Sermon #47
Leviticus Sermons
Title: “The
Sabbath of Rest”
Text: Leviticus 23:1-3
Subject: True Sabbath Keeping
Date: Sunday Morning—October 27, 2002
Tape # X-27a
Reading: Hebrews 4:1-16
Introduction:
Hebrews 4:1-16
1. Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us
of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto
them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in
them that heard it.
3. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he
said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although
the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on
this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5. And in this place again, If they shall enter
into my rest.
6. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter
therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of
unbelief:
7. Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To
day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
8. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not
afterward have spoken of another day.
9. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath
ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest
any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and
sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul
and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.
13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in
his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with
whom we have to do.
14. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is
passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we
are, yet without sin.
16.
Let us therefore come
boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help
in time of need.
This 23rd chapter
of Leviticus describes the seven feasts the Lord God required Israel to keep as
“holy convocations” throughout the Old Testament. These “holy
convocations” were typical, ceremonial feasts by which the whole work of redemption
is pictured.
1.
The
Feast of Passover (v. 5) was a picture of our redemption by Christ.
2.
The
Feast of Unleavened Bread (vv. 6-8) was a portrayal of faith in Christ.
3.
The
Feast of Firstfruits (vv. 9-14) typified the resurrection of Christ and our
resurrection with him.
4.
The
Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) (vv. 15-22) portrayed the ingathering of God’s elect
by the irresistible power and omnipotent grace of God the Holy Spirit.
5.
The
Feast of Trumpets (vv. 23-25) was a typical picture of the proclamation of the gospel.
6.
The
Feast of Atonements (Expiations) (vv. 26-32) typified “the times of the
restitution of all things, of which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his
holy prophets, since the world began” (Acts 3: 21).
7.
The
Feast of Tabernacles (vv. 33-43) portrayed that eternal glory awaiting us when
the whole work of grace is complete and all God’s elect are brought into
heavenly glory, when the Lord God shall forever be our Tabernacle.
Reading this chapter, you
cannot avoid the fact that each of these feasts involved the observance of the
sabbath. In fact, the opening verses (vv. 1-3) of the chapter show us that the
sabbath was prominent in all Old Testament worship. There was no worship
of God without the observance of the sabbath in the Old Testament.
(Leviticus
23:1-3) "And the LORD spake unto
Moses, saying, (2) Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them,
Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy
convocations, even these are my feasts. (3) Six days shall
work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy
convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of
the LORD in all your dwellings."
My subject is “The Sabbath of Rest.” If you will read the rest of
this chapter, carefully marking the instructions here given for sabbath
observance, you will see at least these seven things required for the keeping
of the sabbath.
1.
Atonement
2.
Affliction
of Soul—Cessation of Work
3.
Remembrance
4.
Feasting
5.
Consecration
6.
Celebration
(vv. 40-41)
7.
Worship
The fact that the sabbath is
given such a prominent place and uis intimately connected with all theses
feasts of worship is very important. The Lord is here giving us a very
instructive picture of redemption and grace.
These seven feasts give us a
vivid type of all God’s saving operations of grace for his elect. The sabbath
portrayed that rest which remains for the people of God. Yes, it was a
ceremonial day to be observed by Israel; but it was also a type of that which
was (and in a sense is) yet to come. The sabbath overshadowed all the feasts of
worship. It typically encompassed all that great and glorious work which this
chapter foreshadows when it is finished.
The sabbath is God’s rest,
into which all who believe can enter now in spirit; but which, as to its full
and actual accomplishment, yet remains (Heb. 4). By and by we shall enter into
our everlasting rest that shall never be disturbed.
In one sense, the believer
enters into rest; in another sense, he labors to enter into it. We have found
our rest in Christ; and we labor to enter into rest in glory. We have found
full repose in what Christ has done for us; and our eye rests on that
everlasting sabbath into which we shall enter when all our present toils and
conflicts are over. We rest in Christ by faith.
And, while resting in
Christ, we labor as a workers together with God, in the full assurance that,
when all our earthly toil is over, we shall enjoy unbroken, eternal rest in
those mansions of unfading light and unalloyed blessedness where labor and
sorrow can never enter. Blessed prospect! Here we have but foretastes of the
eternal sabbath awaiting us when time shall be no more—that sabbath which shall
never be broken—that “holy convocation” which shall never be
dissolved.
The weekly sabbath began, you remember, at Creation. God worked
six days and then he rested on the seventh day. God did no work on the sabbath.
This was reinstated and renewed in the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai when
God reminded his people that the sabbath was at the heart of all his work.
We often hear Sunday referred to as "the sabbath."
Perhaps you think that “sabbath” is just an old-fashioned word for Sunday. But
that is completely wrong. Sunday is the first day of the week. Saturday is the
seventh day. That was the sabbath day. Sunday is not the sabbath, never was the
sabbath, and never can be the sabbath!
I stress this fact because many would bring us under the yoke of
legal bondage by constraining us to keep a carnal, legal sabbath in this gospel
age. Such legal sabbath keeping is strictly forbidden in the New Testament.
The sabbath was but a shadow, a symbol, of something else that was
to come. What is it that God is after in giving us all the laws regarding
sabbath observance in the Old Testament? That is what I want to show you from
the Scriptures in this message.
Proposition:
As there was no
worship of God without the observance of the carnal sabbath in the Old
Testament, so there is no worship of God without the observance of the true
sabbath today.
Sabbath keeping is not a matter
of indifference. It is not one of those areas about which the Scriptures give
no specific instructions. In fact, the instructions given in the Word of God
about sabbath keeping are very specific and clear.
Like circumcision, the
passover, and all other aspects of legal, ceremonial worship during the Old
Testament, the legal sabbath day was established by our God to be a sign,
picture and type of grace and salvation in Christ. This
is not a matter of speculation and guesswork. This is exactly what God says
about the matter in Exodus 31:13.
Exodus 31:13
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths
ye shall keep: for it is a sign between
me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the
LORD that doth sanctify you.
Because sabbath keeping was
a legal type of our salvation in Christ during the age of carnal ordinances,
like the passover and circumcision, once Christ came and fulfilled the type,
the carnal ordinance ceased.
In the New Testament, we are
strictly and directly forbidden to keep any of those carnal ordinances. In
fact, we are plainly told that those who attempt to worship God on the grounds
of legal ordinances are yet under the curse of the law. They have not yet
learned the gospel.
1.
Circumcision is forbidden as
an ordinance of divine worship (Gal. 5:2,4).
Note: Those who have their babies
sprinkled to bring them into the church and kingdom of God, to seal them into
the covenant of grace, attempting to retain the carnal ordinance of circumcision,
by their act of sprinkling that child, deny the gospel of salvation by grace
alone. They deny the necessity of heart circumcision by the Spirit of God.
2.
Passover observance is
forbidden since Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us (1 Cor. 5:7).
Those who continue to offer
up sacrifices to God, either for atonement, or penance, or gain a higher degree
of divine favor, or to prevent his anger, by their sacrifices deny that
Christ’s death at Calvary was an effectual satisfaction for the sins of his
people. If something must be added to his blood and his righteousness by me,
then his blood and his righteousness are totally useless.
3.
In exactly the same way,
those who attempt to sanctify themselves by keeping a carnal sabbath, deny that
Christ is enough to give us perfect acceptance with the thrice holy God.
As Paul puts it in
Colossians 2:23, they make an outward show of spirituality and wisdom; but it
is all will-worship. Such pretenses of humility are nothing but the satisfying
of the flesh. Not only that, the whole matter of sabbath keeping is strictly
forbidden by the Holy Spirit in Colossians 2:16-17. Since the Lord Jesus Christ
has, by his death at Calvary, blotted out the handwriting of the ordinances
that was against us, since he nailed God’s broken law to the cross and put away
our sins, he alone is our Sabbath. We rest in him.
Colossians 2:16-17 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in
respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: (17) Which are a shadow of things
to come; but the body is of Christ.
All carnal sabbath keeping,
any form of it, is strictly forbidden on the basis of the fact that in Christ
all true believers are totally free from the law (Rom. 7:4; 10:4). Yet, the New
Testament does speak of a sabbath keeping that remains for the people of God.
The children of Israel
perished in the wilderness because of unbelief. They could not enter into God’s
rest in the land of Canaan, they could not enter into that typical picture of
God’s salvation, because of unbelief (Heb. 4:1-6).
Hebrews 4:1-5 Let
us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should
seem to come short of it. (2) For
unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not
profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (3) For
we
which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have
sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were
finished from the foundation of the world.
(4) For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day
from all his works. (5) And in this place again, If they shall enter into my
rest.
Though that unbelieving
generation perished in unbelief, the purpose of God was not and could not be
hindered. There is an elect multitude who must and shall enter into his rest.
Look at Hebrews 4:6.
Hebrews 4:6
Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and
they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief.
Yet, that typical rest given
by Joshua in the land of Canaan was not the rest purposed and purchased for
God’s elect. It was only typical of that blessed rest of faith which is ours in
Christ (Heb. 4:7-8).
Hebrews 4:7-8
Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long
a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your
hearts. (8) For if Jesus had given
them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Now, look at verses 9-11.
Hebrews 4:9-11
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (10) For he that is entered into his
rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. (11) Let us
labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same
example of unbelief.
Note: The word rest, which is used over and over and over in Hebrews 3 and 4, means to
repose back, to lay down, to be at peace, to cease from work, to be at home.
But, if you have a marginal reference in your Bible, you will notice that the
word rest used in verse nine is an entirely different word. The word here
translated rest means sabbatism, or a keeping of a sabbath.
It is this remaining sabbath
rest that I want to talk to you about in the time that remains.
Divisions: I want to show you from the Scriptures how that the Old Testament
sabbath day finds its fulfillment and complete accomplishment in Christ; and I
want you to see how we who believe keep the sabbath by faith in him.
1.
The
Lord Jesus Christ has entered into his rest because he has finished all his
work (Isa. 11:10).
2.
Every
sinner who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ keeps the sabbath by faith, by
entering into his rest (Heb. 4:3).
3.
We
must labor to enter into that great, eternal rest of heavenly glory (v. 11).
I.
First, I want you to see that The
Lord Jesus Christ has entered into his rest, and his rest is glorious, because
he has finished his work (Isa. 11:10; 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Rom. 8:34;
Heb. 10:11-14).
Isaiah 11:10 And
in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of
the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
Our Savior’s rest in heaven
is his glory. Again, I call your attention to the marginal translation of the
las sentence of Isaiah 11:10. It reads, “His rest shall be glory!”
As God the Father rested on
the seventh day because his work of creation was finished, so God the Son
rested in the seventh day of time and entered into his rest forever because he
has finished his work of making all things new for his people.
Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that
is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh
intercession for us.
Hebrews 10:11-14 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering
oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (12) But this man, after he had offered
one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (13) From henceforth expecting till his
enemies be made his footstool. (14) For
by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Look at Matthew 28:1. This is a very remarkable
verse of Scripture. I wish you could all read this text in its original
language.
Matthew 28:1 In
the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and
the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
The verse quite literally
reads, “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the sabbath.”
I take the verse to mean this - When the
Lord Jesus Christ died at Calvary and rose again, the old sabbath of the law
ended and the new sabbath of grace began!
Behold our exalted Savior!
Do you see him seated yonder upon his throne in heaven? There he sits in the
undisturbed, undisturbable serenity of his absolute sovereignty! His rest is
his glory (John 17:2; Phil. 2:9-11; Isa. 45:20-25).
A. He has
finished his work (John 17:4; 19:30).
·
His
Work of Righteousness
·
His
Work of Redemption
B. Because
Christ has finished his work, the salvation of his people is certain (Heb. 9:12).
·
The
works were finished before the foundation of the world in God’s purpose.
·
The
works were finished in time when the God-man took his seat in heaven as our
forerunner (Heb. 6:20).
There is no more work to be
done. Christ did it all. Since he has finished his work, he sat down in his
glory. There he is resting!
II. Second, I want you to see from the
Scriptures that every sinner who believes on the Lord Jesus
Christ keeps the sabbath by faith, by entering into his rest (Heb.
4:3, 9-10).
Hebrews 4:3 For
we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my
wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from
the foundation of the world.
Hebrews 4:9-10
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (10) For he that is entered into his
rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
We keep the sabbath of
faith, a spiritual sabbath, not a carnal one. We rest in Christ, trusting his
finished work, by faith entering into his rest. The believer’s life is a
perpetual keeping of the sabbath.
None of us keeps it
perfectly. Our best faith in this world is still unbelief. But we do keep this
blessed sabbath rest sincerely, ever looking to Christ, ever coming to Christ,
ever resting in Christ.
Let’s look at Matthew
11:28-30 again.
A. Our all glorious Christ gives rest to every sinner who comes to him
in faith.
Matthew 11:28 Come
unto me, all ye that labour and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
“I heard the voice of Jesus
say,
‘Come unto me and rest,
Lay down, thou weary one,
lay down
Thy head upon my breast.’
I came to Jesus as I was -
Weary, and worn, and sad:
I found in Him a resting
place,
And He has made me glad!”
The Lord Jesus Christ has
given and continually gives us rest. The rest of…
1.
Complete
Pardon (Isa. 45:22; Eph. 1:6).
2.
Perfect
Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17; Col. 1:20-21).
3.
Absolute
Security (John 10:27-30; Phil. 1:6; 1 Thess. 5:24).
4.
Special
Providence (Rom. 8:28).
B. As the ceremonial
sabbath portrayed a strict, universal consecration to God, so this blessed
sabbath of faith involves the perpetual consecration of ourselves to our God
and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 11:29-30).
We keep the sabbath of faith
when we willfully, deliberately take the yoke of Christ. If you would keep the
sabbath, it involves much, much more than living in religious austerity one day
a week.
1.
To
keep the sabbath is to bow to Christ’s dominion.
2.
To
keep the sabbath is to learn of him what to believe, how to live, what to do,
how to honor God.
3.
To
keep the sabbath is to bow to his will.
C. How can a
troubled, weary, heavy laden, tempest tossed sinner obtain this blessed sabbath
rest?
I can tell you, both from
experience and from the Word of God, there is only one way you can enter into
his rest. You’ve got to quit working! You have to trust Christ alone for
everything!
(Leviticus
23:31-32) "Ye shall do no manner
of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in
all your dwellings. (32) It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest,
and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even,
from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath."
III. Third, let’s look at Hebrews 4:11. I want you to see that we must labor to enter into
that great, eternal rest of glory with Christ in heaven.
Hebrews 4:11 Let
us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same
example of unbelief.
A. There is a
great, eternal sabbath to be obtained.
Hebrews 4:9
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
1.
An
Eternal Remembrance of Redemption.
2.
An
Eternal, Perfect Consecration to Christ.
3.
An
Eternal Rest!
4.
An
Eternal Feasting!
5.
An
Eternal “Holy Convocation” of Worship!
6.
An
Eternal Celebration of Grace!
B. Some have
already entered into that rest.
Hebrews 4:10 For
he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as
God did from his.
1.
Many
could not enter in because of unbelief.
2.
Those
who have entered in have ceased from their own works.
3.
There
are some who “must enter therein.”
C. “Let us therefore labor
(strive) to enter into that rest, lest
any man fall after the same example of unbelief!”
Application:
Philippians 3:7-14 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (8) Yea doubtless, and I count all
things but loss for the excellency of
the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things, and do count them but dung,
that I may win Christ, (9) And be
found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that
which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by
faith: (10) That I may know him, and
the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made
conformable unto his death; (11) If
by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (12) Not as though I had already
attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may
apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (13) Brethren, I count not myself to
have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
The penalty for not keeping
the sabbath is still death.
John 3:36 He that
believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son
shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
1.
If
you would be saved you must keep and satisfy the whole of God’s law.
2.
There
is only one way you can keep God’s holy law - by faith in Christ!
Romans 3:31 Do
we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
3.
Come
to Christ and rest forever!
AMEN.