What Is Really Meant By Sabbath (Shabbat)?

For those not familiar with an Anglican Service four Scriptures Readings are shared before the Message. The Scriptures assigned for this day are Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Psalm 81:1-17; 2 Corinthians 4:1-12 and Mark 2:23-28.

The wife ... of a man who had recently died ... assumed ... they were well off financially, ... so she gave him a very nice funeral ... and a fancy tombstone that read, ... "Rest in Peace."

However, ... when the estate was settled ... she was informed by their attorney ... that he had wasted all their money ... on gambling ... and on bad investments.

This made her so angry ... that she took the little money that was left ... and added three words to the tombstone.

The new tombstone said: "Rest in Peace ... Until I Come!" (Long Pause)

Beloved ... You do not need a tombstone ... in order to rest ... in peace.

To Rest in peace ... to rest in true peace ... you need the Savior of Souls ... you need Jesus.

The Hebrew word for rest ... is Shabbat.

And ... Shabbat or Sabbath ... is one of the most misunderstood concepts ... in the Scriptures.

In our Gospel Text, ... we find the Jewish leaders ...confronting Jesus ... concerning the observe of the Shabbat.

Jesus ends this confrontation with these words: " 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So, ... the Son of Man ... is Lord ... even of ... the Sabbath.'" (Mark 2:23-28).

Sabbath is not a list of specific rules ... or even a specific day ... Sabbath means one thing ... rest. (Pause)

If you ever find yourself being confronted by someone ... who says you should worship on Saturday.

That you are required to follow the codes and regulations of the Jewish tradition and of the Old Testament:

(Lift Bible) Take out your Sword ... that is God's Word ... and share with them this verse ... from Colossians:

BIBLE "Having canceled the written code, ... with its regulations, ... that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he (Jesus) took it away, nailing it to the cross...Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath Day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." END (Colossians 2:14, 16-17)

The Old Testament regulations were only a shadow ... a shadow ... of what was to come.

Beloved ... the substance is found in Christ.

Jesus is ... the Lord of the Sabbath.

Jesus did not come to cancel the Old Testament law.

Beloved ... He fulfilled it.

And by resting in the finished work of Christ ... we fulfill ... God's Sabbath.

The Sabbath is mentioned ... in the New Testament in two ways ... In two parts.

First (1 Finger), ... as portrayed ... in our Gospel Text, ... it refers to the seventh day ... a day of rest.

Which is essential to a balanced life in God.

And of which I will speak to ... momentarily.

Yet there is a second part ... there is a New Testament Sabbath, ... that many ... even followers of the Christ ... do not recognize ... as Sabbath.

In the Book of Hebrews, God adds a deeper layer of truth ... to the Sabbath.

Hear God's Word: BIBLE "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest ... for the people of God; for anyone ... who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, ... just as God did from his." END (Hebrews 4:9-10)

So, if "Shab-bat" means rest, ... what would be the opposite?

Non-rest ... which is also known as ... Work.

And there are many forms of work... beyond that of earning a wage.

Beloved ... There are millions of people ... who are still "working" ... working ... to earn ... their salvation.

They may attend church, ... read the Bible, pray, help people and do good deeds.

All in the hope ...that one day ... God will look at them ... and declare them good enough ... to enter heaven.

They have not entered the Sabbath rest ... rest only found in Jesus ... the Lord of the Sabbath.

The Scriptures are clear in BIBLE "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith." It goes on, "Not by works, so that no one can boast." You are not saved by performing good deeds. You can only rest in the finished work of Jesus on the cross! END Ephesians 2:8-9

There are two ways to find eternal rest ... there are only two ways to spell salvation.

Some spell salvation D-O.