Sabbath in Hebrew = Shabbat = Rest = Sabbatj
Man made the the rules and limitations we put on the Sabbath and all of life.
"13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[a] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross." Colossians 2:13-14
"16 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. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." Colossians 2:16-17
The reality is Christ. The Sabbath Rest is found in Jesus Christ.
chasing a shadow will get you nowhere.
17 “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." Matthew 5;17
2 Types of Sabbath: Work or Rest
24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” Mark 2:24
Pharisees were focused on rules. Using the law to work their way to heaven, to be good enough. This is impossible. They also made everyone else afraid. We can't get to heaven from here -- gotta go through Jesus.
"8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2;*-9
Life is a gift. Salvation is a gift. Abundant life is a gift.
"23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23
"10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;" Romans 3:10
"27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”" Mark 2:27-28
Jesus is the completion of the law. Jesus finished it, completed it.
"30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." John 19:30
The law was fulfilled and completed in those last three words of Jesus before He died.
It is easy to fall into living by the rules. But we aren't called to this. This isn't the Christian life. We are to be rooted and living from Jesus's rest. His desire is for us to rest in Him now, not just in heaven.
4th Commandment:
21 “Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest." Exodus 34:21
Work is good -- just has to be in the right priority in our lives.
"10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”"
2 Thessalonians 3;10
Work 6 days. God expects us to work. God made us to work. But not endlessly. Too much work is not good.
Rest examples:
"2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work." Genesis 2:2
"16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Luke 5:16
Don't be afraid to be still. Let your soul catch up.
"He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”" Psalm 46:10
"Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes." Psalm 37:7
'11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.' 1 Kings 19:11-12
Give God time to speak to you. Listen for Him. Listen for His still small voice.