FAP Indoctrination Series #6: "The Sabbath and the Lord’s Day"

Lesson Objective

To show the Sabbath as a ceremonial Old Covenant shadow fulfilled in Christ, and explain why Christians gather on the Lord’s Day.

Opening Prayer (5 minutes)

The leader or volunteer asks for wisdom and understanding of biblical rest in Christ.

I. The Sabbath in Creation, the Mosaic Law, and Christ’s Fulfillment (10 min)

Creation: God rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2-3)

"On the seventh day, God had completed his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it he rested from all his work of creation." Genesis 2:2-3(CSB)

Commentary:

a.) The noun “Sabbath” does not appear in Genesis 2.

In the Hebrew text of Genesis 2:2-3, the verb shābat (שָׁבַת) is used, meaning “he ceased” or “he rested.” However, it is important to note that the noun form “Sabbath” (שַׁבָּת, shabbāṯ) does not occur here. The day is simply called the seventh day — God’s day of rest, not a Sabbath day instituted for man.

In fact, mankind is not mentioned in connection with this rest; it is God alone who ceased from His creative work.

b.) The first occurrence of the noun “Sabbath” is in Exodus 16.

It was not until Exodus 16:23-30, in the context of gathering manna before the giving of the Ten Commandments, that the term “Sabbath” appears for the first time in Scripture. This shows that the Sabbath as an institution and command for man began with the nation of Israel under Moses, not at Creation.

c.) God’s seventh-day rest was not a 24-hour day.

In Genesis 1, the account of the six days of creation follows a pattern:

"And there was evening and there was morning, the first day." (Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31).

This evening-morning formula is conspicuously absent on the seventh day.

This omission suggests that God’s rest is not a mere 24-hour cycle but an ongoing state of rest from His creative work, continuing beyond the literal Creation week.

d.) God’s seventh-day rest extends throughout history.

This ongoing rest is referred to in later Scriptures:

Psalm 95:11 — speaking of Israel’s failure to enter God’s rest in the days of Moses and Joshua.

"So I swore in my anger, 'They will not enter my rest.” Psalms 95:11(CSB)

Hebrews 4:3-10 — explaining that God’s rest (not the weekly Sabbath), which began on the seventh day in Genesis 2, still remains open for believers to enter by faith in Christ.

"For we who have believed enter the rest, in keeping with what he has said, So I swore in my anger, 'They will not enter my rest,' even though his works have been finished since the foundation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in this way: And on the seventh day God rested from all his works. Again, in that passage, he says, They will never enter my rest. Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience, he again specifies a certain day, today. He specified this, speaking through David after such a long time: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people. For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his." Hebrews 4:3-10 (CSB)

Summary:

The seventh day in Genesis 2 was God’s cessation from creation, not a Sabbath ordinance for man. The Sabbath command was later given to Israel alone under the Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 16, Exodus 20). The absence of the “evening and morning” phrase signals that God’s rest continues, ultimately pointing to the spiritual rest believers find in Christ (Hebrews 4:9-10).

2. Mosaic Law: The Sabbath given as a sign between God and Israel (Exodus 31:16-17)

"The Israelites must observe the Sabbath, celebrating it throughout their generations as a permanent covenant. It is a sign forever between me and the Israelites, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.” Exodus 31:16-17(CSB)

3. Fulfillment in Christ: The Sabbath was a shadow pointing to Christ, now fulfilled in Him (Colossians 2:16-17)

"Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is Christ." Colossians 2:16-17 (CSB)

Illustration: A road sign pointing toward a destination. Once you arrive, you no longer follow the sign, but embrace the reality it pointed to.

II. The New Testament Pattern of Sunday Gatherings (10 min)

The early Church gathered on the first day of the week, the Lord’s Day, in honor of Christ’s resurrection.

• Acts 20:7: Believers gathered to break bread on the first day.

"On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread. Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he kept on talking until midnight." Acts 20:7 (CSB)

• 1 Corinthians 16:2: Offerings collected on the first day.

"On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he is prospering, so that no collections will need to be made when I come." 1 Corinthians 16:2(CSB)

Revelation 1:10: John refers to "the Lord’s Day."

"I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet." Revelation 1:10 (CSB)

III. Christian Freedom from Sabbath Law-Keeping (10 min)

• Romans 14:5-6: Believers have liberty regarding days.

"One person judges one day to be more important than another day. Someone else judges every day to be the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind. Whoever observes the day observes it for the honor of the Lord. Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, and he gives thanks to God." Romans 14:5-6 (CSB)

• Galatians 4:9-11: Warning against returning to legalistic observances.

"But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elements? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? You are observing special days, months, seasons, and years. I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted." Galatians 4:9-11(CSB)

• New Covenant believers find rest not in a day, but in a Person — Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:9-10).

"Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people. For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his." Hebrews 4:9-10 (CSB)

 

IV. Decision Time (5 min)

Will you continue clinging to the Old Covenant sign, or find your true Sabbath rest in Christ?

Closing Prayer (5 min)

Thank the Lord for the rest provided through Jesus, our eternal Sabbath, and for the freedom to worship Him daily, especially in joyful assembly on the Lord’s Day.

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