Ques. Does Heb. 4:8-10, etc. mean a Sabbath for us to keep? What does Col. 2:16 etc. mean?
Ans. The first mention of the seventh day, as a day of rest, is Gen. 2:2-3, but there is no indication that it was given to man at that time to keep.
The first time it is given to man is Ex. 16:5,23-26 and it is the nation of Israel and those who dwell among them, redeemed out of Egypt, to whom it is given.
Next, the Sabbath is given in connection with the law (Ex. 20:8-11). The law, which includes the Sabbath, was given to Israel alone, and includes the strangers dwelling among them (Ex. 12:13).
God did not put the whole world under the law. Only one nation; that is Israel.
The law is not dead. The Jew is under it still, and can only be freed from it by believing on the Lord Jesus. Paul by the Spirit writes (Gal. 2:19-20), “I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ.” “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth” (Rom. 10:4), and believers are not under the law, but under grace (Rom. 6:14). The law is not dead, but believers are dead with Christ. (See Rom. 7:6, marginal reading.) The unbelieving Jew is still under the law, and will be judged by the law (Rom. 2:12). People who put themselves under the law now, are delivered from it by seeing themselves dead with Christ.
The Sabbath was the sign of the covenant between Jehovah and the children of Israel (Ex. 31:13-17). They broke the law and did not keep the Sabbath and are thus cursed (Gal. 3:10; Ezek. 20:12-13, 16, 20-21).
The Lord Jesus did miracles on the Sabbath day to show that man’s sin had broken God’s Sabbath, and neither He nor His Father could rest where sin is (John 5:16-18).
There is not a word in Scripture to tell us that the Sabbath is changed from the seventh to the first day of the week. The Sabbath is the seventh day and is entirely Jewish. The first day, the resurrection day, the Lord’s day, is Christian. In the reign of Christ over the earth, Israel will then keep their Sabbaths (Ezek. 45:17).
Colossians 2:13 addresses “you,” the uncircumcised Gentile. Col. 2:14 is to “us,” the circumcised Jew. Verses 16-17, set aside these Jewish feast days and Sabbaths, and give us Christ, the substance. These are only shadows, the body is of Christ
Col. 2:20 sets all believers free from laws and ordinances, because of being dead with Christ and risen with Christ. Heb. 4:8-10, points the Hebrew believers on to God’s eternal Sabbath day. His rest. Into which all true believers in heavenly glory shall enter. The rest in Genesis 2 alluded to in Heb. 4:4 is a type of this.
It does not say in the New Testament, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” The Gospel has set that aside for all true believers. Christ rose from the dead the first day of the week. The Holy Spirit was given the first day of the week The Gospel was first preached that day; and Acts 20:7 tells us, that was the day when the disciples came together to remember the Lord as having died for them.
Revelation 1:10 calls it the Lord’s day (there is no Christian Sabbath), and while Christians are not under law, Christ’s love reigning in their hearts, would lead them to give the day specially to Him as free from all secular employment, as far as it is possible.
Since it is the Lord’s Day, may we devote it to His service. Let our heart’s delight to own His claim upon us in this matter in sweet communion with our risen Head.