trucker said:
All,
How delightful! Have been discussing the Sabbath (really christians being required to keep the 10) with SDA folks over in general Theology.
Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
trucker
Hi trucker, first off, i'm SDA so let me put things in proper perspective.
I believe that Jesus died for my sins and He did everything possible to save us. We didn't have to do anything. IOW, i'm just sitting down here typing away knowing that God had done something that i couldn't do. He saved the world and that if i believe and accept it, i will be saved.
Now with this knowledge, i know that i am saved and so i'm extremely grateful! So the next question is "what do i do??" or "what is the proper response?" or "what do you want me to do Lord?". Of course i know i'm already saved, but i just want to do something that is pleasing to God in this life and i want to make sure it is. So the guidelines that i see are in the 10 commandments which of course includes the Sabbath commandment.
I see it often that if couples are so in love with each other, they would do anything to make the other happy. This would include asking "i know you love me already and i'm grateful for you BUT what can i do to make you happy?i really want to behave in a proper way and to please you"
Jesus represented human race in saving us. And i am certain that he wouldn't leave us without any guidelines in ways we could express ourselves such that it would be pleasing to Him. The 10 commandments are essentially the guidelines in this world to please Him. They DO NOT replace the sacrifice of Jesus nor do they provide salvation to us.
It is just a proper response!
Lastly, christians would agree that the whole salvation message is wrapped up in one word "Love".
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. " Matt 22:37-40
I would propose a hierarchy of commandments if you will.
At the top level you have LOVE.
The second level you have love to God, and love to neighbor. In verse 40 it goes on to say "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
So the third level would be the 10 commandments. 1st 4 commandments describes our response to God. Last 6 describes our response to our neighbor.
Is there a 4th level? Yes. When Jesus came, he demonstrated what the 4th level was. He came to earth to demonstrate the SPIRIT of the law. Note that the 3rd level (10 commandments) is the LETTER of the law. And the religious leaders of that day were just keeping the LETTER without the SPIRIT. So one purpose Jesus came was to re-introduce the SPIRIT into the law and to teach them the proper way of true obedience. So the 4th level would be like "You murder too if you have angry thoughts against your brother". IOW, it gets more specific as you go down the levels. But yet, the top level is LOVE. That's why i say, LOVE is enough. But do not forget how many things would be hanging on that word LOVE.
If i am truly grateful for Jesus' death for me on the cross, i would bother to ask "what do you want me to do Lord?You did everything and i just want to live a pleasing life wholly and acceptable to you". Jesus answers "If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15. John goes on to say "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."1 John 5:3
I've been an SDA all my life and his commandments provide freedom (James 1:25) and satisfaction to my life because i know it is pleasing to Him. There is nothing more i can do than to obey because i know Jesus saved me already.
Hope you get a better picture of SDAs. Of course some demonstrate in such a way that the 10 commandments are SOO necessary as if they are necessary for salvation but it's not what we believe.