The Gospel of the Lord's Day

Colossians 2: 6-23

The Reformer's Fire
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Exposition by Max A Forsythe

Question 57:
Which is the fourth commandment?
Answer 57:
The fourth commandment is, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Today we come to the last commandment of the first table. In a few weeks we will begin the second table of six commandments. As I have repeatedly stated, even though I doubt that everyone has heard and comprehended, the first table of this revealed law of God is commended only to those who belong to Christ. And the fulfilling of these four commandments proves the presence of the Spirit of God within the heart of the believer. If you wish, you may see the difference between the tablets in the following concept.

Think of the second tablet as God's general revelation to all of mankind. Those six commandments are the foundation of natural law upon which every body and system of law has some foundation. No man, woman or child is exempt from those just decrees and regulations derived from God's holy revelation. By the use of these six commandments, governments are able to bring peace, prosperity and happiness to the human race whenever and wherever they are faithfully enforced.

The first tablet of four commandments is a more specific revelation give to God's own children. And by the power of the Holy Spirit within them, they prove to the world Who is certainly their heart's desire - even God in Christ. Now, here is the kicker, which some of you may not be happy with. Even though we all fall far short of perfection in showing the fruit of the Spirit in giving the homage, obedience and honor deserved by our Lord and our God, there is a certain hypocrisy in claiming to belong to Christ and not showing any evidence of joyfully submitting to these first four commandments!

In the past few months I have talked with three different people who claim that the process of new birth is indeed happening in their lives. Yet to my knowledge none of the three has yet to show up in any church to worship the Holy God whose Spirit is supposedly at work in them?

Now, let me be careful here, I do know even as my commentators have observed that some of us are slaves to economic necessity. It was for this reason that in times past, congregations either met before dawn or after dusk so that the economic slaves of their time could find their way to worship. With the general exception of ancient Israel, it was not until the time of Constantine that a Sabbath's rest held any secular importance supported by the laws of the Empire. Today we are at the tail end of a four hundred year period where the Sabbath was honored as widely as it once was in ancient Israel from time to time! And yet, the very essence of the once Christian West has dissipated in one short generation.

Today, the Lord's Day is the most prosperous business day of the week for every retail operation that thinks it is necessary to open its doors. Even managers who know better and would like to observe the ancient traditions are merely the paid servants of their corporate masters. And unless retail workers have enough seniority, they are unlikely to be able to have every Lord's Day off for worship and rest in the Lord.

I also know that is some places, people talk about Sunday as their family day. As a result, the soccer mom's have been more sincerely interested in the Sunday morning contests than in getting their children to worship. In the same vein, very many of our own pastors take exception to the Westminster Confession in this area of the Sabbath understanding because they feel, like the Europeans, that recreation is of equal importance to worship and rest.

It is interesting what Calvin has to say on the matter of the Christian Sunday. Commentator J. Douma reports that Calvin understood the Sabbath was given for three distinct reasons: 1. to depict spiritual rest, 2. to preserve ecclesiastical order, 3. to provide relief to workers

Now, how many of you have even heard of that list before. The rest for workers which is so much a part and parcel of our understanding of the commandment is third in importance in his ordering! Douma goes on to report that Calvin "emphasizes something else in the fourth commandment. According to him, resting on the seventh day depicts spiritual rest, the rest from their 'evil' works that believers enjoy in order to allow God to work in them." Isn't that intriguing, are you beginning to understand my title for today's lesson - "The Gospel of the Lord's Day."

Let me quote a little more from Douma's wonderful commentary on the Law of God: "Calvin sees the Sabbath as a sign teaching Israel that God was Israel's sanctifier: 'If our sanctification consists in mortifying our own will, then a very close correspondence appears between the outward sign and the inward reality.' Just as Israel was to observe "externally" a complete rest on the seventh day, so we should rest "inwardly," says Calvin, by putting to death our own will and by allowing God to work in us."

How many people set aside a part of their busy schedule for exercise, for entertainment, and for family time? The vast majority will have some "sacred" time set apart! Yet how many people understand the gospel of the Sabbath well enough to give God the time to work in their hearts by putting aside their daily grind and commitments?

In the deep south, there is another Christ Covenant congregation that is hugely successful in bringing people in to their Sunday morning celebrations. The pastor teaches church planters what works and what doesn't. Yet, his most telling remarks showcase the necessity for the joyous gathering of God's elect to give our Father the awesome glory and honor deserving of His Name. Harry Reeder looks forward especially to the evening service on the Lord's Day for those faithful elect who are willing to miss Sixty Minutes and family time and entertainment to gather for more quiet time with the Creator God of heaven and earth. This certain joy in worship is one of the best indicators as to where your heart is before the God of heaven. And isn't this Paul's concern in our passage from Colossians today?

Wherever Christ's church feels that it must discipline its members for failure to worship regularly, we must ask if that church has made clear the gospel message or if the hearts of missing heirs to the promise are as focused as the people claim. Sadly, by rules and regulations regarding the Sabbath, the Old Covenant community estranged God's people from the joyous adoration that they are called to give unto our Saving Lord. Even in our time, some leaders and members miss the whole point that Paul is addressing in this section of Colossians. And that is the necessary focus of all traditions, actions and faith upon Christ alone - who is the center and object of our faith.

Certainly, there is a danger, as there was in Colossae that the "keepers" of tradition were thereby holier than those who kept not the traditions of men. Just as there is a danger among those who do keep the Sunday worship week in and week out! Sometimes it is the apparent self-righteousness and overt "holiness" of those most obviously faithful that keeps the less habitual away from church. Remember that there are still many publicans still in the church and those who think too highly of their keeping of this fourth commandment are in just as much danger of warping its true meaning as those who do not remember every single Sunday!

With that said, we can consider Calvin's second point to the sabbath celebration. That is in maintaining ecclesiastical order. I remember a story that I heard a long time ago about a young ministerial candidate who wanted the freedom to come to church on the Lord's Day as his busy schedule and emotions allowed. He was of the sort that thought counseling and good works had a greater priority than leading the weekly worship. Sadly, he couldn't understand it when his congregation fired him for neglecting his Sunday duties!

We all have to remember that each Christian has a purpose and position in the assembly of God's chosen people. Every congregation must have a plan if key people are held up by accident or sickness. Two weeks ago, I woke up in the middle of Saturday night feeling really bad. Thankfully within an hour or so, the problem passed and I went back to sleep knowing I would be able to make the journey in the morning. Here our elders always have a guitar or a sermon ready in case Tracey or I am delayed by providential circumstances. And we of course have at least four men who share in the leading of worship so that in the body of elders, all may be done decently and in order.

But worshipers are just as important. Haven't you all noticed that the level of joyousness rises whenever our numbers get close to fifty or sixty? That doesn't mean we worship poorly when the number is down by a half, but there is a real spiritual tonic in the air when we gather most of the local family together.

Lastly, there is the real economic blessing when workers are rested and relaxed from their spiritual preparation for the coming week of work and witness done in the Lord's Name. I know that when I really truly have some time off to unwind, then my next month or two of labor will be more fruitful. Given my schedule, it is hard to get any extended rest. I guess that is my favorite part of the holiday season, that I can take two or three days and do absolutely nothing. After that week's rest before Christmas, I have been able to read and understand more easily the books that help me prepare for the pulpit.

And when you are rested, doesn't your week go better? Consider the party animals at work who come in on Monday morning exhausted. It will be Wednesday before they hit their stride. And if you have had spiritual rest on the Lord's day, you will be two days ahead of the pack! I do believe that my commentators are correct in the assumption that wherever the Christian Sabbath is neglected in the spiritual sense we have considered this morning, then the faith of the church is dwindled and the whole culture suffers. Yes, practically speaking, you are a better worker if you take a day of rest. But of much greater importance is the spiritual growth that is yours if you will truly rest from your labors and bring to God the joy of knowing He is yours and you are His. May the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ be yours this day in this earthly "temple" as you prepare yourself for heaven where every day is the Lord's Day.

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