There Remains a Sabbath Rest for the People of God, a biblical, theological and historical defense of Sabbath rest as a creation ordinance

This book contains a defense of the idea that God’s rest on Day 7 of the creation week is instructive for people today. More technically, this book argues for the propriety of weekly Sabbath rest. This means that the normal pattern to be followed by humanity is a week, consisting of seven 24-hour days, six of which are spent in work while the other day is devoted to rest. Theologians would use the language of God’s rest being a “creation ordinance,” which is a term that many theologians use, but none have defined. To aid the discussion, this book defines a creation ordinance as a normative, but not uniformly observed, general pattern the exceptions to which must fulfill and contribute to the pattern’s fulfillment; moreover, the pattern must be confirmed, not negated or abrogated, by later biblical revelation. After discussing methodological and hermeneutical presuppositions, the heart of the book begins in chapter 3 with biblical-theological analysis of Genesis 2, noting that God’s rest is the consummation of God’s creative work, God’s enthronement in his cosmic temple, and his consecration of the creation unto him. God’s rest ought to be imitated by mankind for several reasons: God’s intention behind the pattern, Mosaic authorship of Genesis, and the fourth commandment in the decalogue explicitly cites God’s rest in Genesis 2. Later, a detailed analysis is provided of the sabbath commandment in the old covenant. The sabbath ordinance takes on supplemental ceremonial importance under the Mosaic law. Then, the book moves into the New Testament analysis, where Jesus is shown to be the giver of rest. Being the fulfillment to which all the Old Testament types were pointing, Jesus brings salvific rest through his perfect atonement.

Publisher: Founders
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781943539482

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Jon English Lee serves as Pastor of Discipleship for Morningview Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. He has earned a Bachelor’s degree from Auburn University Montgomery, as well as a Masters of Divinity and a PhD in Systematic and Historical Theology from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jon English is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society, a fellow for the Center for Pastor Theologians, as well as the ThM Program director, a professor, and a Board member for Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary.

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‘In this thorough defense of Sabbatarianism, Jon English Lee captures insights from the entire theological encyclopedia—from exegetical and biblical theology to systematic and historical theology. Lee anticipates and responds to thorny questions like these: Does the fourth commandment bind believers today? Why do we now celebrate the Sabbath on the first day of the week? And what did Paul mean in Colossians 2:16–17? May the Lord use this helpful treatise to renew your delight in the Sabbath as well as your enjoyment of the God who graciously gave it to us (Isa. 58:13–14).’ Joel R. Beeke, Chancellor and Professor, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary