Fridays with the Heidelberg

Lord’s Day 38

103. Q. WHAT IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU IN THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT?

A.     First, that the gospel ministry and education for it be maintained, and that, especially on the festive day of rest, I regularly attend the assembly of God’s people to learn what God’s Word teaches, to participate in the sacraments, to pray to God publicly, and to bring Christian offerings for the poor. Second, that every day of my life I rest from my evil ways, let the Lord work in me through His Spirit, and so begin already in this life the eternal Sabbath.

Are the Sabbath laws binding on Christians today?  This is a question that rightly comes up during a study on the 4^th commandment.  In short, I believe the answer is no.  The language of Colossians 2 and Romans 14 seem to communicate that the Sabbath is no longer something that God requires of Christians under the New Covenant.  There is also an absence of any New Testament command to observe the Sabbath.

On this issue, I appreciate the answer that is provided in the Heidelberg Catechism.  Without applying any Sabbatarian laws on the church, it points to our responsibilities as New Covenant Christians to observe the Lord’s Day.  While those under the Mosaic law were commanded to rest on the seventh day (the Sabbath), we as New Covenant Christians are commanded to worship on the first day of the week (the Lord’s Day).

This is not to say that the Lord’s Day is a Christian Sabbath.  There is no evidence in the New Testament that Sunday is to replace the Sabbath.  Dr. Mohler, in his sermon on the 4^th commandment reminds us that these days have two different purposes;

-       While the Sabbath was for rest, the Lord’s Day is for worship.   

Sunday is important. The Catechism says we are to “regularly attend” so that we “learn what God’s Word teaches”.  We gather, sing, pray, give, hear the Word proclaimed, fellowship, and observe the Lord’s Supper because Sunday is for worship.