Obedience is really a narrow path. Disobedience, on the other hand, has a wide range of options. Because we are like the Pharisees, it is easy for us to turn God’s law into several sins of omission. We’re much better at not doing what we shouldn’t do than in doing. what we should be doing. Therefore, we have reduced the Sabbath to all those things we are not allowed to do. We’re working to refine the definition of?Work? To make sure we don’t do it on Saturday. In doing so, as usual, we lose the target. If we were to divide the Ten Commandments not between duties to God and duties to men, as many do, but rather, if we classify them as positive prohibitions and ordinances, the commandment of the Sabbath would be among the positive ordinances. we are prohibited from doing what we are told to do.
First, believe it or not, the commandment of the Sabbath commandment commands us to work. Six days will you work? It is not an interesting prelude designed to simply present the context of the command to come, it is an order in itself. We must be busy with the work that awaits us; we must enthusiastically seek the kingdom of God; should we recognize that we live in it?Not yet? From the kingdom; all enemies have not yet been placed under your feet. still completely mastered creation. The kingdom of Jesus is not yet universally recognized. The Westminster Brief Catechism asks, “How does Christ fulfill the duties of a king?” and his answer is: “Christ fulfills the duties of a king, submitting, governing and protecting us, containing and subjugating all yours and our enemies?. As we rule with him and under his authority, this is the work we are called to do: seek his kingdom, manifest his dominion.
- Second.
- When the Sabbath commandment refers to the day of observance.
- Does it not command us to avoid work? It goes much further: we are ordered to rest; We believe that we keep the commandment if we courageously refuse to do all the work it accumulates.
- And keeps us awake at night.
- But we sin.
- Resting is not just about quitting work; it’s also about stopping worrying.
- It’s not easy.
- In fact.
- So to speak.
- Resting.
- Especially to stop worrying.
- Is a difficult job.
- It takes discipline and firmness to get rid of everything that worries us.
We are not succeeding even if our concerns are more pious; In other words, we keep watching Saturday only when we are concerned about this important Monday work meeting, but also when we are concerned about our persistent inability to mortify this sin that so bothers us. Anxiety is a concern and has no place in our Celebration on Saturday. Saturday is a day of celebration and should be treated as such.
Do we rejoice and abandon our concerns when we come to understand that Saturday is the time when we left?Not yet? From the kingdom and we have entered the ‘ya’. Isn’t it true that the determining element of eternity is the blessing of approaching the living God?When we revel in the Lord’s table, does he not declare his blessing upon us?Don’t you bless us and keep us, making your face shine on us, sympathizing with us?Aren’t you raising your face?
When we care about more ordinary things, we ignore Jesus’ call in the Sermon on the Mountain to abandon our concerns and not be like the Gentiles, on the contrary, we are called to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. When we care about more spiritual things, especially our own sins, do we lose sight of the very heart of all Sabbath preaching?We, those of us who repent, are forgiven in Christ. received your justice.
Therefore, Saturday is shalom and shalom is Saturday. We rest because we have peace, we have peace because we rest. We have these two things because Jesus is not only the Lord of the Sabbath and the Prince of Peace, but it is also our Sabbath, our peace.
There is a good way to observe Saturday in our context; there is a good answer to the question that divides us; in the end, however, what is our position on Saturday?If we believe that this law has been repealed in the new covenant, or if we believe it has been changed in the new covenant, or if we maintain the greedy commitment of our Puritan parents?the main question concerns the Gospel: do we rest on Christ’s accomplished work?The one who observes the Sabbath most after all, faithfully, is the one who observes the Sabbath with the most joy. Saturday, in short, is not just something to observe, but something to celebrate. And we don’t just celebrate a day off work. We celebrate the victoria. de our King, we are full of joy, because he conquered the world, and we rule with him.
[dt_call_to_action content_size?normal?text_align?left?background?fantasy?line?true?style?2?animation?right?] Note:
This article is part of the series “Sabbath: The Tireless Debate”, in which articles will be published defending different positions so that our reader has a more complete understanding of the topic, so the publication of a specific position does not indicate the official position of that department See the list of articles on the subject:
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By: R. C Sproul Jr. © 2011 Minsitério Ligonier Original: The rest of the story.
This article is part of the June 2011 issue of Tabletalk magazine.
Translation: Vin-cius Silva Pimentel. Review: Vin-cius Musselman Pimentel. © 2014 Faithful Ministérium. All rights reserved. Website: MinisterioFiel. com. br. Original: Sabbath: A Call to Rest in Christ.