Heavenly Thunderings
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Thanks for Your Answers 
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What About The Sabbath?! Many Baptists Do not Keep the Sabbath ..Why???l
- Thread starter Heavenly Thunderings
- Start date
I have studied it. Why do you ask?
This subject comes up here over and over, and I
think the reason it does is not because anyone
really wants to get to the truth of the matter; it is
because people like to keep stirring the pot. 8o)
I have given my answers on the subject before, so
it makes no sense to say it all again. People will
believe what they want to believe, in spite of what
the Bible says. We recreate our God in the image
we want -- recreate Him to look just like us,
recreate Him into what is convenient and
traditional.
The day is coming when the things He said will be
done, when He will be the Judge, and we will all
learn to do as He wills, whether or not we like it.
Come quickly.
And what was the reason to "Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath?" Because this concerned the destruction of Jerusalem, and Jesus had just told them they must flee when they see what Daniel wrote about; flee and not to even go retreive any belongings first, it would be so urgent. And this urgency is what that is all about... in winter, being exposed to the elements heading for the high country... and the not on the sabbath is be hoped and prayed for because the city gates were closed before sundown Friday and they could not be reopened until after the next sundown. Trying to urgently flee the city while no one is allowed to open the gates is quite disadvantageous!
I have studied it. Why do you ask?
</font>[/QUOTE]Abiyah, I ask because so many people seem to have a belief about something that has either been told to them or taught but they have never taken the time to study it out. So that is why I asked.
Based on what I get out of the Bible, the Sabbath should be kept. But when I ask people who are supposed to know the Bible, they say no everyday is supposed to be holy and your rest is in Christ. Do they get their answers from the Bible or what they have been taught at Bible college?
Anyway Abiyah, this is the first thread that I have seen on Sabbath. You can tell by my number of posts that I am verily new and it would be nice if you would share what you believed for those of us who haven't heard your testimony on this subject.
Pastor Chet
New Member
Personal Testimony regarding the Sabbath
Why after 16 years in the faith, walking with the Lord Jesus Christ would someone all of a sudden believe in the Sabbath?
That’s a question I’ve been asked and with good reason. After all everyone knows you go to church on Sunday. Anyone who keeps the Saturday Sabbath has got to be either a kook or a member of a cult. That’s what I thought till the year 2001. I had been saved since 1987 and never encountered anyone who even brought up the subject in any church I attended.
I was familiar with the Seventh Day Adventist Church and knowing the heresies they teach, and considering Ellen G. White a false prophetess ,only gave more credence to the concept that Sabbath Keepers were deluded at best and heretics at worst.
This kept me from even being remotely interested in studying the issue.
That changed in the early part of 2001. For years during my study of prophecy the passage in Matthew 24:20 where Christ said "but pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day:" always bothered me. I filed it away in the back of my mind as pertaining to the Jews, but it kept coming to the forefront. Even if it were talking about the Jews only in that chapter (which I don’t believe) Christ still gave an indication that the Sabbath would be in existence in 70 A .D. He made no indication of a change from a seventh day Sabbath to a first day Sabbath.
Then a few other factors came into play that caused me to study the issue in depth.
For example:
1. The Sabbath came into existence at creation, long before being incorporated into the Mosaic law. Gen. 2:2-3
2. It became one of the 10 commandments, which stand or fall together. Jesus said "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matt. 5:19.
James said "For whosoever shall keep the whole law,and yet offend in one point, is guilty of all." James 2:10
3. Jesus didn’t come to do away with the law. Matt. 5:17-18
4. The Sabbath was made for man (mankind) not the Jew. Mk.2:27
5. No where is the Sabbath done away with in the Bible.
6. No where is it changed to Sunday in the Bible.
7. And another key passage for me was that during the Millennium the Sabbath will be kept. (Is. 66:22,23)
If the Sabbath was kept since the beginning of time through Jesus’ time and kept at the end times as well as the millennium then I decided that maybe I should study the issue for myself.
I collected everything I could find (not an east task) from books to tapes and articles on the internet. I intentionally tried to avoid Seventh day Adventist publications, because of my aversion to their heretical beliefs. Yet it is almost unavoidable when researching the Sabbath, because the preponderance of available materials are published by them.
I urge anyone who studies the issue for themselves not to be deceived by this sect-borderline cult.
During my research, which took over a year, I also found out about the Seventh Day Baptists. I never knew there was such a thing as a Seventh Day Baptist. I studied their history and doctrine also. After a year of research about the Sabbath I came to the conclusion that you cannot explain away or do away with a Seventh Day Sabbath without contorting, perverting or misinterpreting scripture.
The thought of keeping Saturday as a holy day was still against everything I was comfortable with. I spent another 6 months trying to disprove it from a biblical standpoint, all to no avail. I let my wife study the issue herself, no coercion from me. If she didn’t agree, then she could be my excuse and way out (some spiritual leader, huh?).
After her studies she also said, "we need to be keeping the Sabbath".
I contacted the Seventh Day Baptist organization and after several conversations and much prayer we decided to associate the ministry (Rez Connection, Inc.) with the Seventh Day Baptist churches.
We still do pulpit supply for Sunday churches, but hold steadfastly to the eternal truth that the Seventh Day Sabbath is God’s Holy Day. Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath and to honor our Lord and Savior we need to hallow the Sabbath day.
This has caused great misunderstanding, even among close friends.
I encourage you to study the issue yourself rather than just shrug it off, which is the easiest thing to do. Jesus said in Matthew 15:9: "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." This is what most people do now days in regards to the Seventh Day Sabbath.
I readily acknowledge it’s not an easy subject, but one worthy of our attention.
It really comes down to an act of obedience. As in most things we have a choice, our way or God’s way. May the Lord lead you to "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For 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 20:8-11
Why after 16 years in the faith, walking with the Lord Jesus Christ would someone all of a sudden believe in the Sabbath?
That’s a question I’ve been asked and with good reason. After all everyone knows you go to church on Sunday. Anyone who keeps the Saturday Sabbath has got to be either a kook or a member of a cult. That’s what I thought till the year 2001. I had been saved since 1987 and never encountered anyone who even brought up the subject in any church I attended.
I was familiar with the Seventh Day Adventist Church and knowing the heresies they teach, and considering Ellen G. White a false prophetess ,only gave more credence to the concept that Sabbath Keepers were deluded at best and heretics at worst.
This kept me from even being remotely interested in studying the issue.
That changed in the early part of 2001. For years during my study of prophecy the passage in Matthew 24:20 where Christ said "but pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day:" always bothered me. I filed it away in the back of my mind as pertaining to the Jews, but it kept coming to the forefront. Even if it were talking about the Jews only in that chapter (which I don’t believe) Christ still gave an indication that the Sabbath would be in existence in 70 A .D. He made no indication of a change from a seventh day Sabbath to a first day Sabbath.
Then a few other factors came into play that caused me to study the issue in depth.
For example:
1. The Sabbath came into existence at creation, long before being incorporated into the Mosaic law. Gen. 2:2-3
2. It became one of the 10 commandments, which stand or fall together. Jesus said "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matt. 5:19.
James said "For whosoever shall keep the whole law,and yet offend in one point, is guilty of all." James 2:10
3. Jesus didn’t come to do away with the law. Matt. 5:17-18
4. The Sabbath was made for man (mankind) not the Jew. Mk.2:27
5. No where is the Sabbath done away with in the Bible.
6. No where is it changed to Sunday in the Bible.
7. And another key passage for me was that during the Millennium the Sabbath will be kept. (Is. 66:22,23)
If the Sabbath was kept since the beginning of time through Jesus’ time and kept at the end times as well as the millennium then I decided that maybe I should study the issue for myself.
I collected everything I could find (not an east task) from books to tapes and articles on the internet. I intentionally tried to avoid Seventh day Adventist publications, because of my aversion to their heretical beliefs. Yet it is almost unavoidable when researching the Sabbath, because the preponderance of available materials are published by them.
I urge anyone who studies the issue for themselves not to be deceived by this sect-borderline cult.
During my research, which took over a year, I also found out about the Seventh Day Baptists. I never knew there was such a thing as a Seventh Day Baptist. I studied their history and doctrine also. After a year of research about the Sabbath I came to the conclusion that you cannot explain away or do away with a Seventh Day Sabbath without contorting, perverting or misinterpreting scripture.
The thought of keeping Saturday as a holy day was still against everything I was comfortable with. I spent another 6 months trying to disprove it from a biblical standpoint, all to no avail. I let my wife study the issue herself, no coercion from me. If she didn’t agree, then she could be my excuse and way out (some spiritual leader, huh?).
After her studies she also said, "we need to be keeping the Sabbath".
I contacted the Seventh Day Baptist organization and after several conversations and much prayer we decided to associate the ministry (Rez Connection, Inc.) with the Seventh Day Baptist churches.
We still do pulpit supply for Sunday churches, but hold steadfastly to the eternal truth that the Seventh Day Sabbath is God’s Holy Day. Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath and to honor our Lord and Savior we need to hallow the Sabbath day.
This has caused great misunderstanding, even among close friends.
I encourage you to study the issue yourself rather than just shrug it off, which is the easiest thing to do. Jesus said in Matthew 15:9: "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." This is what most people do now days in regards to the Seventh Day Sabbath.
I readily acknowledge it’s not an easy subject, but one worthy of our attention.
It really comes down to an act of obedience. As in most things we have a choice, our way or God’s way. May the Lord lead you to "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For 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 20:8-11
Hebrews 4 explains, the Saturday Sabbath was typological, pointing to a rest from the labours required by the O.T. Law. Christ's sacrifice allowed us to enter into our permanent spiritual rest in Him, no more works necessary --God is satisfied with the work of Christ forever! We are entered into a permanent spiritual Sabbath now. Sunday celebrates that completed work, evidenced by Christ's resurrection. The first day of the week--and our "work" is already over!
A believer in a better covenant,
Tim
A believer in a better covenant,
Tim
John Wells
New Member
The ceremonial aspects of the OT law (dietary regulations, festivals, sacrifices) were mere shadows pointing to Christ. Since Christ, the reality has come, the shadows have no value. Paul chastised both churches in Galatia and Colosse about continuing to hold to Jewish rites, festivals, and Sabbaths. Keep this in mind until I get to Matt 24:20!
Galatians 4:10-11 (NIV)
10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
Colossians 2:16-17 (NIV)
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
Romans 14:5-6 (NIV)
5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
Matthew 24:16-20 (NIV)
16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.
What reconciles these teachings with Matt 24:20? Context! Who is the object of this warning? If it’s mankind in general then Pastor Chet would have a very good point. But the warning is to Jews in Judea who obviously are not Christian Jews, but still under the Law by their belief and practice of Judaism! If this “unequaled distress” on the world comes on a Sabbath then those holding to the Law would be limited in travel. A Sabbath day’s journey would not be enough to take them out of the danger area. In no way is Matt 24:20 an indictment for those under the New Covenant to keep the Sabbath.
I think this takes us back to Romans 14:5 and “each one should” do as they are “fully convinced in his own mind.” I think wisdom goes with Helen’s choice, realizing that the Sabbath was created for man, and not man for the Sabbath. One is well advised to rest one day out of seven as often as they can. Personally, I’m very thankful that firemen, emergency personnel, policemen, etc. are at work seven out of seven days.
Galatians 4:10-11 (NIV)
10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
Colossians 2:16-17 (NIV)
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
Romans 14:5-6 (NIV)
5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
Matthew 24:16-20 (NIV)
16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.
What reconciles these teachings with Matt 24:20? Context! Who is the object of this warning? If it’s mankind in general then Pastor Chet would have a very good point. But the warning is to Jews in Judea who obviously are not Christian Jews, but still under the Law by their belief and practice of Judaism! If this “unequaled distress” on the world comes on a Sabbath then those holding to the Law would be limited in travel. A Sabbath day’s journey would not be enough to take them out of the danger area. In no way is Matt 24:20 an indictment for those under the New Covenant to keep the Sabbath.
I think this takes us back to Romans 14:5 and “each one should” do as they are “fully convinced in his own mind.” I think wisdom goes with Helen’s choice, realizing that the Sabbath was created for man, and not man for the Sabbath. One is well advised to rest one day out of seven as often as they can. Personally, I’m very thankful that firemen, emergency personnel, policemen, etc. are at work seven out of seven days.
Pastor Chet,
I used to say that I had a goal to find another Seventh Day Baptist on the BB. Guess ill have to find a new goal
I also found that I felt convicted about the churches Sunday Sabbath teaching also, after much study, I saw that Saturday was still the Sabbath, and that it was esteemed by the Early Church.
One interesting study is the Celtic Church who held out the longest against the Roman Catholic church. They have a record of keeping Sabbath on Saturday and a Liturgy for it. It sure makes for an interesting study.
The whole idea that the Sabbath is Sunday and it should be a day of rest etc is a Roman Catholic Teaching. Sabbath keepers in the Ukraine were burned at the stake for opposing this facet of Catholiscm. I feel that the modern church should oppose it also and get back to the Early Church model that God planted in Peter the Rock, not the dictation of Catholiscm based on their ideas of Apostolic Succession.
Anyway after researching the idea, I got in touch with the Seventh Day Baptist Church myself. There was not a church near me. They have been a small Baptist Denomination scince 1650 yet they are growing at present. They have a support programme in place to help people start fellowships where there is not an existing work. So that is what I did. We are bulding a fellowship in Adelaide, and God is moving in am amazing way, bringing in people and helping us to really get into the word.
If you are reading this and feel challenged on the Sabbath issue, please have a look at the Seventh Day Baptist Webpage and consider what they have to say. Maybe God is calling you out to do a work for Him?
http://www.seventhdaybaptist.org/
I used to say that I had a goal to find another Seventh Day Baptist on the BB. Guess ill have to find a new goal
I also found that I felt convicted about the churches Sunday Sabbath teaching also, after much study, I saw that Saturday was still the Sabbath, and that it was esteemed by the Early Church.
One interesting study is the Celtic Church who held out the longest against the Roman Catholic church. They have a record of keeping Sabbath on Saturday and a Liturgy for it. It sure makes for an interesting study.
The whole idea that the Sabbath is Sunday and it should be a day of rest etc is a Roman Catholic Teaching. Sabbath keepers in the Ukraine were burned at the stake for opposing this facet of Catholiscm. I feel that the modern church should oppose it also and get back to the Early Church model that God planted in Peter the Rock, not the dictation of Catholiscm based on their ideas of Apostolic Succession.
Anyway after researching the idea, I got in touch with the Seventh Day Baptist Church myself. There was not a church near me. They have been a small Baptist Denomination scince 1650 yet they are growing at present. They have a support programme in place to help people start fellowships where there is not an existing work. So that is what I did. We are bulding a fellowship in Adelaide, and God is moving in am amazing way, bringing in people and helping us to really get into the word.
If you are reading this and feel challenged on the Sabbath issue, please have a look at the Seventh Day Baptist Webpage and consider what they have to say. Maybe God is calling you out to do a work for Him?
http://www.seventhdaybaptist.org/
Walls --
In answer to your question, yes, I observe Shabbat.
I love it, I have found freedom and blessing in its
observance, and I look forward to it , planning for it,
all week long. It is a delight.
I have shown Scripture in the past with regard to
Sabbath observance, so I will not here. I will admit,
however, that I am constantly amazed at the ways
people attempt to use Scripture to disprove
Sabbath observance. I know most mean well,
but . . . .
8o)
In answer to your question, yes, I observe Shabbat.
I love it, I have found freedom and blessing in its
observance, and I look forward to it , planning for it,
all week long. It is a delight.
I have shown Scripture in the past with regard to
Sabbath observance, so I will not here. I will admit,
however, that I am constantly amazed at the ways
people attempt to use Scripture to disprove
Sabbath observance. I know most mean well,
but . . . .
8o)
When our God said to rest, the rest is not to sleep
the day away. 8o) The rest is to rest from the
norm, to turn from the usual, to set the day apart
in worship, in study of His Word, in mitzvot, etc.
I use the day to attend services and to study His
Word both corporately and individually. I relax in
the morning, leave for services at 10 a.m., and
service is from 10:30 - 1:45. All who wish to do so
(most of us) eat together then. While we eat, we
discuss the Scriptures and talk about the day's
sermon. At my table, we often study Hebrew or
discuss concepts taught in our classes.
After lunch, there is a class I like to attend, where
we study various biblical subjects. Right now, we
are studying Daniel and its relation to Revelation.
But often, someone will bring up a different
biblical subject, and we will study it instead. This
class goes from @ 3 p.m. until sundown on
shorter days. During the longer days, the class
ends whenever it ends 8o) sometime around 5 - 6
p.m.
On longer days, we will separate of into small
groups for conversation, games, study, whatever.
The final service is just after sundown each time.
After this, most go home, but some stay afterward,
as we have through the centuries, for a meal and
for teaching or conversation or games -- just to
be together on the first day of the week. After this,
we go home for the night, and the next morning,
Sunday, is like the Saturdays of non-Torah-
observant people. We do our housework, yard
work, shopping, study for secular classes, etc.
Sometimes, I will attend my husband's church on
Sunday, just to be with him, but not often. Today,
I am making three big sandwiches, using three
loaves of Italian bread, to take to his church,
because they serve lunch after their service on
the first Sunday of each month.
Pastor Chet
New Member
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. </font>[/QUOTE]Yet that isn't all of scripture. It's amazing how people grasp what they want to use and ignore the rest. The Word also says How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard?and how shall they hear without a preacher. Rom 10.14 You act as if there is nothing to the christian life except to believe and sit back and wait for the rapture. You may be in for a surprise .The words of Paul in 2 Corinthians may be appropriate.chapter 13 verse 5. Check it out. Even the demons believe and tremble.They aren't saved.our churches are filled with false converts who think they are saved because they made a "decision" yet they are not converted. Pretty scary to live with false assurance only to discover to late by lifting up your eyes in hell and saying I was wrong. Multitudes will do that. that's proven by the fact that jesus said many would come to him in that day he will say get away from me I know you not. Don't take eternity lightly. There's a lot to lose. Be sure of your calling and election.
Did anyone notice that John Wells posted a well presented defense of why the Sabbath was a "shadow", and got no reply to his specific points? You'll find that this is common in discussions of this issue.
This issue is not so much an intellectual issue as a heart issue. One has to guard carefully against causing ill-will and anger.
But, while Ben W. will no doubt disagree with me, I thought you did a fine job, John.
Jim
This issue is not so much an intellectual issue as a heart issue. One has to guard carefully against causing ill-will and anger.
But, while Ben W. will no doubt disagree with me, I thought you did a fine job, John.
Jim
Pastor Chet
New Member
For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way, 'And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.' And again in this place he said, 'They shall never enter my rest.' Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he sets a certain day, 'Today,' saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, 'Today, when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.' For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later of another day. So then, there remains a sabbath rest for the people of God; for whoever enters God's rest also ceases from his labors as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, that no one fall by the same sort of disobedience." (Hebrews 4:4-11
Here, in the clearest mention of Sabbath rest in the New Testament, the writer on one hand reassures the Christian community that "there remains a sabbath rest for the people of God" (4:9), while on the other hand he exhorts them "to strive to enter that rest" (4:11).
The first question that we must answer is what is the exact meaning of "sabbath rest?" Does it mean the rest of the seventh-day Sabbath or something else? One thing is sure, if this "sabbath rest" refers to the seventh-day Sabbath, then one need not question further the Biblical validity of the Sabbath for Christians today.
The Greek word in question is "sabbatismos". The context and the linguistic usage of "sabbatismos" indicate that the reference is indeed to "rest" on the seventh day. The theme of "rest" in Hebrews chapter 4 is introduced in Hebrews 3:7 with no apparent connection to the Sabbath rest. But as the author develops the theme of rest, he traces its origin back to God's rest on the seventh day of creation, by quoting from Genesis 2:2, "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works" (Heb 4:4). Having identified the promise of God's rest to His people with the seventh day creation rest in verse 4, the author feels free in verse 9 to substitute the common term "rest"--"katapausis" with the more specific term "Sabbath rest" or "Sabbath-keeping"--"sabbatismos". The cognate verb "sabbatizo"--"to rest" used here is also used several times in the Septuagint in clear reference to Sabbath observance (Ex. 16:30; Lev. 23:32; 2 Chron. 36:21). These factors strongly suggest that the "Sabbath rest"--"sabbatismos" that remains for the people of God (4:9) is indeed related to the "rest" experienced on the seventh day.
What meaning does the writer of Hebrews attribute to the Sabbath rest? By welding together Psalm 95:11 and Genesis 2:2, the writer presents what one might call three different levels of meaning of the Sabbath rest. At a first level, the Sabbath rest points to God's creation rest, when "his works were finished from the foundation of the world" (Heb. 4:3). This is established by quoting Genesis 2:2. At a second level, the Sabbath rest symbolizes the promise of entry into the land of Canaan, which the Israelites "failed to enter" (Heb. 4:6; 3:16-19), and which was realized later when the Israelites under Joshua did enter the land of rest (Heb. 4:8). At a third and most important level, the Sabbath rest prefigures the rest of redemption which has dawned and is made available to God's people through Christ.
How does the author establish this last meaning? By drawing a remarkable conclusion from Psalm 95:7,11, which he quotes several times (Heb. 4:3,5,7). In Psalms 95, God invites the Israelites to enter into His rest which was denied to the rebellious wilderness generation (vv 7-11). The fact that God should renew "again" the promise of His rest long after the actual entrance into the earthly Canaan, namely at the time of David by saying "today" (Heb. 4:7) is interpreted by the author of Hebrews to mean two things: first, that God's "Sabbath rest" was not exhausted when the Israelites under Joshua found a resting place in the land, but that it still "remains for the people of God" (4:9). Second, that such rest has dawned with the coming of Christ (4:3,7). The phrase "Today, when you hear his voice" (4:7) has a clear reference to Christ. The readers had heard God's voice in the "last days" (1:2) as it spoke through Christ and had received the promise of the Sabbath rest. In the light of the Christ event, then, ceasing from one's labor on the Sabbath (4:10) signifies both a present experience of redemption (4:3) and a hope of future fellowship with God (4:11). For the author of Hebrews, the purpose of creation and the purpose of redemption are reunited in the fulfillment of God's original Sabbath rest.
Here, in the clearest mention of Sabbath rest in the New Testament, the writer on one hand reassures the Christian community that "there remains a sabbath rest for the people of God" (4:9), while on the other hand he exhorts them "to strive to enter that rest" (4:11).
The first question that we must answer is what is the exact meaning of "sabbath rest?" Does it mean the rest of the seventh-day Sabbath or something else? One thing is sure, if this "sabbath rest" refers to the seventh-day Sabbath, then one need not question further the Biblical validity of the Sabbath for Christians today.
The Greek word in question is "sabbatismos". The context and the linguistic usage of "sabbatismos" indicate that the reference is indeed to "rest" on the seventh day. The theme of "rest" in Hebrews chapter 4 is introduced in Hebrews 3:7 with no apparent connection to the Sabbath rest. But as the author develops the theme of rest, he traces its origin back to God's rest on the seventh day of creation, by quoting from Genesis 2:2, "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works" (Heb 4:4). Having identified the promise of God's rest to His people with the seventh day creation rest in verse 4, the author feels free in verse 9 to substitute the common term "rest"--"katapausis" with the more specific term "Sabbath rest" or "Sabbath-keeping"--"sabbatismos". The cognate verb "sabbatizo"--"to rest" used here is also used several times in the Septuagint in clear reference to Sabbath observance (Ex. 16:30; Lev. 23:32; 2 Chron. 36:21). These factors strongly suggest that the "Sabbath rest"--"sabbatismos" that remains for the people of God (4:9) is indeed related to the "rest" experienced on the seventh day.
What meaning does the writer of Hebrews attribute to the Sabbath rest? By welding together Psalm 95:11 and Genesis 2:2, the writer presents what one might call three different levels of meaning of the Sabbath rest. At a first level, the Sabbath rest points to God's creation rest, when "his works were finished from the foundation of the world" (Heb. 4:3). This is established by quoting Genesis 2:2. At a second level, the Sabbath rest symbolizes the promise of entry into the land of Canaan, which the Israelites "failed to enter" (Heb. 4:6; 3:16-19), and which was realized later when the Israelites under Joshua did enter the land of rest (Heb. 4:8). At a third and most important level, the Sabbath rest prefigures the rest of redemption which has dawned and is made available to God's people through Christ.
How does the author establish this last meaning? By drawing a remarkable conclusion from Psalm 95:7,11, which he quotes several times (Heb. 4:3,5,7). In Psalms 95, God invites the Israelites to enter into His rest which was denied to the rebellious wilderness generation (vv 7-11). The fact that God should renew "again" the promise of His rest long after the actual entrance into the earthly Canaan, namely at the time of David by saying "today" (Heb. 4:7) is interpreted by the author of Hebrews to mean two things: first, that God's "Sabbath rest" was not exhausted when the Israelites under Joshua found a resting place in the land, but that it still "remains for the people of God" (4:9). Second, that such rest has dawned with the coming of Christ (4:3,7). The phrase "Today, when you hear his voice" (4:7) has a clear reference to Christ. The readers had heard God's voice in the "last days" (1:2) as it spoke through Christ and had received the promise of the Sabbath rest. In the light of the Christ event, then, ceasing from one's labor on the Sabbath (4:10) signifies both a present experience of redemption (4:3) and a hope of future fellowship with God (4:11). For the author of Hebrews, the purpose of creation and the purpose of redemption are reunited in the fulfillment of God's original Sabbath rest.
Pastor Chet
New Member
I encourage you to go to the following link for a study on the Sabbath. It is to long to post and most don't want to know the truth,they only want to debate. If you are really interested at least check out the study and some of the FAQ's. May God grant you ears to hear and eyes to see. Blessings in Christ
chet
http://www.rezconnection.org/index.cfm/method/content.03B71FBA-A109-42D4-A5E479440D8FB8CE
chet
http://www.rezconnection.org/index.cfm/method/content.03B71FBA-A109-42D4-A5E479440D8FB8CE
It's one thing to say "we don't have to observe the sabbath".
But it's unfortunate that many take it to the extreme by saying "it's wrong to observe the sabbath".
Hey, I'm all for a day of rest. My life is so busy that if it takes God to say "who, slow doen, and least one day of the week", then I shall do just that.
If ya don't like it, you're welcome to work your righteous selves to your next heart attack.
But it's unfortunate that many take it to the extreme by saying "it's wrong to observe the sabbath".
Hey, I'm all for a day of rest. My life is so busy that if it takes God to say "who, slow doen, and least one day of the week", then I shall do just that.
If ya don't like it, you're welcome to work your righteous selves to your next heart attack.
mountainrun
New Member
As I said before, you Sabbath keepers need to study ALL the requirements of keeping the Sabbath.
Abiyah, I hope all these meals you are eating on the Sabbath are cooked on the Day of Preparation as cooking is forbidden on the Sabbath, as is traveling over 2/3 of a mile.
And don't forget to stone your husband to death if he breaks the Sabbath.
We all need to remember that Jesus taught under the old covenant.
He did not do away with the law, but fulfilled it.
We now have a Sabbath rest in Christ.
If you only keep part of the Sabbath laws, those that are not inconvenient for you, then I say you are hypocrites.
And if you must keep the Sabbath laws, why not the dietary laws?
Why not the ceremonial laws?
I believe you all only keep the parts of the laws you want to keep and ignore the rest.
Show me where the Law ever applied to non-Jews?
The only inkling of this is when Jews were told not to allow aliens to work and disturb their Sabbath.
The law was for the Israelites. God repeated this many times when giving it.
MR
Abiyah, I hope all these meals you are eating on the Sabbath are cooked on the Day of Preparation as cooking is forbidden on the Sabbath, as is traveling over 2/3 of a mile.
And don't forget to stone your husband to death if he breaks the Sabbath.
We all need to remember that Jesus taught under the old covenant.
He did not do away with the law, but fulfilled it.
We now have a Sabbath rest in Christ.
If you only keep part of the Sabbath laws, those that are not inconvenient for you, then I say you are hypocrites.
And if you must keep the Sabbath laws, why not the dietary laws?
Why not the ceremonial laws?
I believe you all only keep the parts of the laws you want to keep and ignore the rest.
Show me where the Law ever applied to non-Jews?
The only inkling of this is when Jews were told not to allow aliens to work and disturb their Sabbath.
The law was for the Israelites. God repeated this many times when giving it.
MR