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prayer concept, Human hands open palm up worship with sunrise on cross background

There is an interesting story in Acts 15 that clearly depicts the challenges faced by the early church. A similar challenge continues in the church today: the question of works versus grace. In other words, are we saved by works, or are we saved by grace? Are we saved by grace first and then by a little bit of works? Sometimes this question is loudly debated, and other times it lingers quietly beneath the surface.Acts 15 opens with a serious dispute when some Jewish believers from Judea began teaching that Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to keep the Law of Moses in order to be saved. This teaching directly challenged the message Paul and Barnabas had been preaching—that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone. The disagreement became so intense that the church in Antioch sent Paul, Barnabas, and others to Jerusalem to consult the apostles and elders. As a result, the early church was forced to confront a foundational question: whether salvation is based on God’s grace or on adherence to religious law.<figure id="figure-asac4tj8amjqak1t4"><img id="asac4tj8amjqak1t4" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/478230570/photo/granada-the-painting-of-st-paul-and-peter.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=wHakfQrAnAfp8aVL_2yp0H8AQ-63wOldSpv7OWAMgm0=" alt="Granada - The painting of St. Paul and Peter" title="Granada - The painting of St. Paul and Peter" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/478230570/photo/granada-the-painting-of-st-paul-and-peter.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=wHakfQrAnAfp8aVL_2yp0H8AQ-63wOldSpv7OWAMgm0=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>The fact that this issue was even debated shows that many Jewish converts were likely still practicing the Mosaic Law after the resurrection and after Pentecost. This is understandable, as the Law had become deeply embedded in their culture. However, we know that Israel’s cultural practices no longer hold spiritual significance. In fact, there is no evidence that they ever had spiritual significance apart from pointing to Jesus.After the apostles and elders met to discuss the issue, two of the most prominent leaders spoke—Peter and James. The contrast between their responses reflects the very tension we still face today.<h3>Peter’s Response</h3>Acts of the Apostles 15:10–11 (NIV): “Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”Peter’s response is essentially a summary of the good news. It captures the message of the Bible in its entirety.<ul><li>First, the Law was a yoke.</li><li>Second, there was never a point in Israel’s history when the people were able to bear that yoke. So why place the same burden on non-Israelites? The Law was never meant to save.</li></ul>Romans 3:20 (NIV): “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.”<ul><li>Finally, both Jews and Gentiles are saved only by grace.</li></ul><h3>&nbsp;James’ Response</h3>Acts of the Apostles 15:19–21 (NIV): 19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”In an effort to not make it difficult for the Gentiles, James proposed a list of practices they should observe in other to be saved (remember that was the context of the issue): abstaining from food polluted by idols, sexual immorality, meat from strangled animals, and blood—because the Law of Moses was still being publicly taught.According to verse 21, James also factored the surrounding social and political climate into his response. Mixing politics with the Gospel of Jesus is a recipe for heresies, and unfortunately, this remains an issue in the church today.<h3>In Conclusion</h3><figure id="figure-jg12w20jebmjqanxwj"><img id="jg12w20jebmjqanxwj" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2197615580/photo/golden-light-beams-shining-through-dust-particles-on-black-background.jpg?b=1&s=2048x2048&w=0&k=20&c=uuft7XsPL4sMH__ujj84f-1PRbuq5w8ej-FU_ADH314=" alt="Golden light beams shining through dust particles on black background" title="Golden light beams shining through dust particles on black background" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure>At first glance, James’ response may appear reasonable, but it ultimately runs contrary to the message of grace and, in some cases, directly contradicts what Jesus taught. We are saved only by grace. Eating or not eating food polluted by idols has no bearing on our relationship with God once we are saved. Jesus clearly stated that what enters the mouth does not defile a person.Mark 7:18–19 (NIV):“Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them?”While abstaining from sexual immorality is good, abstinence—and moral behavior more broadly—does not save.The only way to avoid making it difficult for those who have turned to God (if that was truly the goal) was, and still is, to preach the pure Gospel: that salvation comes only by grace. This was Peter’s response. James’ response, though it sounded reasonable, stood in opposition to grace.The goal of this content is not to criticize the Fathers of the faith, such as James—especially with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight—but to identify recurring patterns.

Acts 15: When Grace Was Put on Trial

To further drive home the concept of rest, God also introduced the Sabbatical Year and the Year of Jubilee to the Israelites.In the Old Testament, the Sabbatical Year was observed every seventh year. During this year, the land was to rest from cultivation, and the people were commanded not to sow or reap their fields (Leviticus 25:1–7). Debts were released, and the poor were allowed to eat freely from what the land produced on its own (Exodus 23:10–11; Deuteronomy 15:1–2).<figure id="figure-wzc1h63rnmj54rru8"><img id="wzc1h63rnmj54rru8" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2049299296/photo/hands-and-cross-floating-with-glitters-and-religious-background.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=055qSg9oe0J8q181oR0gmSJbkqLd3rK5IwYzQh4O4Sc=" alt="Hands and cross floating with glitters and religious background" title="Hands and cross floating with glitters and religious background" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2049299296/photo/hands-and-cross-floating-with-glitters-and-religious-background.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=055qSg9oe0J8q181oR0gmSJbkqLd3rK5IwYzQh4O4Sc=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>The concept of Jubilee is a further explanation of the Sabbath. We can see more about this in Leviticus 25:8–9, Leviticus 25:13, and Leviticus 25:39–41. In the Old Testament, the Year of Jubilee was the fiftieth year, following seven cycles of sabbatical years. It was after seven cycles of sabbatical years (7 × 7 = 49 years). It was a year set apart by God in which liberty was proclaimed throughout the land. During Jubilee, debts were released, slaves were freed, land was returned to its original families, and the people rested from agricultural labor (Leviticus 25). So essentially, Jubilee is derivative of the Sabbath.This is the basis of our theology: everything in the Old Testament points to Jesus. So, the Sabbath and Jubilee point to Jesus Christ. Paul explicitly wrote about this, as shown below:Colossians 2:16–17 (NIV); “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”<h3>Sabbatical Year and Jesus</h3>In the seventh year, God commanded rest for the land. He instructed no sowing or pruning, no organized harvesting, and the land was allowed to rest (Leviticus 25:4–5). By now, we know that this is a direct prophecy that points to our New Covenant with God through Jesus. We are to rest from all works. We explained in the previous content that this is resting from “creative” work. This is illustrated by sowing and pruning.Whatever grew naturally could be eaten. This was available to landowners, servants, foreigners, and animals (Exodus 23:10–11; Leviticus 25:6–7). The idea is ceasing from work. God is directly responsible for the feeding of His children in the Sabbatical Year. As Paul explained in Colossians 2:17, the reality of this is found in Christ. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, is directly responsible for our development and growth in Him. Our job is to abide in Him, which simply means we should have faith in Him.John 15:4–5 (NIV): Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”The fruit of the Spirit is produced by the Holy Spirit by rest and not by works. The same concept was prophesied through immersion (water baptism), as we explained<a data-mce-href="https://christuncensored.net/blog/-from-mikveh-to-messiah--why-water-baptism-was-only-a-shadow" href="https://christuncensored.net/blog/-from-mikveh-to-messiah--why-water-baptism-was-only-a-shadow" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary"> here</a>.Creditors were required to release fellow Israelites from debts in the Sabbatical Year (Deuteronomy 15:1–2). This is directly pointing to Jesus paying our debt.Colossians 2:13–14 (NIV) “.... He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”The poor were allowed to eat freely from the land during the Sabbatical Year. The year functioned as social and economic relief (Exodus 23:11). Again, this is directly pointing to Jesus.Luke 4:18 (NIV) “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.”Matthew 5:3 (NIV): “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”Israelites who had sold themselves into service were released after six years (Exodus 21:2).Exodus 21:2 (NIV): “If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything.”This is the Gospel in a nutshell.<h3>The Year of Jubilee and Jesus</h3>In the fiftieth year (after 7 × 7 years), liberty was proclaimed throughout the land, and this applied to all inhabitants. This sends the message of celebration. It is good news. It is not a sad occasion. The year of the Jubilee is a celebration. This points directly to Jesus. Jesus explained this when He said that the angels rejoice over every sinner who gives his or her life to Him (Jesus Christ).in the year of the Jubilee, each person returned to their own property. Land that had been sold was restored to the original family (Leviticus 25:10, 13, 28). We covered this extensively<a data-mce-href="https://christuncensored.net/blog/let-my-people-go-back-to-zion" href="https://christuncensored.net/blog/let-my-people-go-back-to-zion"> here</a>. The concept of returning to the land is about regaining intimacy with God. This is the idea of returning to Zion.Israelites who had sold themselves into servitude were freed in the Year of Jubilee. Families were restored together, “back to their own clans and to the property of their ancestors.” Essentially, God commanded total restoration. All of these foretells the death, burial, and resurrection of God Himself in human form.2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (NIV); 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: Conclusion;<figure id="figure-99r96w7vmbmj54shzn"><img id="99r96w7vmbmj54shzn" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1500817556/photo/christ-praying-on-the-mount-with-raised-hands.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=QmV82vaSizfwXTYDdm0iEp602QRhZIc461AA3uWxnzQ=" alt="Christ praying on the Mount with raised hands" title="Christ praying on the Mount with raised hands" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1500817556/photo/christ-praying-on-the-mount-with-raised-hands.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=QmV82vaSizfwXTYDdm0iEp602QRhZIc461AA3uWxnzQ=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>God further explained the concept of salvation by introducing the Sabbath day, the Sabbatical Year, and the Year of Jubilee. The message is the same: salvation by faith in Jesus. We enter rest when we put our faith in Jesus. The idea behind rest is that God restores us back to a place of intimacy with Him strictly through His own doings. It is a gift.&nbsp;Hebrews 4:2–3 (NIV) “Now we who have believed enter that rest.”Jesus explained His mission by quoting from Isaiah:Isaiah 61:1–2 (NIV) “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…”

Sabbath to Jubilee: Rest Fulfilled in Christ

Jesus Christ walking with a stick on the water

In the last write-up, we explored the biblical concept of Sabbath and its foundational role in God’s unfolding plan of redemption. God instructed the Israelites to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy by resting on that day (Genesis 2:2–3). This rest was not arbitrary. It was patterned after God Himself, who ceased from His creative work on the seventh day and sanctified it. The Sabbath therefore served as a reminder of two major redemptive events: God’s completed work of creation and His liberation of Israel from Egypt. Both ultimately point forward to the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ — through whom God restores humanity back to Himself.<h3>Sabbath: Culture, Covenant, and Christ </h3><figure id="figure-fi73rojaelmibrvi0u"><img id="fi73rojaelmibrvi0u" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1465828801/photo/passionate-christians-raising-their-hands-in-praise-prayer-and-worship.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=OI7HViEp3_5wfFauv4x4kwF4M8b-BvBqu9P05GHvtKc=" alt="Passionate Christians raising their hands in praise, prayer and worship" title="Passionate Christians raising their hands in praise, prayer and worship" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1465828801/photo/passionate-christians-raising-their-hands-in-praise-prayer-and-worship.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=OI7HViEp3_5wfFauv4x4kwF4M8b-BvBqu9P05GHvtKc=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Sabbath observance was a cultural and covenantal practice given specifically to Israel. The early disciples of Jesus, being Jews, naturally practiced it. However, one of the major challenges in modern Christianity is the confusion between Judaism (a covenant given to Israel) and Christianity (faith in Christ for all nations).Should Christians observe the Sabbath exactly as prescribed under the Mosaic Law? No — because Christ has fulfilled what the Sabbath symbolized. Not working on Sunday in modern culture is not equivalent to observing the biblical Sabbath, which was the seventh day (Saturday). Church attendance on Sunday is also a cultural practice, not the essence of true worship.Jesus clarified this distinction when He said:“A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth...” (John 4:23–24) God’s concern is not geography, ritual timing, or cultural practice.<h3>Sabbath and Creative Work</h3><figure id="figure-wizvj41ompmibrtmxc"><img id="wizvj41ompmibrtmxc" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/6Yowr8onCGia7ZmorCnOf16yLij3eo7SBPioFKeuAIxXuf96YBhHrTJB8CIwMPwZ.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/6Yowr8onCGia7ZmorCnOf16yLij3eo7SBPioFKeuAIxXuf96YBhHrTJB8CIwMPwZ.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>From the beginning, Sabbath was connected to God’s creative work:“Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” (Genesis 2:3)The rest God modeled was not exhaustion recovery but completion satisfaction. It was specifically a rest from creation. The pattern was clear: God creates, ceases, and humanity enjoys.This pattern prophetically pointed to a greater creative work — the work of regeneration through Christ. The remembrance of Sabbath foreshadowed the new creation God would accomplish through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son.Scripture affirms this:<ul><li style="">Ezekiel 36:26 – God promises a new heart and new spirit.</li><li style="">Ephesians 4:24 – The new self is created to be like God.</li><li style="">1 Corinthians 15:49 – We bear the image of the heavenly Man.</li></ul>Salvation is creative work. It is new birth, new identity, new nature, and new personhood in Christ. Baptism symbolizes this inward transformation. And although this new creation unfolds progressively in our lives, its origin is entirely God’s completed work — not ours.<h3>Rest: The Only Proper Response </h3>Sabbath is the only response to God’s creative work. Rest is not laziness — it is faith. Just as Adam was meant to enjoy God’s finished work in Eden, humanity today is called to trust and delight in what Christ has accomplished. Adam and Eve rejected this.Israel failed consistently in this area. Despite God’s deliverance, they returned to Egyptian idols and refused to believe Him, which prevented them from entering Canaan — a symbol of divine intimacy.Numbers 14:11 (KJV): “And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?”The same requirement remains unchanged after Christ’s resurrection. God’s work is complete. Our response is still rest.Hebrews 4:3 captures this clearly:3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,“So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”[b]And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world.&nbsp;To believe is to enter God’s rest. This is the essence of Sabbath fulfillment.<h3>To Rest Is To Cease From Self-Effort</h3>“For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4:10)Entering God’s rest means to stop striving for righteousness through self-effort.The weekly Sabbath is a noun, but the root word Shavat is a verb meaning to cease, stop, or desist. Before it was a day, it was a posture.Spiritually speaking, rest means ceasing from the attempt to save, fix, or perfect ourselves apart from God. It means abandoning human-centered religion and embracing grace-centered faith. At its core, striving is idolatry — trusting in ourselves or systems instead of God.We have one true "work": to believe.“This is the work of God, that you believe on him whom he has sent.” (John 6:29)“Come unto me... and I will give you rest... for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)&nbsp;<h3>Rejecting Rest Leads to Separation</h3>Adam and Eve rejected God’s rest and chose self-determination. The result was death.Israel rejected God’s rest and perished in the wilderness.The law prescribed death for those who violated the Sabbath — symbolizing the seriousness of rejecting divine rest and forshawdowing the spiritual reality of not believing in the Jesus.However, this death is not merely physical. It speaks primarily of spiritual separation from God. When the Gospel is rejected, the spirit remains disconnected. When Christ is received, the spirit is united permanently with God’s Spirit — a superior covenant surpassing both Adam and Moses.This is the true return to Canaan and zion — not geographical, but relational.<h3>Conclusion </h3><figure id="figure-ifpn2vtb6lmibs9tuq"><img id="ifpn2vtb6lmibs9tuq" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2176799579/photo/group-of-people-sitting-in-church-pew-listening-to-sermon.jpg?b=1&s=2048x2048&w=0&k=20&c=WAyLSjf_6dxUV3V105Y1E9AiN6EWCR9mmfwWkpEwz6k=" alt="Group of people sitting in church pew listening to sermon" title="Group of people sitting in church pew listening to sermon" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure>Sabbath has always pointed to Christ. From Creation, through Israel, into the New Testament (Post resurrection), God has communicated one consistent pattern:God works. Humanity rests BY BELIEVING IN HIM.True rest is not a calendar observance but an active Faith in A Man — Jesus Christ. We enter this rest by faith, not performance. By ceasing from self-dependence, we step into divine grace. This is the essence of the Sabbath fulfilled.The central theme of Scripture is Christ and His mission to restore intimacy between God and humanity. All symbols, laws, and practices serve to reveal Him. Sabbath is no exception. It finds its completion in the believer who rests in Jesus.In the next write-up, we will explore:<ul><li>The Sabbath Years and Jubilee</li><li>The Prophets and the Sabbath</li></ul>May the Holy Spirit continue to reveal the depth of this rest as you study.

Understanding Sabbath Through the Lens of Christ

Silhouettes of crucifix symbol on top mountain with bright sunbeam on the colorful sky background

One of the concepts seen all across the Scriptures is the concept of the Sabbath. If you search the Scriptures, there is mention of the Sabbath before the Law, during the Law, in the books of the Prophets, in the Gospels of Jesus, and even after the resurrection. As we have mentioned many times, the Law and the Prophets all point to Jesus Christ and His mission. In this write-up, we will attempt to shed light on the meaning of the Sabbath and how this is applicable to us today.<h3>Remembering and Keeping the Sabbath Holy</h3><figure id="figure-jq17wvbd7bmi0vlz01"><img id="jq17wvbd7bmi0vlz01" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2140655169/photo/remember-the-sabbath-day-handwritten-note-with-holy-bible-antique-key-and-flowers-on-wooden.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=_4V3OiKqnzgZJZXeq9-vdb8n63JojWjrVgvdP3Gw5cg=" alt="Remember the Sabbath Day, handwritten note with holy bible, antique key, and flowers on wooden table" title="Remember the Sabbath Day, handwritten note with holy bible, antique key, and flowers on wooden table" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2140655169/photo/remember-the-sabbath-day-handwritten-note-with-holy-bible-antique-key-and-flowers-on-wooden.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=_4V3OiKqnzgZJZXeq9-vdb8n63JojWjrVgvdP3Gw5cg=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>God commanded Israel to remember and keep this day holy by ceasing from all work, along with their children, servants, livestock, and even foreigners living among them (Exodus 20:8–11; Deut. 5:12–14). This verse is very straightforward. Israel was to remember the Sabbath day. But the remembrance here is not by memory alone. The way to remember it is by keeping it holy.This leads to the question: How would the Israelites keep the day holy? We find the answer by referring to the beginning and examining how God made the Sabbath holy.<h3>How God Made the Sabbath Holy</h3>Genesis 2:2–3 (NIV): “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”God made the day holy because He rested from all His work. In other words, the rest is what made the Sabbath day holy. The context of “holy” here is “set apart.” To rephrase the verse: God set that day apart from the other days by resting on that day instead of working.<h3>A Command Rooted in Creation and Redemption</h3>The idea of rest is so important to God that He included it as part of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. This was also reiterated by Moses in Deuteronomy 5:12–15. But in verse 15, God added another reason for Israel to observe the Sabbath:Deuteronomy 5:15 (NIV): “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.”God commanded Israel to observe/remember the Sabbath:<ul><li>To celebrate/remember that He rested from creation on the seventh day</li><li>To celebrate/remember that He delivered Israel from Egypt with a mighty hand</li></ul>This should make us ask the following questions: <ol><li>What is the similarity between creation in Genesis 1 and the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt?</li><li>What is the big deal about resting? Why did God care so much about rest — to the point of putting people to death who refused to rest?</li></ol>Exodus 31:14 (NIV): “Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people.”As we consider these questions, please keep in mind: the Law and the Prophets are all speaking or pointing to Jesus Christ.<h2>Creation &amp; Liberation from Egypt: Two Pictures of One Story</h2>God created the heavens and the earth in six days, including the creation of mankind. God rested on the seventh day. Mankind was created to enjoy the creations of God. The “work” in context here is the work of creation — bringing something from non-existence into existence. And the “rest” here is not idleness. How do we know this?John 5:17 (NIV): “Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.’”Adam and Eve chose against the plan of God, and they removed themselves from that rest into works. But God promised to restore them back to that rest through the Seed of the woman (Jesus Christ).Genesis 3:15 (NIV): “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”The Israelites were in slavery, working endlessly. This is the complete opposite of what God intended. Even worse, they were in a foreign land — not in the Promised Land. They were mixing with and participating in idol worship. The liberation of the Israelites from Egypt was the journey to restore them back to the land of Canaan. We discussed this in detail <a data-mce-href="https://christuncensored.net/blog/let-my-people-go-back-to-zion" href="https://christuncensored.net/blog/let-my-people-go-back-to-zion">here</a>: “Canaan represents a place of intimacy with Jesus Christ. It is a place of communion with Him, full knowledge of God, and God’s rest.”<h3>In Conclusion: Why Did God Care About the Sabbath? </h3><figure id="figure-qdm1uxop2omi0vqr3s"><img id="qdm1uxop2omi0vqr3s" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1485024940/photo/jesus-with-open-arms-and-hands-resurrected-jesus-christ.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=wnwN4FZKdPFimQ0NTPDzXsGIa7p5KsQlBe9xQCc4WtA=" alt="Jesus with Open Arms and Hands Resurrected Jesus Christ" title="Jesus with Open Arms and Hands Resurrected Jesus Christ" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1485024940/photo/jesus-with-open-arms-and-hands-resurrected-jesus-christ.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=wnwN4FZKdPFimQ0NTPDzXsGIa7p5KsQlBe9xQCc4WtA=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>This brings us back to the earlier questions: What is the similarity between these two events, and why did God care so much about them?Both events — Creation and the liberation of Israel from Egypt — are foreshadowing the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who came to save mankind and restore us back to a place of intimacy and rest with God.We do not know if the Israelites fully understood the message of the Sabbath. But we have the benefit of hindsight. Every time the Israelites observed the Sabbath by resting on the seventh day, they were prophesying or acknowledging what God already planned to do to save mankind.Looking Ahead:&nbsp; In the next parts of this topic, we will explore:<ul><li>The elements of the Sabbath as revealed by God</li><li>The literal meaning of “work” and “rest”</li><li>The core message of the Sabbath&nbsp;</li></ul>

Creation and Liberation: The Sabbath Story

Communion, Christians celebrate their faith by partaking in bread and wine, symbolizing the body and blood of Jesus Christ, as taught in the Bible and cherished in their holy religion. communion, holy

In our last content, we explored how Jesus is the Bread of Life. Jesus used this analogy to teach the people following Him that they must depend entirely on Him. We must “consume” Him by faith — trusting in Him as our source of life. This analogy also stood in contrast to the people’s question, “What must we do to be saved?” Jesus declared Himself the Bread of Life to reveal the difference between grace and works. We are saved only by grace; no work can earn salvation. To “do the work of the Father” means simply to believe in His Son. You can read the full content here: <a data-mce-href="https://christuncensored.net/blog/the-bread-of-life--grace-vs--works" href="https://christuncensored.net/blog/the-bread-of-life--grace-vs--works">The Bread of Life — Grace vs Works</a>.To fully understand this “Bread of Life” analogy, we will explore another usage of bread in the Old Testament — the Lechem HaPanim, also called the Bread of the Presence.“Take the finest flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf. Arrange them in two stacks, six in each stack, on the table of pure gold before the LORD. By each stack put some pure incense as a memorial portion to represent the bread and to be a food offering presented to the LORD. This bread is to be set out before the LORD regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant. It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is a most holy part of their perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the LORD.” — Leviticus 24 : 5–9 (NIV) “Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times.” — Exodus 25 : 30 (NIV)As Scripture declares, “the Law and the Prophets” all pointed to Christ. We are not bound to practice any part of the Law literally or symbolically because Jesus fulfilled it completely.<h3>The Bread of the Presence as a Foreshadow of Christ.</h3><figure id="figure-gvz1a90x2mh885nil"><img id="gvz1a90x2mh885nil" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/3bKSSyePCvV5VneEiUNIt5BBlRsUUuuUzzmTyrd5e9GcexA29jL0kFMzgcVAFbDE.png" alt="Sacred ceremony of Communion, Christians express their faith by partaking in holy bread, deepening their spiritual connection with God within the church. communion, religion, christian, faith, holy." title="Sacred ceremony of Communion, Christians express their faith by partaking in holy bread, deepening their spiritual connection with God within the church. communion, religion, christian, faith, holy." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/3bKSSyePCvV5VneEiUNIt5BBlRsUUuuUzzmTyrd5e9GcexA29jL0kFMzgcVAFbDE.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure><ul><li>The Lechem HaPanim served as a memorial food offering to the LORD — a prophetic shadow pointing to Jesus, who would later offer Himself as the true sacrifice to God for our salvation.</li></ul>“And walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” — Ephesians 5 : 2 (NIV)<ul><li>The Bread of the Presence was continually set before the LORD in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. This constant presence prefigured one of Jesus’ divine ministries — His continual intercession before the Father. Not only was Jesus the perfect offering for our sins, but He also remains in God’s presence, interceding for us.</li></ul>“Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” — Hebrews 7 : 24–25 (NIV)“For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.” — Hebrews 9 : 24 (NIV)<ul><li>Lechem HaPanim and the Everlasting Covenant</li></ul>“… Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant.” — Leviticus 24 : 8 (NIV)While many ordinances of the Torah were temporary, this “lasting covenant” symbolically pointed forward to Jesus — the true Everlasting Covenant.“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will.” — Hebrews 13 : 20–21 (NKJV)<ul><li>The Bread Belongs to the Priests </li></ul>“It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in the sanctuary area.” — Leviticus 24 : 9 (NIVThe Bread of the Presence was eaten by Aaron and his sons — the priesthood of Israel. This foreshadowed our participation in Christ, the true Bread of Life. The Church, the spiritual and the rea Israel, partakes of His body by faith. And our role is simple; Belief in Jesus. (Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.’” (John 6:29))<figure id="figure-c364s9un4imh88fj24"><img id="c364s9un4imh88fj24" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/160585076/photo/vienna-mosaic-of-last-supper-by-giacomo-raffaelli.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=vumEshefdbAU-5cvDbqQspwk0mIwNAlNlxV2I70AGRM=" alt="Vienna - Mosaic of Last supper by Giacomo Raffaelli" title="Vienna - Mosaic of Last supper by Giacomo Raffaelli" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/160585076/photo/vienna-mosaic-of-last-supper-by-giacomo-raffaelli.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=vumEshefdbAU-5cvDbqQspwk0mIwNAlNlxV2I70AGRM=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Jesus declared this before His crucifixion, foreshadowing His body given for us (as sacrifice and for consumption). Just as the Lechem HaPanim was made for Aaron and his sons, Christ’s body was given for all who believe.“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’” — Luke 22 : 19–20 (NIV) The goal of this verse was not to instruct us to pretend as if we are actually eating the flesh of Jesus.&nbsp;In Conclusion: The Bread and the Sabbath“Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and, taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat… Then Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.’” — Luke 6 : 3–5 (NIV)The Lechem HaPanim was the bread offered to God in the Old Testament — a shadow of Christ, who offered Himself to save us. It was continually placed before God, just as Jesus now stands continually in the presence of the Father, interceding on our behalf. The bread was eaten by Aaron and his sons; David once ate that same holy bread&nbsp; (against the law)— perhaps as a prophetic act of faith, foreshadowing the grace that would come through Christ.The message remains the same throughout Scripture: we are saved only by believing in Jesus.“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3 : 16 (NIV)Note: We encourage you to do your own study on this topic and let the Holy Spirit be the teacher .

The Bread of the Presence and the Shadow of Christ

John 6 give us some very interesting conversations that can potentially shed light on the relationship between Grace and Works. Love is the very nature of God. His Grace is the expression of His Love. While this became very clear when God came in human flesh as Jesus Christ, Grace has always been the nature of God in the Old Testament. This is why we have to properly dissect the Old Testament text through the lens of Jesus.<figure id="figure-0u2g9nhabmg2vknwf"><img id="0u2g9nhabmg2vknwf" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2cI7v76i3T1o8sPSvWaPqeZESFRdisk7H3qyPFEd7oo4IpTLTFCMiiG8MkEqi3nZ.png" alt="bride with a veil on the hotel balcony in a wedding dress, copy space, free space" title="bride with a veil on the hotel balcony in a wedding dress, copy space, free space" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2cI7v76i3T1o8sPSvWaPqeZESFRdisk7H3qyPFEd7oo4IpTLTFCMiiG8MkEqi3nZ.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure>In John 6:1–15, Jesus miraculously fed about five thousand men, which likely means over ten thousand people when women and children are included, using only five small barley loaves and two fish. In John 6:16–24, He walked on water while the same crowd He had fed continued seeking Him. By John 6:24, the crowd finally caught up with Him, and this is where the deeper conversation between Jesus and the people began.<h3>LESSON 1: Jesus the Bread of Life</h3>Jesus uses bread to make the analogy about what we all need to do to be saved. Since He had just fed them, bread was the perfect analogy to drive home the point about Works vs. Grace.“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” (John 6:27)Jesus had just fed the five thousand (John 6:1–15), and the crowd followed Him seeking more bread. He uses this moment to shift their focus from temporary, physical food to Himself—the Bread of Life. He was telling them: stop working for bread that spoils but work for the real Bread standing right in front of them.This clearly wasn' what they were expecting. The conversation continues.<h3>&nbsp;LESSON 2: The Work of God</h3>“Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’” (John 6:28)<figure id="figure-zdhjd6nn1gmg2xfsln"><img id="zdhjd6nn1gmg2xfsln" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/10hl0Jc5CxU8tcUgMIcfR6k2rxhBjPws3T5TlrzpzlXkEzgvX7MHG2UUMEGx1N7n.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/10hl0Jc5CxU8tcUgMIcfR6k2rxhBjPws3T5TlrzpzlXkEzgvX7MHG2UUMEGx1N7n.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>After Jesus told them about not working for food, they decided to ask about what they must do to do the works of God. They were still on the theme of works and legalism. To them, they have to do something. Keep in mind that Jesus had just fed them without them paying a dime for it. Jesus responded again:“Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.’” (John 6:29)In other words, All you have to do is BELIEVE. No "doing."&nbsp;If you grew up in church like I did, you have probably seen different versions of what it means to do the work of God: preaching the Gospel, joining a ministries within the church, doing missionary work, etc. But Jesus gave a very clear and unambiguous answer: believing in Jesus Christ is the work of God.This is the definition of Grace. All we have to do is believe.Does this invalidate the other “works” that we do in the kingdom? Of course not. But Jesus makes it very clear: the work that God requires is to believe.<h3>LESSON 3: Jesus the Fulfillment of the Law</h3>“So they asked him, ‘What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” (John 6:30–31)In their continued resistance to the message of Grace, they asked Jesus for a sign.&nbsp; Just "believing" was NOT enough. They needed a sign to believe in Him. In their request, they referenced the Old Testament manna. Unfortunately, this is still true today—2,000+ years later. Faith in Jesus often still has to be tied to anointing oil, holy water, Holy Communion, water baptism, and all kinds of symbolism. Otherwise, people will not believe.Jesus responded:“Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:32–33)He essentially told them that He is the real manna—the true bread from Heaven.<figure id="figure-nzvdmkpq1tmg2x49tr"><img id="nzvdmkpq1tmg2x49tr" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1dpelYer06FN1Zm62XkKakY5v3WdQfekVC6ZW4T7Hz93WmAZgaddvL6PFIElJpKR.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1dpelYer06FN1Zm62XkKakY5v3WdQfekVC6ZW4T7Hz93WmAZgaddvL6PFIElJpKR.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure> The manna in the wilderness was a prophetic expression of the coming of God in human flesh. The Old Testament was the type and shadow of the true reality. The true reality is Jesus Christ.“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.’” (John 6:35–36)From Jesus’ own words, the way to eat the Bread of Life is by believing in Him. This is Grace. It is not by law, not by signs, and not by works.<h3>In Conclusion: Works vs. Grace</h3>“I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:48–51) We encourage you to read the whole chapter. Jesus as the Bread of Life is a central theme in the Christian faith and is often referenced during Holy Communion. The context of eating “His Flesh” is always about having faith in Him. It was an analogy Jesus used because He had just fed thousands of people. He used that analogy as well during passover feast.&nbsp;We must resist the instinct to complicate it. We are children of the Most High God. We do not live by rituals, nor do we imitate those who practice them.Often, resistance to the message of Grace comes from legalism and works. We see all of these in this conversation. Faith in Jesus is enough. That was Jesus’ message. As simple as it is, humanity has resisted the message of Grace from the beginning—and we still resist it today. All we have to do Believe.&nbsp;“Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.” (John 6:57)We eat to survive. We depend on food for life. In the same way, Jesus depended on the Father, and we must depend on Him to live. He has to be our food. We have to Feed on Him (as said in the above verse) by having faith in Him. That is His will, and that is the will of the Father—for us all to have perfect union with Him. It is and it was never about works.“In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” (John 14:20)