The Sabbath in the light of the gospel

[Robert]

Let's go straight to the heart of Hebrews chapter 4, verses 9,10. 

9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.

First let's tackle the phrase, "There remains a Sabbath rest".

Whatever this Sabbath rest is the writer of Hebrews (probably Paul) states that it remains.  What then is this "Sabbath rest"?

According to Strong's Greek Concordance # 4520 we have the following:

Sabbatismos = a sabbath rest

Definition of sabbatismos: "a keeping of the Sabbath"

Okay, then let's translate what it actually states:

verse 9 "So there remains [a keeping of the Sabbath] for the people of God."

That's what it states.

Now, the question is, why does there remain "a keeping of the Sabbath"?

Verse 10 answers this question.

[Robert]

Quote

Hebrews 4:9 "So there remains [a keeping of the Sabbath] for the people of God." . 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.

What does Paul mean in verse 10 by "His rest"?

Hebrews 4:1-3 defines this:

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest ("His rest")....

Answer: If you have accepted the gospel you have entered "His rest".  

What did God the Father rest from concerning the gospel?

He rested from His perfect and complete redemption "in Christ Jesus".  That is why Jesus, just before He tasted death for all men, said "It is finished"!  

So the one who has accepted the gospel (entered "His rest") also does something else.  

According to Paul the believer also rest from his works as God rested from His work of redemption "in Christ"!

What day did God rest from His perfect & complete work "in Christ Jesus"?  Better yet, when was Christ's work complete?

Roman 5:10 "we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son".

When Christ died, hence you died (see 2 Cor 5:14), we were reconciled to God.

What day did Christ'w death occur?

 Luke 23:53 Then he(Joseph) took it  (the body of Christ) down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. 54 That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.

Christ died late Friday afternoon as the Sabbath drew near. And on the Sabbath God the Father rested from His perfect and complete work of redemption "in Christ".

Now, perhaps we can see what verse 10 means and why there remains a keeping of the Sabbath.

Therefore the believer who has entered His rest, i.e., has accepted the gospel, also rest the 7th-day Sabbath as God did from His perfect work in Christ.

By resting the 7th-day Sabbath as God did you are outwardly stating that you can add nothing to what God the Father did in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ. You are complete in Him.

 

 

[Robert]

4 minutes ago, Robert said:

By resting the 7th-day Sabbath as God did you are outwardly stating that you can add nothing to what God the Father did in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ. You are complete in Him.

In the future, when the gospel is fully restored and preached, the rejection of the Sabbath will be equivalent to a rejection of the gospel itself. That's because the Sabbath is vitally linked to the gospel, the good news of salvation "in Christ Jesus".

 

[Robert]

http://www.jacksequeira.org/videos/sabbath_rest.html

[Robert]

8 hours ago, Seventh Day said:

How is <~the Sabbath ... vitally linked to the gospel, the good news of salvation "in Christ Jesus"~>?

I just explained it in detail....

[Robert]

That's a bit convoluted.