I’m just loving our Read Though the Bible in 9 Months Challenge here at KCC this year!  It’s been fun reading for me, I’ve gotten a lot of out it personally, and I’m really enjoying the feedback we’re getting from everyone who’s taking the challenge.

I got an e-mail last week that contains a great question, and after thinking about it for a while I decided I’d respond to it here on my blog.  That way a lot more people will see this.  It’s an issue that will continue to rise as we read through the Old Testament, and it’s an important thing for all Christians to understand in general.

Here’s the question,  please not that the name has been withheld to protect the guilty – or is that innocent?  Oh well, no matter, here it is!

And, today, I was seriously contemplating the whole commandment of keeping the Sabbath day holy and that anyone who worked on the Sabbath must be put to death.  Now THAT’S serious business!  In Exodus 31:16, it talks about that being a lasting (perpetual) covenant between God and the Israelites.  Is it correct to extend that to us?  I assume it is.

Like I said, great question.  One I’ll answer here, but in a very general fashion.  First of all, we have to remember that Christians are not under the Law! Therefore when you see something commanded in the Law you have to remember that’s not part of the covenant that Jesus established through His death, burial and resurrection, and that we are a part of by faith.

About the Sabbath in particular, and will all respect to my Seventh Day Adventist friends, we are not under any law to observe the Sabbath in any way, shape or form.  Period! Paul made that about as clear as you can in many places, but my favorite is found in Colossians:

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Colossians 2:16-17 (NIV)

Jesus completed the Law by his Life and death on the Cross, and we now have a New Covenant with God through faith in Jesus!  so, no, the Sabbath command does not apply to us!

Okay, well if that’s true then why both reading the Old Testament anyway?

My simple answer:  Because it’s full of truths that can help change you life! You just have to be careful in how you interpret what you’re reading.  Let’s take resting on the Sabbath as an example.  It was a Law for Israel, but not for me since I’m not under the Law, right?

Right!  So should I ignore it?  NO!!!

I need to pay attention to it, because it’s presenting me with a truth that began in creation. God rested, and commanded us to rest.  He didn’t need rest – but He knew we would! So he modeled it for us.

This isn’t a law for Christians, but a principle they need to take heed too!

For most of us that would mean taking bold steps to simplify our lives so that we have the space we need to take time off, to rest and let our batteries recharge, as God wants us to do!

Moses is simply codifying what God taught by example in creation.  It’s a simple yet profound truth that almost everyone know – and ignores at their peril!

I hope that answers the question, and that it also gives you an example of how to apply what you’re reading in the Old Testament.  As always, let me know what you think okay?