10
Jan
2008

Vos on the Sabbath

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10 Jan 2008

In a day when the biblical doctrine of the Lord’s Day is under attack (as well as the doctrine of the pre-fall covenant of works) Geerhardus Vos’ teaching on the fourth commandment is a fitting place for us to turn. I remember that when I was wrestling with the teaching of a probationary period for Adam in Paradise I found James Dennison’s article on Vos’ view of the Sabbath to be a great help. You can find the article here.

The Lord set the Sabbath Day before Adam to show him that there was a higher blessing for him and his posterity to enter into. Had he obeyed he would have entered into that Sabbath rest. Because he sinned Jesus had to come to be the second Adam (to undo all that Adam had done and to do all that Adam failed to do). Dennison shows from Vos’ teaching on the Sabbath why it is important to see that the Sabbath is fulfilled in Christ but also why the fourth command is still binding in the New Covenant. This is a most helpful treatment.

About Post Author

Nick Batzig is the senior pastor of Church Creek PCA in Charleston, SC and an associate editor for Ligonier Ministries. Prior to serving at Church Creek, Nick was a pastor at Wayside PCA on Signal Mountain, TN. Formerly, Nick served as the founding pastor of New Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Richmond Hill, GA and as the editor of Reformation21 and the Christward Collective--sites of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. He frequently writes for Tabletalk Magazine, Reformation 21, He Reads Truth, and the Christward Collective. Nick was also the host of East of Eden, a podcast devoted to the Biblical and Systematic Theology of Jonathan Edwards. You can friend him on Facebook here and follow him on Twitter @nick_batzig

4 Responses

  2. Nicholas T. Batzig
    Reply

    Lander,

    Sort of! I had another conversation about the Sabbath just after we talked. Let me know what you think of Dennison’s article.

  3. jim wilkerson
    Reply

    Nick,

    What a great joy to read something you have written in a Godward direction. O taste and see that the Lord is good. He has been good to you in redemption and he has been good to me in showing me his grace at work in you. I am thankful for the grace to call the Sabbath a delight. God grants my soul rest in Him each Lord’s Day around the worship of Him through his Word and the grace he gives to serve others through works of mercy. I love the wonder of God displayed to us in the provision of a Lord’s Day rest and all that it foreshadows for us in Christ in the rest that is to come. I delight to go up to the throne of grace and worship in Spirit and Truth with God’s people by faith as we worship Him in the heavenly realms with all those who have gone before us and with the myriads of heavenly host. I have ventured upon the dry and dusty pages of Vos, and Dennison’s thoughts, but after reading your post I am inspired to pick up that section in Vos and read again for refreshment and preparation for this Lord’s Day. For His Glory.

  4. Nicholas T. Batzig
    Reply

    Jim,

    So good to hear from you again. The Lord used you in my life to show me the need I had for the rest that Christ provides. Keep going to Him for rest and grace brother. I have often wanted to catch up with you. My email address is nbatzig@gmail.com. Send me an email some time so we can talk again. Many blessings to you and your family in Christ.

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