Monday, November 7, 2016
WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY ABOUT THE SABBATH? (PART FOURTEEN)
After learning that Adam and Eve were not given the Law or the commandment to keep the seventh day, let us now look at the meaning of keeping the Sabbath.
WHAT ARE THE COMMANDMENTS IN THE LAW?
Keeping the Sabbath, food and drink prohibitions, and judgments are among the commandments in the Law of Moses. But these commandments were not carried into the New Covenant by the Lord Jesus, as we have already seen in earlier chapters. Therefore, these commandments are not among the laws of Christ (Galatians 6:2).
Essentially, when you teach or observe the Law of Moses, you blind people from seeing the work of the cross. Such people may call themselves Christians, but in reality, they live by the desires of the flesh. Likewise, when you teach and practice commands that oppose the Lord Jesus Christ, the owner of heaven, you are clearly placing yourself—and others—close to the pit of hellfire.
Normally, a person who approaches the Law of Moses (keeping the Sabbath, food and drink prohibitions) seeks after sinful desires, and eventually such a person produces death. In Romans 7:5 we read: “For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.”
KEEPERS OF THE LAW IN THE NEW COVENANT OR THIS CENTURY ARE DISCIPLES OF MOSES, NOT DISCIPLES OF JESUS:
A person who keeps the Law of Moses in these times of the New Covenant—that is, keeping the Sabbath and food or drink prohibitions, etc.—is a disciple of Moses and not a disciple of Jesus. For the Law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Christ (John 1:17). Even if such a person mentions the Lord Jesus, if they are still holding to the laws of Moses (keeping the Sabbath, food and drink prohibitions, etc.), they remain consumed by the power of the Law.
The following are signs of a person who mentions Jesus but is still consumed by the Law:
FIRST EVIDENCE:
Such a person is hypocritical (appears holy outwardly but is sinful inwardly) – Matthew 6:2; Matthew 23:25–28. The Pharisees had this character, and so will anyone who clings to the Law.
SECOND EVIDENCE:
Such a person loves arguments, because the Law makes them unspiritual. They rely on persuasive human wisdom rather than demonstrations of the Spirit and power (1 Corinthians 2:4–5).
THIRD EVIDENCE:
Such a person is self-righteous, always believing they are right even when lost, because the power of the Law blinds them from the truth (Matthew 7:1–2).
FOURTH EVIDENCE:
This person promotes one law that they can keep. For example, they may strongly hold to the Sabbath, promoting it above Christ. Even if they see someone committing fornication, as long as they keep the Sabbath, they regard that person as holy.
FIFTH EVIDENCE:
Such a person persecutes those born of the Spirit, that is, the saved. Galatians 4:29 says: “But, as it was then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.”
SIXTH EVIDENCE:
This person has zeal to serve God, but not in Spirit and truth. Thus, they make converts into children of hell twice as much (Matthew 23:15).
SEVENTH EVIDENCE:
Such a person displays goodness before people but not true goodness (Matthew 6:1).
EIGHTH EVIDENCE:
It is difficult for such a person to overcome sin because the power of the Law keeps pushing them into sin.
AN INQUIRY ABOUT THE FOUNDERS OF THE ADVENTIST “SABBATH” RELIGION:
If you investigate deeply, you will discover that the founders of the Sabbath-keeping denomination were not theologians or people well-versed in Scripture. Nor did they sit under the teaching of their pastors.
The first founder was an American named William Miller, born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1782 and died in 1849. He abandoned Christianity but later returned in 1816. He brought false revelations of Christ’s return in 1844, which caused massive disappointment and confusion among his followers (the Adventists).
The second was Hiram Edson, a follower of Miller, who introduced the false doctrine of investigative judgment into the denomination after their prophecy of Christ’s return failed.
The third was John Bates, a former sailor, who pushed hard for the return of Old Covenant Sabbath observance. He was the first to falsely teach that Sunday is the mark of the beast and that the Sabbath is the seal of God upon His faithful people.
The fourth founders were James White and his wife Ellen Gould White. They promoted Sabbath-keeping more than anyone else. James and Ellen joined Miller in 1840–1842, which led to their expulsion from their Methodist church. Ellen later strengthened Sabbath-keeping by claiming she was taken to heaven and saw the fourth commandment (Sabbath) shining brighter than the others.
Ellen White emphasized that the fourth commandment among the Ten was supreme, encircled with glory, and set apart to honor God’s name. She claimed that if the Sabbath could be broken or abolished, then all the commandments could be broken! (Ellen G. White, Early Writings, pp. 32, 35).
This explains why many Adventists argue that if we do not keep the Sabbath, it is like saying we can commit other sins such as adultery. They fail to understand the New Covenant. Their minds are blinded by this spirit of deception.
Thus, Adventists interpret Scripture according to Ellen White’s visions, giving the Law first place instead of Jesus Christ. In doing so, they distort the Scriptures.
In truth, these founders were not Biblically grounded. Their influence spread largely due to financial power, especially across Africa.
Children of God, we must recognize that we are all saved by grace and not by works of the Law (Ephesians 2:8–9). If we live according to the flesh, we will die. But if by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body, we will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God (Romans 8:13–14).
Dear reader, we have reached the end of this online article. In our book “WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY ABOUT THE SABBATH” there are more than 20 sections, most of which are not published online. The book is being printed, and we will inform you once it is ready.
God bless you, and continue studying the Bible for yourself with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Shalom,
Max Shimba, servant of Jesus Christ.
© Copyright 1998–2016 Max Shimba Ministries – All Rights Reserved.
www.maxshimbaministries.org
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