Press Pause #8 — The Gospel and Sabbath
Welcome to a continuation of the conversation about Sabbath. At Calvary we are in the middle of a teaching series on the Sabbath called “Press Pause for Life.” Today Jorn Junod is our guest blogger!
=========================================
Over the years as I’ve had an on again off again understanding of the Sabbath and its importance in my life, I’ve learned how intimately connected it is to the Gospel. One morning as I was working through the book of Hebrews, I ran into chapter 4 verse 7, “Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience.” The writer is using the illustration from the Israelites life as they journeyed with God and learned what it meant to trust in his provision to supply all their needs and keep them during this season of their nation. I regret to say, they did a terrible job of living by faith, though time after time God revealed his power and presence.
The ability to fulfill God’s commandments especially the Sabbath was and still is a sign of our own personal revelation of obedience and grace This grace has fully been revealed in the Gospel of Christ and the good news that God saves us completely from our inability to do what is right and best for us. To honor the Sabbath is to understand grace. Grace is God’s provision for every area of our life and without it, we succumb to saving ourselves. The opposite of the Gospel is simply the idea that somehow in my own strength I can do or be something without God. When I would break the Sabbath what I was saying is I don’t need to rest or stop. I don’t need to trust God and I can trust in myself. I don’t need the Gospel.
The Gospel is a journey of faith. Though we have been saved completely at the cross we experience it daily as we let its work manifest in our lives through obedience. The work of the Gospel saves me day to day, the Sabbath saves me the exact same way. When you and I honor the Sabbath were essential activating the Gospel to complete its work of salvation in our lives. Over the years I’ve heard people say “I don’t feel saved”. I wonder if not honoring the Sabbath is one of the reasons why?