A question on the Sabbath: Why do you rest as God rested?

[Robert]

According to Hebrews 4:10

 

"Anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his."

 

 

The question is:  From what did God rest?

 

You see "His rest" always symbolizes a finished work.  God works and when His work is complete and finished He rests.  He doesn't rest because He is tired or needs a break, but rather He rests because His work is done.  His rest, therefore, is eternal.

 

My question to SDA is why do you rest from your works?  

 

Please take the poll.

[Robert]

Creation (before the fall):

 

Gen 2: 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it (i.e., set it apart), because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. 

 

The 4th commandment (after the fall):

 

8 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work..."

 

(why?) 

 

11 "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day...."

 

Re-creation:

 

1 Cor 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet wills ound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

 

At the 2nd coming Christ re-creates us "in the twinkling of an eye" to a sinless, immortal state like Adam before the fall. 

 

Is 66:22 As the new heavens and the new earth which I make will endure before Me," declares the LORD, "So your offspring and your name will endure. 23 "And it shall be from new moon to new moon and from sabbath to sabbath, All mankind will come to bow down before Me," says the LORD.

 

The Sabbath once again points to God's perfect work of re-creation.  This Sabbath is future.

[Robert]

Redemption:

 

Hebrews 4:9 There remains a Sabbath rest (i.e., a keeping of the Sabbath) for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest (i.e., who has accepted the gospel, see verses 2,3)  has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His (of redemption in Christ Jesus)*.

 

* To understand this we must look at the context of the cross using the gospels and Hebrews chapter 4.

[Stan]

Rested in the case, is similar to a lawyer saying "I rest my case"

[LifeHiscost]

 

11 "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day...."

 

Re-creation:

 

The Sabbath once again points to God's perfect work of re-creation.  This Sabbath is future.

The Sabbath is a memorial of God's creation and so long as time remains in exact order, which no entity including God Himself will ever change, we'll be observing that same cycle in the Kingdom of heaven. There is an entity on this earth that thinks they can change that order.

 

…7Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.…Hebrews 13

 

The religion of Christ never degrades the receiver; it never makes him coarse or rough, discourteous or self-important, passionate or hardhearted. On the contrary, it refines the taste, sanctifies the judgment, and purifies and ennobles the thoughts, bringing them into captivity to Christ. God’s ideal for His children is higher than the highest human thought can reach. He has given in His holy law a transcript of His character.{CCh 78.5}

 

25'He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.26But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever.27Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.'...Daniel 7

 

God is Love! Jesus saves!

[phkrause]

I didn't vote Robert, I didn't like any of the choices. The last one was the closest, but no cigar!! For me I don't see it as "demand," but as a reminder for us. It starts out with the word "Remember." Because as it appears, many have forgotten the true meaning of what the Sabbath was created for. I'm in agreement with LHC's post.

[Tom Wetmore]

I didn't vote either since none of the choices reflected my reasons.  Really it is more complex than a single choice could provide.

[Gregory Matthews]

None of the choices represent my reason.

[Robert]

The Sabbath is a memorial of God's creation ....

 

What do you mean by the above?

[LifeHiscost]

What do you mean by the above?

   English definition of “memorial”

memorial

noun [C]  /məˈmɔr·i·əl, -ˈmoʊr-/ us  

 

› an object made in order to honor a person or event: The statue is a memorial to those who died in the war. › A memorial service is an event held to remember a person who has died.

(Definition of memorial from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary ©

 

The seventh day Sabbath is a memorial in time, something man cannot deface, something that God asks man to remember, as the Sabbath is the culmination of the creation and reveals Who the Creator is and what He asks of man to keep man in remembrance of Who made him and who will forever care for him if that care is desired.

 

8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.   Exodus 20

 

No one else in the universe can make that claim or ask for loyalty based on those facts.

 

God is Love! Jesus saves!

[Robert]

   English definition of “memorial”.... an object made in order to honor a person or event....

 

The seventh day Sabbath... is the culmination of the creation and reveals Who the Creator is and what He asks of man to keep man in remembrance of Who made him....

 

Okay, I see your point, but I disagree.

 

I read nowhere that the Sabbath of creation is a event in order to honor the Creator for making mankind.

 

Let's look at the context:

 

Genesis 2:1 on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

 

Did God begin placing the finishing touches on creation on the 8th day (the day after the Sabbath)?

 

Answer:  No!

 

Why not?  His work of creation was perfect by the end of the 6th day.  

 

By perfection I mean no sin, and therefore death, polluted God's finished work.

 

Now, according to the law why is the believer to rest the Sabbath?

 

Is it because the Sabbath of creation is a event in order to honor the Creator for making mankind?

 

I can't find this concept. Let's re-read the 4th commandment:

 

Ex 20:8 "Remember the sabbath day....9 "Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work....

 

Why?  What is the significance, contextually, of not working?

 

11 "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day..."

 

Because, as Genesis explained, God rested because His work of creation was perfect.  Nothing could be added to improve own His sinless, perfect world.

 

When you rest you are agreeing that God's work of creation is complete.  That's the context.  

 

So the Sabbath points to God's perfect, sinless creation.  He rested, not because He was tired, but because creation stood perfect by the hand of God.

[Robert]

 

Hebrews 4:9 There remains a Sabbath rest (i.e., a keeping of the Sabbath) for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest (i.e., who has accepted the gospel, see verses 2,3)  has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His....

 

 

Weren't the Jews keeping the Sabbath according to the law?  

 

Then why did there remain a Sabbath keeping for the people of God? 

 

According to Paul, the Jews first needed to accept the gospel (His rest).

 

Secondly, as a sign of faith, then they were to rest the Sabbath because they agreed that God's work of redemption, in Christ Jesus, was complete!

[LifeHiscost]

Okay, I see your point, but I disagree.

I'm of the opinion the time involved in the Sabbath that we're counseled to remember, is of the same import as the principle God manifested at the burning bush to Moses.

 

Re: the Sabbath, 11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exodus 20

Speak you also to the children of Israel, saying, Truly my Sabbaths you shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the LORD that does sanctify you. Speak you also to the children of Israel, saying, Truly my Sabbaths you shall keep. Exodus 31

 

…25"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes...Ezekial 36

 

Re: the burning bush, 3And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.4And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.5And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground...Exodus 3

 

And thus it is with the seventh day Sabbath.

 

God is Love! Jesus saves!

[Aliensanctuary]

The Sabbath is part of the covenant, or contract, between man and his Creator. The covenant, including the Sabbath, here on Earth is just a shadow of the New Covenant between man and his Creator after evil is eradicated.

[JoeMo]

I didn't take the poll because none of the choices relate to my reason for honoring the Sabbath.  LHC came the closest when He said we honor it as a memorial to creation.  I also honor it a a prophecy of the "rest" from this dark place that we will enter into upon establishment of the Kingdom.

[CherylG]

1 Peter 2:21

21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,[a] leaving us[b] an example, that you should follow His steps:

[Robert]

....Truly my sabbaths you shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the LORD that does sanctify you.Speak you also to the children of Israel, saying, Truly my sabbaths you shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the LORD that does sanctify you. Exodus 31

 

 

Since both the Bible and Ellen White state that Sanctification is an ongoing process that never ends in perfection, this side of eternity, then this type of interpretation cannot point to a finished work.  

 

Therefore, it must point to Christ's work, which was finished at the cross.

 

You see in Christ we already stand sanctified (or set apart):

 

1 Cor 1:20 But by His doing (God the Father) you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."

 

Also, read Hebrews 10:10 Then He (Jesus) said, "BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR (God the Father's ) WILL." ...10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (past tense)....

 

So if anything your quote points to redemption, not creation.

[LifeHiscost]

1 Peter 2:21

21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,[a] leaving us[b] an example, that you should follow His steps:

16And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day,.....18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,...Luke 4

 

…30"It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31"On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. 32"Remember Lot's wife.…Luke 17

 

God is Love! Jesus saves!

[LifeHiscost]

 

So if anything your quote points to redemption, not creation.

re·demp·tion

rəˈdem(p)SH(ə)n/

noun

noun: redemption; plural noun: redemptions

1. 1.

   the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.

   "God's plans for the redemption of his world"

   synonyms: saving, freeing from sin, absolution

   "God's redemption of his people"

   • a thing that saves someone from error or evil.

     "his marginalization from the Hollywood jungle proved to be his redemption"
2. 2.

   the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt.

   synonyms: retrieval, recovery, reclamation, repossession, return More

   "the redemption of their possessions"

   exchange, cashing in, conversion

   "the redemption of credit vouchers"

   paying off, paying back, discharge, clearing, honoring

   "the redemption of the mortgage"

   fulfillment, carrying out, discharge, performing, honoring, meeting

   "the redemption of his obligations"

   • archaic

     the action of buying one's freedom.

      

     cre·a·tion

     krēˈāSH(ə)n/

     noun

     noun: creation; noun: Creation; noun: the Creation

     1. 1.

        the action or process of bringing something into existence.

        "the creation of a coalition government"

        synonyms: establishment, formation, foundation, initiation, institution, inauguration, constitution; More

        production, generation, fabrication, fashioning, building, construction, origination, development

        "the creation of a coalition government"

        antonyms: destruction

        • a thing that has been made or invented, especially something showing artistic talent.

          plural noun: creations

          "she treats fictional creations as if they were real people"

          synonyms: work, work of art, production, opus, oeuvre; More

          achievement, intellectual property;

          informalbrainchild

          "Margaret Atwood's literary creations"
     2. 2.

        the bringing into of existence of the universe, especially when regarded as an act of God.

        • everything so created; the universe.

          "our alienation from the rest of Creation"

          synonyms: the world, the universe, the cosmos; More

          the living world, the natural world, nature, life, living things

          "the whole of creation"
     3. 3.

        the action or process of investing someone with a new rank or title.

     One cannot have one without the other.

     2 Timothy 2:12

     if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us...Matt 19

     God is Love! Jesus saves!

      

[CoAspen]

Because it's been a long week and I need some r n r.

[Aliensanctuary]

In the next life there will also be a Sabbath, the true Sabbath, not the flawed one some attempt to observe in this life.

[Geoarrge]

I just like the idea of a God whose ultimate loyalty test is taking a day off once a week.

[phkrause]

In the next life there will also be a Sabbath, the true Sabbath, not the flawed one some attempt to observe in this life.

The Sabbath is not flawed, only we that don't know how to observe it are flawed.

[Aliensanctuary]

I should have said:

 

In the next life there will also be a Sabbath, undefiled by flawed humans.

 

Thank you pk.

[Woody]

I hate polls like this that manipulate you into voting for something that you disagree with.