The Biblical Truth About God’s Day1. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.Notice the three things God did on the seventh day that established the seventh day as His day: First, God rested from His finished work of creation on the seventh day.Now let’s look at each of these things that God did individually. The first thing we are told that God did on the seventh Day was to rest. The word rest is translated from the Hebrew verb <shabath>. The basic and most frequent meaning of <shabath> is seen in Genesis 8:22 where God said… 22. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not <shabath> cease.On the seventh day God ceased and rested from all the work which He created and made because His creative acts were completely finished. Now the noun form of the word <shabath> is <shabbath> and is the intensive form of the word and is actually transliterated into the English word sabbath. And so the seventh day of the week is called the Sabbath Day. The second thing God did on the seventh day of creation was to bless the seventh day. The word bless is the translation of the Hebrew word <barak>. Strong’s Dictionary defines the word #1288 barak (baw-rak'); a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit). God kneeled and blessed the seventh day as an act of adoration! And then thirdly, God sanctified the seventh day. The word sanctified is the translation of the Hebrew word <qadash>. Vines Dictionary defines the Hebrew word <qadash>: In the primary stem the verb signifies an act whereby, or a state wherein, people or things are set aside for use in the worship of God: they are consecrated or "made sacred." By this act and in this state the thing or person consecrated is to be withheld from workaday use (or profane use) and to be treated with special care as a possession of God. God sanctified, God set apart the seventh day as the Sabbath Day for mankind to rest, to cease from their labors and worship God, and withhold the seventh day from workaday use and treat the Day with special care as God’s Holy Day! The Children of Israel were instructed to keep the Sabbath Day holy during their journey in the wilderness. On the fifteenth day of the second month, after departing from the land of Egypt, in the sixteenth chapter of Exodus, beginning in verse 1 we are told… 1. And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.Now notice what the Lord told Moses… 4. Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.What particular law was God referring to? God was referring to His Day, the Sabbath Day, the seventh day of the week; and whether the people would keep His Day holy. Continuing on in verses 5ff… 5. And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily. 12. I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God. 19. And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning.Now notice what they were to do on the sixth day of the week… 22. And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.Notice what some of the people did… 27. And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.And God’s response… 28. And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?This all happened before God gave Moses the 10 commandments which are recorded in Exodus 20:1ff. Notice with me the fourth commandment which begins in verse 8ff… 8. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.Notice the fourth Commandment begins with the word remember. Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. Why? Because God established the seventh day Sabbath immediately following the completion of the sixth day of creation, and had already commanded the children of Israel to keep the Sabbath Day holy. Next the Lord gave Moses further instructions on why the people were to keep the Sabbath Day holy in Exodus 31:13 where the Lord tells Moses… 13. Speak 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.The first reason the Lord gives for the people to keep God’s Day, the seventh day, the Sabbath Day holy was that it was to be a sign between the Lord and His people throughout their generations that they might know that it was the Lord that sanctified them. Vines Dictionary tells us the Hebrew word sign <owth> represents something by which a person or group is characteristically marked. This is its emphasis in <Genesis 4:15>: "And the Lord set a mark [NASB, "sign"] upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him." It also means sign as a reminder of one's duty. This usage first appears in <Genesis 9:12>: "This [the rainbow] is the token (sign) of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature. How serious was the Lord about the people keeping His Day, the Sabbath Day holy? In verses 14ff the Lord goes on to instruct Moses… 14. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.Then beginning in verse sixteen we are given the second reason that God’s people were to keep God’s Day, the seventh day, the Sabbath Day holy… 16. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.The second reason we are told that the children of Israel were to observe God’s Day, the seventh day, the Sabbath Day, is that it was to be a perpetual covenant through out their generations. And, that it was to be a sign forever, because in six days the Lord made heaven and earth and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed. Now, was the Sabbath Day intended only for the children of Israel? No! We are told in Isaiah 56:1ff… 1. Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.No one that joins themselves to the Lord are excluded from keeping God’s Day, the seventh day, the Sabbath Day holy. Now earlier we were told that the children of Israel were to keep the Sabbath Day holy as a perpetual covenant and as a sign forever in recognition of the fact that God created the heavens and the earth in six days, and on the seventh day He rested, and that it was the Lord that sanctified them. Did God really mean forever? In Isaiah 66:22-24 speaking through the Prophet Isaiah the Lord declared… 22. For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.Now the Lord repeatedly warned the people to keep the seventh day, the Sabbath Day holy. But the people would not hear. Jeremiah 17:21ff tells us… 21. Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;Now, notice the promise God made for keeping the Sabbath Day holy… 24. And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;But the people would not keep God’s Sabbath Day and the whole of society was corrupt. The Prophet Ezekiel tells us in Ezekiel 22:23-31… 23. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,How tragic! The Prophets conspired together prophesying lies in stead of the truth of God’s word, destroying souls and making widows. The Priests violated God’s laws and hid their eyes from God’s Sabbaths. And the Princes, the leaders and the people were only interested in personal gain. But the greatest tragedy of all is found in verses 30… 30. And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.And the result brought the judgment of God… 31. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.And the children of Israel were lead into captivity! As we move into the New Testament, contrary to what many Christian’s are led to believe, God did not change His chosen Day, the Sabbath Day. It always has been, and forever will be, the seventh day of the week. And when the Son of God came in the flesh as a man, He kept the Sabbath Day. Luke 4:14-16 tells us… 14. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.And then in Luke 4:31-32 speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ we are told… 31. And (He) came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.Then in Mark 2:27-28, in a confrontation with the Pharisee’s concerning the Sabbath Day the Lord Jesus Christ stated… 27. …The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:The Lord Jesus Christ stated that the Sabbath was made for mankind. What did He mean? The Lord Jesus Christ was referring to the fourth Commandment. Exodus 20:8ff… 8. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.Man was to labor six days and then rest, cease from all labor on the seventh day, the Sabbath Day. And man was to worship the Lord God of heaven and earth as their Creator and as the One who Sanctifies them, cleanses them from their sin. Then the Lord Jesus Christ went on to say in verse 28… 28. Therefore the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath Day.Why is the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath Day? Because Colossians 1:15-19 speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ tells us that He… 15. …is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:Then in Matthew 24:3 the disciples asked the Lord some questions… 3. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?I’m not going to quote the whole answer that the Lord Jesus Christ gave to His disciples, but only that part which refers to our subject, the Sabbath Day. So picking up in verse 14 the Lord Jesus Christ answered… 14. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.My beloved reader, this is in reference to the end times. Next let me direct your attention to the finished work of redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ was crucified on the sixth day of the week, Friday, which was called the day of preparation. In Mark 15:37ff we are given the account of the Lord Jesus Christs death and burial… 37. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.Luke 23:50-56 gives us a similar account… 50. And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:Then in Mark 16:1ff we are told of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ… 1. And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.Matthew's account is given to us in Matthew 28:1-7 … 1. In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.Now we need to stop for a moment because there is a vitally important sign that we are being given here. In Matthew 12:40 the Lord Jesus Christ told the Pharisee's who were seeking a sign... 40. For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.Then in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 the Apostle Paul stated... 3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;Now, what is the significance of this sign, that the Lord Jesus Christ was to be buried, and then resurrected on the third day? Day one - The Lord Jesus Christ was buried on the sixth day of the week.Now keep in mind that back in Exodus 31:13-17 we were told the two reasons the Lord gave for keeping the Sabbath Day holy. Verse 13 told us… 13. Speak 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.And verses 16-17 told us… 16. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.So just as the Lord Jesus Christ rested on the seventh day, the Sabbath Day, from His finished work of creation, so the Lord Jesus Christ rested in the grave on the seventh day, the Sabbath Day, from His finished work of redemption and sanctification. Then as we look at the history of early Christianity as recorded in the Book of Acts, the seventh day Sabbath Day continued to be kept as the day of worship. Several times we are told of the Apostle Paul keeping the Sabbath Day. Acts 13:14 tells us when the Apostle Paul came to Antioch… 14. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.In Acts 13:42 we are told even the Gentiles heard Paul preach on the Sabbath Day… 42. And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.And verse 44 tells us… 44. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.When the Apostle Paul went to Philippi Acts 16:12ff tells us… 12. And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.And Lydia and her household were saved… 14. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.When the Apostle Paul went to Thessalonica Acts 17:1-2 tells us… 1. Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:When the Apostle Paul went to Corinth Acts 18:4 tells us… 4. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.Now in the time of the Apostles and the early Church and the writing of the New Testament, it was not possible for a Christian to worship any other day than the seventh day, the Sabbath Day, and so there is little teaching on the subject. But keeping the Sabbath Day is mentioned specifically in Hebrews 4:9 where we are told… 9. There remaineth therefore a rest <sabbatismos> to the people of God.The word rest here in verse nine is the translation of the Greek word <sabbatismo>. This is the word <sabbatismos> only usage in the entire New testament. Vines Dictionary defines the word <sabbatismo> #4520… "a Sabbath-keeping," is used in <Heb. 4:9>, RV, "a sabbath rest," KJV marg., "a keeping of a sabbath" (akin to sabbatizo, "to keep the Sabbath," used, e. g., in <Exod. 16:30> (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)(Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers). Verse 10 continues… 10. For he that is entered into *his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.(* the "his" is referring to the rest of the Lord Jesus Christ) So verse 9 and 10 directly translated actually reads… 9. There remaineth therefore Sabbath keeping for the people of God.But it is also necessary to keep in mind that the fourth commandment, "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy", is one of the 10 Commandments collectively and there are many teachings in the New Testament concerning the Christian’s responsibility to keep all of the Commandments of God. In Matthew 5:17-19 early in the Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry He stated… 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.In John 14:15 the Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples… 15. If ye love me, keep my commandments.And in John 14:21 the Lord Jesus Christ further stated… 21. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.The Apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:3-4… 3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.In 1 John 5:2-3 the Apostle further wrote… 2. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.Now many sincere Christian people have been led to believe that because they are under grace and not under the law, they are not subject to the law of God. Nothing is farther from the truth! Romans 6:14-17 tells us… 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.Keep in mind…1 John 3:4 tells us… 4. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.Then in Romans 3:31 the Apostle Paul further asks and answers the following question… 31. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.Now let me address the subject of Sunday worship. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines Sunday from Latin, dies solis, day of the sun, and from the Greek, hemera helion, the first day of the week. In the simplest of terms, Sunday, the first day of the week, is for sun worship. The Sabbath Day, the seventh day of the week, is the Day the Lord rested, blessed, and sanctified, for us to worship Him. Sun worship is described in the Old Testament as an abomination to God! God gave Ezekiel a vision of four horrible abominations that were being committed in supposed worship. They are recorded in the eighth chapter of Ezekiel. Picking up after the third abomination beginning in verse 15, the Lord said to Ezekiel… 15. Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.Notice the questions the Lord asks Ezekiel for emphasis. Have you seen what the people are doing here? Is it a light thing, a trivial thing, that they commit the abominations which they commit here? Do you think it’s a trivial thing to attempt to worship God on any other day then the seventh day of the week the Sabbath Day? And because of all the abominations defined here in the eighth chapter of Ezekiel the land was filled with violence. And lo!…they put the branch to their nose…they stuck up their nose at God in total arrogance! The result? Verse 18 the Lord tells Ezekiel…… 18. Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.Continuing on in the ninth chapter, verse 1ff… 1. He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.Everyone has heard of the mark of the beast. Well, God also has a mark on the forehead and all who sigh and cry at these abominations receive God’s mark on their forehead. Dear reader, do you still believe it doesn’t matter what day you worship God? Next let me emphasize the fact that there is no biblical foundation for Sunday worship. The verses men use to attempt to prove Sunday worship in fact proves the truth of seventh day Sabbath worship. Let’s just examine some of them. In 1 Corinthians 16:2 the Apostle Paul wrote the Corinthian’s… 2. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.Verse 3 continues… 3. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.Why gather on the first day of the week? Because they were not to labor on the Sabbath Day. The fact of even gathering on the first day of the week proves it is not the true day of worship. Another quote used as a proof text is found in Acts 20:7… 7. And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.Verse 8 goes on to tell us… 8. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.There were many lights on where they were gathered; this was Saturday evening. In the Genesis account of creation we are told that the day begins in the evening, at sunset. In Genesis 1:5 we are told… 5. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.Genesis 1:8 goes on to say… 8. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.And if we continue reading this account in Acts 20, verse 11 tells us that Paul departed at the break of day. He actually left Sunday morning. The T.E.V. version more accurately translates this verse stating… 7. On Saturday evening we gathered together for the fellowship meal…There is one other passage that is used erroneously to prove Sunday worship. It is found in Colossians 2:16… 16. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:Notice it refers to sabbath days, plural. This is not referring to the Sabbath Day but to sabbath days plural as described in the twenty-third chapter of Leviticus. All holy days were called sabbath days and they are described in Hebrews 9:8-10… 8. The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:It is these carnal ordinances that are being referred to in Colossians 2:16 The time of reformation came when the Lord Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross, and that’s exactly what Colossians 2:14 tells us… 14. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;God ordained His day on the seventh day of creation. He rested from His works of creation. He blessed the day and He sanctified the Day, making it wholly His Day. And the Lord Jesus Christ rested in the grave on the seventh day of the week, the Sabbath Day, from His finished work of our sanctification. And then He further commanded mankind through the fourth commandment, Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy. In Malachi 3:6 the Lord Himself stated… 6. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.Hebrews 6:18 tells us it’s impossible for God to lie… And Hebrews 13:8 states… 8. Jesus Christ (is) the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.In Matthew 5:18 the Lord Jesus Christ said… 18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.The Psalmist stated in Psalms 111:7-8… 7. The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.And last but not least, in fact the most important fact of all, is found in what the Lord Jesus Christ told the woman at the well in John 4:23-24… 23. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.The Lord Jesus Christ Himself stated that they who worship God MUST WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH! First of all, you must worship God in spirit. In other words you must submit the orderly arrangement of your life to the Spirit of God. In John 16:13 the Lord Jesus Christ said to His disciples… 13. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.And the Spirit of God will lead you in the truth. What is the truth? In John 17:17, in His last prayer on earth, the Lord Jesus Christ stated… 17. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.The word of God is Truth! So anyone who desires to truly worship God, must allow the Spirit of God to lead them in the truth of the word of God. So my beloved reader, I would simply ask you this one question. How could the Spirit of God leading one in the truth of the word of God, lead someone to worship any other day than God's Day, the Sabbath Day, the seventh day of the week? There is no other day of worship mentioned in the word of God! There are only two possible ways in which we live our lives. Each one of us either lives under the influence and control of the Spirit of God, according to the truth of the word of God, or we live under the influence and control of our flesh, and it's lusts. Romans 8:1ff describes it very simply… 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.Now notice the contrast between the spirit filled person and the person still living in the flesh described in verses 5ff… 5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.What is the difference between the two?…verse 7ff tells us… 7. Because the carnal (fleshly) mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject <hupotasso> (not under orderly arrangement) to the law of God, neither indeed can be.The apostle James stated in James 2:10-11… 10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.May God’s grace help you to see the truth of God’s Sabbath Day as the day of true worship and to keep it holy. There is no other acceptable day to worship God than on His day, the seventh day of the week, Saturday, the Sabbath Day!
|
|||
|