Rev. David Holwick T
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
June 4, 1995
Exodus 20:8-11
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I. Remembrances of Sundays past.
A. Memories of Sundays in the past.
1) Going to St. Louis church in third grade, flying over bump
in car, picking up donuts to eat at home.
Nothing else to do on Sunday.
2) Asbury Park, New Jersey: no car driving on Sunday.
Every community had Blue Laws.
3) Billy Graham remembered going to church in morning and at
night, and doing nothing rest of day, not even sports or
reading the comics.
4) Many here have similar memories.
B. Today, Sunday is like any other day. Maybe worse.
1) Zondervan Christian publishing is encouraging its bookstores
to open on Sunday.
Studies show profits will increase 20% or more.
2) Christians stay home from church, saying they need the rest.
a) Poor excuse - you can sleep better here.
C. Are we desecrating God's Day?
1) This is actually one of the most controversial
commandments.
2) Debate on what we should do on this day.
3) Debate on what day we should do it.
a) Seventh Day Adventists / Baptists -- Saturday.
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II. Jews were distinctive in making seventh day special.
A. Ancient commandment. Gen 2:2
1) The Ten Commandments does not create the Sabbath, but
treats it as something which already exists.
2) The Sabbath is reflected in story of manna, before
they got to Sinai. Exod 16:13,16
3) The Sabbath has its origin in the actions of God at
Creation.
B. Eternal commandment. Exod 31:17
1) Marked off Jews as special people.
2) A sign, like circumcision.
C. A serious commandment.
1) Death penalty for desecrating. Num 15:32-36
2) Be glad Deacons only deactivate slouchers!
III. The Sabbath is about a balanced life.
A. We are commanded to work.
1) Work is a good gift from God, not drudgery.
2) The way we work shows our attitude toward God. Col 3:23
3) The Fourth Commandment commands work, but emphasizes
rest and leisure.
B. We are commanded to rest.
1) Even God rested.
2) Humans need rest, but we're getting less and less of it.
a) Less sleep, more work in last 20 years.
b) "Daily Record" article on overtime - some get more than
regular pay. But what is their life like?
3) Great social and humanitarian law emphasis.
a) No mention of religious services at this point.
b) Great mercy law - toiling men, women, animals and
slaves get to rest.
IV. The Sabbath is about acknowledging God's place in life.
A. On Sabbath we are told to remember God's great acts.
1) Church is a proper place to do this.
2) Worship came to be a critical part of the Sabbath.
a) OT - "a holy day of assembly."
b) NT - Jesus, apostles worship on Sabbath.
B. Sabbath shows our trust in God.
1) It is a witness to our neighbors. (English farmers)
2) Also shows gratitude to God for what we have.
V. Desecrating the Sabbath.
A. Prophets and Jesus criticized meticulous observance.
1) Rabbis classified work into 39 divisions, with sub-divisions.
a) False teeth a burden, etc.
b) Modern conservative Jews have a computer system to
help sort it all out.
2) Manipulation resulted.
a) Place food under tree to extend Sabbath walk.
b) Rules became an end in themselves.
3) More important than life itself.
a) 1,000 Maccabean Jews were killed rather than take up arms.
B. They also criticized lack of interest.
1) Became business as usual. Amos 8:5
2) Showed shallowness of their covenant commitment.
VI. The influence of Christianity.
A. Jesus clarified the Sabbath by his actions.
1) He attended the synagogue every week. Luke 4:16
2) He healed on the Sabbath, six times. (= working)
a) He broke man's rules, not God's.
B. Jesus clarified the Sabbath by his announcements.
1) Sabbath is made for people. Mark 2:27
a) Not meant to be a burden, but a gift from God.
2) Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath.
a) He has the authority to define its proper
observance. Mark 2:28
VII. From Saturday to Sunday.
A. Earliest Christians were Jews and accepted the Sabbath.
1) Gradually they came to understand that the Sabbath, like
many aspects of Jewish worship, was fulfilled in Jesus.
2) Pointers to something new: even in Leviticus, the great
feasts emphasized the importance of the "first day."
B. In the NT there are signs Sunday was becoming the main holy day.
1) Sabbath observance was not required of Gentile
converts. Acts 15:20,29
2) Service in Troas. Acts 20:7
3) Collection for Jerusalem church. 1 Cor 16:2
C. In time, Sunday won out.
1) However, Sabbath restrictions were not applied.
a) The early Christians worked on Sunday.
b) They never called it the Sabbath.
2) The influence of the Middle Ages.
a) Sabbath laws transferred to Sunday.
b) Puritans excelled at this.
1> Even soup kitchens for poor were closed down.
2> No games, fun. (Wheaton College tennis courts)
D. Sunday and the Sabbath are different.
1) They commemorate different events.
a) Sabbath commemorates God's rest.
b) Sunday commemorates Jesus' resurrection.
2) For Christians, the Sabbath does not exist.
a) Sunday is a day to worship Jesus.
1> Work limitations are immaterial.
b) The fourth commandment is not binding on us.
3) We are free to adapt the traditions, many of which
are sensible.
VIII. The advantages of Sabbath-keeping.
A. Grace.
1) God rested, and so should we. Exodus 20:11
a) It reminds us of God's goodness to us.
b) Renews our strength and spirit for new week.
c) If not Sunday or Saturday, any day is good.
2) Difficulties: defining "rest."
a) Rural societies may see rest as no work.
b) Industrial societies see rest as recreation.
1> We sit on our rears too much.
2> Hiking, day trips are relaxing to us.
B. Freedom.
1) We're no longer slaves in Egypt. Deut 5:15
2) Work should not dominate us.
a) (Bumper sticker - "I owe, I owe, it's off to work I go.")
b) Only the Lord should control us.
3) Signify this by going to church.
a) Letter to preacher by Jerry, age 8, in Duluth, Minn:
"Dear Pastor, If God rested on the 7th day, why do kids
still have to go to Sunday school?"
#712
b) Pagan ruler Pliny admired simplicity of early Christian
worship on Sunday.
C. Hope.
1) The Sabbath looks to God's Kingdom, the Millennium. Heb 4:9
a) The weekly "day of rest" is just a warm-up.
b) Eternal retirement.
1> Not St. Petersburg - "The LAST resort."
2> Like Sam Mino - tinkering, walking, enjoying self.
2) Have confidence that the future is in God's hands.
3) Labor to enter that rest. Heb 4:11
a) Rest from toil but not God's work.
b) Apply yourself spiritually.
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William Barclay, "Ten Commandments."
The Sabbath - God's day and how to use it.
I. Much discussed and debated.
A. Seven day week originated with Babylonians, not Jews.
1) Based on seven planets (incl. sun & moon).
B. Jews made the seventh day sacred.
1) Connected with creation account.
II. Great social and humanitarian law, more than religious.
A. Nothing said about worship or religious services.
B. Great mercy law - toiling men, women, animals and slaves
get to rest.
1) It is social legislation based on religious belief.
C. Making the Sabbath into legalism.
1) Work classified into 39 divisions, with infinite sub-divisions.
a) (examples of pettiness)
2) More important than life itself.
a) Maccabean Jews were killed rather than take up arms on
the Sabbath.
III. The influence of Christianity.
A. Earliest Christians were Jews and accepted the Sabbath.
B. Sunday also became a supremely sacred day.
1) Even in the NT there are signs Sunday was becoming the
Christian holy day.
2) Sabbath observance was not required of Gentile converts.
Acts 15:20,29.
3) Service in Troas. Acts 20:7
4) Corinthians made collection for Jerusalem church. 1 Cor 16:2
5) Revelation 1:10 speaks of the "Lord's Day."
C. Paul and the Sabbath.
1) He condemns observance of days, months, years, etc,
as legalism. Gal 4:10
2) Stay away from such disputes. Col 2:16
3) Every day is holy. Rom 14:5,6
IV. Transformation of Sabbath into Sunday, into Sabbath.
A. By the second century, the Lord's Day had won over the Sabbath.
1) Didache, AD 100; Ignatius, AD 110.
2) Sabbath keeping was no longer binding.
3) Work was not ceased on Sunday, either.
a) Most Christians would not be allowed to.
b) Even when they were, they didn't.
B. Yet another trend applied Sabbath rules to Sunday.
1) In AD 321 Constantine decreed Sunday to be day of rest.
a) Reason is debated:
1> Too many competing religions and rest days, with
economic ramifications?
2> Genuinely religious?
b) Enforcement was problematic.
2) Alcuin (AD 735-804) identified the Sabbath and Lord's Day.
a) Tied to fourth commandment.
b) Complete reversal of early church.
3) Thomas Aquinas (AD 1225-74) upheld this.
a) Even when work was forbidden, amusement was not.
4) The Reformation.
a) They all returned to position of early church.
1> Sabbath and Lord's Day were the same.
b) The fourth commandment was abrogated.
1> Observance was to be free, not obligated.
c) But an English book equated days again.
1> English kings allowed all sports.
2> Puritans made Sunday a strict Jewish Sabbath.
A> Scotland particularly strict.
B> Even soup kitchens for poor were closed down.
V. Sunday and the Sabbath are different.
A. They commemorate different events.
1) Sabbath commemorates God's rest.
2) Sunday commemorates Jesus' resurrection.
B. For Christians, the Sabbath does not exist.
1) The fourth commandment is not binding.
2) Sunday is a day to worship Jesus.
a) Work limitations are immaterial.
VI. Important question: how should we keep the Lord's Day?
A. Should any day be kept?
1) Special days are still necessary.
B. The purpose of the Lord's Day.
1) A day of rest is still needed.
2) Proven that worker efficiency deteriorates if no day of rest.
3) But practical application raises difficulties.
a) "Rest" must be defined.
1> Rural societies may see rest as no work.
2> Industrial societies see rest as recreation.
A> Golf on Sunday is OK.
B> Inactivity is not rest for us, because we are
inactive all the time.
C. The Lord's Day should be a family day.
1) Family should be a high value.
2) When families are scattered, Sunday makes a good reunion day.
D. It is a day for Christians to gather.
1) Most important use of the day.
2) Description of early Christians by pagan Pliny.
3) Descriptions by early Christians:
a) It was a day of study. (reading of Bible)
b) It was a day of prayer. (get to know God better)
c) It was a day of fellowship. (get to know Christians better)
d) Make fellowship practically effective. (social concern)
e) It was a day of praise. (singing)
f) A day to strengthen moral fiber of life.
E. The Lord's Day should be a day of worship.
1) We celebrate the worth of God.
2) Church is not the only place this is possible.
a) Nature provides its own cathedral.
b) Music is another avenue.
c) Beauty.
VII. The Lord's Day is a great possession.
A. It is not to be confused with the Jewish Sabbath.
B. It is a day of rest, but each person must decide what that is.
C. It is a day of family and reunions.
D. It is a day to dig deeper into the faith.
E. It is a day to help the poor.
F. It is a day to acknowledge God's pre-eminence in our lives.
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Stuart Briscoe, "Ten Commandments."
The Sabbath - This is the Day.
I. God's perspective on work.
A. Not drudgery. It is good.
B. The way we work shows our attitude toward God. Col 3:23
II. Remember the Sabbath.
A. Emphasis is on leisure, not work.
B. Origin in giving of manna, before 10 Commandments. Exod 16
1) Same rule applies to differing situations.
a) Farmers not to harvest on Sabbath. Exod 34
b) Women not to do domestic work. Exod 35
c) Businessmen not to carry on trade. Jer 17
III. Why the Sabbath?
A. Based on creation, but three additional reasons:
1) For humanitarian reasons. Lev 25
a) People, and animals, need rest.
2) To show trust in God.
a) It is a witness to our neighbors.
b) Also shows gratitude to God for what we have.
3) As a sign of the covenant. Exod 31
a) Along with circumcision.
b) Obedience demonstrates our love for God.
B. The desecration of the Sabbath. (Nehemiah)
1) Lack of interest.
a) Became business as usual.
b) Showed shallowness of their covenant commitment.
2) Meticulous observance.
a) Rules delineated by rabbis. (Mishnah)
1> False teeth a burden, etc.
b) Manipulation resulted.
1> Place food under tree to extend Sabbath walk.
2> Rules became an end in themselves.
3) The point was missed.
a) 1,000 Maccabeans massacred due to observance.
IV. Clarification of the Sabbath.
A. Jesus clarified the Sabbath two ways:
1) By his actions.
a) He went to the synagogue.
b) He healed on the Sabbath. (6x)
2) By his announcements.
a) Sabbath made for man. (Jesus in charge)
b) Sabbath is a gift from God, not a burden.
B. Keeping the Sabbath.
1) The transition from Sabbath to Sunday.
2) Sabbatarians versus Antinomians.
a) Sabbatarians.
1> Stay away from worldly activities.
2> Blue laws.
b) Antinomians.
1> Emphasis on grace over law.
2> Enjoy the freedom we have in Christ.
C. Responsible discipleship.
1) A middle road is desirable.
2) God should be honored every day. Rom 14:5-6
a) But sometimes this means NO day is honored.
3) One day is very special.
a) In Bangladesh, Christians worship on Friday.
4) Day is honored if we can say, "Lord, this was your day
and this is what I did with it."
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I. Two tensions: Sabbatarians vs. Antinomians.
A. Both types are in our church.
II. Sabbatarians emphasize literal application of Old Testament.
A. They tend toward legalism.
1) Stay away from worldly activities.
2) Blue laws.
B. But Old Testament is superseded.
III. Antinomians emphasize grace of Jesus over Law.
A. Enjoy the freedom we have in Christ.
1) OT law died on cross with Jesus.
B. Apostle Paul treated every day as special. Rom 14:5f
1) Making some days special is dangerous. Gal 4:10
C. But by honoring all, we often honor none.
1) Sunday has become a rut like all other days.
2) Special days are still necessary.
3) (Eugene Peterson and personal Sabbath keeping. CT 9/2/88)
4) Lord's Day is honored if we can say, "Lord, this was
your day and this is what I did with it."
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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