REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

Before we move on to the next of the Ten Commandments, I want to pause and think about the commandments in the Old Testament law, or the Law of Moses. What role do those commandments have in our lives as Christians?

Let’s start with the negative: The New Testament insists that we are not “under” the law (Galatians 5:18). That doesn’t mean the Old Testament Law isn’t important for us. It means the Old Testament law is not the document that determines our covenant relationship with God, like it was for ancient Israel. Paul says, “you are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14). The new covenant document that determines our relationship with God now is the death of Jesus on the cross for our sins, not the law. Our relationship with God is based entirely on his forgiveness and grace through faith in Jesus.

So how are Old Testament laws relevant for us? Paul says they were written to instruct us (1 Corinthians 10:11). They do that by teaching us unchanging truths about God and people. But even more importantly, they point forward to Jesus as the fulfilment of God’s plan. Some of the commands of the Law point forward to what Jesus did for us – for example, the Old Testament sacrifices point forward to Jesus’ death for sin. Other commands look forward to Jesus’ kingdom and to his Spirit’s transforming work in us.

With that in mind, the sixth Commandment of the Old Testament Law says:

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” (Exodus 20:8)

This sounds like it’s very relevant to holiness … but how, exactly? For Israel, this required setting apart Saturday to be a day entirely devoted to God, doing no work at all. Today, Christians have different views on whether we have to obey this command in the way Israel did. But almost all Christians would agree that it is wise and good to take a day to rest, gather, and focus on God and his Word.

But the meaning of the fourth Commandment was much deeper. In Exodus 31, God says to Moses:

 “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.’ ” (Exodus 31:13)

They were to devote the day to the Lord as a sign or reminder that the Lord himself is the one who devotes his people to himself as holy.

In fact, the Sabbath command was all about remembering – remembering God’s plan to save. On every Sabbath, Israel were to remember two great events. The first was the creation of the world in the beginning, and the fact that God made the world as a place for us to enjoy his rest and blessing (Genesis 1–2). We lost that rest and blessing when mankind rebelled against God, and we now live in a world of toil and death (Genesis 3). But God had always planned a great rescue – to deliver his people and take them to his promised land, to enjoy his rest and blessing again.

The real purpose of Israel’s Sabbath was to remember that great story of salvation. In Exodus 20:11, they are commanded to remember the original blessing and rest of creation:

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. (Exodus 20:11a)

Then in Deuteronomy 5, when the Sabbath command is repeated, they are told to remember the great Old Testament salvation event of the exodus:

Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. (Deuteronomy 5:15)

How does all of this help us, as we think about growing in holy living? Here’s what it teaches us: We need to do everything we can to regularly remember the story of our salvation – how God rescued us through Jesus’ death and resurrection, how he has made us holy by devoting us to himself, and that we are heading for the true, eternal, heavenly rest with him. Our spiritual health depends on constantly remembering God’s grace in Jesus.

And for 99% of us, that means we need to gather regularly to remind one another, unless there’s some reason we physically can’t. Why? Because we’re so forgetful! It’s true that some people have good memories (I’m jealous of you, by the way!). But because of our spiritual condition, all of us will gradually forget the gospel and drift away from Christ unless we persevere in meeting to remember.

Of course, gathering to remind each other of God’s work of salvation is an amazing blessing anyway! So today, reflect on your own attitude and regularity in gathering to be reminded of the gospel. Then, with this area of holy living, practise our steps from yesterday:

1. Be real with God.

2. Rest in the gospel of Jesus.

3. Resolve to live in devotion to God, by his grace and power.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our senior minister.