Sabbath | The Law | Grace | Worldview
The Sabbath
The Bible teaches that the Sabbath is a holy day set aside for rest and worship (Exodus 20:8-11; Leviticus 23:3; Mark 2:27). Even though Jesus and the apostles observed the Sabbath and attended synagogue services (Luke 4:16; Acts 13:42-44; Acts 17:1-4).
There is no explicit command in the New Testament for Christians to observe the Sabbath on any particular day. Instead, Christians began to gather for worship on the first day of the week, Sunday, in commemoration of Jesus’ resurrection on that day (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2).
The shift from Saturday to Sunday as the primary day of worship and rest was a gradual process that took place over several centuries in the early Christian church.
Another reason for the shift was the fact that Christianity was increasingly becoming a separate religion from Judaism, and the Christian leaders felt a need to distinguish themselves from Jewish practices, including Sabbath observance. This was especially important as the early church expanded beyond the Jewish community and began to include Gentile converts.
Ultimately, the day on which we observe the Sabbath is a matter of personal conviction and preference. What is most important is that we set aside time for rest and worship, and that we do so in a way that honours God and promotes our spiritual growth.
Romans 14:5-6 5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
It is worth noting that while the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments, Christians are no longer bound to observe all of the Jewish laws and customs. In the New Testament, the apostles and early Christian leaders made it clear that Gentile converts to Christianity were not required to observe the Jewish laws and customs, including Sabbath observance.
The Law and Grace
Observing the Jewish laws and customs, including Sabbath observance, was a major issue in the early Christian church, especially for the Gentile converts. This issue was addressed in several places in the New Testament, including in the book of Acts (Acts 15:10-11; Acts 15:19-20) and in the letters of the apostle Paul (Galatians 2:15-16; Colossians 2:16-17)
These passages, along with the decision of the Council of Jerusalem, made it clear that Gentile converts to Christianity were not required to observe the Jewish laws and customs, including Sabbath observance. The focus of the Christian faith was on faith in Jesus Christ and the grace of God, rather than on adherence to the Mosaic Law.
Galatians 3:23-25 – “Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”
Here, the Apostle Paul argues that the Law of the Old Testament served as a temporary guardian for God’s people until the coming of Christ. Now that Christ has come and fulfilled the Law, believers are no longer under the Law as a means of salvation.
Romans 6:14 – “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”
In this passage, Paul asserts that believers are no longer under the Law because they are now under grace. This means that salvation is not earned through obedience to the Law but is a gift from God given through faith in Christ.
Colossians 2:16-17 – “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
Here, Paul argues that the Old Testament laws regarding food, drink, and religious festivals were shadows that pointed to the coming of Christ. Now that Christ has come, these laws are no longer binding on believers.
Hebrews 8:13 – “By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.”
In this passage, the author of Hebrews argues that the Old Covenant has been made obsolete by the New Covenant established through Christ. The Old Covenant was based on the Law and required obedience to its commands, while the New Covenant is based on faith in Christ and the forgiveness of sins through his sacrifice.
Matthew 5:17-18 states, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” (NIV).
As the Apostle Paul explains in his letter to the Galatians, “For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:19-20, ESV).
So while Matthew 5:17-18 reminds us of the continuity between the Old Testament and the new covenant, it also points to the fact that the new covenant has replaced the old covenant as the primary means of our relationship with God.
The New Covenant is a central theme in the Bible
It is a covenant of grace and salvation that God made with His people through Jesus Christ. The Old Covenant was based on the Law of Moses, which required strict obedience to a set of rules and regulations. The New Covenant, on the other hand, is based on faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.
The New Covenant was prophesied in the Old Testament, particularly in Jeremiah 31:31-34. In this passage, God promises to make a new covenant with His people, which will be different from the covenant made with their ancestors at Mount Sinai. The new covenant will not be based on the Law of Moses, but on God’s grace and forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.
In the New Testament, Jesus Himself explains the New Covenant. In Luke 22:20, Jesus says, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Jesus’ death on the cross fulfilled the requirements of the Old Covenant and established the New Covenant. Through His sacrifice, believers can be forgiven of their sins and reconciled to God.
The New Covenant is based on grace alone through faith alone. In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul writes, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” This means that salvation cannot be earned through good works or strict adherence to the Law of Moses. Instead, it is a free gift of God’s grace that is received by faith in Jesus Christ.
Living under the New Covenant means that believers are no longer under the Law of Moses. In Romans 6:14, Paul writes, “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” This does not mean that believers are free to sin, but rather that they are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a life that pleases God.
In conclusion, the New Covenant is a covenant of grace and salvation that God made with His people through Jesus Christ. It is based on faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. Believers are no longer under the Law of Moses, but are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a life that pleases God. This is a free gift of God’s grace that is received by faith alone.
The Creation Worldview
The consistent biblical creationist is one whose worldview is based on the Bible; this is his or her ultimate standard. As such, the creationist believes that an all-powerful (Matt. 19:26), all-knowing (Col.2:3), triune (Isa. 45:5; John 8:18) God created the universe in six ordinary days (Exod. 20:11) thousands, not billions, of years ago (based on genealogies such as Gen. 5:4–32). Today, God upholds the universe by His sustaining power (Heb. 1:3) in a logical and consistent way that we call the “laws of nature” or “laws of science” (Jer.33:25). The method by which God created the universe is not the same method by which He sustains it; God ended His work of creation by the seventh day (Gen. 2:2). The world was a paradise when it was first created (Gen. 1:31; Deut. 32:4). The first man (Adam) was given charge over all creation (Gen. 1:28, 2:15). Adam rebelled against the Lord (Gen. 2:16, 3:6). As a result, God cursed His creation (Gene. 3:14–19), which is why we now have death and suffering in the world (Rom. 5:12, 8:21–22). Since all humans today are descended from Adam (Acts 17:26), we all have a sin nature, and we too rebel against God —disobeying His commandments. Like Adam, we deserve death and eternal separation from God. In Christian theology, this is why God became a man ( John 1:1,14) and died on a cross. Jesus took our place as an act of mercy and has offered forgiveness for all who receive Him as Lord (Rom. 10:9–10). God had created the original animals and plants “after their kind” (Gen. 1:11, 21, 25; NASB), indicating that there are discrete barriers between basic animal and plants kinds, but that there can be variation within. The animals and plants we observe today are all variations of the original kinds (though some kinds have gone extinct). Natural selection happens . . . animals and plants can adapt somewhat to their environment. However, the processes involved never increase the information in the DNA and thus never result in a new kind of organism. God once flooded the entire earth in response to man’s wickedness (Gen. 6:5–7,17) but spared a few people in response to Noah’s obedience (Gen. 6:9, 18) and preserved them and the animal kinds by an ark (Gen. 6:19). Creationists believe that most of the fossils found on earth today are a result of this global Flood. This is only a very brief summary of the creationist position.
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