Previously: The Sabbath, part two
I thought I would answer, to the best of my ability, two questions that have come up in the comments of the recent Sabbath post, rather than trying to answer in the comments and have it ending up being as long as a post, LOL.
If you do not keep the Sabbath on the seventh day, does that mean you will not enter heaven? I went straight to the horse’s mouth; Jesus actually addressed this question. Here is what He says:
“For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:18-19
The one who relaxes the least of the commandments in the Law, including Sabbath, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But notice he is in the kingdom of heaven. I cannot find in Scripture that Sabbath- keeping is a salvational issue. So why do it? Ah, interesting question, and there is an even more interesting answer, stay tuned to the Sabbath series …
And the second question: is marital intimacy allowed on the Sabbath? Yes. 🙂 My humble opinion. What is not allowed is work, and marital intimacy does not, in Hebrew thought, come under any understanding of “work.” Some might say it is not work, but, come on, the Sabbath is the Lord’s holy day, so doesn’t that mean …? No:
” Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” Hebrews 13:4
If the marriage bed is undefiled, then how can it be defiled? For to be defiled is to be unclean and unfit for the Lord.
To be continued …
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Update: continued in The Sabbath, part three
When Jesus says, "until all is accomplished," what do you think that means? I've heard some say that he is speaking of his death and resurrection; others say he meant after the second coming. I'm inclined, because of Peter's vision in Acts 10 to think he meant the former. However, Heaven and Earth didn't pass away with Jesus' death and resurrection. I think there is a distiction between the Commandments and the rest of the Law.
In Matthew 19:17, Jesus, "if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Then, he listed some of the ten commandments and "thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself," which is from the additional Law.
In Matthew 22:34-40, Jesus said that all the Law and Prophets hung on two Commandments: love the Lord with all our heart, souls, and minds and love our neighbors as ourselves. It seems that observing the Sabbath would fall under "loving the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds".
Of course, then comes the question of which Sabbath: Saturday or Sunday. Since 'twas man who chose to change the day of rest to Sunday, it seems to me that Saturday is when we should have our Sabbath.
As far as marital relations on the Sabbath, I haven't found a law forbiding it. To think it would be unseemly on the day of rest seems to contradict all of God's words on marriage.
Some might argue that sex is procreating and therefore is creative work. I studied Hebrew roots and all that entails for a few years. I do not believe Jesus' finished work on the cross negates the Sabbath command to rest. I do believe we can honor Him on any day we choose. Therefore, gathering with other believers on Sunday is acceptable.