Sabbath Law and Christian Freedom

 In the New Testament, many of the Christians were slaves. It is interesting that Paul does not completely abolish the Ten Commandments in his letters. 

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, 
idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 

envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:19–21 NRSVue

(See also 1 Corinthians 6:9–10.)

Paul forbids idolatry, adultery, theft, greed, etc., but in no letter does he forbid work on the Sabbath.

Why?

Many Christians were slaves. If a slave was ordered to work on the Sabbath, he could be killed on the spot for disobedience. 

Paul claimed that we must be faithful to the ethical principles in the Old Testament, but we are no longer like the Jews under the law. 

In the Roman Empire, slaves had no human rights. A slave was the property of his master, just like a tool or a donkey. Some slave owners valued their slaves as human beings, but they were not obliged to do so.

There was a woman from Canada in Saudi Arabia. Her husband was Arab. She wanted to leave him and return to her homeland, but she was not allowed to because in Arabia a wife is the property of her husband.

The situation is similar for young Arab women. If they emigrate and want to lead a free and independent life in the West, they can be abducted or murdered because they are considered the property of their father.

When I read in a Christian devotional that I belong completely and unreservedly to God. I felt intimidated. 

As a young Christian, I attended churches where the pastors ruled over the members in a very authoritarian manner. It was like the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages. If the priest or bishop condemned or excommunicated you, you thought you were lost and damned. 

I was excommunicated as a young Christian. I panicked and despaired. It took me years to learn that a pastor was not my master, that I was not an unemancipated child, that I did not have to tremble before God like a slave.

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” Rom 8:14–15 NASB95

Abba means daddy or papa. 

What does it really mean to be God's property?

But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me, And the Lord has forgotten me.” 
“Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. 

“Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me. Isa 49:14–16 NASB95

Reconciled with the God of Love

 If you are in any kind of need, you must know that God loves you.
Because God loves you, He wants to help you. His love comes from His heart, but His help is also totally practical.
 
‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Is 41:10 NASB95
 
This text is for all those who know God personally. He always stands by his children, for he is the faithful Father in heaven. He never abandons his sons and daughters.
 
    But if you don't know God personally, then you need his help all the more. God Himself has made a way for you to find Him if you are spiritually blind and have no relationship with your Creator.

Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Is 59:1–2 NIV

 But despite our estrangement from Him, whereby we have become spiritually blind and like orphans, God still loves us and wants to reconcile us to Himself.
 
The word ‘reconcile’ means that He wants to receive us as His sons (or daughters).
 
Many of us have a longing for God's love.

The German poet Schiller summarised this longing beautifully.

‘Brothers above the stars must dwell a dear Father.’

Perhaps you  cherish a feeling in your heart that you must be a child of the universe.
But God is not the universe. He created the universe and He loves you personally. God wants to give you something much better.

God loves you and understands you. God wants you to know Him, to know Him as a person; and for you to know that you have a heavenly home and belong to a heavenly family.

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. Jn 3:16 NIV

Jesus is the Son of God.

Jesus was God in heaven, who chose to be born as a human being, to live among us humans as a human being and to sacrifice himself to death as a human being.

Why?

He was executed on the cross in order to bear the punishment we deserve for our sins. Our debt is paid!

Now you can get to know God.

You no longer need to be separated from your heavenly Father because of your guilt. Everything is forgiven if you want to receive God's wonderful grace and boundless love.
You can never earn God's love and grace.

You can never pay your debt.

No amount of virtue or repentance can persuade God to accept you. He wants to receive you as his child.
 
Jesus said 2000 years ago and he is still saying to you today:

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 
Mt 11:28 NASB95

He reads your thoughts like a book, but He doesn't want to be a threatening policeman. He wants to be like your father or your mother or your best friend.
   
Just tell him the thoughts that are in your heart. He understands your heart and your language.