Understanding the Sabbath and How To Keep It Holy

Understanding the Sabbath and How To Keep It Holy

Sabbath Was Made For Man

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth in 6 creative periods called days in Genesis. On the 7th day He rested. Adam and Eve were commanded to honor the sabbath day and keep it holy. God hallowed the sabbath day and set it apart to be a day of thanksgiving, healing, and regeneration for mankind. Properly living the Sabbath is crucial to keeping our covenants with Jesus Christ.

Why Christians Live the Sabbath on Sunday

The life, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ clearly illuminates the purpose of the Sabbath and how it should be lived. The Jews continue to celebrate the sabbath on Saturday according to God’s original instruction in Exodus. However, the teachings of Jesus give Christians the opportunity to understand the purpose of the Sabbath completely. Christ’s apostles chose to have the church live the Sabbath on Sunday because Jesus conquered the curses of the fall of Adam and Eve on Sunday when he rose from the dead. Furthermore, living the Sabbath is synonymous with obeying Christ’s command to pick up our cross and follow him. The purpose of the sabbath day is to express gratitude for our Creator, and to heal and regenerate the body of Christ through the sacrifice of self.

Why is Church Part of Sabbath Worship

Have you ever wondered why we go to church as part of our sabbath worship? Church is a tool from God to help us more fully fulfill God’s commandment to dedicate our Sabbaths to the will of God. In 1 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul taught that we are all part of the body of Christ and that we are to love and strengthen each other. 

We gather together as believers to collectively praise God. We preach and listen to God’s word to strengthen and renew ourselves and the body of Christ. Attending worship services gives us the opportunity to remind ourselves of the life and sacrifices of Jesus and that we should likewise be strengthening and blessing the people around us as he did. Just as Jesus gave his body and blood so that we could be renewed and empowered, we should dedicate our sabbaths to renewing and lifting the burdens of others. 

Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

We all know the Sabbath is important but how do we keep it Holy? Proper Sabbath day living has repeatedly been misunderstood throughout the history of Ancient Israel, Judaism, and Christianity. It’s crucial to understand that what God requires of us on the sabbath day depends on the state of the world around us.

For example, keeping it holy looked very different in the Garden of Eden than it did after Adam and Eve were driven out. In the beginning, everything was in perfect order and harmony. As a result, Jehovah, Adam, & Eve rested on the sabbath day. In the absence of sin and injustice the body of Christ rests. That is because nothing currently needs healing or strengthening. Truly the garden of eden was similar to heaven. 

However, once man & woman partook of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, resulting in the fall, peace and harmony soon gave way to chaos. Thus resulting in the clarion call to the children of God to reestablish order and peace in the earth. While there is wickedness and oppression in the world it is the duty of the followers of Christ to fight and relieve the wrongfully oppressed. We can, should, and are commanded to use our sabbaths to accomplish this end. We are to lift each other's burdens, mourn with those who mourn, and demand justice in our societies.

Not every Sabbath day is going to look the same, there are many things that need doing and people can only do one thing at a time. Hopefully this message has helped you see that christians have been given great responsibilities. The sabbath is God’s gift to have 1 day in 7 where our entire focus is on healing our world, by restoring justice and serving those in need. The goal of our lives is to deny our will until it forever aligns with God’s will. Our mission is to redeem the family of Adam and Eve and bring the earth and all mankind back into the presence of God. 

The book of Isaiah shows us how the followers of Christ will redeem the world and prepare it to receive their King Jesus Christ. Here are some things he has to say about how to live the Sabbath so that we can have power to change the world.

Sabbath & Fasting Does and Dont’s from Isaiah

DO’s

• Observe justice and perform righteousness(Isaiah 56:1).

• Stay your hand from evil (Isaiah 56:2).

• Choose to do God’s will and obey my covenant (Isaiah 56:4).

• Liberate the wrongfully captive (Isaiah 58:6).

• Fight for the liberty of the oppressed (Isaiah 58:6).

• Abolish unjust laws (Isaiah 58:6).

• Feed, cloth, and house the poor (Isaiah 58:7).

• Focus on the physical and spiritual welfare of your family (Isaiah 58:7).

DONT’s

• Don’t profane the sabbath (Isaiah 56:2).

• Don’t seek your own will (Isaiah 56:4) (Isaiah 58:13).

• Don’t pursue your own ends (58:3).

• Don’t complain (58:4).

• Don’t neglect your family (Isaiah 58:7).

The Sabbath Covenant:

Consequences of Keeping the Sabbath:

• Offerings will be accepted and you will be glad. Isaiah 56:7, 58:13,14)

• Blessed with health, wealth, posterity, inheritance, power, divine protection, honor, glory, Jesus (Isaiah 56 & 58).

Consequences of Profaning the Sabbath:

• Offerings will be rejected and you will mourn (Isaiah 56, 58).

• Devoured by wild beasts and enemies (Isaiah 56).

Still Confused?

In case some people are still confused about what is and is not allowed on the Sabbath, I have created a list of things that are allowed. What is not allowed is using the sabbath to pursue your own selfish desires. Every day but especially every Sabbath we should align everything we do with the will of King Jesus. 

Justin’s List Of Sabbath Approved Activities

• We can demand justice for the oppressed by encouraging people to sign petitions to ban abortion.

• We can protest for redress of grievance from our government to reestablish justice in our societies. 

• We can pull the weeds and mow the lawn for the widow next door.

• We can go to church and obey the commandment of Jesus to gather with the body of Christ and partake of the emblems of the sacrifice of His blood and body.

• We can preach the gospel on the streets or amongst friends or enemies.

• We can volunteer our time to repair the home of a neighbor. 

• We can gather with our family and praise the Lord with joy for all that he has done.

• We can fix a neighbor's roof.

• We can rest. Physical rest remains a gift from God, but the Sabbath was never intended to become an excuse to neglect acts of mercy, justice, or love.

• We can rejoice and praise the Lord for all He has done.

• We can serve those who stand in need in whatever capacity.

Obedience To God Is The Answer to Climate Change

As we strive to honor the sabbath day and keep it holy through doing the work of King Jesus, may we realize that humans and the earth are connected. Mankind was made from the dust and will return to the dust. When mankind obeys God the world flourishes and abundantly produces. But when mankind disobeys God and seeks to gratify our selfish wills then the earth is grieved and withholds its rain, creates severe weather and  earthquakes, our crops fail and our soil dries up or turns into a swamp. And the people begin to murder each other for power and resources.

It is my witness that the answer to all of the world’s problems including climate change is to remember Jesus is King, obey his commandments, and keep the Sabbath Day Holy so that the earth may be renewed and all the wounds festering in the hearts and minds of the people will be bound up and healed. And don’t forget that if you learn to obey God with exactness, He will perform miracles through you in the last days like He did with Moses.

Let’s Be Christians!