The Sabbath's purpose

[JohnRabbit]

why did God institute the Sabbath and what was/is it's purpose?

like to hear your comments.

btw, i'm pro Sabbath.

 

[addo]

As rest, obviously. Physical rest from the labor. Spiritual rest, from the preoccupations and sinfulness and problems of this world.

Then it is also an appointment with God. Before the fall man met God face to face. Now sin doesn't allow that, but we still have a form to be with Him. He is always with us, but we are not always with Him. So in the Sabbath we are to think and meditate about Him, and on the rest of the week you are free to worry about your business, but on the Sabbath you must think about Him.

Also, we are to double our efforts in not sinning. Of course, we must do that always, but if we sin in the Sabbath, we do a double sin: the sin and the sin of breaking the Sabbath; because sinning on Sabbath is breaking it. This is why doctors can work on the Sabbath and this is why Jesus worked on the Sabbath. Doctors saved one's physical life and Jesus did both: physical by healing and spiritual by preaching the good news.

Of course, we must always remember that we can "break" the Sabbath (it is not breaking it, by the way) if emergencies arise, such as if one's life is in danger (spiritual or physical life).

 

[Stephen Kendall]

I have always tried to keep Sunday as a rest day, a tradition of my family. I still try. My wife is SDA. I love her. She helps me with my Saturday harvesting at the farm. I go with her to her church when I am not working at the farm. It is a little unusual for us to have 2 days of rest at times, but we do.

I seek to understand Jesus, The Holy Spirit and God's Will. I have listened closely to Jesus, his disciples and the Christian martyrs. I appreciate the differences and beliefs of all Christians. Reading the words of Apostle Paul and the other disciples, I find that they respected the differences of the early Christians and were able to love them all. They obeyed Jesus' command of loving their brethren and not the human desire & need to prove who is right. Self convictions are what we all have in our lives (as Paul wrote), but we are to love others, especially the weaker spiritual brethren (such as those who eat no meat or are offended by their consciences about such things like eating food that were offered to idols). I formed a new conviction after searching and much reading & rereading the Bible. I found a conviction to the teachings & commands of Jesus Christ, the son of man and the son of God. I found zero convictions of the teachings of man, such as Trinity and many others. I was finally able to hear Jesus and not man's ideas. I seem to go against the cloud that confuses most of Christendom (Trinity). I finally understand who is right and who isn't. I understand also why there are 37,000 Christian denominations and growing divisions. Best of all, I can obey the actual teachings of Jesus Christ, the son of man, the son of God. I have a peace and foundation on the very Will of God through his son, Jesus Christ. The debate of the Will of God is forever going until the faithful Day of Judgment. I am afraid of not accepting the convictions and understanding that God has given me so as to fall prey to the many other person's personal convictions. I am where I am in the understanding and personal relationship with my Father. I am very surprised at the uniqueness of this, yet I am able to hear, understand and obey the son of man, the son of God, Jesus Christ.

One reason that I sought to understand things better was because of an unbeliever seeking Christ during a mission trip in Mexico asking me about Trinity. I really didn't have an answer. For me to be convicted of something, I had to have an understanding of that subject, so I researched Trinity to the nth degree. I was surprised at what I found. Trinity's play into things was as bad as the Catholic Church's cloud which they had put over the Gospel for so long in our history. Most of these things seem to be out of superstitions, mental exercises & flesh's lust & desires, and not from actually obeying the teachings of Jesus Christ the son of man and son of God. It is not the Holy Spirit that church leaders were listening to, but through their lack of faith and faithfulness to Jesus Christ (they weren't obeying his teachings).

I feel compelled to come to a couple Christian forums on the internet, to ask people to think and have faith. Did not Christ teach people to think and to trust God, their Father and his in heaven, through his parables and analogies?

What is surprising is that a person can obey the teachings & commands of Jesus Christ in his ministry on Earth without accepting the theologies of church leaders. However, to accept these theologies burdens such commands of the Son of Man as to love the brethren. It is man's theologies that hurts our faith and obedience to the Son of God. Jesus asked, "will he find faith when he returns to the Earth". Faith allows us patience in understanding and the ability to obey the teachings and actual commands of the Messiah.

I love to go to church, but not under obligation, just a thirst and hunger to share, search and explain God's will. I love to feel the Holy Spirit giving me words to share. It is wonderful. A few people hear, most don't understand. I try to avoid debates and arguments. I seek God's will, yet realizing my humanness. One word of God is worth more than thousands of man. Being human, I have my thousands, but if it is possible to say what He puts into my heart to speak before others, I will. At this point in my writing here, I am sure that some will say "blasphemer" to me, however, I am in excellent company, for my Lord was also called such. To such people, how can you obey Jesus Christ's commands of love when you are filled with rage? What kind of spirit do you have in you?

There is one other thing, as much as I love to help Christians and share, I am responsible to my own personal family in working to pay bills and providing substance and time for them. Being here, takes away my precious time from my obligations. Love you all, but my personal responsibilities call me strongly (especially the needs of my 4 year son). Thank you for reading my post. Have a wonderful day in the Lord. May God bless you all.

 

[Stryder06]

Honestly, I think you could look at it like a day of celebration. When you finish school (HS, College, Grad Degree, etc) you normally celebrate. Typically at the close of a successful project in the business world, a type of celebration occurs. God had just finished creating the word, and making man in His image. That would seem as a reason to celebrate. He took the seventh day and set it aside for us. In all honesty He could have ended with the sixth day, all of His work was completed, but He made the seventh day as a day of rest for us so that we can come together and celebrate His goodness. I mean in all honesty what else is church service for if not to celebrate corporately, How good God is.

 

[Duckybill]

Colossians 2:16-17 (NKJV)
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

 

[Stephen Kendall]

Colossians 2:16-17 (NKJV)
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

This is correct. There are many such places in the Bible that speak in this line (one is in Romans C.14). Peter spoke about things as well. Why do people go back away from the grace of Christ and their faith in him? People just don't understand and can't surrender to this wonderful awakening by grace & acceptance from Christ. Our minds want to plot out our own pathway. This is coming from non-surrender (our faith is weak). Some are stitching up the torn veil in the temple, some are adding works to faith, some are adding parts of the Old Testament to the freedom & uniqueness of a Christian's walk through Christ, most are adding theological concepts like Trinity to try and know where their footsteps are to God and most really aren't listening to God through Jesus, the son of man & son of God. Who are the real believers in Jesus? They are the ones who obey the son of man & son of God (the Messiah's) teachings & commands. Their is a cloud over the Churches. There was such with the Catholic Church for hundreds of years. There has been one over the Protestant Church. Yet Apostle Paul said to let them preach the Gospel (though they weren't right in their hearts) for there will be the true children of God hearing the Good News though through their selfish ambitions. The Good News should be preached. The distorted news comes with it, but the children of light will follow Christ alone. That is also very good news.

 

[JohnRabbit]

Stephen Kendall and Duckybill,

i didn't want this to be a debate about keeping the sabbath, rather, to see what people thought about its purpose.

would like people to stick with the thread.

we could discuss whether keeping the sabbath equals "works unto salvation" in another thread.

why did God institute the Sabbath and what was/is it's purpose?

 

[Duckybill]

Stephen Kendall and Duckybill,

i didn't want this to be a debate about keeping the sabbath, rather, to see what people thought about its purpose.

would like people to stick with the thread.

we could discuss whether keeping the sabbath equals "works unto salvation" in another thread.

why did God institute the Sabbath and what was/is it's purpose?

Do you mean the Genesis Sabbath or the Sabbath in the Law of Moses?

 

[addo]

Do you mean the Genesis Sabbath or the Sabbath in the Law of Moses?

Many things in the "Law of Moses" had their origin long before Moses was even born. For example the animal sacrifices. They originated at the fall of man. Another example would be circumcision. Even though it was in the Law of Moses, it didn't originate with Moses, but with Abraham. In the Law of Moses there were also laws about marriage, but marriage originated before sin.

​

So the Sabbath of creation is the same as the Sabbath that is in the Law of Moses.

[FONT=&quot]Genesis 2:2-3 KJV[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](3)[/FONT][FONT=&quot] And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.[/FONT]

It says that God rested on the seventh day of the week. Does He need rest? Not according to Scripture:

[FONT=&quot]Isaiah 40:28 KJV[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](28)[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?[/FONT]

Thus God doesn't get tired and doesn't have any need to rest. Why did He rest on the seventh day? There is an interesting verse in Ephesians:

[FONT=&quot]Ephesians 5:1 KJV[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](1)[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.[/FONT]

The word "follower" there, in Greek, is μιμητής (G3402, mimētēs, mim-ay-tace'), and it literally means imitator, because it comes from G3401 which means "to imitate".

So what that passage is saying is this: "imitate God as beloved children".

This is why God rested. According to Isaiah He doesn't need rest. So He rested to give us an example, to imitate Him.

It's easy to understand, really. The Sabbath was made before sin entered trough Adam. Before sin God also, besides the Sabbath, gave man the woman; thus He also created marriage. Do men still need women? Do we still need marriage? Of course. Do we still need the Sabbath? Obviously.

So the Sabbath of Genesis is the same as the Sabbath that is in the Law of Moses.

 

[Stephen Kendall]

We got to meet somewhere. There is nothing wrong with discussion that borders your topic. Validity of your topic is supposed. Suppositions are not always a system with borders that can be generally accepted or so well defined. Sorry to cross your border.

 

[Stephen Kendall]

By the way, Jesus said that his father hasn't rested and he does as his father does, good works always. To understand Christ in this context is to tell us to do good works always, for this world isn't ours and the night is coming where no one can work. We are the children of God under Christ and should be imitating them, especially Jesus. Our time is very limited and why are we resting? We are the law for God has written it in our hearts. As Christ, we better be doing God's will seven days a week, don't be scared of the modern day Pharisees. I leave your subject alone now. I just wanted you to see that we are born again, not of the Old Covenant Law, but of the grace and faith of Christ. We don't live self-interested lives outside of Christ 6 days a week and then rest on the 7th, but we live God's willed lives (unselfish & caring) 7 days a week. We will enter into God's and Jesus' rest to come after we leave this world. Good thought. Have a good day. Please return to your topic. I will hush now.

 

[JohnRabbit]

We got to meet somewhere. There is nothing wrong with discussion that borders your topic. Validity of your topic is supposed. Suppositions are not always a system with borders that can be generally accepted or so well defined. Sorry to cross your border.

is this directed towards me?

 

[JohnRabbit]

Do you mean the Genesis Sabbath or the Sabbath in the Law of Moses?

if your read one post below your post, that i have quoted above here, addo, in my mind answers your question.

good job addo!

 

[Duckybill]

Many things in the "Law of Moses" had their origin long before Moses was even born. For example the animal sacrifices. They originated at the fall of man. Another example would be circumcision. Even though it was in the Law of Moses, it didn't originate with Moses, but with Abraham. In the Law of Moses there were also laws about marriage, but marriage originated before sin.

​

So the Sabbath of creation is the same as the Sabbath that is in the Law of Moses.
It says that God rested on the seventh day of the week. Does He need rest? Not according to Scripture:
Thus God doesn't get tired and doesn't have any need to rest. Why did He rest on the seventh day? There is an interesting verse in Ephesians:
The word "follower" there, in Greek, is μιμητής (G3402, mimētēs, mim-ay-tace'), and it literally means imitator, because it comes from G3401 which means "to imitate".

So what that passage is saying is this: "imitate God as beloved children".

This is why God rested. According to Isaiah He doesn't need rest. So He rested to give us an example, to imitate Him.

It's easy to understand, really. The Sabbath was made before sin entered trough Adam. Before sin God also, besides the Sabbath, gave man the woman; thus He also created marriage. Do men still need women? Do we still need marriage? Of course. Do we still need the Sabbath? Obviously.

So the Sabbath of Genesis is the same as the Sabbath that is in the Law of Moses.

Actually I was referring to the Sabbath COMMANDS.

 

[Duckybill]

if your read one post below your post, that i have quoted above here, addo, in my mind answers your question.

good job addo!

Are there Sabbath commands in Genesis? Or just the Law of Moses?

 

[JohnRabbit]

Are there Sabbath commands in Genesis? Or just the Law of Moses?

regardless of where you find the sabbath command, can you expound as to its purpose?

 

[ricker]

why did God institute the Sabbath and what was/is it's purpose?

like to hear your comments.

btw, i'm pro Sabbath.

The weekly Sabbath rest was instituted after the Exodus.

The Sabbath was a test first given to Israel as told in Exodus 16 (before He gave them the Law).

4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days." .......

In Hebrews 3 and 4 we read God's rest was a singluar one, celebrating His creation, and the Children of Israel did not enter this rest. It also says our sabbath rest is "today", and we enter it by resting from our works, as God did His.

I believe the sabbath command as given to the nation of Israel both looked back to God's rest at creation and Israel's deliverance from Egypt, and forward to the rest we have from our works in Christ. Exodus 31 says it was a sign given only to Israel as their covenant.

 

[Zurra]

why did God institute the Sabbath and what was/is it's purpose?

like to hear your comments.

btw, i'm pro Sabbath.

Hi John,


Nice to read you. I believe God instituted the Sabbath for many purposes:

• The Sabbath is to be a day of Physical Rest & Spiritual Rejuvenation. It is meant to be a welcome, refreshing rest from our weekly labors, a time during which we must no longer be absorbed in our ordinary daily cares & concerns. Ex.20:10.
  [*]To nurture & Strengthen a Right Relationship with God. When we are free to focus our minds & thoughts on God's ways and purpose, the sabbath truly becomes the blessing & delight God intends it to be Is.58:13-14. It is a holy day in which we honour God. It is a matter of surrending one of our most valuable possessions - our time - to build a right relationship with our Creator.(Isaiah 58:13-14).
• It is a reminder of our Creator, when he completed his creation on the 7th Day He rested from His work. It is a reminder to those He calls that He is the One who has sanctified them, setting them apart & establishing a special relationship with them as His people.
• It is a time to be a delight, a time to "find joy in the LORD," He tells us. Rather than spending this time on our own interests & pursuits, it is a time set aside to concentrate on the things that are pleasing to God & nourish our relationship with Him.
• It is an ideal time for God to speak with us. By refraining from our usual work & other activities on that day, we have this time to receive instruction from God through His Word, the Bible. 2 Tim 3:16-17.
• Not only does Sabbath observance help us to understand God's ways; it helps us better understand our own thoughts & motivations, showing us where we can change to become more like God. Hebs 4:12.
• A Time For Fellowship with others of like mind, a time for mutually encouragining one another. "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" Hebs 10:24-25. Believers are expected to come together to worship on the Sabbath, a sacred assembly. 1 Cor 11:18;14:23; Lev 23:3.
• The Sabbath was given to be a benefit to mankind, bringing blessings when obeyed. Deut 4:40; 5:29,33.
• It is a time for Physical, Emotional & Spiritual Renewal.
• It is A Sign of God's People, it is an identifying sign of God's special people, it is a perpetual covenant.Ex 31:13-17.
• Also A Reminder of the Millennial Rest prophesied in the O.T., part of God's Master Plan.

Zurra

 

[JohnRabbit]

Hi John,



Nice to read you. I believe God instituted the Sabbath for many purposes:

• The Sabbath is to be a day of Physical Rest & Spiritual Rejuvenation. It is meant to be a welcome, refreshing rest from our weekly labors, a time during which we must no longer be absorbed in our ordinary daily cares & concerns. Ex.20:10.
  [*]To nurture & Strengthen a Right Relationship with God. When we are free to focus our minds & thoughts on God's ways and purpose, the sabbath truly becomes the blessing & delight God intends it to be Is.58:13-14. It is a holy day in which we honour God. It is a matter of surrending one of our most valuable possessions - our time - to build a right relationship with our Creator.(Isaiah 58:13-14).
• It is a reminder of our Creator, when he completed his creation on the 7th Day He rested from His work. It is a reminder to those He calls that He is the One who has sanctified them, setting them apart & establishing a special relationship with them as His people.
• It is a time to be a delight, a time to "find joy in the LORD," He tells us. Rather than spending this time on our own interests & pursuits, it is a time set aside to concentrate on the things that are pleasing to God & nourish our relationship with Him.
• It is an ideal time for God to speak with us. By refraining from our usual work & other activities on that day, we have this time to receive instruction from God through His Word, the Bible. 2 Tim 3:16-17.
• Not only does Sabbath observance help us to understand God's ways; it helps us better understand our own thoughts & motivations, showing us where we can change to become more like God. Hebs 4:12.
• A Time For Fellowship with others of like mind, a time for mutually encouragining one another. "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" Hebs 10:24-25. Believers are expected to come together to worship on the Sabbath, a sacred assembly. 1 Cor 11:18;14:23; Lev 23:3.
• The Sabbath was given to be a benefit to mankind, bringing blessings when obeyed. Deut 4:40; 5:29,33.
• It is a time for Physical, Emotional & Spiritual Renewal.
• It is A Sign of God's People, it is an identifying sign of God's special people, it is a perpetual covenant.Ex 31:13-17.
• Also A Reminder of the Millennial Rest prophesied in the O.T., part of God's Master Plan.

Zurra

i don't think i could've written it any better.

simply an awesome post!

 

[Knee V]

Aside from all the temporal purposes (ie, physical rest, etc, which themselves are good for us), I believe the primary purpose of the Sabbath is to reveal Christ. God resting from creation on the 7th day foreshadows Christ resting in the grave on the 7th day. Also, the command to rest on the 7th day points to Christ who Himself IS our rest, our true Sabbath. It is one more way by which we can better know Christ, and thus more deeply enter into communion with Him.