For He spake in a certain place of
the seventh(day) in this manner.
And God did rest the seventh day
from all His works. And in this place
again, if they shall enter into My rest.
Seeing therefore it remaineth that
some must enter therein, and they to
whom it was first preached entered
not in because of unbelief; again,
He limiteth a certain day, saying
in David, Today, after so long a time;
as it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice,
harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had
giventhem rest, then would he not
afterward have spoken of another day.
Hebrews 4:4-8
God through His inspiration to the writer of Hebrews reveals a principle that must not be neglected and that principle is that only those who believe will enter into His rest. God worked, created for six days and on the seventh day rested as did Adam and Eve, this principle of doing the work was do be done six days and on the seventh to rest. This principle of keeping the seventh day as a day of rest was a requirement for the Hebrews, that principle still is in force today. Under the New Covenant established by Jesus Christ the seventh day according to the tradition of the Hebrews for a day of rest changed for the Christians to be the first day of the week and then work the next six days. Christians still rest on the seventh day albeit that day is the first day of the week. This change from Saturday to Sunday set the Christians apart from the Hebrews as to the time to assemble and hear the word of God preached. In time the separation of the day of rest became important as the Hebrews came to despise the Christians and the Christians knew that they did no longer believe in the coming of the Messiah, He had come and it was Him they worshiped. Sunday, the first day of the week came to be the time for Christians to meet: "And upon the first day of he week, came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight" (Acts 20:7). Sunday, the first day of the week then became the traditional day for Christians to meet.
Why meet at all? Why take this time to come together? Isn't belief enough? It is true that a person can read his Bible, study the Bible himself, pray himself, and live a moral life according to the Bible. The problem with isolation is that this is not Scriptural for we come together with our brothers and sisters in Christ to support them, to cheer them up when this world comes tumbling down upon them, to aid them in finances, to ensure that they have food, but most of all together hear the word of God and to remember that they, on this day, have entered into rest with God. There is strength in numbers and more important there is strength in those numbers whereby together they meet this world with its trials and troubles and to sing together, to pray together and to enjoy one another' company. If not for this then in isolation a person will soon wither and fret and become so solemn that God will fade away. It takes strength and that strength comes by means of our being together.
Authentic Christians have the inheritance promised by God, to be able to enter into His rest, to have peace with God and confidence in Him. Authentic Christians know His love and delight in service with Him to bring joy and hope as the Holy Spirit directs and aids, to share the Gospel of Salvation to others. This is our work now and when Jesus comes that work will be done and we will enter into His rest. We meet on Sunday, our Sabbath, our day of rest pointing to the rest to come. We never lose sight of our Redeemer who restores all things. This present day of rest points to that day of rest promised to all of those who believe and convert to Jesus Christ.
Do not make excuses for not meeting together as often as possible, especially on the first day of the week Sunday when together we glean strength to meet the next six days. Come to Church and be ready to listen, to sing, to laugh in enjoyment to be with like brothers and sisters. Do not make Sunday just a day to play, take time to speak about what was preached, to rest, to just take time to remember what God has done for you, this is hard when meeting those everyday problems to take this time, Sunday is a great day to do just that. Will you?
Now therefore arise, O LORD God,
into thy resting place, thou
and the ark of thy strength: let
thy priests, O LORD God, be
clothed with salvation, and let
thy saints rejoice in goodness.
II Chronicles 6:41
You are a priest of God
Richard L. Crumb
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