Introduction
Suggestion: Read the Blog on the Inroduction to the Feasts first before reading the other feasts: https://sylvanjames.com/2023/02/25/introduction/
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. Lev 23:1-3 KJV
Christians are divided over the observance of the Sabbath; if to observe and when to observe. The Sabbath was the seventh day of the week and to violate the Sabbath is to break one of the Ten Commandments:
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. Exodus 20:8-11 KJV (Excerpt from the Ten Commandments)
The command to “keep the Sabbath” is the fourth of the Ten.
Some people ask the question: “are Christians bound by the ten commandments?” If your answer is “yes” then then you’re; however, if your answer is “no”, then they proceed with: “Is it okay to steal? Is it okay to murder? Is it okay to have idols? Is it okay to not keep the Sabbath?” The mode of interrogation has a desired response in mind, “no”, which contradicts the correct first response. They are not meant to determine whether Christians should or shouldn’t keep the Commandments. These questions should be phrased another way: “Do you believe that the Ten Commandments are the rule of life for a Christian today?” Another way might be: “To whom were the ten Commandments given”
And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel. And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. Exodus 34: 27-28 KJV
These Ten Commandments were a part of the Old Covenant made by God with the Israelites along with the temple worship, the sacrifices, the food restrictions. This Covenant was not made with the surrounding nations; the Amorites, Ammonites, Moabites …
THE VIEWS OF THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS
A common criticism of Jewish seventh day Sabbath by the early Fathers, was “idleness”; they claimed it was not in the Christian spirit to rest. Irenaeus, late 2nd century, who claimed a continuous Sabbath observance from the Creation, wrote: the Christian “will not be commanded to leave idle one day of rest, who is constantly keeping sabbath.” Tertullian, early 3rd century, argued “that we still more ought to observe a sabbath from all servile work always, and not only every seventh day, but through all time.”
Ignatius, cautioning against “Judaizing” in the Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians, contrasts the Jewish Sabbath practices with the Christian life which includes the Lord’s Day:
“Let us therefore no longer keep the Sabbath after the Jewish manner and rejoice in days of idleness… But let every one of you keep the Sabbath after a spiritual manner, rejoicing in meditation on the law, not in relaxation of the body, admiring the workmanship of God, and not eating things prepared the day before, nor using lukewarm drinks, and walking within a prescribed space, nor finding delight in dancing and plaudits which have no sense in them. And after the observance of the Sabbath, let every friend of Christ keep the Lord’s Day, as a festival, the resurrection-day, the queen and chief of all the days.”
This early metaphorical interpretation of Sabbath was applied to the entire Christian life. The 2nd and 3rd centuries solidified the early church’s emphasis upon Sunday worship and its rejection of a Jewish observation of the Sabbath and manner of rest. Following Sabbath after the manner of the Hebrews declined, prompting Tertullian to note “to us Sabbaths are strange” and unobserved. Even as late as the 4th century, Judaizing was a problem, although repudiated as heresy.
THE SABBATH AND ROMAN LAW
For centuries the Romans used a “week” of eight days in civil practice, but in 321 AD Emperor Constantine established the seven-day week in the Roman calendar and designated Sunday the first day of the week. On March 7, of the same year, he issued a civil decree making Sunday the day of rest, stating:
All judges and city people and the craftsmen shall rest upon the venerable day of the sun. Country people, however, may freely attend to the cultivation of the fields, because it frequently happens that no other days are better adapted for planting the grain in the furrows or the vines in trenches. So that the advantage given by heavenly providence may not for the occasion of a short time perish.
This was established only in civil law rather than religious principle. The Church, however, welcomed the development as a means of having Christians easily attend Sunday worship and observe Christian rather than Jewish Sabbath.
This practice was brought to England by Augustine at the turn of the sixth century and continued to the Reformation. The Puritans held rigidly to this and Adam Clarke, in his commentary on 1Corinthians 16, summarized accordingly, “It appears from the whole that the first day of the week, which is the Christian Sabbath, was the day on which their principal religious meetings were held in Corinth and the churches of Galatia; and, consequently, in all other places where Christianity had prevailed. This is a strong argument for the keeping of the Christian Sabbath.”
This caused a rigid legalistic observance of the first day of the week (Roman not Jewish) and its bondage eventually became equivalent to the seventh Day Jewish Sabbath. This bondage has continued till today and practiced in all English-speaking countries today.
SOME PRESENT TEACHINGS ON SABBATH
There are Two major views for study purposes, and I will be addressing:
- The Sabbath is the Seventh Day of the Week and is still to be observed.
- Sunday (the First Day of the Week) replaced the seventh day (Saturday) Sabbath?
1. The Sabbath is the seventh day (our Saturday) and is still to be observed.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church holds this view. They do not recognize Sunday as a Sabbath Day. One Adventist writer said:
“The Almighty’s Sabbath, according to His unalterable Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11, Matthew 5:17-18), is the seventh day of the week, the day commonly known as Saturday. There is no authority given to anyone in the Bible for the observance of Sunday. The true weekly Sabbath of Yahweh, the Almighty God of Israel, was, is, and ever will be, the seventh day of the week (para). Worship on Sundays, and especially sunrise services on Easter, are an abomination to the Lord because the sun god was worshiped on Sunday mornings.” (para.)
If you believe the Sabbath as part of the Ten Commandments is still in force today, then you are obligated to keep the Seventh Day holy. You are also obligated to keep the rest of the Mosaic Law, the Feasts and Sacrifices, because the Law was given as a unit.
- The Sabbath still stands but was changed to Sunday for Christians.
The fourth commandment is still in effect for the Jews but Sunday, the first day of the week, is the Christian Sabbath. It is the day of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus the Christ. It is the Lord’s Day and has replaced the seventh day Sabbath by the authority of the inspired Apostles. Therefore, Christians are obligated to observe Sunday. The mention in Acts 20:7 of the believers breaking bread on the first day of the week is seen as a reference to a “special” day for the early believers to come together to break bread.
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. Act 20:7 KJV
However, careful reading of the verse, reveals they broke bread, and they did it on the first day of the week. There is nothing said about a Resurrection Day or Holy Communion. It seems this was done because of Paul’s intention to leave them the next day. Acts 2:46 says the habit of the early Church was to break bread daily, not to break it just once every week. In addition, this expression, “breaking bread”, may apply to having a normal meal.
1 Corinthians 16:2 also mentions the first day of the week. But the context is setting aside a contribution for the relief of the poor Jewish believers. Again, this does not refer to a special weekday on which the Church met to worship, but worship continued daily as Acts 2:46.
Appeal to the day on which Christ rose from the dead (Sunday) is also claimed as a good reason for making the day special and to be observed as the believer’s day of rest. Although the evidence suggests the early Christians met to worship Sundays, they did do so, not of compulsion, coercion, or theology, but because they chose to do so, and they also met to worship on other days. Elevation of one day above all others, ignores the importance of the other six and restricts worship to one day in seven rather than anytime and anyplace (John 4:24).
These two views are similar, insisting the Sabbath still stands.
A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE
WEEKLY SABBATH
Doing physical work was the only way to break the Sabbath.
There was no “going to church” or attending the temple, sacrifice or any other prescribed worship connected with the Sabbath. The Sabbath was personal and meant to be observed individually in your own way. They were to stay in their homes (tents). There was nothing prescribed in the Law but rest. They were to gather enough manna on the sixth day for two days, and God promised it would not spoil as in the case on any other day. They must trust God that the manna would keep. Total rest on the seventh day. The people were to stay in their tents (their homes). The gathering of manna was not allowed. This was clear from the institution of the Sabbath in Exodus 16:
And they gathered it (manna) every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted. And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, Tomorrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. And Moses said, Eat that today; for today is a sabbath unto the LORD: today ye shall not find it in the field. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?
See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day. Exodus 16:21-30 KJV
Later, the Sabbath was given as the sign of the Old Covenant, it was explicit, the only way to break the Sabbath was physical work.
Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Exodus 31:14-15 KJV
They are commanded in verse 14 not defile the Sabbath, and “defiling the Sabbath” is equated with “doing any work therein.” Both verses state that any form of physical work would result in death. There is a constant refrain of “Do not work.” “Don’t even lift a hand to pick up manna.” “Cease from any work and rest.” God told them to gather two days’ supply on the sixth day, and trust Him, it would not spoil as it would on any other day. All the Sabbath references have the same message, “Cease from your work, trust Me.”
The Sabbath was a Gift to the Jew
And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. Mark 2:27, 28 KJV
The Sabbath was given as a gift, one day in every seven, when the Jew could rest, and God would provide. But there was a greater meaning: “faith, not works.” The words of Romans 4:4-5, “To him who does not work but believes . . .” The Sabbath pointed the Israelite away from works to the rest of faith. The Sabbath preached the Gospel of rest.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28.
The seventh year Sabbath also preached the Gospel.
And the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD. Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard. That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land. Leviticus 25:1-5 KJV.
I have never seen or heard of any writer or preacher advocating a “seventh year” sabbath for Christians yet it is commanded in the Word of the Lord.
The twenty-fifth chapter of Leviticus describes the yearly Sabbath. Just as there was a Sabbath day, there was a Sabbath year. Just as the weekly Sabbath commanded “no servile work,” so the seventh year Sabbath commanded no work during the entire year. They could do no physical work at all for one whole year. They were not allowed to plough, cultivate, or harvest for a whole year:
And if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase: then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store. Leviticus 25:20-22 KJV
Again, God was teaching: “You do not live by your works. Trust Me, allow the land to keep its Sabbaths, I will give you all you need.” This Sabbath also directed the Israelites from works to faith in God. It preached the Gospel. It directed them to faith in God as opposed to living by their own work. It was “their schoolmaster to lead them to Christ.”
Attached to the ten commandments was a penalty.
For Sabbath breaking the penalty was death. All those desiring to keep Sabbaths today ignore this:
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. Exodus 31:13-16 KJV.
The Old Covenant Law is a unit. If you break any one commandment, you are guilty as though you have broken all.
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2:10 KJV
Thomas Aquinas divided the Law, for studying, into three categories: moral, civil, and ceremonial, in the 13th century. But most Christians today have adopted this division as though it is Biblical and for other purposes. However, there is nothing in Scripture to support this three-part division. Today, the common teaching has become that God has done away with the ceremonial and civil aspects but not with the moral aspect of our lives. Such a distinction is not drawn anywhere in the Scriptures. The Law is viewed as a unit by God. James said that anyone who breaks one point of the Law, breaks the whole Law. Therefore, someone keeping the fourth commandment, is obligated to keep the ceremonial and the civil law as well. Paul said:
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. Galatians 3:10, 11 KJV
I believe the Ten Commandments, as they are interpreted and applied by our Lord and His Disciples in the New Testament Scriptures, are a real and essential part of our “rule of life.” The New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34), as mediated by Christ, is another Covenant, which replaced the Old Covenant.
In the New Covenant, the law is written on your heart.
Why do YOU think stealing, lying, adultery, worshipping idols and coveting are wrong? Because it is written on your heart! Or, you may have read the teachings of Jesus and His disciples in the New Testament; these things are wrong. We live in the New Covenant, not in the Old, and in the New Covenant there is no mention of a Sabbath. Although the New Covenant restates 9 of the 10 (the Sabbath is excluded) commandments as individual teachings, the Ten, as a unit, are not brought into the New Covenant era.
The days of the week are all the same to God.
There are no holy days but only holy persons. The important thing is to be holy every day of the week and forget about Sabbaths and holy days (Colossians 2:16), because it no longer exists. The Sabbath commandment has been fulfilled, superseded, done away, and nailed to the cross. Christians meet for worship on Sunday, not because it is a Sabbath but because it is convenient. The Law was fulfilled by Jesus and is now obsolete: there is no longer a Sabbath commandment to observe. It is the Spirit that matters, not the day of the week on which you choose to rest.
The Lord Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets in the first century.
We know this because Jesus said the Old Covenant Law, every bit of it, would be in effect until heaven and earth passed away:
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5:17-18 KJV
This is one of the key verses to a proper understanding of the New Testament. Most expositors have a perfunctory look at the phrase “Till heaven and earth pass” and conclude that since heaven cannot pass, then the Law will never pass away. But is that what Jesus said?
First, what is meant by “the Law and the Prophets”? The use of the terms “the Law” and “the Prophets” indicate the Lord is speaking of the whole of the Old Testament (book). Throughout the New Testament this expression is used to refer to the entire Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh.
Second, a “jot” is part of a Hebrew word, and a “tittle” is part of a Hebrew letter. Therefore, Jesus did not say the Law and the Prophets will never pass away but He said the law and the prophets will not “pass away” or be “fulfilled” in parts (jots and tittles). We know the so-called “ceremonial” parts of the Law were fulfilled in Christ; therefore, ALL the Law was fulfilled at this same time. For example, we know the Passover Law was fulfilled by Jesus on the cross, therefore, all the Law and the prophets were fulfilled at this time. It was nailed to the cross, all of it.
The Mosaic Law existed as a single unit or not at all. It cannot be broken up into “jots and tittle” or the ceremonial, civil, and moral laws. Such divisions are not found anywhere in the Bible. But the entire Old Testament will pass away till (when) all is fulfilled, and “heaven and earth” will also pass at this same time. Therefore, we can deduce “heaven and earth” was a reference to the Mosaic Law and the prophets. Jesus said that He didn’t come to destroy the Law, but to fulfil it.
Third, what does it mean to fulfil the Law? The word “fulfil” is from the Greek word pleroo. Matthew uses this word seventeen times, and in fifteen it refers to prophecy being fulfilled or coming to pass. In 5:17-18 above, fulfil is clearly equated with pass. The Law, which we read in the Old Testament, and everything said by the Prophets, was to “come to pass” even the jots and tittles, the minutest detail and it will pass all at once when all was fulfilled; the Law and the Prophets would have passed away. Again, Jesus said:
The law and the prophets were until John (the Baptist): since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. Luke 16:16 KJV
John the Baptist was the last of the Old Covenant Prophets and his prophecies of the “wrath to come” (Matthew 3:7) was fulfilled at the destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus fulfilled the Law by fulfilling all the types and prophecies of the Old Testament. When did Jesus do this?
His entire ministry took place during the 40-year period leading up to the Destruction of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem. All the types and shadows of the Old Covenant sacrificial system focused on and were fulfilled in Him. All the prophecies regarding the Messiah, His kingdom, and His salvation find their fulfilment in Him. The ultimate way that Christ fulfilled the Old Testament is by meeting the righteous demands of the Law and providing salvation through His death on the cross. Thus, He fulfilled the Law and paid the penalty for sins:
For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. Hebrews 7:18-19 KJV
God promised to cancel the Mosaic Law and the Levitical system. The words “disannulling” is from the Greek verb athetesis, which means the complete cancellation of the commandment, the Mosaic Law. The same verb is used in 9:26 translated: “putting away” sin:
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Hebrews 9:26 KJV
The cancelling of the Mosaic Law was necessary to put away sin. Sin can’t be put away while the law continues to exist “…for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20).”
Another purpose of the Law is stated in Galatians 3:19 where it is indicated that the Law is to serve as a tutor or schoolmaster to bring them to Christ so they could be forgiven. Paul says in Galatians 3 that now that Christ has come, we are no longer under the schoolmaster. Now when Christ came, and the Law had run its course and found fulfilment in Christ:
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:24-26 KJV
Heaven and Earth passed away in 70AD
Jesus said that heaven and earth had to pass away before the smallest letter of the Law could be fulfilled. Thus, if the Law has been fulfilled, then the heaven and earth Jesus spoke of must have already passed away.
Obviously, Jesus was NOT speaking of the literal earth He was standing on and the literal heavens He was standing under. If we understand heaven and earth in these verses to be physical, then the Mosaic Law is still in effect; the Sabbath (seventh day), and all the sacrifices. If we understand heaven and earth as figurative, then the heaven and earth have passed along with the Law.
The phrase “until heaven and earth pass away” refers to the duration of the whole Old Covenant’s authority. So, Jesus is saying the Law will not pass away “piecemeal”, not a single item of the Law, will ever be changed until heaven and earth pass away.
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5:18 KJV
No part of the law and the prophets could pass away until ALL was fulfilled. All the Law being accomplished would include all the Old Covenant prophecies being fulfilled. All the prophetic scriptures had to be fulfilled. This included the prophecies of the “New Heaven and Earth.” The New Covenant is always associated with a New Age. This New Age would not come about until all that the Prophets had spoken was fulfilled.
Until God created a “New Heaven and Earth,” the Old Covenant remained intact, every bit of it. So, if we are not living in the “New Heaven and Earth” today, then we are under the Law, every bit of it. But I know of no Bible expositor who would say that ALL the Old Covenant Scriptures are binding on us. If anyone did, they would have to be keeping the Sabbath as well as the feasts and sacrifices. Luke agrees:
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. Luke 21:20-22 KJV
Jesus said “ALL things which are written” would be fulfilled in the destruction of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem. “All things which are written” refers to the Law and the Prophets or the Old Covenant and was to be fulfilled in the destruction of the Temple and the Holy City which was heaven and earth passing away. He said when Jerusalem was destroyed, all things which are written was fulfilled. This includes all “biblical writings” before the destruction of the Temple and the city Jerusalem. This includes the prophecy of the Parousia, the Resurrection, the New Heavens and Earth, everything else prophesied to Israel would be fulfilled at the time of Jerusalem’s destruction.
The “Old Testament Covenant” and the “Heavens and earth” are synonymous.
The passing away of heaven and earth is another way to speak of the end of the Old Covenant. To prove this from the Scripture, look at:
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; (Psalm 102:25-28).
They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. Hebrews 1:11, 12 KJV.
Paul gave a quotation from the Psalms as an illustration of the passing away of the Old Testament. This prophecy of David in Psalms 102 is generally thought of as referring to the physical heaven and earth. But Paul gives us further insight of how the heavens and earth perished: David said, “They shall grow old like a garment,” and then they would be “changed.” Paul spoke of the passing away of the Old Testament Covenant using the same language.
In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. Hebrews 8:13 KJV
The word “old” is the Greek word, palaioo, which means: “to make worn out, or declare obsolete,” is used in Hebrews 1:11 of the Heavens and Earth and 8:13 of the Old Covenant. Paul shows us that the “Old Testament Covenant” and the “Heavens and earth” are synonymous.
If you don’t understand the symbolical use of “heaven and earth,” you will not understand Jesus’ words in:
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5:18 KJV
If you don’t understand these verses, you will be confused about the Sabbath and the other Old Covenant commands.
CONCLUSION
For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. Hebrews 4:3 KJV
By faith in Jesus, we enter the rest. He is our Sabbath rest. He fulfilled the Old Covenant type. We, as believers, rest totally and completely in Him. We have regained in Christ far more than we lost in Eden. Every debt owed was paid. Christians are totally free and have entered the true Sabbath rest in Christ.