Lesson 18: God's Holiness Generates a Reminder, part 11

The fourth commandment reminds us that God is Holy and we are not. It is, “You shall keep the Sabbath.”

Exodus 20:8-11 -"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."

The fourth test God puts us through revealing His Holiness and our sinfulness is the command of keeping the Sabbath, or in other words setting aside one day a week as a Holy Day for Him. Originally the Sabbath was on Saturday, but ever since Jesus rose from the grave on Sunday, it has become the Christian's day set aside for God.

Acts 20:7 - "On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread. Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight."

1 Corinthians 16:2 - “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come."


Most people think the fourth commandment is merely an option. They treat it not as a command but as a convenience. This attitude has become an epidemic in many Christian communities. Forcing people to come to church might increase attendance, but it teaches the wrong lesson. You see, the Apostle Paul tells us that we Christians are no longer to worship God just one day a week. We are to worship God every single day of the week! We do so by offering our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2).

Colossians 2:16-17 - "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ."

Paul says the day is not the issue; the day is only a shadow of what we should be focusing on in Christ. Our lives are to be living sacrifices, worshiping Jesus Christ every single day! Therefore, our lives are to become a perpetual Sunday church service. People are to look at us and get a sermon by our lives! We worship God 24 hours a day!

If you think that not worshiping God once in a while is not that serious, read Hebrews 10:24-25 - “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Worshiping God is not only about us, it is also about other Christians who need encouragement or fellowship with us.

* What was the punishment given in Numbers 15:32 and 36 for not keeping the Sabbath as God commanded?