Covenants, Work, Rest and Sabbaths

 

 

One of the major theological issues for Christians to think through is continuity and change between Old and New Covenants.

 

One major change is from the Jewish sabbath (Saturday, day 7 of the creation week) to Resurrection Day, The Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, the Christian sabbath.

 

What difference might this make to our conception of work and rest?

 

In the Old Covenant, the people of God are invited to be imitators of God the creator. God works, and human beings are to be sub-creators, guarding and keeping the world which God has made. They were as God’s vice-gerents, exercising loving rule over the world as his image bearers. They are gods over the world under God and are to do so in a godly manner.

 

The goal and climax of creation is for human beings to share sabbath day rest with God. He has completed his work of creation. His house has been formed and filled and so he dwells with human beings to bless them. It is very good and God enjoys satisfaction from his work: he rests from what he has done. He invites us to be imitators of him not only in work but in entering in to his rest.

 

The Old Testament pattern is work to rest. And this all remains good and true. The goal of the creation remains New Creation rest. Sabbath is the destiny and climax of all things as we are delivered from toil and curse.

 

But the New Covenant also invites us to think of the Christian Sabbath (Sunday) as the first day of the week. It is already a New Creation because Jesus Christ is risen victorious from the dead and we are in him. We no longer look forward to work done. It is finished! Christ’s perfect saving work has been completed. God is utterly satisfied in his well-pleasing Son whom he loves. Jesus gives us his rest as a gift.

 

And so in the New Covenant it is especially clear that work flows from rest. We are already loved and saved. God is satisfied.

 

Starting the week with Resurrection Day is a reminder that victory is secure. Even as we look forward to the full and final Sabbath Day rest of the people of God, even as we live with the ongoing curse and toil of the Old Creation in this overlap of the ages, we are free from anxiety. In this world, there are still thorns and thistles to contend with, but Jesus was crowned with thorns and the curse has been spent on him. The Christian lives in a whole new world, and Jesus will at last make all things new.