Title: The Fourth Commandment (Part 3) 

Subject: Why Did the World Change the Sabbath?
Summary: In this third installment of the Fourth Commandment series, John Ritenbaugh reiterates that the dual purpose for the Sabbath consists of (1) a memorial of God's physical creation and (2) a memorial of our redemption from bondage. Bondage is the consequence of rejecting or neglecting the Sabbath. Far from doing away with the Sabbath, Jesus magnified the Sabbath, giving us principles enabling us to judge our activities. On the seven occasions where the Sabbath is the issue, Jesus emphasized some form of redemption, indicating that the purpose of the Sabbath is to free. While God rested from physical creation, spiritual creation continued, creating sons in His image. The Messiah's lawful work consisted of healing, redeeming, forgiving, and doing good. Our lawful Sabbath work consists of emulating Christ and committing ourselves to God's purpose.

Keywords: 1,521 rules Ability to judge Buying back Circumcision Day of mercy Freedom Idleness Judges Justin Martyr Legalism Liberation from bondage License Loose Lord's Day Magnify Sabbath spiritual application Memorial of creation redemption Memorial of slavery Mercy Pawn shop Ransom Reaping and threshing Red Tape Redemptive act Rules Salvation Saturn's Day Showbread Spiritual poverty Sun's Day Sunday Unusual circumstances Work of Messiah Work of priest