Christ and the Sabbath

DOUBLE BLESSING ON THE SABBATH

But is it not true that we have the blessing of God and the presence of Christ on other days besides the Sabbath day?-Most certainly it is. But there is a difference between the blessing of God upon man and the blessing of God upon the day. In the beginning, speaking of the creation of man, the word says, “And God blessed them.” When it came to the seventh day, and God in Christ rested from his work, he then blessed the seventh day. Now, there is the blessing upon man, and that blessing has continued for every one who will receive it until the present time; there is the blessing upon the day, and that blessing has continued upon that day, and is there now. CAS 20.1

But God in Christ never blessed any other day. He blesses man upon every day, but he has blessed only one day, and that is the seventh day. So when man, upon whom the blessing of God already rests, comes to the seventh day, upon which a blessing rests, there are two blessings, and both of them for man; and so it is possible upon the seventh day of the week to enjoy a blessing which cannot be enjoyed upon any other day because it is not there. When the Sabbath goes by us, the Sabbath blessing goes along with it. God’s blessing is still with us upon the first day of the week, his blessing remains upon us wherever we go, his blessing remains upon the Sabbath wherever it goes; and when it comes around to us again, the blessing is still upon it, and it has a blessing in addition to the blessing that God has given us. This is the blessing of the Sabbath; this is the blessing of Sabbath-keeping. CAS 20.2

But not only is it said that God in Christ blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it, but he sanctified it. Notice what it is that sanctifies. “And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory.” Exodus 29:43. What is it that sanctifies?-It is the presence, the glory of God in Christ. And just as Christ dwelling in the tabernacle sanctified it, so Christ in the believer sanctifies him. CAS 20.3