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Why does the Sabbath matter?

reddogs

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After going to General Theology and discussing and sharing the Sabbath a great truth became apperant to me.

All the other commandments we can pretend to follow, but the Sabbath stands out, it is a sign, the standard of God. Where he draws his battle line, the true believers put on the armor and choose God, the decieved put on the "traditions" of men and the false doctrines of the evil one who raise his banner of Baal, and pagan sun worship.

The Sabbath cannot be hidden under a bushel, you can hide your idols, swear against God out of hearing of others and love other gods such as sex, money, fame... and no one would know. But like Daniel praying at his window for all to see the Sabbath is a clear display of our love for God when we worship him.

So the battle lines are forming, the banner is raised, whose side will you be on. Dont be decieved....

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times, some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. 1 Timothy 4:1 NKJV


And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:" Revelation 14:9-10 The Bible clearly says that those who worship the beast, and its very clear what that entails, will be lost.


Here is a excellent description of the Biblical Sabbath by Ángel Manuel Rodríguez:
"The Adventitst view of the Sabbath commandment as designating the seventh day as a day of rest required by God for fellowship and communion with Him is based on the facts that according to the Bible it originated during creation week. It was observed by Jesus and the apostles and there is no evidence in the biblical text to support the claim that the commandment was transferred from the seventh day to the first day of the week.

A.Gen 2:1-3 and the Sabbath
According to the biblical creation narrative the Sabbath originated at the end of creation week as an expression of the divine will (Gen 2:1-3). It is common among Protestants to argue that Gen 2:1-3 does not contain a commandment addressed to humans but that it simply describes what God did on the seventh day. The argument is that the Sabbath as a commandment was given to the Israelites through the covenant; it is a Jewish law. Here we agree with Dies Domini: "If the first page of the Book of Genesis presents God's 'work' as an example for man, the same is true of God's 'rest.'"[3] That conclusion can be supported on several different grounds.
1.Humans as the Image of God and the Sabbath
The creation narrative describes humans as unique intelligent creatures within a world brought into existence by God. That singularity is located in the fact that they were created in the image of God (1:27). They were to reflect the actions of God, the character of God and to represent Him within the rest of creation. The idea that God rested from His works ascribes to God a human need in order to demonstrate to humans how He planned to supply it for them.[4] The anthropomorphic language clearly points to God's concern for humans who do not only need to work but also to separate a particular time to enjoy deep personal communion with the Creator. The divine action-God's rest-reveals His willingness to join humans in fellowship during the seventh day. It is the Creator, not the creature, who determines the time of rest.
Adventist theologian Hans K. LaRondelle stated, "Without the divine communion and fellowship on the seventh day, without man's entering into God's rest on that day, the whole creation would be cut off from its Maker and necessarily have to find its purpose and sense in itself. Then God's rest indeed would rather be the cryptic indication of God's return to the aseity (the absolute self-existence) of the inner glory of His being and existence, leaving man and the world to themselves." He adds, "God's rest then means His ceasing the work of creation in order to be free for the fellowship with man, the object of his love, for the rejoicing and celebration of His completed work together with his son on earth, the imago Dei, his festive partner."[5]
2.God Blessed the Sabbath
In the creation narrative God is described as blessing the seventh day. That probably means, as suggested by the use of the same verb in Exod 20:11, that "through it he [God] mediates the divine blessing to the person who keeps it."[6] The blessing itself is undefined and that has led some to conclude that what defines it is the next verb in the sentence, God "sanctified it."[7] That is to say, the blessing is to be understood in terms of holiness in the sense of separation and election.[8] But the combination of the two verbs found in the text is unique in the Old Testament and unless there are very compelling reasons to consider them to be synonyms it is better to keep them apart as expressing two different actions.[9] If the verb "to bless" (brk) expresses the basic idea of bestowing benefits upon something or someone,[10] then when God blessed the Sabbath He bestowed it with benefits that would be enjoyed by those who will keep it. A day that is not blessed is a day deprived of positive content for human beings (Jer 20:14).[11] The blessing pronounced by God on the seventh day was not for the benefit of God but for those who where present with Him, enjoying communion and fellowship with him, within the fraction of time called seventh day.
3.God Declared Holy the Seventh Day
The declaration of the seventh day as holy time is intriguing. The Bible contains rituals for the sanctification of persons, things and places but there is no ritual prescribed for the sanctification of the Sabbath. Only the creation story informs us that its holiness is the result of a divine declaration. Throughout the rest of the Old Testament the holiness of that day is presupposed. For the Old Testament writers as well as for the people of God the creation Sabbath was the same as the seventh day Sabbath mentioned in the commandment. Humans did not declare that day holy but they were responsible to keep it holy, to preserve its holiness, by obeying the commandment. That particular day participates in a unique way of the holiness of God because He rested on it and endowed it with holiness.
The holiness of the Sabbath is not described in the text as a provisional status that was to wear out at the end of the day. There is no de-sanctification ritual for the seventh day declared holy by God during creation week. By sanctifying it God placed it permanently apart for a particular religious use. Since according to the creation narrative Adam and Eve had been created on the sixth day, they experienced the holiness of the seventh day with God. When the Creator made the seventh day holy by separating it from the six workdays He "provided a gift for the whole of mankind for all time. The person who keeps the seventh-day Sabbath holy follows the Exemplar's archetypal pattern (Gen. 2:3) and meets with Him on that day of rest."[12] It is important to emphasize that "the seventh day is the very first thing to be hallowed in Scripture, to acquire that special status that properly belongs to God alone. In this way Genesis emphasizes the sacredness of the Sabbath. Coupled with the threefold reference to God resting from all his work on that day, these verses give the clearest of hints of how man created in the divine image should conduct himself on the seventh day."[13] ..."​

 

DrStupid_Ben

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I know a number of people who go to church on sabbath morning, however they are out drinking on friday night and watching tv and movies on sabbath afternoon. In my opinion the Sabbath is a great blessing, but it is just as vulnerable and can be hidden like all the other comandments. In fact, on the other hand, you can even worship sabbath observance.
 
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Because its the only day God blessed and hollowed. Some ppl say it doesnt matter which day you keep as long as you rest one day of the week. FORGETTING THAT IS THE DAY WHICH IS BLESSED AND HOLY, NOT THE REST.

Some say they keep EVERYDAY HOLY. And no1 can keep everyday holy, (I mean... just with the whole buying and selling on the Sabbath issue! :doh: ) Would be impossible!

So recognising the SABBATH as HOLY... means we humble ourselves to recognize GOD in our lives, as our svior and creator.

I choose to recognize God above all things! :bow:

Enjoy your Sabbath you all!

And remember...

God wants us to call His holy day a delight (Is. 58:13).

:tutu:
 
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Sophia7

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In fact, on the other hand, you can even worship sabbath observance.

How true. Some people make Sabbath observance more important than anything else, including having a relationship with Jesus. I know because I used to do that when I was a child, before I became a Christian at age 16.
 
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reddogs

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Well, no one can say I made Sabbath observance more important than anything else, if I even bothered to get out of bed that was a rare Sabbath.......I didnt know it matter and obeyed only the letter of the law (think about waiting for the end of the Sabbath standing in front of the mall looking at your watch..), till I began to understand it after being woke up by the books and dvd's my friends gave me and during my research. Before it was a burden which I dreaded and tried to avoid, now I can't wait for it to come. Why, because something within me has changed, the spirit has opened my mind and heart and the essence of worship and the purpose of the Sabbath has become clear.

I thought it was 3 hours of sleeping in the back pew :sleep: and now I dont have enough hours to go share it with others, :clap: the brothers somehow see I have changed and now they have asked me to be a teacher in Sabbath School. Me, who wild horses couldnt make me read my Bible or crack open my Sabbath School lesson (I have the pristine stacks still sitting there), something has changed my brothers and sisters. I share and fellowship with them at church then drive and share the Sabbath with my parents, or hold a bible study (we are going to do Daniel and the Revelation) so the understanding of what the Sabbath is, has freed me to enjoy it, rest from work and worship God and thank him for his gift as I share and fellowship.

A very stunned :o
Red

Happy Sabbath everyone.....(4:00 AM and I am sharing already...)

It is not fundemental beliefs, doctrine or dogma that save, it is the Lord, Jesus Christ!
 
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tall73

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Well, no one can say I made Sabbath observance more important than anything else, if I even bothered to get out of bed that was a rare Sabbath.......I didnt know it matter and obeyed only the letter of the law (think about waiting for the end of the Sabbath standing in front of the mall looking at your watch..), till I began to understand it after being woke up by the books and dvd's my friends gave me and during my research. Before it was a burden which I dreaded and tried to avoid, now I can't wait for it to come. Why, because something within me has changed, the spirit has opened my mind and heart and the essence of worship and the purpose of the Sabbath has become clear.

That is great. It is truly Christ that makes the difference. I have seen what you are speaking about in your own experience a number of times in my church and it is always a reason to rejoice. God gets ahold of someone and they wake up :) (literally and spiritually!)

The bottom line is that if you enjoy spending time with God you will enjoy the Sabbath. If you don't it is pure drudgery. And I think quite a number of Adventists can share your experience of staying in bed--righteousness by sleep--until they find out that true righeousness is having God walk in you by His Spirit.
 
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Sophia7

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so the understanding of what the Sabbath is, has freed me to enjoy it, rest from work and worship God and thank him for his gift as I share and fellowship.

A very stunned :o
Red

Happy Sabbath everyone.....(4:00 AM and I am sharing already...)

It is not fundemental beliefs, doctrine or dogma that save, it is the Lord, Jesus Christ!


:amen:
 
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Adventist Dissident

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(Song: sung to Olvia Newton Johns's "Let's get Phyiscal)
Lets get biblical, biblical. I wanna get biblical, biblical, I wanna get biblicaaaaaallllll , let's get in to biblical, Let me here the body talk, the body talk , let me here the body taaaaaalk (He he he )


Exoudus 31:13

13Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.

Nice to know God will do the Job of preparing you for heaven , for you .
 
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OoraneeosMuse

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I thank our Holy Lord for the sabbath rest that we have in Him that, that rest and peace may be seen in us by a dark unrested world and by that having hope that God is and that they too can have that sabbath promised by the Lord for all who would follow and obey Him. Heb 4
 
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freeindeed2

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(Song: sung to Olvia Newton Johns's "Let's get Phyiscal)
Lets get biblical, biblical. I wanna get biblical, biblical, I wanna get biblicaaaaaallllll , let's get in to biblical, Let me here the body talk, the body talk , let me here the body taaaaaalk (He he he )


Exoudus 31:13

13Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.

Nice to know God will do the Job of preparing you for heaven , for you .
Funny! LOL.
 
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reddogs

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I thank our Holy Lord for the sabbath rest that we have in Him that, that rest and peace may be seen in us by a dark unrested world and by that having hope that God is and that they too can have that sabbath promised by the Lord for all who would follow and obey Him. Heb 4
I think the day from Creation is clearly the Sabbath meant by Christ when He said it was made for man..
 
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ricker

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People say we can and should worship God seven days a week, this is true, but they fail to understand that keeping the Sabbath holy is a form of worship.


This is where things get a little confusing to me. How exactly, biblically, do we keep the Sabbath holy in these days after the ceremonial laws of Israel have passed?

By not working at our jobs on the Sabbath? Only health care related jobs? Other necessary jobs?

By not doing ones own pleasure? Don't all of us enjoy going to church on the Sabbath? Potlucks? Nature walks? Bible study? Swimming in the ocean? Taking a bike ride?

Doing no work? Does that include driving a car? Shoveling snow to get the front door open? Buying some gas for the car? Heating up dinner? Paying in a restaurant so we don't have to heat up dinner and clear the table afterwards? Shaving and showering?

I know there are certain Adventist customs involved here, but are there definite Biblical imperatives on how to keep the Sabbath as Christians, or is it all up to the traditions of the church? Thanks.
 
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maco

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This is where things get a little confusing to me. How exactly, biblically, do we keep the Sabbath holy in these days after the ceremonial laws of Israel have passed?

By not working at our jobs on the Sabbath? Only health care related jobs? Other necessary jobs?

By not doing ones own pleasure? Don't all of us enjoy going to church on the Sabbath? Potlucks? Nature walks? Bible study? Swimming in the ocean? Taking a bike ride?

Doing no work? Does that include driving a car? Shoveling snow to get the front door open? Buying some gas for the car? Heating up dinner? Paying in a restaurant so we don't have to heat up dinner and clear the table afterwards? Shaving and showering?

I know there are certain Adventist customs involved here, but are there definite Biblical imperatives on how to keep the Sabbath as Christians, or is it all up to the traditions of the church? Thanks.

Not working on the Sabbath is not what makes the day holy, the day is holy so take the day off to celebrate it. Thanksgiving is a holy day so you get the day off to celebrate it. How do you celebrate Thanksgiving? You gather with friends and family, eat a big meal, fellowship and enjoy what the day represents.

A holy day is not a time to sorrow, but rather, a time to be joyful and celebrate.

Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom noth[bless and do not curse]ing is pre[bless and do not curse]pared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
 
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ricker

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Not working on the Sabbath is not what makes the day holy, the day is holy so take the day off to celebrate it. Thanksgiving is a holy day so you get the day off to celebrate it. How do you celebrate Thanksgiving? You gather with friends and family, eat a big meal, fellowship and enjoy what the day represents.

A holy day is not a time to sorrow, but rather, a time to be joyful and celebrate.

Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom noth[bless and do not curse]ing is pre[bless and do not curse]pared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Celebrate Jesus!, and don't worry about the ambiguous and contentious details of Sabbath observance? I can agree to that.
 
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