. In my old age, I seem to find myself on the contrarian side of most issues. At this point in my life  I am questioning a lot of things I formally accepted and dodn't know why. "Just  because" seems inadequate to me now. I may come back to where I was, but I am definitely trying to get my head around some long held beliefs that I inherited. I want to convince myself with Bible Study and study of The history of Christianity and why we do things the way we do. For instance, even my beliefs about baptism are are fair game in my mind. I have never satisfactorily settled the Sabbath issue in my mind. My questions on Mathew 5:-7 are a more recent phenomenon. Also, I gree up with a different view of the Jews than I have now. I have actually heard several sermons in my life aboit what my tribe referrednto as the "paranthetical chapters" of Romans 9 through 11 where Paul addresses the relationships between Jewish Christians and the Gentiles.

https://www.sabbathtruth.com/free-resources/article-library/story/id/916/t/where-s-the-evidence-that-the-sabbath-was-changed-/gad_source/1/gbraid/0aaaaaopyls3vveo3pclsujlu5xuvnznq3/gclid/cj0kcqias5i8bhdmarisage4xhwvdgzospfdo1b-ydast3d9cilxhos0k18bgcqokdv7xy_skd20uygaarizealw_wcb

LOL. I hear you and about your old age. I rather think I have you beat by a few years and I myself have been questioning a lot for a while now.

When I read and posted about the sabbath a few days ago it was a light bulb moment of consideration I would not have entertained
a mere 10 years ago... but now?

Your article is clear and understandable and has me 
bur more so because it suggests that the Catholics are the reason for the change. NOT my favorite by any stretch.

And has me  in wonderment of what now? Would this make Jesus as our Sabbath rest null and void?

Well. Guess more homework in in line.

Thanks for posting this.

And here I thought my biggie in life was turning from belief in predestination   

[Jaime]

I have always been enthralled with the description of Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath. In that regard would the Lord's day be the day he is Lord of?! 

[NyawehNyoh]

.
● Ex 31:16-17 . .The children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days The Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.

The Jews' weekly routine day of rest is a liturgical day. As such it is no more than twenty-four hours in length, whereas the creator's day of rest is very different.

Six of the creation days were bounded by an evening and a morning; whereas the seventh day wasn't bounded at all, viz: God has yet to terminate His rest and pick up where He left off making things. In other words; God's rest has thus far been a perpetual, never-ending day, viz: it's an on-going rest primarily because the entire work of creation, from beginning to end was completed, viz: it was just right, and God left no unfinished business awaiting His return to work. (Gen 2:1)

● Heb 4:10 . . For all who enter into God's rest will find rest from their labors, just as God rested after creating the world.

"their labors" are relative to the covenant that Moses' people entered into with God by means of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy-- a.k.a. the Law -- which rewards compliance with blessings, while at the same time penalizes non compliance with retribution, e.g. Lev 26:3-38, Deut 27:15-26, and Deut 28:1-69.

So then, the people can never relax because the law-- with its requirements and its consequences --constantly pressures the people to improve. Time after time, Yom Kippur's annual observance reminds them that they are not yet just right.
_

[Jaime]

In Deuteronomy 30:

10 if you obey the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.
11 ¶ "For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach.
12 "It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?'
13 "Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?'
14 "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.

[Jaime]

1John 5

1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

[NyawehNyoh]

.
● Matt 11:28-30 . . Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Within the context of the letter to Hebrews, the rest Jesus spoke of pertains to a new covenant, a new high priesthood, and a new atonement system.
_

[Jaime]

A rabbi's yoke in the first century was his interpretation of Torah. (See the comparison of rabbi Shammai and rabbi Hillel in the link below). Jesus spent the entire Sermon on the mount conveying to his disciples that the proper interpretation of Torah as God intended it was to add back the Spirit of the Torah versus the Letter only of Torah that the Pharisees capitalized on thereby emptying the Torah of its original meaning that God intended. Ie don't just not murder, don't even harbor anger in your heart. Don't just abstain from committing the physical act of adultery, do not even harbor lust in your heart. The pharisees were like white washed sepulchers, outer appearance of righteousness but corrupt and evil on the inside. Jesus's interpretation of Torah was as God originally intended or "filled full" of what the Pharisees had emptied or abolished and added the burdens of the traditions of men. To the first century rabbis, there was constant debate among them on whether their yokes  wrongly interpreted Torah (abolished it) or properly interpreted it (or said to fulfill it or fill it full). The precise meaning of the Greek word Pleeroo.

https://www.ourancientpaths.org/post/2016/12/20/what-is-the-yoke-of-yshua