Reflection
- (Gen 1:31 ESV) And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
- (Gen 2:1 ESV) Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
- (Gen 2:2 ESV) And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
- (Gen 2:3 ESV) So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
Discussion
When you think of the word Sabbath, what comes to mind? We live under the Messianic covenant that Christ established when He came to the earth. When He said things like, “I have come to fulfill the law…” and “It is finished.” we are seeing the closure of one period and the opening of a new period. What the Jews had been commanded in the Sabbath had been completely corrupted with their tradition and opinion. Christ fulfilled the Mosaic law that released His people from the works of it to the rest in His righteousness. That is where we rest today. In the righteousness of Christ.
Connection
Consider the idea of working to be good enough for God to accept you. What happens if you are one wrong thing short of perfection?
When we are set apart in Christ we put on His righteousness – His goodness is covering all our wrong. What kind of weight does that life from your shoulders?
Have you ever has a massive bourden removed from your life? A huge financial debt suddenly paid? A terminal medical diagnosis suddenly healed? A giant problem somehow resolved?
The same is true when we come to Christ. We recognize His role as Lord and follow His Word to salvation. In that moment the burden of our sin is lifted and the righteousness of Christ is placed on us so that we rest in Christ now and forever. Have you found that rest for your life? Will you ask Christ for that today?
Expansion
The church is both the universal and local people called by the Holy Spirit and redeemed by Jesus alone. Our citizenship is secure in heaven and our devotion on earth is the work of God. We are baptized into His body and led by men called of God to the roles of elders and deacons with the purposes of fellowship, worship, discipleship, evangelism, and ministry.
Jude 4, 8, 12, 13, 16, 1 Peter 2:9-12, Colossians 1:15-20, Ephesians 5:23-32, Acts 20:28, Colossians 3:15, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Ephesians 4:11-12, 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-2, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Timothy 3:8-13, Acts 2:42-49. Matthew 22:37-39, Matthew 28:19-20