Hi, I would like to challenge Christians who keep a weekly Sabbath. I plan to start a new thread for each of the questions. To begin I would like to ask, was the Sabbath given to man at creation as a special day to worship God?
Let's look at the relevant text:
By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work he had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. (Genesis 2:2-3)
Here God rested after He worked and blessed His day of rest. There is no command for humanity. There is no explicit instruction that every seventh day thereafter is blessed, nor is there instruction for mankind to respond in any particular way.
In the same vein, is there any record of mankind keeping a Sabbath day from Adam to Moses? There are a few places where the bible teaches God gave the Sabbath as a sign in the Mosaic Covenant:
“Also I gave them [Israel] My Sabbaths...” (Ezekiel 20:12-13)
“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy. Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you.’” (Exodus 31:13-14)
“‘It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’” (Exodus 31:17)
In support of this, Judaism itself has always taught that the Sabbath was given in the Mosaic Covenant, not at creation. For example Judaism teaches of the Seven Laws of Noah which are for Jews and Gentiles. But these do not include a Sabbath. So while there is a first mention of a Sabbath in Genesis, it seems the first instructions to keep it were given at Sinai.
What do you think about this?
(Please stay on this point only and do not give other arguments promoting a Sabbath. I would like this thread to be about the one question, was there a seventh-day Sabbath for mankind originating with God and given to Adam? Or was it given to Moses and the Israelites? I would also prefer that you make logical arguments rather than preaching or posting multiple Bible verses that are only vaguely applicable).
I look forward to learning more and being challenged.
Peace.
Ok thanks for moving this here.
Let's remove all of the man made teachings and traditions that are out there and take the word of God and see what God's Word says as to when the "SEVENTH DAY SABBATH" was created for all mankind.
Let's start in the book of GENESIS at the end of all creation on the "SEVENTH DAY OF THE CREATION WEEK" where it is written
GENESIS 2:1-3 [1], THIS THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH WERE FINISHED, AND ALL THE HOST OF THEM. [2], And ON THE SEVENTH DAY God ended his work which he had made; and he RESTED [שׁבת; shâbath H7673; Keep Sabbath] on the SEVENTH DAY from all his work which he had made.
NOTE: CREATION was finished in six days *
GENESIS 1:1-31;
GENESIS 2:1-2 at this time (7th Day) God RESTED *
GENESIS 2:2. God then set apart the "SEVENTH DAY" from the other days of the week and "BLESSED" the "SEVENTH DAY" and made the "SEVENTH DAY" a "HOLY DAY" of "REST" as God RESTED from all the work that he had made on the "SEVENTH DAY" of creation.
QUESTION: WHERE IS THE SABBATH IN
GENESIS 2:1-3 IN CREATION?
ANSWER: In "RESTING"! The Hebrew word for "RESTING; RESTED or REST"(God's REST; *
GENESIS 2:2-3) is the Hebrew word and verb for "OBSERVE OR KEEP SABBATH" (שָׁבַת shâbath). It is how the Sabbath is kept
RESTED 7673. שָׁבַת shâbath, shaw-bath´; a prim. root; to repose, i.e. desist from exertion; used in many impl. relations (caus., fig. or spec.):—(cause to, let, make to) cease, celebrate, cause (make) to fail,
keep or observe the sabbath, suffer to be lacking, leave, put away (down), (make to) rest, rid, still, take away.
The HEBREW word for REST; RESTED (שָׁבַת shâbath) is the verb of doing or keeping the SABBATH (שַׁבָּת shabbâth) noun. שָׁבַת shâbath (H7673) is the root word and verb of the noun form of the Hebrew word H7676; שׁבּת; shabbâth which means intermission, that is, (specifically) the Sabbath: - (+ every) sabbath.
There was no H7676; שׁבּת; shabbâth before the first sabbath rest was created so the Hebrew Word H7676; שׁבּת; shabbâth cannot be used in
GENESIS 2:1-3 as there was no noun for something that was not previously created.
So
GENESIS 2:1-3 shows us the "ORIGIN" of Gods' "SEVENTH DAY SABBATH" in creation. It was the result of God's "FINISHED WORK" of creation where God "RESTED" from all His Works, "BLESSED" and set apart the "SEVENTH DAY" as a "HOLY DAY" OF "REST" *
GENESIS 2:1-3 for "ALL MANKIND" as shown by JESUS in...
MARK 2:27 [27], And he said to them, THE SABBATH WAS MADE FOR
MAN and not man for the Sabbath.
The Greek word used here for MAN is G444 ἄνθρωπος; anthrōpos From G435 and ὤψ ōps (the countenance ; from G3700); manfaced, that is, a
human being: - certain, man.
Now all the above proves that God's SABBATH has it's origin in the "SEVENTH DAY" of the creation week where GOD "RESTED" (God's REST) kept the "SEVENTH DAY" and "SET IT APART" from all the other days of the week and "BLESSED THE SEVENTH DAY" as a "HOLY DAY OF REST FOR ALL MANKIND *
GENESIS 2:1-3;
MARK 2:27.
Let's prove this once and for all so there is no doubt (but we can still go further as we will see). We have looked at the Hebrew Word for Sabbath which is the verb for "KEEPING SABBATH or SABABTH OBSERVANCE by "RESTING", let's look now at God's 4th commandment of the 10 commandments and the Hebrew Word used here for the noun of what is being kept by "RESTING" H7676; שׁבּת; shabbâth...
EXODUS 20:8-11 [8], REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY, TO KEEP IT HOLY [Made Holy at creation
GENESIS 2:3]. [9], Six days shall you labor, and do all your work: [10], But THE SEVENTH DAY [
Genesis 2:1-3] IS THE SABBATH OF THE LORD YOUR GOD : in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates: [WHY?] [11], FOR IN SIX DAYS THE LORD MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH, THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM IS, AND RESTED THE SEVENTH DAY; WHEREFORE THE LORD BLESSED THE SABBATH DAY AND MADE IT HOLY. [Refering
to
GENESIS 2:1-3]
NOTE: The SABBATH in creation being part of a "FINISHED" work of God's creation we are to look back. God says "REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY TO KEEP IT HOLY" *
EXODUS 20:8. What is the day that God made a HOLY DAY in
GENESIS 2:1-3? It was the "SEVENTH DAY"!
GENESIS 2:3 [3], And GOD BLESSED THE SEVENTH DAY AND MADE IT HOLY: because that in it he had RESTED [שׁבת; shâbath H7673; Keep Sabbath] from all his work which God created and made. Now notice in
EXODUS 20:10 which day is the SABBATH DAY? [10] But THE SEVENTH DAY IS THE SABBATH OF THE LORD YOUR GOD. This is the day that God "BLESSED and set apart and made as a "HOLY DAY OF REST" in
GENESIS 2:2-3. This is the day that God "RESTED" and "KEPT THE SABBATH (verb שָׁבַת shâbath H7673 to KEEP SABBATH).
Now the drum roll please....
Why are we to keep God's 4th commandment "SEVENTH DAY SABBATH"? The answer is clearly given in
EXODUS 20:11 which points back to
GENESIS 2:1-3 on the "SEVENTH DAY OF CREATION" [11], FOR IN SIX DAYS THE LORD MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH, THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM IS, AND RESTED THE SEVENTH DAY; WHEREFORE THE LORD BLESSED THE SABBATH DAY AND MADE IT HOLY. This is refering
to
GENESIS 2:1-3 nearly word for word.
BOOM! Did you catch that? God's Word says in the 4th Commandment of God's 10 Commandment, that the first SABBATH has its ORIGIN from the "SEVENTH DAY" of creation quoting
GENESIS 2:1-3!
As shown above the scriptures alone clearly teach that God's SEVENTH DAY SABBATH from God's 4th commandment has its origin in
GENESIS 2:1-3 on the "SEVENTH DAY" of the creation week where God "BLESSED" and made the "SEVENTH DAY" a "HOLY DAY" of "REST" (verb שָׁבַת shâbath H7673 to KEEP SABBATH).
Want more????
This links directly into the new testament scriptures of believing the gospel of our Lord JESUS Christ here...
HEBREWS 4:1-11
[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 to us was the gospel preached, as well as to 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 SPOKE IN A CERTAIN PLACE (GENSIS 2:1-3) 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.
NOTE: CONTEXT is God's REST from the SEVENTH DAY SABBATH REST OF CREATION (
v4-5) and those who BELIEVE and FOLLOW GOD's WORD enter into God's SABBATH REST as GOD did on the SEVENTH DAY of the week. CONTEXT is GOD's SEVENTH DAY SABBATH REST and those who BELIEVE AND FOLLOW GOD'S WORD enter into that rest which God's WORD defines as the SEVENTH DAY SABBATH which is GOD'S REST!
HEBREWS 4:9 SO THEN IT REMAINS FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO KEEP THE SABBATH.
............
CONCLUSION: God 4th Commandment has it's origin in creation BEFORE SIN, BEFORE ANY JEWS OR ISRAEL, BEFORE ANY PLAN OF SALVATION WAS NEEDED, WHEN MANKIND WAS IN PERFECT HARMONY and walked with God. JESUS says that the SABBATH WAS MAN FOR MANKIND!
Therefore God's "SEVENTH DAY SABBATH" is impossible to
1. Be only for ISRAEL or any JEW as there was when JESUS says it was created for all mankind.
2. Cannot be a "shadow law" as there was NO SIN and NO LAW and mankind was in perfect harmony with God. The "shadow laws" were only given as a part of God's plan of salvation AFTER the fall when mankind sinned.
3. There was no plan of salvation as mankind did not need saving as there was no sin when God made the Sabbath for all mankind.
4. After the fall of mankind when much of man departed from God and went there own way God gave his Sabbath to all those who believed and followed his Word and named them ISRAEL. In the NEW COVENANT God's ISRAEL (the Church) are all those who BELIEVE and FOLLOW God's WORD *
EPHESIANS 2:11-13;
GALATIANS 3:28-29;
ROMANS 9:6-8;
ROMANS 2:28-29;
COLOSSIANS 3:11. If you are not a part of God's ISRAEL you have no part in the NEW COVENANT *
HEBREWS 10:26-27. Gentiles are now grafted in *
ROMANS 11:13-27.
.................
Now that this has been put to rest, there is not one scripture in all of God's Word that says Gods 4th commandment has been abolished and we are now commanded to keep Sunday as a HOLY day of rest. This is a man made tradition and teaching handed down by the Roman Catholic church that has led many away from God into sin either knowinglt or unknowingly. God has His poeple in every Church living up to all the knowledge of his Word he has been pleased to reveal to them *JOHN 10:16 but the hour is coming and now is that God is calling his true followers to worship him in Spirit and in truth. God is a Spirit and those who worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth *JOHN 4:23-24. God is calling us all out from following man made teachings that break the commandments of God *MATTHEW 15:2-9 back to the pure Word of God. Time to leave BABYLON that great mother of Halots and return to the pure Word of God.
God's Sheep hear His Voice (the Word of God). Those who do not hear will not follow.
Hope this helps
