Sabbath: Then Now & How

(various scriptures)

“The true sabbath was never a day or a rule or things you should or shouldn’t do. The real sabbath has always been a person” ~Asil Treblig

THEN:

1. The Sabbath was first instituted and modeled by God. (Genesis 2:2,3)

2. The Sabbath is lived out in the Garden. (Genesis 2:15)

3. The Sabbath became one of the many rituals and practices, which Christ ultimately fulfilled, that the children of Israel did to distinguish themselves as God’s people, to be in his favor, and to have a relationship with him. (Exodus 20:8-10; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Exodus 13:12-16)

NOW:

Jesus Christ is…

4. The Lord of the sabbath. (Matthew12:8)

5. The fulfillment of the sabbath. (Matthew 5:17)

6. The source of our sabbath rest. (Matthew 11:28-30)

HOW:

In Christ we can rest in our…

• Salvation by grace. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

• Relationship through reconciliation. (Ephesians 2:14-16)

• Strength from the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

• Future of certain hope. (Hebrews 6:19)

Questions from Jesus: “Do you believe this?”

Read John 11:1-44

“If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn’t rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue is... whether or not he rose from the dead.” ~ Tim Keller

Do you believe that...

1. Jesus is the resurrection?

2. Jesus is the life?

If so, then...

3. We can really live.

4. We can never die.

But we must stop...

5. Living like we are dead.

Confession

God, I believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and in him I have eternal life. Because of that, I can live a purposeful, abundant and favored life now. But I confess, sometimes the world speaks louder to me than you do. Help me to listen with my heart and not my ears. Help me to see the life you have for me and to begin to live it out now - a life of love, joy, peace, and hope. And help me to live a life of contentment now, knowing I will lack nothing in eternity.