[POLL] Should Christians Rest and Keep Holy the Sabbath Day?

[CDF47]

In regard to matt7:1&2
I guess anyone who states you must obey the TC to be in a saved state will be judged on that basis

Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. That is the only way to be saved.

 

[CDF47]

Those words are both imperatival and thus have the same meaning. Though you could say they have different nuances. "Should" could have a hypothetical-imperatival nuance while "must" could carry a categorical-imperatival nuance.

What do you see as the difference?

If it was worded must it would regard salvation where salvation is only by grace through faith in the LORD.

 

[CDF47]

'Should' seems to suggest a preferred condition lacking a punitive aspect. 'Must' is an imperative that suggests consequences for failure to comply.

Yeah, mainly salvation.

 

[CDF47]

First, did Jesus fulfill the law?

Second, what is the method of keeping God's law which is written on our hearts and revealed by the Holy Spirit?

Seems that for some the HS may call them to keep the intent of the sabbath. And others may not have that constraint based on the things the HS is doing in their spiritual formation at a particular time.

Jesus fulfilled the Law but did not abolish it.

I interpret the Sabbath as this; when the Lord said if you love me keep my commandments, he was referring to keeping the commandments of love God and neighbor. From those two commandments come the Moral Law or the Ten Commandments which should also be kept in my opinion. I think we should do what we can to rest and worship on the seventh day of the week.

Those are my thoughts.

 

[Soyeong]

I think we should seek to keep every day holy. And as far the rest of God is concerned, the obvious New Testament teaching was that we were to rest from our own works and begin letting the Lord Jesus Christ Himself work through us instead (Hebrews 4:1-6).

The Old Testament Sabbath rest was merely a type of something far deeper spiritually.

Something that is holy is set apart for a specific purpose, but in order for there to be something that is set apart, there also needs to be something that it is set apart from, so the Sabbath is holy because it is set apart by God from the other days for a specific purpose. According to Matthew 11:28-30 and Jeremiah 6:16-19, God's Law is the good way where we will find rest for our souls.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Something that is holy is set apart for a specific purpose, but in order for there to be something that is set apart, there also needs to be something that it is set apart from, so the Sabbath is holy because it is set apart by God from the other days for a specific purpose. According to Matthew 11:28-30 and Jeremiah 6:16-19, God's Law is the good way where we will find rest for our souls.

I dedicate every day to God, and my soul is continually at rest and has been for many, many years now. No offense, but were I to start dedicating one day in particular, I think it would be a spiritual setback of sorts.

 

[Steve Petersen]

Yeah, mainly salvation.

Sabbath-keeping is a salvation issue for SDAs, not anyone else to my knowledge.

 

[LoveGodsWord]

I think we should seek to keep every day holy. And as far the rest of God is concerned, the obvious New Testament teaching was that we were to rest from our own works and begin letting the Lord Jesus Christ Himself work through us instead (Hebrews 4:1-6).The Old Testament Sabbath rest was merely a type of something far deeper spiritually.

It is important to worship God everyday but God has made the 7th Day of the week a Holy day for mankind and has asked his people to keep it as a Holy day (Genesis 2:1-3; Mark 2:27-28, Exodus 20:8-11; James 2:8-12; John 14:15). Some thoughts on Hebrews 4 and context

HEB 4

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 limited a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Jesus 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, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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.

Key Scripture points
* Fear that the promise being left us any of us should fall short of entering God’s rest (v1)
* The Gospel was preached to the people in the Wilderness as well as us. The Word did not profit those in the wilderness because of their unbelief (v2)
* For we which have believed do enter into His Rest. The people in the wilderness that did not believe God did not enter into His Rest even though works were finished from the foundation of the world (v3)
* Speaking of the 7th Day Sabbath and the last day of the creation week (Gen 2:1-3) (v4)
* God’s rest (Gen 2:1-3), those that believe enter into God’s 7th Day Sabbath rest those that do not believe do not enter into God’s 7th Day Sabbath rest (v5-6)
* Harden not your heart in unbelief (v7-8)
* There is a rest for the people of God (v9)
* Those that enter into God’s rest cease from works as God did v10
* We should labour to enter into God’s rest (Gen 2:1-3) faith in God’s Word (rest through believing God) v11
* The Word of God is powerful. v12

Please go back and look at the Greek meaning of the word "rest" used in Heb 4:9 its meaning is resting through keeping of a Sabbath or Sabbath observance. (I have provided Greek links below)

“There remaineth therefore a [Sabbath] rest 4520 to the people of God.” (NAS; Heb 4:9)
The Greek word literally means “Sabbath keeping” or “Sabbath observance.” (links below)

Strong's Concordance 4520
sabbatismos: a sabbath rest
Original Word: σαββατισμός, οῦ, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: sabbatismos
Phonetic Spelling: (sab-bat-is-mos')
Short Definition: a Sabbath rest
Definition: a keeping of the Sabbath, a Sabbath rest.

Strong's Greek 4520
σαββατισμὸς — 1 Occ.
Hebrews 4:9N-NMS
GRK: ἄρα ἀπολείπεται σαββατισμὸς τῷ λαῷ
NAS: there remains a Sabbath rest for the people
KJV: therefore a rest to the people
INT: Then remains a sabbath rest to the people

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4520: σαββατισμός
σαββατισμός, σαββατισμου, ὁ (σαββατίζω to keep the sabbath); 1. a keeping sabbath. 2. the blessed rest from toils and troubles looked for in the age to come by the true worshippers of God and true Christians (R. V. sabbath rest): Hebrews 4:9. (Plutarch, de superstit. c. 3; ecclesiastical writings.)

So let’s pull Hebrews 4:1-12 all together?

The context is God’s rest from the week of creation on the 7th Day of the creation week (Hebrews 4:1-5). Those that did not enter into God’s rest (7th Day Sabbath) did not enter in because of their unbelief and disobedience (sins) to God’s Word. The Gospel was preached unto them but they did not believe it (Hebrews 4:2). God did not give them His true rest (Hebrews 4:5-8). This is the same warning for those that disobey Him and do not follow His Word. Only those that believe and obey God’s Word enter into his 7th Day Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:6; 9; 10-12). So you can see Jesus is not a Sabbath. The Sabbath is the 7th Day of the Week. Jesus is Lord of this Day because he is the creator of this day (Hebrews 4:4; Mark 2:27-28) and the 4th commandment is one of the 10 just like murder, stealing or lying is (James 2:8-12).

In Christ!

 

[CDF47]

Sabbath-keeping is a salvation issue for SDAs, not anyone else to my knowledge.

There are other seventh day denominations that have similar views as SDA regarding the Sabbath.

 

[CDF47]

It is important to worship God everyday but God has made the 7th Day of the week a Holy day for mankind and has asked his people to keep it as a Holy day (Genesis 2:1-3; Mark 2:27-28, Exodus 20:8-11; James 2:8-12; John 14:15). Some thoughts on Hebrews 4 and context

HEB 4

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 limited a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Jesus 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, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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.

Key Scripture points
* Fear that the promise being left us any of us should fall short of entering God’s rest (v1)
* The Gospel was preached to the people in the Wilderness as well as us. The Word did not profit those in the wilderness because of their unbeliefit (v2)
* For we which have believed do enter into His Rest. The people in the wilderness that did not believe God did not enter into His Rest even though works were finished from the foundation of the world (v3)
* Speaking of the 7th Day Sabbath and the last day of the creation week (Gen 2:1-3) (v4)
* God’s rest (Gen 2:1-3), those that believe enter into God’s 7th Day Sabbath rest those that do not believe do not enter into God’s 7th Day Sabbath rest (v5-6)
* Harden not your heart in unbelief (v7-8)
* There is a rest for the people of God (v9)
* Those that enter into God’s rest cease from works as God did v10
* We should labour to enter into God’s rest (Gen 2:1-3) faith in God’s Word (rest through believing God) v11
* The Word of God is powerful. v12

Please go back and look at the Greek meaning of the word "rest" used in Heb 4:9 its meaning is resting through keeping of a Sabbath or Sabbath observance. (I have provided Greek links below)

“There remaineth therefore a [Sabbath] rest 4520 to the people of God.” (NAS; Heb 4:9)
The Greek word literally means “Sabbath keeping” or “Sabbath observance.” (links below)

Strong's Concordance 4520
sabbatismos: a sabbath rest
Original Word: σαββατισμός, οῦ, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: sabbatismos
Phonetic Spelling: (sab-bat-is-mos')
Short Definition: a Sabbath rest
Definition: a keeping of the Sabbath, a Sabbath rest.

Strong's Greek 4520
σαββατισμὸς — 1 Occ.
Hebrews 4:9N-NMS
GRK: ἄρα ἀπολείπεται σαββατισμὸς τῷ λαῷ
NAS: there remains a Sabbath rest for the people
KJV: therefore a rest to the people
INT: Then remains a sabbath rest to the people

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4520: σαββατισμός
σαββατισμός, σαββατισμου, ὁ (σαββατίζω to keep the sabbath); 1. a keeping sabbath. 2. the blessed rest from toils and troubles looked for in the age to come by the true worshippers of God and true Christians (R. V. sabbath rest): Hebrews 4:9. (Plutarch, de superstit. c. 3; ecclesiastical writings.)

So let’s pull Hebrews 4:1-12 all together?

The context is God’s rest from the week of creation on the 7th Day of the creation week (Hebrews 4:1-5). Those that did not enter into God’s rest (7th Day Sabbath) did not enter in because of their unbelief and disobedience (sins) to God’s Word. The Gospel was preached unto them but they did not believe it (Hebrews 4:2). God did not give them His true rest (Hebrews 4:5-8). This is the same warning for those that disobey Him and do not follow His Word. Only those that believe and obey God’s Word enter into his 7th Day Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:6, 9, 10-12). So you can see Jesus is not a Sabbath. The Sabbath is the 7th Day of the Week. Jesus is Lord of this Day because he is the creator of this day (Hebrews 4:4; Mark 2:27-28) and the 4th commandment is one of the 10 just like murder, stealing or lying is (James 2:8-12).

In Christ!

Good arguments. How do you interpret Colossians 2:16-17 where Paul says not based on Sabbaths as they are a shadow of Christ?

 

[Dkh587]

Good arguments. How do you interpret Colossians 2:16-17 where Paul says not based on Sabbaths as they are a shadow of Christ?

If you read Colossians 2 starting at the beginning, you will see that Paul is encouraging the Colossians and telling them to not let anybody judge them for keeping the Sabbath & holy days. Pagans were troubling them for observing things like the Sabbath, food laws etc

Paul was not writing to them to tell them "dont let people judge you for not keeping sabbath".

He is telling them don't let them judge you for keeping them. Take a closer look

Also, notice Paul says they ARE a shadow of things to come. Not "were". The Sabbath & holy days and many other things still point to future events

 

[CDF47]

If you read Colossians 2 starting at the beginning, you will see that Paul is encouraging the Colossians and telling them to not let anybody judge them for keeping the Sabbath & holy days. Pagans were troubling them for observing things like the Sabbath, food laws etc

Paul was not writing to them to tell them "dont let people judge you for not keeping sabbath".

He is telling them don't let them judge you for keeping them. Take a closer look

Also, notice Paul says they ARE a shadow of things to come. Not "were". The Sabbath & holy days and many other things still point to future events

Yeah, it seems as if they were being judged on how they were doing things and he was telling them don't let anyone judge you on this.

 

[LoveGodsWord]

Good arguments. How do you interpret Colossians 2:16-17 where Paul says not based on Sabbaths as they are a shadow of Christ?

Good question CDF47 scriptures from God's Word here 5 x PART thread on Col 2:14-17 here. I wont post it here but this is linked. Each part can be read alone to reach a conclusion and is not dependent on each other.

In Christ Always!

 

[CDF47]

Good question CDF47 I have started a 4 x PART thread on Col 2:14-17 here. I wont post it here but this is linked. I have included 3/4 PARTS I will be updating the thread soon. But each part can be read alone to reach a conclusion and is not dependent on each other.

In Christ Always!

Just finished reading. That is a really good commentary and breakdown of those verses comparing it to other locations of the Bible.

 

[Soyeong]

I dedicate every day to God, and my soul is continually at rest and has been for many, many years now. No offense, but were I to start dedicating one day in particular, I think it would be a spiritual setback of sorts.

No offense taken. Not even in the OT was God worshiped only once a week, but that is not the same thing.

 

[stuart lawrence]

Yes, Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. The Sabbath is time apart to rest and worship the Lord so knowing the Commandment it could be in the heart.

The point is. Under the NC, God writes the law in the mind and places it in the heart of the believer. Therefore, you wouldn't have to rely on reading the Bible to know which law God desires you to follow, for the law is within you

 

[LoveGodsWord]

Just finished reading. That is a really good commentary and breakdown of those verses comparing it to other locations of the Bible.

Hi CDF47,

Thanks there was lots of prayer and bible study involved it was a blessing to me and was the reason why I wanted to share it to help others that may be interested in the topic. [Staff edit]. I will post PART 4 soon. It will be linked at the bottom of the OP on page 1 with PARTS 1-3 shortly.

UPDATED Finished now 5 x PART thread on Col 2:14-17 here.

In Christ Always!

 

[stuart lawrence]

Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. That is the only way to be saved.

Not relevant to the point made

I will elucidate on the point made.
Someone quoted matt7:1&2

I responded by pointing out that according to those verses, if you say a person can only be in a saved state if they obey the TC, you will be judged/ considered saved according to whether you obey ALL of the TC
You do agree with Jesus words don't you?
The measure you use to judge others will be used to judge you

 

[listed]

That is definitely the case and more reason not to judge people regarding the Sabbaths as Paul stated.

Or the manner they regard it. It even means when they treat it like another day.

 

[listed]

The vote so far is 5 Yes, 2 No

Means nothing.