The teaching of the Lord Jesus concerning Sabbath observance is, we fear, often overlooked. That our Saviour declared, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath', conveys the permanence and blessing of a continual weekly day of rest for mankind from the beginning to the end of time. Former centuries have seen periods of spiritual awakening and revival resulting in families and neighbourhoods enabled through Spiritual sight and experience to ‘call the Sabbath a delight, holy of the LORD, honourable' (Isaiah 58:13), and yet we find now in our day any remnants of Sabbath keeping remaining (and there is little) are often the result of engrained cultural habits, vestiges of a form of godliness but destitute of the power and reality thereof. Whilst this is to be expected (though still sinful) of those without true saving faith it ought not to be the case with the Lord's people. As His people, let us profess and show that we love His day and may we do this by knowing and practicing His will. The society in which we live will not help us - but we have the Word of God which is able through the blessing of the Spirit to enlighten our eyes and quicken our hearts in the ways of the Lord. "Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart". Psalm 119:2. The points raised in the address are as follows:-
1. The Teaching of the Westminster Standards.
Chapter 21 paragraph 8 ; Larger catechism Q117.
2. The general observance of the Sabbath by Northern Ireland protestants in the past.
Sabbath keeping/consciousness from the seventeenth century until after the time of partition.
3. The present collapse of the protestant façade.
The declension that has set in - how this has affected evangelicals and general Sabbath keeping - the lack and need of personal heart conviction through the study of the Scriptures to withstand the tide of opposition.
4. The need for recovery of personal biblical conviction.
The Westminster Standards an accurate guide to Sabbath keeping - the Biblical standard, Isaiah 58, extending to actions, thoughts and words - the basic principle: rest in order to worship - the Sabbath not abrogated in the NT - the coming of the Saviour did not do away with the blessings of a Sabbath rest - the change of the day from the last to the first day of the week.
5. Conclusions.
We need to know what to believe - give worship priority over every other consideration, treat every Sabbath as important - consistency is not legalism - no exceptions to be made to obedience, (e.g., recreational travelling on the Sabbath never an option) - we need a hearty motive of love to Christ for all obedience.
For further reading on Loving the Lord's Day, by Robert Murray McCheyne click on the following link:
www.loughbrickland.org/articles/sabbath.shtml
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