Christ is the True Sabbath

[TrevorL]

Christ is the True Sabbath, not in the sense that the other Sabbath is a false Sabbath, but that Christ is the fulfillment, the embodiment of the typical Sabbath, or the shadow. Jesus Christ is the True Rest under the Abrahamic or Second Covenant, while the Sabbath under the Mosaic or First Covenant was incomplete and a shadow of good things to come.

Matthew 11:25-30 (KJV): 25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Hebrews 4:1-12 (KJV): 1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus (Joshua) had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick (living), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Kind regards

Trevor

[Gail]

Except that in fulfilling the 10 Commandment moral code He was still obedient to the other nine... What is the reason that the fourth is the only one people have trouble with?

[LifeHiscost]

God said to remember.

" Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." Exodus 20:8 KJV

Many have forgotten to remember, for whatever reason.

God is Love! Jesus saves!

[LifeHiscost]

Except that in fulfilling the 10 Commandment moral code He was still obedient to the other nine... What is the reason that the fourth is the only one people have trouble with?

The fourth commandment is the commandment that identifies the only Person that has the authority to give them, something the enemy of souls is anxious to accomplish.

God is Love! Jesus saves!

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

The fourth commandment is the commandment that identifies the only Person that has the authority to give them, something the enemy of souls is anxious to accomplish.

That sentence is somewhat ambiguous. It perhaps should have been something like this,

"The fourth commandment is the only commandment that identifies Who the only Person with the authority to command is, something the enemy of souls would like to replace with his enslavement of the human race. As long as the fourth commandment is remembered, satan is unable to exercise unhindered, his own control."

Is that clear enough?

God is Love! Jesus saves!

[pierrepaul]

From Matthew 19

6 And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

No mention of any of the first four commandments. And then when Jesus stated what the young man was lacking, it was not his Sabbath observance or anything else in those first four commandments. What was lacking was his unwillingness to let go of his worldly possessions.

[Octopus]

Yeah exactly what Jesus said, "keep the commandments".

Jesus didn't say just keep the commandments that I'm mentioning to you, he's saying keep the commandments, which means keeping all the commandments.

Your really misconstruing what the bibles says regarding keeping the sabbath.

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

And then when Jesus stated what the young man was lacking, it was not his Sabbath observance or anything else in those first four commandments. What was lacking was his unwillingness to let go of his worldly possessions.

Agreed that was an underlying failure of the rich young ruler. However if his heart were interested in serving the Person he was talking to, he would have recognized by observing the 4th commandment the earthly riches he would have relinquished would have seemed slight when considering the promises that could have been His.

"Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world...."John 18:36 KJV

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:21 KJV

"And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us...." Ephesians 3:19-20 KJV

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Matthew 6:24 KJV

God is Love! Jesus saves!

[TrevorL]

Greetings Gail and LifeHiscost,

Except that in fulfilling the 10 Commandment moral code He was still obedient to the other nine... What is the reason that the fourth is the only one people have trouble with?

[LifeHiscost]

Interesting viewpoint. How do you explain this promise for the future?

"For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.

And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord."Isaiah 66:22-23 KJV

God is Love! Jesus saves!

[Samie]

The only way a person's name gets blotted out from the book of life when he dies is when he did not overcome evil with good because only overcomers will not be blotted out from it (Rev 3:5). So where is God's list for him? It's written in his heart and mind. And since it's God Who wrote them, He and the person concerned are the ones who know what are in the list.

The problem comes when I start measuring others with my own yardstick. Just because I am a Sabbath keeper, all non-Sabbath keepers will not make it to heaven! I like to play God. I need to overcome the evil of judging others via my own list, otherwise my name gets blotted out.

On the other hand, there are also those who fail to overcome the evil of NOT following OUR Shepherd. We are the sheep of His pasture, remember? Our Shepherd is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He was a Sabbath keeper, is a Sabbath keeper and will always be a Sabbath keeper. Being a Sabbath keeper was His custom, is His custom, and will always be His custom. If you know that our Shepherd is a Sabbath keeper, what makes it quite difficult for you to follow our Shepherd to church on Saturdays? Why postpone it till Sunday?

Quote:

KJV John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

But of course, there are also many among His Sheep who still are not aware our Shepherd is a Sabbath keeper. And only our Father knows whether one is aware or not. And Sabbath keeping is but one of His examples He set for us to emulate. Being attached to Him Who is our Strength, we have His power to overcome all evil with good.

Again, it all boils down to OVERCOMING evil with good. Salvation by works? No. With our names already written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, we are already heaven-bound, UNLESS our names are blotted out when we die for not overcoming evil with good while alive. We don't work our way to heaven, instead, we work our way to damnation: by DOING EVIL instead of doing good.

[Samie]

For readers of this thread who are not yet aware that our Shepherd is a Sabbath keeper, here's Scriptures:

Quote:

NKJ Luke 4:16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.

It was Jesus custom to be in church on the Sabbath day, the 7th day of the week, Saturday.

[LifeHiscost]

For readers of this thread who are not yet aware that our Shepherd is a Sabbath keeper, here's Scriptures:

Quote:

NKJ Luke 4:16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.

It was Jesus custom to be in church on the Sabbath day, the 7th day of the week, Saturday.

Not to mention, the seventh day Sabbath is the only day in the Bible, designated "the Lord's Day" and a sign between Himself and (spiritual) Israel.

"Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you."

Exodus 31:13 KJV

"But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God"Deuteronomy 5:14 KJV

"...turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day"Isaiah 58:13 KJV

God is Love! Jesus saves!

[Samie]

There's one VERY IMPORTANT issue about the Sabbath that seemed to have been overlooked: it is the SIGN that it is God Who MADE us holy:

Quote:

NIV Ezekiel 20:12 Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy.

When & how did God make us holy?

Quote:

NIV Hebrews 10:10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

But men made a pseudo-Sabbath in lieu of the real Sabbath of the Lord. And with the pseudo-Sabbath crept in the pseudo-holiness: that it is man's act that determines whether he is holy or not. From God's Sabbath, to man's Sabbath; from God-endowed holiness, to man-made holiness.

Whereas God Himself said the 7th day is the Sabbath of the Lord thereby making it the Lord's day, many preachers teach that Sunday is the Lord's day. Whereas God said He made us holy through Christ, many preachers teach we become holy by BELIEVING in Christ. The credit that belongs to God, preachers transfer to man.

Sadly, even Sabbath keepers who know the SIGN of holiness preach anthropocentric, instead of theocentric, holiness.

[LifeHiscost]

"Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law), then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God..." Hebrews 10:8-12 NKJV

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. "Galatians 2:20 KJV

God is Love! Jesus saves!

[Sojourner]

The thing is Trevor, the Sabbath Rest is commanded to all of Creation, not the Jews, not the Noahic people etc.

God Blessed the Seventh Day and made it Holy, He did so prior to the entry of sin to the world. There is no command in Scripture to "fulfill" something that is already created in perfection by a perfect God.

Secondly, why would you make reference to the Sabbath in prophecy post the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ as ongoing and being kept by His people? - Isaiah 66:23. Clearly God does not see the Sabbath as being fulfilled in any way, shape or form.

The reason for the attack on the Sabbath is simply the same reason as to why the account of Creation is attacked in Scripture. By taking out the book of Genesis and causing people to lose faith in what is taught there, it then brings down the rest of the Bible. If one book is not correct then either can be the rest is the line of thinking promoted by many in the Atheist, Agnostic movements.

[TrevorL]

Greetings again LifeHiscost and Samie (part 1 of 2),

Interesting viewpoint. How do you explain this promise for the future?

"For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.

And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord."Isaiah 66:22-23 KJV

[TrevorL]

Greetings again LifeHiscost and Samie (part 2 of 2),

Not to mention, the seventh day Sabbath is the only day in the Bible, designated "the Lord's Day" and a sign between Himself and (spiritual) Israel.

[TrevorL]

Greetings Sojourner,

I appreciate your response and concern.

The thing is Trevor, the Sabbath Rest is commanded to all of Creation, not the Jews, not the Noahic people etc.

God Blessed the Seventh Day and made it Holy, He did so prior to the entry of sin to the world. There is no command in Scripture to "fulfill" something that is already created in perfection by a perfect God.

[Samie]

Jesus was a Jew under the Law of Moses and the nation of Israel kept the Sabbath as commanded. When Jesus was a carpenter he would have rested from his carpentry on the Sabbath and read the Scroll in the Synagogue as mentioned. Jesus, during his public ministry, ministered every day of the week, but there are also many statements to say that he healed on the Sabbath, much to the anxiety of the Rulers of the Synagogue and the Pharisees. They claimed he was breaking the Sabbath Law. In other words he did not rest on the Sabbath, but if anything, like the Priests and Levites, he ministered more on the Sabbath than other days, refer Matthew 12:5-8 quoted later in this Post. I believe that a servant of Jesus should be available to work on Jesus’ behalf and worship at all times. Being yoked to Christ is service in all aspects of life. I do not go to Church on Saturday or Sunday, or “keep Saturday or Sunday” as such but fellowship and worship with brethren and sisters of like mind when convenient to all concerned.

Kind regards

Trevor

[TrevorL]

Greetings again Samie,

If I am able to associate with fellow believers of like mind with Sunday as the most CONVENIENT day for fellowship, what PREVENTS me from associating with believers who, in following our Shepherd, fellowship on Saturday instead? Being "yoked to Christ" as you said, why would I postpone till Sunday when I can follow our Shepherd in fellowship with the other brethren on Saturday?

Must I do things just for the sake of my CONVENIENCE or because it is the will of God?

I appreciate your sincerity. I did not use the word “convenient” in a casual or haphazard sense. All things must be done decently and in order. The following is the example and commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ as conveyed by the Apostle Paul:

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (KJV): 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

I find no commandment that states that this should be or can only be remembered on the Saturday. I do not believe that Jesus instituted this bread and wine on a Saturday, as I believe he was in the tomb on the Sabbath, but you may have concluded otherwise. The fact that he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath is not proof that he was instituting or endorsing Sabbath worship only for all future believers after his death and resurrection.including Gentiles. It appears that Jewish believers continued with most aspects of the Temple worship after Christ’s resurrection, but again it does not clearly state when they partook of the bread and wine.

Could I also suggest that Jesus gave greater meaning and depth to the various commandments. Consider how he redefines “Thou shalt not kill” in Matthew 5. He goes to the very heart of the matter, the motives of the individual and reveals that we need to be transformed in our way of thinking, not simply attempting to keep the commandment not to kill. Other commandments could be considered. Also note how Paul speaks of the commandment “Thou shalt not covet” and his experience and severe problem with this commandment. The very commandment seemed to awaken lust or coveting. I am concerned that with the great emphasis on keeping the fourth commandment there is a reticence to accept the teaching of Hebrews 3-4 and Matthew 11:20-25. In other words out of the simple framework of the various commandments our Lord reveals the true way of life in Christ, and Christ is the True Sabbath. Yes we must follow our Shepherd.

Kind regards

Trevor

[Samie]

...

The fact that he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath is not proof that he was instituting or endorsing Sabbath worship only for all future believers after his death and resurrection.including Gentiles.

[8thdaypriest]

I always say that I do not "keep" the Feasts (as originally commanded). I commemorate them, in order to remember what they prophesied. I don't travel to Jerusalem, or offer animal sacrifices.

I could say the same thing about the 7th Day Rest.

When exactly IS the Sabbath?

If I lived on the Island of Samoa, it would depend upon which end of the Island.

The Date Line runs thru the middle of the Island.

One SDA is in church, and another is mowing his lawn down the street.

The Sabbath - as originally commanded, began and ended WHERE Israel camped.

Later - it began and ended IN JERUSALEM.

Same with the Feasts.

When the LORD said, "From one Sabbath to another, all flesh will come to worship before Me" - that would indicate a start and end - AT JERUSALEM - where the LORD will reside.

The redeemed will inherit the earth. We will live on the earth. If I am living on the other side of the globe, I will travel (probably instantly like Phillip) to the Holy City to arrive at the start of the Sabbath (or Feast Sabbath) AT JERUSALEM.

It is impractical today, for folks in every corner of the globe to begin and end the Sabbath AT THE SAME time. So we do the next best thing. We start and end at sundown of the 7th day in our respective locations. But we should not pretend that we are keeping the Commandment exactly AS ORIGINALLY spoken. The Sabbath we "keep" now is a shadow of the Sabbath we will keep - AT JERUSALEM - in the Kingdom.

Blessings,

Rachel Cory

Prophecy Viewpoint

[8thdaypriest]

Originally Posted By: TrevorL

...

The fact that he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath is not proof that he was instituting or endorsing Sabbath worship only for all future believers after his death and resurrection.including Gentiles.

The REAL issue is NOT whether Jesus was "instituting or endorsing Sabbath worship", but His CUSTOM, His lifestyle. Remember the song "I Would Be Like Jesus"?

Originally Posted By: TrevorL

...

Yes we must follow our Shepherd.

I say Amen to that, brother:

Quote:

NIV 1 Cor 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Jesus was circumcised the 8th day. Yet gentile converts were NOT required to be circumcised.

Jesus touched the dead, and lepers, and women with issues. This would have rendered him "unclean". He would have been required to wash with the water which contained the ashes of the red heifer.

We don't do that today.

Jesus traveled to Jerusalem for the Feasts, and partook of the required sacrificial animals. (No I do NOT believe that He ever brought a "sin offering".)

We don't do that today either.

Respectfully,

Rachel Cory

Prophecy Viewpoint

[Samie]

Quote:

If I lived on the Island of Samoa, it would depend upon which end of the Island.

The Date Line runs thru the middle of the Island.

One SDA is in church, and another is mowing his lawn down the street.

Luckily, the International Date Line does not pass through any land mass.