Deu 5:14-15 | KingComments | STEP | The first day of the week is not a disguised sabbath, to which all commandments must be transferred. What the sabbath is, is written in Hebrews 4 ( ). It represents the peace of the realm of peace. We may observe the sabbath spiritually by living as if God’s sabbath had already begun. From a spiritual point of view, we can live in peace. The sabbath command is the core command of obedience. All other commandments can be understood even by unbelievers. The only reason for observing the sabbath is because God has commanded it. It is the great test for Israel for their obedience. Therefore the breaking of this commandment is called several times as a ground for judgment ( ; ). In the realm of peace the sabbath will be held again ( ). The reason Christians celebrate the first day of the week is not because the sabbath, the seventh day of the week, has been abolished, but because they spiritually died to the law. For them it is true: “Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead” ( ). That is why Christians who died and are raised with Christ celebrate as risen people the day of Christ’s resurrection, the first day of the week. Here we learn that besides creation, salvation is the reason for our obedience. God is entitled to our obedience because He is our Creator . Does He not have a much greater right to our obedience because of the redemption He has brought about? Salvation is a more powerful motive for our hearts to be obedient. This redemption will also lead us to be merciful to others.

‏ Deuteronomy 5:14-15

Fourth Commandment

The first day of the week is not a disguised sabbath, to which all commandments must be transferred. What the sabbath is, is written in Hebrews 4 (Heb 4:8-9). It represents the peace of the realm of peace. We may observe the sabbath spiritually by living as if God’s sabbath had already begun. From a spiritual point of view, we can live in peace.

The sabbath command is the core command of obedience. All other commandments can be understood even by unbelievers. The only reason for observing the sabbath is because God has commanded it. It is the great test for Israel for their obedience. Therefore the breaking of this commandment is called several times as a ground for judgment (Lev 26:35; 2Chr 36:21). In the realm of peace the sabbath will be held again (Eze 45:17).

The reason Christians celebrate the first day of the week is not because the sabbath, the seventh day of the week, has been abolished, but because they spiritually died to the law. For them it is true: “Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead” (Rom 7:4). That is why Christians who died and are raised with Christ celebrate as risen people the day of Christ’s resurrection, the first day of the week.

Here we learn that besides creation, salvation is the reason for our obedience. God is entitled to our obedience because He is our Creator. Does He not have a much greater right to our obedience because of the redemption He has brought about? Salvation is a more powerful motive for our hearts to be obedient. This redemption will also lead us to be merciful to others.