Why the sabbath was made before sin !

[dragNdrop]

The latest arguments from my SDA friend, made me see that the Sabbat was indeed set before Creation.


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]2[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]And on the seventh [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]eventh day from all his [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]work which he had made.[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]3[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]And [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]God [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]blessed[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] the [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]seventh day, and [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]sanctified[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] it:[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] because [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]” Gen 2:1-3[/FONT]



“For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea,
and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Exod 20:11


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]There are two ways of interpreting the above passages[/FONT]

1. [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]God rested on a seventh day after six days of creation. Afterwards He declared all [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]the future Saturdays as holy.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Now since the Sabbath was made before sin it cannot fallout due to the Cross. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]How [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]can the Cross replace an institution made before there was sin ? How can it replace [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]an institution that has nothing to do with humanity's depravity or sin ? [/FONT]

1. [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]God by laying that first Saturday aside for his rest, was sanctifying that first [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Saturday. ([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Remember that to sanctify something is to set it apart for God's use.)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]This understanding does not demand that we believe that God was declaring all [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Saturdays holy before Moses came.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]As for the view that God just blessed the first Saturday and not all Saturdays my friend asked a very real question[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]: Was God tired that he should need rest on a seventh day ?. Was not God doing this for our example ? I NOTICED THAT NON OF US COULD CHALLENGE MY FRIENDS 'ARGUMENTS.
[/FONT]
Now this opens a new dimension of thought in this debate. If God set a Sabbath before sin or the Fall then the Cross which is a sin solution has nothing to do ith it's sanctity.

 

[ricker]

The latest arguments from my SDA friend, made me see that the Sabbat was indeed set before Creation.

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]2[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]And on the seventh [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]eventh day from all his [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]work which he had made.[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]3[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]And [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]God [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]blessed[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] the [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]seventh day, and [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]sanctified[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] it:[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] because [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]” Gen 2:1-3[/FONT]

“For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea,
and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Exod 20:11

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]There are two ways of interpreting the above passages[/FONT]

1. [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]God rested on a seventh day after six days of creation. Afterwards He declared all [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]the future Saturdays as holy.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Now since the Sabbath was made before sin it cannot fallout due to the Cross. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]How [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]can the Cross replace an institution made before there was sin ? How can it replace [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]an institution that has nothing to do with humanity's depravity or sin ? [/FONT]

1. [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]God by laying that first Saturday aside for his rest, was sanctifying that first [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Saturday. ([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Remember that to sanctify something is to set it apart for God's use.)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]This understanding does not demand that we believe that God was declaring all [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Saturdays holy before Moses came.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]As for the view that God just blessed the first Saturday and not all Saturdays my friend asked a very real question[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]:Was God tired that he should need rest on a seventh day ?. Was not God doing this for our example ? I NOTICED THAT NON OF US COULD CHALLENGE MY FRIENDS 'ARGUMENTS.[/FONT]

Now this opens a new dimension of thought in this debate. If God set a Sabbath before sin or the Fall then the Cross which is a sin solution has nothing to do ith it's sanctity.

Here is the Young's literal translation of Genesis 2:2,3 It might help you make sense of God's rest:

2and God completeth by the seventh day His work which He hath made, and ceaseth by the seventh day from all His work which He hath made. 3And God blesseth the seventh day, and sanctifieth it, for in it He hath ceased from all His work which God had prepared for making.

God rested, or ceased on the seventh day. Hebrews 4 puts it this way:

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works."

The Sabbath command given to the Israelites both looked back to God's sanctifying His seventh day, continuing rest from creation, and forward to our rest from our works.

9So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

Notice the sabbath that remains is the perpetual, continuing rest that God started on the seventh day of creation with no morning or evening.

 

[sentipente]

Why would one wish to deceive himself that the Genesis account was a eyewitness account? Are we that desperate to support our dogma? What value could the Sabbath have in a world without sin?

 

[dragNdrop]

The Sabbath is a memorial of creation not a remedy of sin.

 

[ricker]

The Sabbath is a memorial of creation not a remedy of sin.

The BIble says the Sabbath command given to Israel is both a reminder of creation and of them being freed from Egypt.

Do you see that God "resting" meant ceasing of His creative work, and thus was not necessarily done for an example for everyone to keep it perpetually on a weekly basis? (the premise of your OP).

According to Hebrews, God's rest on the seventh day was and is indeed an example, that of the rest from our works (perpetual).

God bless! Ricker

 

[sentipente]

The Sabbath is a memorial of creation not a remedy of sin.

Why would the Creator need a memorial? Who would He be trying to impress or convince? You have reduced the Creator to a simple human ruler who wishes to elevate Himself above everyone else. The problem you have is that there is no one else who can challenge the Creator so He needs no memorial of the creation than the creation itself.

 

[Byfaithalone1]

The Sabbath is a memorial of creation not a remedy of sin.

Was it not also intended to be a reminder to the Israelites of their exodus from Egypt? Had the exodus from Egypt taken place in Genesis 2?

BFA

 

[dragNdrop]

Ricker and Sentipente can you please elaborate on the issues of "Perpetuality" ? I am not getting you.

BFA, welcome back.

In general I was presenting my friend's argument which is very simple yet you seem guys to avoid. Let me re-iterate it. Since God does not need to rest (He wearies not, nor tire), why did he rest ? Common sense says, The only reason was that He rested was to set an example for us.

BFA, Sabbath was also a sign of Israeli deliverance ? Again you are avoiding the Gen 2 argument raised by my friend. That is whilst the sabbath had a historcal, feastial ignificance it also has permanent value traced in Gen 2.

 

[sentipente]

dragNdrop, the error you make is in changing the text from "resting from" to "resting." All the writer is saying is that when there was nothing more to be created the act of creation stopped. Your version suggests that God rested then began creating again. If you took into consideration the time when Genesis was written the problem disappears. Your friend's argument fails.

 

[ricker]

dragNdrop, the error you make is in changing the text from "resting from" to "resting." All the writer is saying is that when there was nothing more to be created the act of creation stopped. Your version suggests that God rested then began creating again. If you took into consideration the time when Genesis was written the problem disappears. Your friend's argument fails.

Thank you. I thought posting Young's literal translation of Exodus 2, and also Hebrews 4 would convey this thought, but you put it much more succinctly.

 

[Avonia]

Why would one wish to deceive himself that the Genesis account was a eyewitness account? Are we that desperate to support our dogma? What value could the Sabbath have in a world without sin?

Our objection should be what our (SDA) interpretation of Sabbath suggests about our Creator.

Whether or not scripture supports 7th-day Sabbath is not the issue. The issue is the damage we have done with our application of the idea. Division of the human family being top of the "damage" list.

 

[Byfaithalone1]

BFA, welcome back.

Thanks, DND!

Since God does not need to rest (He wearies not, nor tire), why did he rest?

To demonstrate His satisfaction with that which He had made (see Genesis 1:31).

Common sense says, The only reason was that He rested was to set an example for us.

Should we build an entire system of theology on that which one man says is "common sense?"

BFA, Sabbath was also a sign of Israeli deliverance ?

Yes. According to Deutereonomy 5, the sabbath served as a reminder of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. Note that Genesis 2 precedes the Israelites' exodus from Egypt.

Again you are avoiding the Gen 2 argument raised by my friend.

No. I am pointing out that the sabbath did not merely remind the Israelites of creation. It also reminded them of their exodus from Egypt.

That is whilst the sabbath had a historcal, feastial ignificance it also has permanent value traced in Gen 2.

Can you show us where the sabbath that was given to the Israelites is found in Genesis 2?

"One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." Romans 14:6
​

BFA

 

[ricker]

Our objection should be what our (SDA) interpretation of Sabbath suggests about our Creator.

Whether or not scripture supports 7th-day Sabbath is not the issue. The issue is the damage we have done with our application of the idea. Division of the human family being top of the "damage" list.

Thank you, Avonia. My presence here isn't to persuade anyone to abandon worship on the Sabbath, but to help people realize there are arguments both ways and Christians not of the SDA persuasion are not necessarily "Babylon", or "apostate", or "nominal" as a certain prolific early Adventist writer has stated.

 

[bugkiller]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif] I NOTICED THAT NON OF US COULD CHALLENGE MY FRIENDS 'ARGUMENTS.[/FONT]

So was this a class or a Bible study about the Sabbath? You had no answer because you had not thoroughly studied the subject, especially about "rested." You are applying an English definition to the translated word from the original "shabat." Shabat means to desist from as in a cease and desist order reflecting a do not do again performance. So the word "rested" has nothing to do with stamina - being tired or without strength.

Incidently outside of Gen 2 "seventh" in reference to a specific week day does not occur in Gen. The word "shabbat" does not appear in Gen either.

bugkiller

 

[Cribstyl]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif] I NOTICED THAT NON OF US COULD CHALLENGE MY FRIENDS 'ARGUMENTS. [/FONT]

Bugkiller:

So was this a class or a Bible study about the Sabbath? You had no answer because you had not thoroughly studied the subject, especially about "rested." You are applying an English definition to the translated word from the original "shabat." Shabat means to desist from as in a cease and desist order reflecting a do not do again performance. So the word "rested" has nothing to do with stamina - being tired or without strength.

Incidently outside of Gen 2 "seventh" in reference to a specific week day does not occur in Gen. The word "shabbat" does not appear in Gen either.

bugkiller

Good read Bugkiller,

D-N-D's questions are not in line with the lesson from texts posted. And by asking ".....

Was not God doing this for our example ?

"


....he's implying that God kept a sabbath as a model for all humanity to follow.

You've correctly presented that God did not take a 24hr break as shabbath (2 b's ) defines.
Shabath (1"b") is defined primarily as "to cease", and Gen 2:1-3 teaches that God rested because He finished.
The dialog about humanity being given rest is questionable and not based on applying understanding to what is written.



When we follow the word of God about the seventh day, the reason for God's resting is explained in each verse about the seventh day.

Gen 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

Gen 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
Gen 2:3 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.​

Each of these verses above tell us that, God's rest is not a weekly pause, but rather a finish of creation. We cant consider this as an example to follow because His rest is not weekly. This is a response to the OP's arguments.​

In peace

CRIB​

 

[Doveaman]

The latest arguments from my SDA friend, made me see that the Sabbat was indeed set before Creation.

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]2[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]And on the seventh [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]eventh day from all his [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]work which he had made.[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]3[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]And [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]God [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]blessed[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] the [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]seventh day, and [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]sanctified[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] it:[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] because [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]” Gen 2:1-3[/FONT]

“For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea,
and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Exod 20:11

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]There are two ways of interpreting the above passages[/FONT]

1. [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]God rested on a seventh day after six days of creation. Afterwards He declared all [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]the future Saturdays as holy.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Now since the Sabbath was made before sin it cannot fallout due to the Cross. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]How [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]can the Cross replace an institution made before there was sin ? How can it replace [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]an institution that has nothing to do with humanity's depravity or sin ? [/FONT]

1. [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]God by laying that first Saturday aside for his rest, was sanctifying that first [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Saturday. ([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Remember that to sanctify something is to set it apart for God's use.)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]This understanding does not demand that we believe that God was declaring all [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Saturdays holy before Moses came.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]As for the view that God just blessed the first Saturday and not all Saturdays my friend asked a very real question[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]: Was God tired that he should need rest on a seventh day ?. Was not God doing this for our example ? I NOTICED THAT NON OF US COULD CHALLENGE MY FRIENDS 'ARGUMENTS.
[/FONT]
Now this opens a new dimension of thought in this debate. If God set a Sabbath before sin or the Fall then the Cross which is a sin solution has nothing to do ith it's sanctity.

The Sabbath rest God establish before sin is not the same Sabbath day rest He established for man according to the 10 commandments.

That Sabbath day rest was just a shadow memorial of God true rest in the beginning, it was not the true rest itself; it was only a shadow reminder of God's true rest.

God's Sabbath rest in the beginning was real. The Sabbath day rest was just a shadow reminder of it, but not the real thing.

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to...a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ...Col 2:16-17.

God's true Sabbath rest is in Christ the Word, who was also with God and as God in the beginning when the true rest was established by Him.

God rested in Himself on the seventh day of creation week as He always did from eternity even before creation week began. The rest was in His eternal Self and not on the temporary day itself.

The other six days of creation week had a beginning and an end - evening and morning - but the seventh did not.

This was because the focus was not on the temporary day, but on the rest itself as it actually was in the eternal God Himself, a God without beginning or end, and a Sabbath rest in him without beginning or end

Christ has come as that same eternal God in the flesh, in whom the same eternal Sabbath rest dwells. This is why the Christian Sabbath rest is in Christ alone, and not in the memorial shadow of a day.

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me...and you will find rest for your souls"...Matt 11:25, 28-29.[FONT=&quot]

[/FONT]

 

[Doveaman]

Now this opens a new dimension of thought in this debate. If God set a Sabbath before sin or the Fall then the Cross which is a sin solution has nothing to do ith it's sanctity.

SDAs also believe that God set His 10 commandment law before the fall and it was the violation of this law, which included the Sabbath, that caused the fall, resulting in the need for the cross as sin's solution.

 

[Byfaithalone1]

If God established the ten commandments before the fall, why did He allow Deuteronoy 5:1-5 and Galatians 3:15-19 to be written?

BFA

 

[Doveaman]

If God established the ten commandments before the fall, why did He allow Deuteronoy 5:1-5 and Galatians 3:15-19 to be written?

BFA

Excellent post. I totally agree.

 

[StormyOne]

SDAs also believe that God set His 10 commandment law before the fall and it was the violation of this law, which included the Sabbath, that caused the fall, resulting in the need for the cross as sin's solution.

Just because it is believed does not make it true... I do not believe that God gave Adam and Eve the 10 commandments in the garden...