The Sabbath is a sign, but what does it symbolize?

[Robert]

Here's the problem, if we don't know the answer the Sabbath can become a "yoke of bondage". What do I mean?

Well, first let me talk about circumcision as a sign. What prompted God to present it as a sign?

Now before I start, Paul gives us a clue to what circumcision symbolized:

Romans 4:11 He (Abraham) received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.

[Robert]

God comes to Abraham and gives him a call.:

The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people, and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.”

Abraham was not raised up a believer; he was raised up in idolatry. And God said, “Come out of that environment.”

Then, in Genesis 12:2, God says:

I will make you into a great nation

Verse 4 tells us that Abraham obeyed the call. He was 75 years old when he left his country, Haran. In those days, Abraham at 75 was in the prime of his life. They lived a little bit longer in those days than they do now.

Now, Abraham had no children when the promise and the call were made. He was 75 years old, he was already married, but no kids. But God promised him that he would be the father of a great nation; that meant God had to give him a son.

God promised him a son. One year went by, two years went by, three years went by, and people began to ask him, “By the way, where is that son God promised you?

Four years went by; it was getting more embarrassing. Eight years went by, approximately, and no children. Now Abraham was getting old. So I come to chapter 15 of Genesis [Gen. 15:1]:

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

So God said, “Why are you afraid, why are you doubting? I am your shield, your exceeding great reward. Depend on me.”

Abraham said, “Yes, but here’s the problem, Lord. You have not given me a son. I am childless. What happened to your promise? The only son in my household (which is the extended family in the Jewish system) is Eliezer of Damascus. Is he the promised son?”

God said, “No way. He is not the promised son. The son that I have promised will come out of your loins. He will be your very own child.”

Read Genesis 15:5-6. When God told him that, He took Abram for a walk. He said, “Look, do you see how many stars there are in the sky?” That's how many descendents you will have.

Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.

Well, two more years pass by, and Sarah, his wife, comes to Abraham and says, “You know, I think God needs help. Let’s face it, it’s now 10 years. He did mention two years ago that the child will come from you, but he mentioned nothing about me. The fact is, you are still okay, but I am not. I’m getting old. The doctors are beginning to tell me, ‘Forget the dream.’ God needs help, because people are laughing at our God. Why don’t we do something?”

They did practice surrogate motherhood in those days; they just used different methods. Sarai said, “Abraham, I have a suggestion. You go to my Egyptian handmaid, produce a child, and help God. We’re tired of people talking about God’s inability.”

And Abraham said, “That’s an excellent idea.” He meant well. I know that he was at least 85 years old because the last part of Gen.16:3 says this took place 10 years after he came into Canaan. He was at least 85 years old; his wife was 75. Well, he produced Ishmael. And he took Ishmael to God and said, “God, here is your promised son.”

God said, “No. I didn’t ask for your help. I asked you to believe my promise, period!” And you know what God did? He waited, not eight years, not 10 years, but 14 more years, until it was scientifically, medically, humanly impossible for Sarah to have a child.

God now comes to Abraham [turn to Genesis chapter 17]. When Abraham was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to Abraham and said to him, “I am Almighty God.” Do you know what the word “almighty” means? “I can do anything!”

God said, “I am Almighty God. Walk before me and be perfect” (or “blameless” as the Hebrew puts it). Now please read that statement, that word “blameless” or “perfect,” in its context. He is not talking about being blameless in performance; He is talking about being blameless in faith. You see, he had faulty faith. There were obstacles in his faith. God wanted to remove them. What He’s asking Abraham is, “Please, I want a faith that is unshakeable. I want you to have faith in me irrespective of what the scientists say, of what your neighbors say, what your doctor says.” Then in Genesis 17:4-5 I read:

“As for me [that’s God speaking], this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram [“exalted father”]; your name will be Abraham [“the father of a multitude”], for I have made you a father of many nations.

Then God entered into a covenant relationship. Genesis 17:9:

Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come.”

Genesis 17:10: This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.

[Robert]

Okay now, why did God give Abraham & his future descendents this peculiar sign?

Go to Phil 3:2 Watch out for those dogs (wolves in sheep's clothing), those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh

That's why circumcision was given! It was sign not to have confidence in one's own self, but rather to take God at His word.

So the removal of the foreskin was a sign of the removal of unbelief in what God promised. Furthermore, Paul tell us that Abraham "received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised."

In other words Abraham was already justified by faith while uncircumcised. Circumcision was not an additional requirement - rather it was sign or seal of the righteousness by faith that he already had.

But isn't this an odd sign? Why the removal of the foreskin? Because he tried to help God produce the child of promise. In other words he placed his confidence in himself and not God. That was an act of unbelief.

[Robert]

So the sign of circumcision was given to point to a truth and that truth is God keeps His promise.

Go to Gal 3:17 The law (the Ten Commandments), introduced 430 years later (after Abraham), does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.

In other words the law wasn't given as an addition to Abraham's faith. That's salvation by faith & works.

18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

Then why was the law given?

verse 19 What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added (at Sinai) because of transgressions until the Seed (Christ) to whom the promise referred had come.

In others the law wasn't given to make matters better by exposing our bent-to-self so that we might by justified by faith in Christ as our righteousness.

You see God promised the Messiah. He promised salvation by His doing & dying. The law was not a addition to this truth, even though believers grow in grace. Do you believe God? Do you believe you are perfect in His Son now and in the judgment?

[Robert]

In others the law wasn't given to make matters better by exposing our bent-to-self so that we might by justified by faith in Christ as our righteousness.

I was editing and then I couldn't....

Here's what I was saying:

God gave the law not to make matters better, but to make matters worse. Before the law you really didn't know you were a sinner and bent-to-self, now you were exposed. What does the law do? It puts you in death row.

[Robert]

How does this tie into the Sabbath?

Keep in mind the Sabbath is also a sign. What does "not working" (resting) on the 7th-day symbolize? Why do you rest?

[Umfundize]

You will not find a better explanation than in The Fourth Dilemma. Download from www.adventistalternative.org or procure at any ABC or from Review & Herald.

[Robert]

"For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh"

So the removal of the foreskin was a sign of the removal of unbelief in what God promised. Furthermore, Paul tell us that Abraham "received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised."

In other words Abraham was already justified by faith while uncircumcised. Circumcision was not an additional requirement - rather it was sign or seal of the righteousness by faith that he already had.

Now the Jews, Abraham's descendents, took this sign and perverted it.

Turn to Acts 15:1

1 Some men (Judaizers) came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved."

In other words instead of having no confidence in the flesh, the Jews made circumcision a condition for salvation.

verse 5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees (i.e., the Judaizers) stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."

How did Peter respond?

verse 10 Now then, why do you (you Judaizers) try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

In other words the act of circumcision doesn't save you. Neither does keeping the law outwardly. You are saved by God's promise in Christ Jesus.

So the Jews took circumcision, which was a sign of having no confidence in human performance, and made it a condition of salvation. In other words they could brag that they were circumcised and that they kept the law. Their reward? Heaven!

[Robert]

why do you (you Judaizers) try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

So circumcision, as presented by the Judaizers, was "a yoke of bondage".

In Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free , and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised , Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised , that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

In other words if you make circumcision a condition for heaven, then you must obey all the rules in the law of God.

4 You are severed from Christ (cutoff - lost - abandoned), you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

Now with this back ground let's examine the Sabbath in the light of the gospel!

[Robert]

Now with this back ground let's examine the Sabbath in the light of the gospel!

If I tell you, from the law, that you must keep the Sabbath or no heaven for you, what have I done?

I've made the Sabbath a condition for heaven. That's placing confidence on human achievement. Hence, when you get to heaven, you can brag that you helped God keep His promise. That's faith + works, which is the same thing the Judaizers were teaching.

This is the message I am hearing form Traditional, Historic Adventist.

[Robert]

So we are back to the perplexing question - why do we rest on the 7th-day? What does our resting from our normal employment symbolize?

We know why Abraham was circumcised...and the Sabbath is closely related, but not from the point of the Judaizers.

[Robert]

So we are back to the perplexing question - why do we rest on the 7th-day? What does our resting from our normal employment symbolize?

Hebrews 4:9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest (a keeping of the Sabbath as a sign) for the people of God (the Jews); 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work (as a sign), just as God did from his.

Do I mean that the Sabbath, as found in the context above, is only for the Jews. No! Then what problem did the Jews have? Didn't they keep the Sabbath as related to the law?

Yes, but they weren't resting...they were working...they kept the law in order to gain heaven. That's work...lot's of work, in fact it is impossible for you and me to work our way into heaven by keeping the law.

We know at the time of Christ that the Jews were heavy into legalism (salvation by law). So they weren't resting in Christ. In fact they rejected Christ and hung Him on a tree. Why? They had the law - they were holy people - they didn't need saving....

So here Paul tells the Jews, who were keeping the Sabbath from the law, that there remained a Sabbath rest. In other words they needed to "enter God's rest". The Sabbath, then, would be a sign of that rest.

[Robert]

Paul tells the Jews, who were keeping the Sabbath from the law, that there remained a Sabbath rest. In other words they needed to "enter God's rest". The Sabbath, then, would be a sign of that rest.

Okay, let's back up to Hebrews 4:9

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.

Here's the central question pertaining to the Sabbath in Hebrews chapter 4:

From what did God rest?

Why do we need to know this answer? Because, "anyone who enters God's rest (accepts the gospel - read verses 2 & 3) also rests from his own work, just as God did from his."

Again, from what did God rest? That's why we rest!!!!

[Robert]

Again, from what did God rest? That's why we rest!!!!

2 For we (we believers) also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest

So both the Jew and the Gentile, when they accept the gospel, have entered God's rest. What is the gospel? It's the promise of God to justify you in Christ's doing & dying!!! Does God keep His promise? Yes, in Christ Jesus you stand just before God's holy law now and in the judgment. You can't add to God's work in Christ. That's why God rested from His work of redemption.

Proof?

Just before Christ, as the Son of Man, breathed His last breath - what did He cry out? "It is finished!" Salvation was full & complete!

Can you add to God's perfect work of redemption in Christ? Can you add your law keeping to that work? If so, God's work in Christ is unfinished and the Sabbath, as a sign, is meaningless.

You see just before Christ died He cried out "it is finished!" Paul tells us that by Christ's doing & dying "we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" You can't add to that work...you must rest.

So why did God rest? Because His work in His Son, Jesus Christ, was complete. He couldn't improve on it!

What day did Christ breath His last? Late Friday just before the Sabbath. And God the Father rested from His completed work of redemption in His Son on the Sabbath.

So as a sign, we rest because we agree with God that we can't add to His perfect work.

[Gibs]

Robert, No on your explanation, "Proof?

Just before Christ, as the Son of Man, breathed His last breath - what did He cry out? "It is finished!" Salvation was full & complete!"

No! The sacrifice of Himself was finished but He still applies His Blood as our high Priest in the Heavenly Sancturary for the remission of sins. The last case has not been considered yet! However it is soon to end, finished, done, all in.!

Then it will be,

Re 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

Re 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Re 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Re 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[Robert]

No! The sacrifice of Himself was finished but He still applies His Blood as our high Priest in the Heavenly Sancturary for the remission of sins.

Christ didn't die for Himself....In fact YOU died in Him. That work is complete. Now you can chose to reject that truth, but at your own demise.

BTW, why do you rest on the Sabbath. What's the reason?

[phkrause]

So Robert, when you say "rest" what does this mean to you personally? I believe that "rest" is different for each one of us.

[Gibs]

Spiritual rest for the soul, a wonderful peace, a full trust and faith of His deliverance.

Jer 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[Robert]

So Robert, when you say "rest" what does this mean to you personally?

[Robert]

Spiritual rest for the soul, a wonderful peace, a full trust and faith of His deliverance.

The context of Heb chapter 4 doesn't state that it's spiritual rest for the soul. The Sabbath is a sign of God's work of redemption "in Christ Jesus". In Him you are complete. If you have entered God's rest (accepted the gospel) then as a sign, you rest as God rested.

[Gibs]

Sure we rest more than one way, we come apart from the toil and issues of life and and rest our minds and bodys of it. More important we partake of the light He sheds upon us to lighten and quicken us and strengthen us in faith and trust, dispelling all fear of what is coming upon the world here in these last days as never before. That is rest for our weary souls and of course body!

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[Just*]

    "But the atonement for a lost world was to be full, abundant, and complete." {DA 566}

[Robert]

That is rest for our weary souls and of course body!

Out of context....

[Gibs]

Just for Robert but not for most.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[Robert]

Just for Robert but not for most.

Come on Gibs, stop making stuff up. The context of my topic is about Hebrews chapter 4. Please try to stay with the subject....