The answer is this. We are not bound by any of the Ten Commandments or any other aspect of the Law of Moses. We are not bound even by the requirement of circumcision. The need for the male to be circumcised, while not one of the Ten Commandments, is even more of a foundation of Judaism than is true of Sabbath observance. Yet Paul, in Galatians, told us that to be circumcised is to leave Christ and go back under an inferior covenant.

Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. (Galatians 5:2,3—NIV)

Pretty strong words considering Paul was speaking of the foundation of Judaism.

I said we are not bound by any of the Ten Commandments, including the Sabbath requirement and the prohibition against adultery. That covenant has been superseded by a better covenant.

Then we are free to ignore the Sabbath requirement? Correct. Yes, and no. Under the new covenant the concept of the Sabbath, of not speaking our own words or seeking our own pleasure on one day of the week has been expanded to include our entire personality at all times. We are to be crucified with Christ and alive with the resurrected Christ so all we think, say, and do is coming from Him and not ourselves. This is how Christ is related to the Father and how we are to be related to Him. This is the true fulfillment of the Sabbath and is the eternal rest of God.

"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken. (Isaiah 58:13,14—NIV)

The Lord Jesus always goes the way of the Father, always pleases the Father, always speaks the Words of the Father, not just on Saturday. We are to live by Christ as He lives by the Father.

We see, therefore, that the Sabbath requirement has been superseded by a much more comprehensive fullness of Divine Life in Jesus Christ of which we are to partake at all times.

I am writing to you, young man or young woman of the future, to avoid those who would bring you back under some aspect of the Law of Moses. Look to Jesus. Forget about the Law. It was a grievous bondage to the Jews.

Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? (Acts 15:10—NIV)

To be continued.