Do we observe the Sabbath?

There are numerous teachings about the Sabbath found throughout the Word of God.  The first example of the Sabbath is when God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day, which He blessed and made holy. (Genesis 2:3)  After the Israelites fled Egypt, the Lord spoke the following words to Moses, “Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days.” (Exodus 16:29 NIV)  About three months later, the Lord gave Moses the Ten Commandments with the following commandment about the Sabbath – “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” (Exodus 20:11 NIV)  However, approximately 40 years later, when Moses gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, the emphasis was on observing the Sabbath rather than remembering the Sabbath – “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you.” (Deuteronomy 5:12 NIV)

The Old Testament observance of the Sabbath came with many restrictions and regulations.  For instance, whoever did any work on the Sabbath, to include lighting a fire for your dwelling, was subject to punishment by death. (Exodus 35:2-3)  As for the entire wording for the Sabbath in the Ten Commandments, it is full of restrictions that would be hard for almost any believer or church to follow today, since the commandment was specifically directed toward the Israelites and not any other people or nations. (Deuteronomy 7:1-4)

“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord you God.  On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do.  Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord you 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 5:12-15 NIV)

In other words, following strict adherence to the actual commandment is virtually impossible, whether or not you recognize the Sabbath as being on a Saturday or Sunday.  How many believers do you know that make other people work on the Sabbath, whether directly or indirectly?  Does anyone ever go out to eat after church?  What about shopping?  Or going home to an air-conditioned or heated home?

In the New Testament, we find Jesus Christ clarifying the overall theme of the Sabbath with the words, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27 NIV)  Jesus Christ spoke these words in response to the Pharisees who were trying to accuse him of working on the Sabbath day, since Jesus Christ and his disciples were picking heads of grain as they walked through some grain fields.  In summary, believers are not obligated to observe the Sabbath since it was part of the Old Testament law and specifically intended for the Israelites, not any other group of people or nations.  However, believers need to understand the importance of taking time off from their daily and weekly work routines, so they can find time for rest as well as time for meditation with God.  

What is the fruit of the Spirit?

Scripture teaches of holiness in a two-fold manner – believers separating their lifestyles apart from the sinful nature of the world and submitting their will over to the Holy Spirit, evident by the fruit of the Spirit in their lives.  The Apostle Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit in his letter to the Galatians.

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Sprit, let us keep step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16-17, 22-25 NIV, italics added for emphasis)

The Apostle Paul gives us a similar message in his letter to the Romans, as he explains that we are to offer our “bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” and that we should “not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)  In other words, as we submit ourselves over to Holy Spirit and separate our lifestyles apart from the sinful nature of the world, our lives will reflect the nine attributes of the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

The nine attributes of the fruit of the Spirit:

Love –a genuine, unconditional love for people of all backgrounds

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.” (I Peter 1:22 NIV)

            Joy – an inner joy that can only come from the Holy Spirit

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit….” (Romans 14:17 NIV)                    

Peace – a peace of mind knowing our salvation is by God’s grace alone

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ….” (Romans 5:1 NIV)

Patience – a long-enduring patience as a testimony of God’s grace to others

“Preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.” (II Timothy 4:2 NIV)         

Kindness – a kind, compassionate spirit when interacting with other people

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV)

Goodness – a charitable, virtuous goodness for others

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (II Peter 1:3 NIV)

Faithfulness – a faithful fidelity to God by making him a central part of everything

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV) 

Gentleness – being humble and depending on God for strength, in due time

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (I Peter 5:6 NIV)

Self-Control – having self-control in all situations

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (I Peter 1:13 NIV)

Overall, all nine attributes are essential for the fruit of the Spirit, since fruit is a single entity with multiple characteristics.  For example, can you eliminate the attribute of love, while keeping the other eight attributes?  Of course not, the Apostle Paul dedicates an entire chapter of Corinthians to this subject.  The first verse of Chapter 13 in I Corinthians summarizes the whole concept, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal.” (I Corinthians 13:1 NIV)  Similarly, why do some people never seem to find that inner peace that comes with the fruit of the Spirit, even though they have the other attributes like love, patience, kindness and so on?  Basically, they are likely depending on personal works for their faith, instead of depending on the grace of God for their salvation. (Romans 5:1-2)  As a result, when believers submit all aspects of their life over to the work of Holy Spirit, all nine attributes of the fruit of the Spirit will become manifested through the believers’ lives.