The Fourth Commandment and Its Observance
This little paper is not a defense of the Christian Sunday Sabbath. No, it has nothing to do with that subject. It really is just my personal exploration into both the importance of the Sabbath (Sunday) and some beginning thoughts on how and why I should observe that day. It attempts to answer the question whether the Fourth Commandment has any binding significance on Christians today. It should be noted that this is an approach in theory. That is, I have purposely avoided the question of those who have to work on Sunday if another day is acceptable or whether one should work on Sunday in the first place, as well as a host of other applications.
Some groundwork must first be done and a foundation laid. Hopefully it will explain where I’m coming from. Let me briefly do that now.
First and foremost I believe the Scriptures to be inerrant and written by God for my instruction and spiritual health (2 Tim. 3:16,17). It therefore has immense and immediate value as a rule of life. I try not to approach them lightly for they are the words of God in written form and therefore carry the same weight and authority for me as if I heard an audible voice. The difficulty, as in any relationship, is trying to understand what He’s saying and how to apply that to my life. (Thankfully, He has sent His Holy Spirit to help His church do just that (1 Cor 2:12-14)).
For a number of reasons, I acknowledge that not all will agree with my conclusions or applications. But I believe I’ve based my conclusions on the Word of God so I must be obedient or face the accusation of sin (James 4:17).
I believe the Bible is not just a history book or even just a book of revelations. While all that is true, I see the Bible’s main outline and structure as pointing to Christ and His redemption of His people. From Genesis to Revelation Jesus Christ is the central focus. All that is written in the Old Testament is ultimately written to point to and prepare for the coming Savior and His redemption.
Second, there are two major views of the continuity of the Scriptures. One in essence teaches that the New Testament is the start of all rules and guidelines for Christians today. The advocates of this view see the Old Testament as basically not directly applying to Christians and thus teach that unless an Old Testament command or guideline is taught in the New Testament it is abrogated (annulled, revoked). Consequently they don’t see a continuity of flow in the Scriptures and see human redemptive history as dualistic: one for (earthly) Israel and one for (spiritual) Christians.
The other view - the one I believe is correct - teaches that the covenants build on each other from Abraham to Christ. In this view the Church is found (in its infant stage) in the Old Testament and thus is valid and applicable unless it is abrogated in the New Testament. In other words, unless a law or teaching is said to have been cultural, shadow, or type it still has a binding nature today.
While all agree that the Fourth Commandment to keep the Sabbath holy is not judicial, not all agree on the whether it’s a moral law and therefore of eternal significance or if it’s ceremonial and is just for the Jews of the day.
There are three basic camps. Two are extremes and one is a middle of the road. Those who say it’s a moral law would be Orthodox Jews and (at least to my understanding) Seventh Day Adventists. Those who say it’s ceremonial would include all Antinomians and (in theory at least) those who hold to Dispensationalism. The middle of the road say it’s a combination of both - at the same time containing elements of moral as well as ceremonial law. This group is primarily Reformed, but does draw from other systems also.
For those of you who don’t have a Bible handy, the Fourth Commandment says:
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:8-11Now, let’s take a look at the Scriptures. While there are a large number of passages referring to the Sabbath I would like to focus on just a few that I see as instructional and will help with some fences and focus. One of my fears is to misinterpret one set of passages to the expense of others. As is so often true of spiritual matters, balance without compromise is often the godly approach. Hopefully I have found a proper Biblical balance.
1. Christ’s fulfillment. As all of Scripture is Christiocentric, so too is the Sabbath. It is a shadow and type of His rest for His people since He has now fulfilled all the requirements of the Law. For Christians, its role as a tutor to lead us to Christ has ended (Gal 3:24).
“So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.” Heb 4:9,10"Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-- things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” Col 2:16,17
"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” Mt 5:17
And yet, recognizing His fulfillment of the shadow I think the following must bear weight on the subject for us as New Testament Christians.
2. God’s example and what is rooted in creation. An accepted rule of interpretation is that a command or ordinance that is rooted in creation has an application that crosses all covenants and dispensations. Look at it as a foundation stone of a subject upon which all successive developments must build. The Sabbath discussion has that characteristic.
“Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” Gen 2:3“For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.” Ex 20:11
3. The redemption characteristic. God surprisingly puts a value on the Sabbath that goes beyond the creation. He in fact says the Sabbath should remind Israel of God’s redemption from Egypt lest they forget His mercy upon them.
“but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; …. you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to observe the sabbath day.” Deut 5:14,154. The sanctification characteristic. As God has sanctified one day in particular so He has sanctified a particular group of people. As that day is special so too His people are special in His sight. They are what they are by His mercy and love.
"But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for [this] is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you.” Ex 31:13-145. The “weightiness” characteristic. While this is more subjective, it none the less is an influence on me. This particular point has at least a couple facets."Also I gave them My sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.” Ezek 20:12
a) Since I see the Church in the Old Testament in a proto form, I must take seriously commands and warnings that have a general application. Take for instance this verse that offers a special blessing.
"If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot from doing your [own] pleasure on My holy day, And call the sabbath a delight, the holy [day] of the LORD honorable, And honor it, desisting from your [own] ways, From seeking your [own] pleasure And speaking [your own] word, Then you will take delight in the LORD, And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; And I will feed you [with] the heritage of Jacob your father, For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." Isa 58:13,14b) I have a hard time accepting that the Fourth is now totally abrogated as far as any obligation is concerned and all we have are 9 Commandments. Even in the New Testament and subsequent Christian history Sunday was held in special honor. Therefore, the import of this verse still has significant weight.
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Ex 20:8Putting it together.
It is certainly true (and of immense relief) that an overt obligation to follow the Sabbath laws in their prescribed manner as laid out in the Old Testament is abrogated by Christ’s fulfillment. Any pressure by other Christians to follow a set of “guidelines for proper observance” must be resisted. To follow that path invariably leads to a phariseic attitude and ignores Christ’s lordship over the Sabbath (Matt 2:1-8).
On the other side however, in light of the scriptures I’ve listed above, I can’t help but see obedience to the Fourth commandment as something that is still important to God (and value to myself). While having eternal value because it reflects the character of God, the requirements of observance of that day has changed because Christ has come. As Turretin says: “It is the Sabbath of Jehovah, not a feast of Ceres, Bacchus or Venus.”
Even as a New Testament Christian I see a real value in observance of the Sabbath - and yes, in a certain sense an obligation to obey the Commandment . While my reasons may not satisfy all, I hope they will encourage others to take seriously the Fourth commandment and ask the Lord what He would teach you.
So, without any further ado, I believe the Fourth Commandment is to be obeyed - within a Christian context - for the following reasons.
1. As a Christian I am to be conformed into the image of Christ (Rom 8:29) and reflect what my Father is and does (Luke 6:36; Lev 20:26; 1 Pet 1:15). Since that is my heart’s desire is it not fitting that, for no other reason, I too wish to rest on the Sabbath because He rested?
2. The Sabbath is a sign to remind me it is God who sanctifies me, rooted in the creation itself. It is my reminder that as God has set aside a holy day that He has also set aside a people for His use. In the everyday hustle of life it’s too easy to forget that.
3. The Sabbath is to remind me of the rest I have in Christ. True, an obligation to obey the Law has been done away with but now all that should remain is the desire to focus on Him and His work (Ezek 11:19,20).
4. The Sabbath is a statement of the lordship of Christ over my life. It reminds me (oh, how so often I need to be reminded!) my life is not my own (1 Cor 6:20) and He is to be the focus and Lord.
In conclusion, we sometimes need a 2x4 across the head to get our attention. God, in His wisdom, has determined that a day of rest would be a good sign of what He has done (John 19:30; Ex 31:17), is doing (Ex 31:13, Heb 4:4-9), and will do (Rom 8:17-23; Rev 14:13).
Application
I’m sorry, but I must disappoint any who are looking for specific help in applying the Fourth commandment. While certain principles apply, I remain unconvinced that God would have us establish rules and regulations again. In other words, how I am obedient will not necessarily be they way you are obedient.
However, I do have a few thoughts for your consideration. While not addressing specifics, let me suggest:
1) Keep Sunday free of the “normal.” By this I mean those things you normally do during the week. They’ll still be there on Monday. Sunday should be a time of re-focus.
2) Dedicate some additional specific time of prayer and Bible study with a specific focus. Christ’s sacrifice would be a good place to start.
3) Spend more time with people. This would be those at church, home, family, and neighbors.
4) Above all, keep in mind that this day is His day and His 2x4. Focus on His Redemption, Love, Mercy, Justice, and Holiness. Let the day be a reminder until you no longer need be reminded - as if that day will ever come.
And yes, I have some changes that I need to make to my life, but they are mine and not yours.
Larry Wing