Christ and the Sabbath: Rest in Him, Not in Legalism

One of the most beautiful gifts God gives His people is rest. From the very beginning, He modeled this rhythm by resting on the seventh day of creation. But as we dive deeper into Scripture, we see that the true Sabbath is not simply about a day of the week—it’s about a Person: Jesus Christ.

Sadly, many today are still caught in legalism, believing they must “keep the Sabbath” as a law in order to remain in God’s favor. My heart goes out to anyone struggling under that weight. Because the truth is this: Christ Himself is our rest... ☝️

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📖 The Shadow vs. The Substance

Paul writes in Colossians 2:16–17:

“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”

The Sabbath, along with other Old Covenant rituals, was a shadow pointing forward to Jesus. But once the reality arrived, the shadow was no longer the focus. The substance—the fulfillment—is Christ Himself.

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🔑 Key Truths to Remember

• The Sabbath was a gift, not a burden.

  Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27).
  God gave it to refresh, not enslave.

• Christ fulfilled the law.

  The Ten Commandments reveal God’s holy standard, but the Sabbath command was ceremonial under the Old Covenant. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus declared, “I did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it.”

• Our true rest is found in Jesus.

  Hebrews 4:9–10 teaches:

“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”

Through the cross, Jesus invites us to stop striving for salvation by works and to rest in His finished work.

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🌿 What the Sabbath Means for Us Today

Rest is still vital. God designed us for rhythms of work and rest because He knows we are dust and need renewal. But “keeping the Sabbath” isn’t about rules on a calendar—it’s about orienting our lives around Jesus daily.

When we walk with Christ, every day becomes holy. Every moment becomes an opportunity to live in His presence, guided by His Spirit, free from the chains of legalism.

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🙌 The Invitation

Jesus says:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

True rest is not found in rituals, traditions, or laws—it’s found in Him. Don’t cling to the shadow when you can live in the reality.

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💡 Takeaway

The Sabbath was never meant to enslave you; it was meant to point you to freedom in Christ. If you’re weighed down by legalism, hear this today: You don’t have to earn God’s love. Jesus already paid it all. Trust Him, rest in Him, and let His peace fill your soul.