The Sabbath was never an end in itself. It was a picture of Jesus Christ

Many Christians, and even entire denominations, believe that believers are commanded to keep the Sabbath Day. But the New Testament ultimately points us to a Person, not a day. The Sabbath was never an end in itself. It was a picture of Jesus Christ.

From the beginning, the Sabbath was never meant to be the destination. Like the sacrifices, the priesthood, the feast days, and countless other pictures in the Old Testament, the Sabbath pointed forward to Jesus Christ.

God rested on the seventh day after He finished His work of creation because His work was complete. The Sabbath became a reminder that true rest is found when the work is finished.

Under the Law, Israel was commanded to observe the Sabbath every seventh day. But the New Testament reveals that the Sabbath was only a shadow of something greater.

“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”

Colossians 2:16-17 KJV

The Sabbath was never the final destination. It was a shadow of the reality to come. It pointed to Jesus Christ. This is why the book of Hebrews shifts our attention away from a weekly day and toward God’s eternal rest.

“For we which have believed do enter into rest…”

Hebrews 4:3 KJV

Those who believe enter God’s rest. The emphasis is not on observing a day but on trusting Christ.

“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.”

Hebrews 4:9–10 KJV

The believer rests because Christ has finished the work. We cease from trying to earn God’s acceptance through our own efforts and place our confidence entirely in Him.

That is exactly what Jesus invited people to do.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28 KJV

The invitation of the gospel is not to rest in our performance, our law-keeping, or our religious works. It is to rest in the finished work of Christ. That is why, from the cross, Jesus declared,

“It is finished.”

John 19:30 KJV

The work required for our salvation is complete. Nothing remains for us to add, only to believe.

Just as God rested when creation was complete, believers rest because redemption is complete. Paul expresses this same truth another way:

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

Romans 4:5 KJV

The gospel is not about working our way to God. It is about ceasing from our own works and trusting the One who accomplished everything necessary for our salvation.

Every Sabbath pointed forward to the day when the Son of God would finish the work of redemption and invite weary sinners to rest in Him.

Our rest is not found in a day.

Our rest is found in Jesus Christ.