THERE is nothing more clearly taught in the Bible than that Jesus is everything to the Christian. He is "all in all," and that which is not found in him does not belong to the child of God. "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him." Col. 2:9, 10.
This fulness includes every part of creation. "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible; whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities or powers; all things were created by him, and for him; and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. . . . For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." Col. 1:16, 17, 19.
In redemption we receive the fulness which is in him (John 1:16); our life is in him (Col. 3:3); and in him we are rooted, and grounded, and built up, and established in the faith (Col. 2:7). To us he is "wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." 1 Cor. 1:30. "As he is, so are we in this world." 1 John 4:17.
This completeness is as truly met and enjoyed by the Christian, in devout Sabbath observance, as in the fulfilment of any other requirement. And certainly it should be so, for Jesus is as much the Author of the Sabbath for man as he is the Creator of man. With the Father, Christ was associate Creator. The apostle says God "created all things by Jesus Christ." Eph. 3:9. Through the word of creative power Jesus now upholds all things. Heb. 1:3. The creative word still gives and sustains life through Jesus Christ. "For he spake and it was done; he commanded, and it [the world] stood fast." Ps. 33:9. By the commandment of creation the world still is kept and life maintained.
The Sabbath to man is therefore a memorial and sign of what Christ is to his people. It is to man a holy keepsake, which speaks of Christ's love both as Creator and Redeemer. "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Ex. 20:11. "Hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God." Eze. 20:20. Every person who faithfully observes the Sabbath commandment knows by experience the significance of the above. But he that opposes the Sabbath by habitually transgressing this commandment, places himself where he can not know the sweets of Jesus' presence through this heaven-blest memorial.
In his personal teaching the Saviour said he was Lord of the Sabbath, and that it "was made for man." Mark 2:27, 28. In his prophetic word this significant statement is made: "I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them." Eze. 20:12. In this scripture, man is promised the knowledge of the Lord and also of sanctification through the Sabbath. There is much in this promise; for Christ is made unto us sanctification. See again 1 Cor. 1:30. Question—What is it to know him? Answer—"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent."8John 17:3. Thus it is shown that the knowledge of God and sanctification is only for those who truly become Christians. Conclusion—Therefore, the person who properly understands and enjoys the Sabbath according to the Scriptures, shows by so doing, that he knows God and is sanctified through the Lord Jesus Christ. This attitude further shows that the righteousness of Christ has been imputed to this same person and he has thereby been made righteous.
But the righteousness of Christ embraces his obedience to the commandments. "I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." John 15:10. "So by the obedience [the keeping of the commandments] of one [Christ] shall many be made righteous." Rom. 5:19. "Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength. . . . In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified." Isa. 45:24, 25. "This is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." Jer. 23:6. "This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord." Isa. 54:17. The keeping of the commandments by Christ was the obedience which he rendered for his people. It is that obedience which is imputed to them for righteousness when they believe. "Even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." Rom. 5:18.
The obedience of Jesus to all his Father's commandments includes his keeping of the Sabbath. This Sabbath obedience is imputed to every one who truly believes in Jesus for salvation. It is Christ's obedience to the Sabbath day described in the commandments, which is imputed to the Christian for Sabbath observance. It can not possibly be otherwise if he receives righteousness through Christ. The righteousness must be that which is found in the life of Christ. The true Christian does not look to the works of some one else apart from the Saviour, to find righteousness for himself. He must find it all in Jesus. "Ye are complete in him," not apart from him, not in the Virgin Mary, not in the "Christian Fathers", not in Mohammed. It is not in self nor in our own works that we may do that we are complete. The Christian's righteousness is none of these. It is in Jesus, ONLY JESUS. "For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12.
The Christian's Sabbath-keeping is not found in the keeping of a day that Jesus never kept, approved, nor commanded. It is not service rendered to an institution which grew up from the worship of the sun, and whose rootlets drink from the befouled waters of idolatry. But true Sabbath-keeping must grow up in the obedience of the Son of God, and flourish in the power and life of him who alone can save from sin, and whose righteousness is perpetually imputed to him that is constantly willing to be swallowed up in it.