What Hope Have They, Anyway? — A correspondent writes:—
You quote, as your authority for the observance of the Sabbath, the fourth commandment. We will admit that the seventh, and not the first day, was the day given; but to whom was it given? Not the Gentiles, because they were not in covenant relationship with God at that time, nor were they in this relationship until after the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The law was given to the children of Israel to be perpetuated as an ordinance "throughout their generations." Ex. 31:16. No; it was not given to the Gentiles in the sense that the Gentiles as Gentiles should observe the day. They could not do it. The Gentiles are "without God in the world," and he who persists in remaining one must abide "without hope." When the Gentiles come into covenant relation with God, they are no longer Gentiles, or "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel;" the embracing of God's covenant in Christ Jesus makes them "fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone," Eph. 2:11-22. All true Israel is within, whether of the seed of Abraham according to the flesh, or of some Gentile nation. All Gentiles are without. The regenerated Gentile is of Israel. Only the spiritual can keep God's spiritual law, or know the rest of His Sabbath. There are no hopes, no promises to the Gentile, only through God's covenant with Israel.