Participants: Jim Reinking
Series Code: LDS
Program Code: LDS000008
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00:34 A Shocking Discovery.
00:35 Now I want to begin with the text this evening 00:37 which expresses for me the purpose, 00:40 the purpose behind the Life Discovery series. 00:42 It is found in 1 Corinthians 2:1, 2 00:46 they are the words of Paul 00:48 to the believers of the Corinthian Church. 00:50 I just love this passage for it says 00:52 "And when I came to you, brethren, 00:55 I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, 00:58 proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 01:01 For I determined to know 01:03 nothing among you except Jesus Christ, 01:06 and Him crucified." 01:07 That's just one of those text that have that ring, doesn't it? 01:11 Just has that ring. 01:13 And, you know, it is really 01:14 the focal point is all about Jesus. 01:17 And it means there has been only one fundamental 01:19 underline motive in all of this seminar 01:22 and that has been to exalt Jesus as Lord and Savior. 01:27 And He is surely all of that to us, isn't He? 01:29 Every Biblical teaching has-- 01:32 that has been presented has had Him 01:34 at some point as the heart and the foundation of it. 01:38 Indeed it's only possible for us to experience the abundant life 01:42 as we accept Jesus as our personal Savior 01:46 and as we abide in Him 01:48 and His spirit is at work within our hearts. 01:52 For the Christian that are only true criterion, 01:55 true criterion by which we can determine 01:58 whether a particular church doctrine 02:01 is or teaching is valid. 02:05 First of all we ask the question 02:07 and we must ask the question is it Biblical 02:10 and secondly we must ask the question 02:12 do we find Jesus in it? 02:15 And, my friend, if it's Biblical 02:16 we will find Jesus in it, because these are His words. 02:21 This is the Revelation from Jesus Christ. 02:24 You know, Jesus express concerning about 02:26 those who invalidate the truth of God 02:28 by their manmade traditions. 02:31 And it doesn't surprises in our quest for the truth 02:34 define that there are some things that are being taught 02:37 which have no scriptural basis. 02:40 They simply are not to be found in the Bible. 02:44 When individuals discover that 02:45 I am a Sabbath keeping Christian, 02:49 a Sabbath keeping Christian 02:51 they often wonder why, why would you do that? 02:54 It seems a lot of stuff with the acceptance practice. 02:57 But again there are some practices 03:00 that have become accepted 03:02 which were they little investigation 03:04 are found to be out of step with what the Bible teaches. 03:09 I keep the Sabbath as a Christian 03:11 and I hope you caught that. 03:12 I keep the Sabbath as a Christian, 03:14 because it's the only day which the Bible declares 03:17 that God has set aside for us to keep. 03:20 I'm gonna share with you the Biblical evidence of that. 03:23 I've also found it to be a vital part of my relationship 03:25 in Jesus Christ. 03:27 So let's take our Bibles and let me share with you 03:30 specifically not only from the Old Testament, 03:33 but also from the New Testament 03:35 why the Sabbath is important to us as born again Christians. 03:39 And if there is going to be a shock, 03:42 A Shocking Discovery from the Garden of Eden 03:45 don't forget that title. 03:46 The shock would come 03:48 when we move into the New Testament 03:51 and we see how very specifically 03:53 and how very particular the New Testament 03:56 teaches this matter of the Sabbath. 03:58 Text that we often have not been heard 04:01 being preached from you know many pulpits of today. 04:05 But we are gonna begin in the Old Testament 04:07 because we're gonna trace the origins of the Sabbath 04:09 and to do that we have to go back to the beginning 04:12 that is to the creation week 04:14 and we find that in Genesis Chapter 2 04:16 the Old Testament page 1. 04:18 Page 1, Genesis 2 04:19 we're gonna be looking at the first three verses here 04:22 in Genesis. 04:24 Genesis 1 is a record of the six days of creation 04:28 and then again it's a part of the narrative of creation. 04:32 It says in verse 1 of Chapter 2 04:36 "Thus the heavens and the earth were completed 04:39 in all their host. 04:41 And by the seventh day God completed His work 04:43 which He had done 04:45 and He rested on the seventh day 04:47 from all His work which He had done. 04:49 Then God blessed." 04:50 Notice what He did. 04:52 "God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, 04:55 because in it He rested from all His work 04:58 which God had created and made." 05:03 So as we're looking at this particular passage 05:04 the question is, where did the Sabbath come from? 05:06 Oh yeah, it's a part of the creation narrative. 05:10 It's a part of that first weekly cycle. 05:13 God worked and then He rested. 05:15 He set a pattern for us. 05:17 Indeed He was setting us an example 05:19 at the very beginnings of time 05:21 that it would be vital to our interested 05:24 and to our prosperity to enjoy a Sabbath rest. 05:29 You know, God really wasn't tired, 05:31 God never gets tired aren't you glad for that? 05:34 He didn't really need to rest. 05:37 So there was another purpose behind it 05:40 and it was again to give us an example of what we are to do. 05:44 The pattern we ought to follow 05:46 after six days of work we are to rest. 05:49 It's not the purpose of God 05:50 that we ought to be burning ourselves out 05:53 day in and day out. 05:56 Oh my friend, take a break. 06:00 That's what God said, take a break. 06:03 You're gonna live longer. 06:05 You're gonna feel better. 06:06 And if you're under a lot of stress 06:08 and, you know, 06:10 you've got a lot of issues going on where you work 06:14 and you're just really bone-tired at the end of the day 06:17 my friend, you need rest. 06:20 It's a part of what God has design at the very beginning. 06:23 But, my friend, take note of the fact 06:25 that Sabbath originated from the Garden of Eden. 06:29 It was one of those things that God set aside 06:33 before sin came into the world and that's significant. 06:36 It was a part of the world 06:38 that He created in the beginning paradise. 06:42 And, my friend, if God, 06:45 you know, calls us to rest in paradise again 06:48 how much more important is it today? 06:51 And by the way according to the Bible 06:53 which day is the Sabbath? 06:55 Now that is a question. 06:57 How particular is the Bible about this whole matter? 07:00 The really question that comes down to, 07:03 do we and then some people take this approach. 07:06 You know, I'll pick and choose which day I'm going to keep. 07:10 It could be Friday, it could be Sunday, 07:12 it could be Wednesday. 07:15 So that is a question are we free 07:18 in light of what the Bible teaches to pick 07:20 and choose the day or has God already done the picking, 07:23 the picking and the choosing of the day? 07:25 Isn't that important to know? 07:28 If God picked the day it be specific about the day 07:32 then that ought to be of importance to us 07:35 somehow that could be important. 07:37 And we know it says here in verse 2 07:40 that it was the seventh day. 07:43 Not the first day, 07:44 not the second day the seventh day is-- 07:49 and notice what He did. 07:50 First of all and it's in verse 3 it says 07:53 first of all God blessed the seventh day. 07:57 Notice He did something very unique with time. 07:59 He put a blessing in this day. 08:02 And when we keep the Sabbath 08:04 we participate and we experience the blessing of the Sabbath. 08:07 But that's not all He did. 08:09 It says for the more that God sanctified it. 08:13 The word sanctify means it was set aside. 08:16 And was set aside for what? For rest. 08:21 And as we study this matter of the Sabbath 08:23 and it's not just speaking of physical rest 08:25 which is a part of it, 08:27 but it's also pointing us to spiritual rest in Jesus. 08:33 Wait until we get into the New Testament 08:35 on the teaching on that part of it. 08:37 The rest that is ours in Jesus is connected very directly 08:40 in the New Testament 08:42 to this matter of keeping the Bible Sabbath, it is. 08:47 So and then last of all we saw in verse 3 08:51 further more it's says like God rested on the seventh day. 08:56 Three significant things that God did on the seventh day 09:01 at the very beginnings of time as I've already shared with you. 09:04 And so when we keep the Sabbath 09:06 we're simply accepting 09:07 God's invitation to enter into His rest 09:11 and to seizing from our works. 09:13 And again there is physical implications to that 09:16 and there is also spiritual implications 09:19 to this matter of seizing from our works. 09:21 I just really love it. 09:22 I'm really anxious to get there to Hebrews 4, 09:25 but we'll get to there and due process 09:28 as we continue our study. 09:31 You know, it is a shock 09:32 for hundreds and thousands of Christians 09:34 as they realize that seventh day is the Sabbath 09:36 and that's Saturday not Sunday. 09:39 My friend, it wouldn't matter a bit to us except that, 09:43 you know, if we truly be born of the spirit of God, 09:46 if we're truly under the blood of Jesus, 09:49 truth is vital to us. 09:53 And I would guess that is one of the major factors 09:55 that have brought you and kept you coming 09:58 to the meetings 09:59 because we really are taking into what the Bible teaches. 10:01 And let me tell you we're not just interested 10:04 in studying out those things that are popular 10:07 that everybody is gonna saying amen about, 10:09 we ought to be concessive, 10:11 we are also interested in knowing those truths 10:13 that may not be popular and this maybe one of them. 10:18 But beyond the nuts and bolts of it 10:20 there is a wonderful blessing in this matter of the Sabbath. 10:24 Oh by the way, since we're talking about the origins of it 10:27 and we take note again of the fact 10:29 that is right in the middle of the Ten Commandments. 10:32 Longest of all of the commandments 10:34 in Exodus 20 and beginning with verse 8. 10:37 Interestingly it begins by saying 10:38 "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." 10:41 Isn't it fascinating that the one day 10:44 the much of the Christian world has forgotten. 10:47 Now I share a little piece on the historical side of that 10:50 how that came to be. 10:52 Much of the Christian world has forgotten 10:55 that God begins with this commandment 10:58 with the word remember. 11:00 You know, He knows us better than we know ourselves. 11:04 He knows how easy it is for us to get busy 11:07 and distracted and to forget sometimes those saying 11:09 that are really essential to our well-being. 11:13 And I think that's probably the reason 11:14 why He says remember, don't you forget. 11:16 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 11:18 That's certainly another issue, 11:20 how do you keep a day holy? 11:21 Well, it kind of explains itself in the fourth commandment. 11:25 Six days-- God goes on 11:27 "Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 11:30 but the seventh day 11:31 is the Sabbath of the Lord you God." 11:34 Again which day is the Sabbath? 11:38 It says the seventh day. 11:40 And the Sabbath of whom? 11:42 Whose day is it anyway, is it my day? 11:45 I'm gonna pick and choose the day. 11:46 Lord, this is my day. No. 11:49 "Is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. 11:52 In it you shall do no work, you, nor your son, 11:55 nor your daughter, nor your male servant, 11:58 nor your female servant, nor your cattle, 12:00 nor your stranger who is within your gates." 12:03 And then the reason is given to us 12:05 why we're to keep the Sabbath. 12:06 It's says for or you can use the word 12:08 because "For in six days 12:10 the Lord made the heavens and the earth, 12:12 the sea, and all that is in them, 12:15 and rested the seventh day." 12:17 And, my friend, when it points us 12:20 to the fact that God worked 12:21 and then rested on the Sabbath day 12:24 as a reason why we're to keep it 12:26 it's specifically is indicating that He set us an example. 12:31 Isn't that what it says? 12:32 We have to do because He did it. 12:35 And it goes on to say 12:36 "Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day 12:39 and He hallowed it." 12:41 But I know there are those who say 12:43 what a legalistic thing to do 12:46 this matter of keeping the Sabbath. 12:49 But, you know, as long as this earth remains 12:53 the Sabbath will continue to be a commemoration of His creation, 12:57 because that is embedded also in this matter of the Sabbath, 13:01 because as we just read 13:03 it reminds us that God in six days created this planet 13:08 and then He rested. 13:11 So it points back to creation. 13:12 We'll also see that a points forward to the future rest 13:15 that is ours in the kingdom of God. 13:18 So but as I said, there are those who say 13:21 what a legalistic thing to do 13:23 this matter of keeping the Sabbath. 13:27 Well, I keep the Sabbath as a Christian 13:31 by the grace of Jesus, by the grace of Jesus 13:34 for the same fundamental reason 13:36 I seek to keep the other nine commandments. 13:38 They are God's eternal principles 13:40 and they are meant to be lived by. 13:43 Now can Sabbath keeping be a legalistic thing? 13:46 Absolutely, it all depends on the motivation. 13:51 You know, this that nobody ever says about the person 13:53 who doesn't believe in breaking the commandment that says, 13:55 thou shall not steal. 13:57 What a legalistic thing to do. 14:00 You don't steal. 14:03 Or the person that doesn't believe in breaking 14:05 the seventh commandment the moral individual 14:07 who doesn't believe in committing adultery 14:08 what a legalistic thing to do. 14:12 My friend, it does not make sense 14:15 that we would hold up one of the commandments 14:17 that says that this automatically isn't legalistic, 14:20 it can be, but it all depends on the motivation 14:25 and if it comes out of ones love and commitment to Jesus Christ 14:29 it comes out of a relationship. 14:31 My friend, whenever Jesus is in it, 14:33 it keeps us away from legalism. 14:37 It does every time. 14:39 You know, nobody is here to suggest 14:40 that we ought to keep the Sabbath 14:42 or any of the commandments to be saved. 14:44 I hope you write that one down. 14:46 Because we're saved by grace alone 14:49 through the blood of Jesus. 14:53 Period. 14:57 Remember what Jesus said. 14:58 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law 15:00 or the Prophets, 15:01 I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill." 15:07 My friend, it's clear as we look at this passage of scripture 15:10 Jesus did not come with the intension 15:12 of eliminating or doing the way 15:14 with any of the commandments. 15:16 And He said, don't you think that I came to abolish. 15:19 Don't you think that in fulfilling the law 15:21 that I did away with it? 15:23 He said it, right? 15:25 It's black and white. 15:27 Remember that, because some of you're gonna hear this. 15:30 And then He says in verse 18 15:32 "For truly" I mean this is a solid statement 15:35 when Jesus says "For truly I say to you. 15:39 Until heaven and earth pas away, 15:42 not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away 15:47 from the Law, until all is accomplished." 15:50 We are certain heaven and earth is still here. 15:53 Not all has been accomplished yet. 15:56 Jesus for one thing as yet to come 15:59 or still needs dealing with the mess down here 16:02 that sin has brought to us that hasn't been dealt 16:05 with as it been brought to enhance it. 16:08 But notice Jesus said, not the smallest letter 16:12 or stroke shall pass away from the Lord 16:16 yet to suggest that a whole commandment 16:19 has been done away with. 16:22 You know, we need to really be consistent in the Biblical 16:24 about some of these things, don't we? 16:26 And then He goes on to say, 16:28 He goes on to say "Whoever then annuls 16:30 one of the least of these commandments, 16:32 and so teaches others, 16:34 shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven, 16:37 but whoever keeps and teaches them." 16:40 Even the least of them. 16:41 "He shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." 16:45 And as I said last night, 16:46 we really are on solid New Testament foundations 16:50 to be talking in the context of the saving relationship 16:54 that is ours with Jesus Christ to be talking about 16:57 the importance of the commandments. 17:01 My friend, as Christians being born again 17:04 we have certain moral values that set us aside. 17:09 Jesus said, let your light shine. 17:13 And the light that shines forth from us 17:15 is the light of the glory of the presence of Jesus 17:19 in each one of our hearts and it is the light of truth 17:23 that also shines forth and it's demonstrated 17:28 and it's revealed through the lifestyle 17:31 that is uniquely ours as Christians, right. 17:37 So it is a vital part of it. 17:40 In Romans 3:31 Paul ask the question 17:43 "Do we then nullify the Law through faith?" 17:46 Does our faith in Jesus do away with the commandments? 17:50 And, you know, there are some Christians who would say yes, 17:52 that's exactly what it does, 17:54 it's a relevant question. 17:56 But Paul says "May it never be!" 18:00 That's a very strong term or expression in the Greek, 18:03 the original language. 18:04 He says "On the contrary." 18:07 To the contrary, the contrary is actually true. 18:09 "On the contrary, we establish the Law." 18:13 That one included the Sabbath wouldn't it? 18:15 And how do we establish the law? 18:18 Through faith, 18:21 through the relationship, 18:25 okay, right. 18:27 I was listening for an, amen in there somewhere. 18:31 And it's through faith in Jesus. 18:33 Now let's get to the New Testament 18:34 and particularly as Jesus related to the Sabbath. 18:37 Let's look at Luke 4 the New Testament page 47, 18:41 page 47 Luke 4:16. 18:45 Now in most subjects you will find 18:48 that there are what I call the nuts 18:50 and the bolts of the subject that you have to put together, 18:52 you have to take the revelation of God's word 18:56 and take the relevant passages of scripture 18:58 and put in together, 19:00 so that we have an understanding 19:01 what the Bible teaches. 19:03 Sometimes that's where some preachers just leave it. 19:07 I'm not just interested to get in the nuts and bolts 19:09 of a subject in the focus 19:12 I'm also interested 19:14 in how this relates to my relationship 19:16 that Jesus Christ. 19:17 And I want to know 19:18 what this means to me spiritually. 19:21 So I'm gonna deal with the nuts and the bolts, 19:24 because it's important in its place. 19:27 But there is a blessing in this 19:29 that I want to share a little bit with you tonight 19:31 before we're done. 19:32 But here is Luke 4:16 19:35 "And he came to Nazareth." 19:37 Speaking of Jesus "Where he had been brought up: 19:40 and, as his custom, 19:42 he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath 19:44 and stood up to read." 19:46 Custom, custom, what would be another term for that? 19:49 What would be a synonym, what would be another synonym? 19:54 It was his practice, it was his habit, right. 20:01 It was his practice. 20:03 Remember one of the questions I said, 20:05 you know, two questions is a Biblical, 20:07 secondly do we find Jesus in it, okay. 20:13 If you think about maybe this is surprise for some of us 20:16 to find out that Jesus throughout His life 20:20 and His ministry was a Sabbath keeper. 20:24 He kept the Sabbath. 20:26 And in keeping the Sabbath as is a Christian 20:28 we therefore are following the example of whom? 20:32 Of Jesus Christ. 20:35 I mean 1 John 2:6 say that 20:37 "The one who says he abides in Him ought himself 20:39 also to walk in the same manner as He walked." 20:43 We have to follow the example of Jesus. 20:46 And, my friend, He gave us this example. 20:50 Sabbath keeping Christians 20:53 are among the fastest growing Christian groups today. 20:58 There are over 15 million Sabbath keeping Christians. 21:05 And there is a reason because, my friend, 21:09 this is not something 21:10 that we just very quickly come to. 21:12 Because it kind of success apart. 21:15 It's like, you know, with just a casual look at it 21:17 you can even seem kind of weird 21:20 and just kind of our step 21:22 with what most of Christians are doing. 21:25 And so, you know, none of us are quick to get into something 21:28 that seems kind of strange just on the surface of it 21:32 and I'll tell you most Christians 21:34 who become Sabbath keeping Christians do so 21:37 as they very prayerfully consider 21:39 what the Bible teaches about this matter. 21:43 And when they really look at what the Bible teaches 21:47 that's where so many decisions come 21:50 for a lot of since you're Christians 21:52 would become Sabbath keeping Christians. 21:55 Now, you know, we're not criticizing 21:57 Sunday keeping Christians, 21:58 we are not condemning them to hell, 22:01 you know, you know, there are many, 22:05 many sincere born again Christians 22:08 who love the Lord who keep Sunday. 22:10 You know, they've never had a reason to really look at it, 22:13 maybe you can never had a reason even 22:14 to considerate until a preacher like me got up 22:17 that one Saturday night and preached on it. 22:20 For my grandmother that happened in 1930-- 22:25 what is 37 or 38 22:27 she went to meetings like this in Garrison, North Dakota 22:31 and the preacher got up and preached on this. 22:33 She actually has some convictions about this 22:36 even before hearing this preached. 22:38 But when she heard the preacher preaching 22:40 on what the Bible taught about this Sabbath 22:43 she recognize the ring of truth and then my family 22:47 well, I know, that's were it really began. 22:49 She became a Sabbath keeping Christian. 22:52 So look at it from the Biblical standpoint. 22:56 It will make a lot more sense. 22:58 And so 500,000 a year and again many Christians 23:04 as they begin to study this out 23:05 hundreds and thousands of Christians 23:07 as they look at this really are asking the question 23:10 why aren't we keeping the first day? 23:12 Why aren't we keeping Sunday 23:13 when the Bible clearly teaches 23:15 that the seventh day is Sabbath and that's Saturday not Sunday? 23:19 And of course that maybe a question 23:20 for some how do we know? 23:22 Well, I'll get to that in due course. 23:25 Let me share with you another passage in Mark 2 23:29 the New Testament page 28. 23:31 Page 28 Mark 2:27, 28. 23:38 Jesus says something very significant 23:40 about this matter of the Sabbath here. 23:42 The Sabbath was made for the Jews 23:46 and not to Jews. 23:51 Well, I hear couple of you kind of laughing. 23:54 Now come on, are you gonna let on preacher get away with that. 23:59 Now come on don't just, you know, you can read it. 24:04 No, that's not. 24:05 What it says it's says the Sabbath was made for man 24:08 and not man for the Sabbath. 24:12 Now let's talk about this matter that the Jews keep the Sabbath. 24:15 They do at least some of them do. 24:18 Of course there are many secular Jews 24:20 that don't keep the Sabbath. 24:23 I'll let you gonna have a secret, 24:24 they also believe in keeping the other nine commandments. 24:27 Again does that necessary to make them Jewish? 24:31 But now Jesus said "The Sabbath was made for man 24:34 and not man for the Sabbath." 24:36 I'm gonna give you a little bit of a Greek lesson right here. 24:38 The word in the Greek is a word anthropos. 24:42 Our word anthropology comes from this Greek anthropos 24:46 that translates out mankind. 24:49 Translates mankind. 24:52 So Jesus was saying something very significant. 24:56 He was teaching that the Sabbath was made for all of mankind. 25:01 It was made for all peoples, right. 25:08 Because I remind you the rights of the Sabbath 25:11 predate the first Jew by about 4,000 years. 25:15 The first Jew being Abraham, that's a rough figure, 25:18 but, you know, after the plot. 25:21 So the Sabbath was made for the whole human race. 25:27 Jesus stated it. 25:29 And then for there on in verse 28 25:31 He says so "The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." 25:37 So which day is the Lord's day? 25:40 It's the Sabbath. 25:42 There is linguistic evidence for the Sabbath 25:45 by the way being the seventh day 25:47 in some 108 languages 25:50 the very word for the seventh day, 25:52 our word is Saturday, 25:53 but for the seventh day is the word Sabbath. 25:57 I'm gonna give you a list of some of them. 25:59 In Ancient Syriac you can see it Shabbatho. 26:03 Now I can't pronounce many of these languages, 26:06 but you can see it. 26:07 In Arabic its Assabt. 26:10 You see the root of it. 26:12 In ancient Babylonian and then are languages in Africa 26:16 were the word is the word for Sabbath. 26:19 In Ethiopic and Greek and Greek has Sabbato 26:24 and Italian you go down the list Kurdish and Latin 26:27 and again another language in Africa Maba 26:30 and Malayan and Polish you can see it in Portuguese, 26:34 the Romanian Sabat and Russian Subbota. 26:38 I've done four of these series in Russia. 26:41 And I tell you when it came to the Sabbath, 26:44 you know, it was such a common term for them, 26:46 you know, it was only after you pointed it out to them 26:49 that their word for Saturday Subbota 26:53 that the word is a word for Sabbath. 26:55 And when they thought of it they said, yes, that's right. 26:58 I didn't really thought of it, it just a very common term. 27:02 And you go on down Servian and in Spanish 27:05 what's the word Sabado. 27:08 So we have linguistic evidence 27:10 which I think is quite astounding, 27:13 because where in this language groups 27:15 and from these particular peoples and cultures 27:18 where did this idea of the seventh day 27:20 being the Sabbath come into the languages 27:23 if there wasn't at some point probably back in many, 27:28 maybe even millennium ago 27:30 there was some reorganization in these people groups 27:34 and in these cultures that the seventh day 27:37 that is Saturday is the Sabbath. 27:40 It's fascinating 27:41 when you look at the linguistic evidence of it. 27:45 And by the way 27:46 how could Jesus claim to be Lord of the Sabbath anyway? 27:49 How could He claim to be Lord of the Sabbath? 27:52 Now remember those vital questions here is, 27:56 do we find Jesus in it? 27:59 Are we discovering Jesus kept it? 28:03 We also discovering in the New Testament 28:05 Jesus said, He is Lord of the Sabbath. 28:10 Remember John 1:3 it says 28:12 "All things came into being by Him 28:14 and without Him nothing came into being that." 28:17 As, you know, some are creation. 28:20 So who do you think set aside that for Sabbath? 28:24 Remember Jesus is the active agency 28:26 by which God create this world, 28:28 by which He paid the price of our redemption, 28:31 by which He will judge the world, 28:33 by which He will establish the everlasting kingdom. 28:36 Remember we study through that. 28:38 So Jesus could claim to be Lord of the Sabbath, 28:40 because He was the agency of creation 28:44 on behalf of the God. 28:45 And it says right here in Colossians 1:16 28:48 "For by Him" that is Jesus "All things were created." 28:53 And so when it says in Genesis 2 that God rested. 28:56 Yes, God the Father was there and yes, 28:58 God the spirit was there. 28:59 But yes, God the Son Himself was there. 29:03 And He is the one that blessed it, He sanctify it. 29:07 He is the one that's set it apart, 29:09 because nothing came into being apart from Him 29:13 is what the Bible teaches. 29:14 So it is so clearly connected 29:18 into our relationship with Jesus. 29:22 Which makes it a pretty spiritual thing 29:24 when you think about it pretty spiritual thing. 29:28 Oh yes, I've been telling you 29:30 I wanted to get you to Hebrews 4:4 29:34 "For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day, 29:39 'And God rested on the seventh day 29:41 from all His works.'" 29:44 And the context he is talking about the rest 29:47 that God seeks for His people. 29:50 And notice how it's connected 29:51 to the Sabbath the seventh day Sabbath. 29:55 Come on down to verses 9-11 29:58 where He says "So there remains 30:01 a Sabbath rest for the people of God." 30:05 In the context of the New Testament 30:07 who constitutes the people of God, who? 30:13 My friend, those who have entered 30:14 into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. 30:19 Would you agree? 30:21 Constitute the people of God. 30:23 And what does this text say 30:25 there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 30:30 My friend, it cannot be said that something remains 30:34 and yet to be told that has been done away with. 30:38 If it's been done away with it, it doesn't remain. 30:41 But the New Testament says 30:42 it remains for the people of God. 30:47 Now how do we get away from it? 30:49 How did the Christian church get away from it? 30:51 I'm just a little piece on that before we're done, 30:55 you know, I just have one presentation 30:58 to deal with what the Bible teaches on. 30:59 So I can get in all the historical aspects 31:02 of how it was changed, so we know the history of it. 31:04 And I will give you 31:06 more of the historical background at some point 31:08 but anyway, but I'll give you a little, 31:10 you know, one of the vital points 31:12 on how the Christian church stop keeping the Sabbath 31:17 and started keeping Sunday the first day of the week. 31:22 Anyway so that remains and then verse 10 31:26 "For the one who has entered His rest 31:29 has himself also rested from his works, 31:31 as God did from His." 31:33 Again it's talking about His example. 31:35 Verse 11, verse 11 31:37 "Therefore let us be diligent." 31:40 Let us be what? 31:41 "Diligent to enter into that rest." 31:45 There is the spiritual side of it, 31:47 there is the blessing of it. 31:51 I'll talk a little bit more about that in a moment. 31:55 So let's us diligently let's us "Be diligent to enter that rest, 31:59 so that no one will fall." 32:02 What it's talking about falling. 32:03 "Through following the same example of disobedience." 32:08 So it's talking about diligently seeking to keep the Sabbath 32:11 and it warns us 32:13 from not falling away from it in disobedience of it. 32:20 Is that now what the text says? 32:23 That's the New Testament. 32:26 Now you will understand why on a typical Sunday morning 32:27 this probably is not going 32:29 to be the chapter or the verse that's gonna be preached on. 32:35 But never the less its in the Bible 32:37 and again I'm not being critical 32:38 when I say that I mean that by observation 32:41 and you know that. 32:43 And its gonna be a work in the Mark 2:27, 28 32:47 is going to be the passage 32:49 that's gonna be preached on in a typical Sunday morning. 32:52 And so that's why many of us have never really maybe heard 32:56 or seen these passages of scripture, 33:00 because the established tradition and practice 33:04 is not the Sabbath it's the first day of the week, 33:07 we'll come to that. 33:09 There is something significant happened 33:10 on the first day. 33:13 Absolutely it did we'll come to that in a moment. 33:15 But you see the beauty of the Sabbath rest. 33:21 Is something that I have valued for much of my life, 33:27 all through my education, my undergraduate work, 33:30 my work on my two masters degrees. 33:33 Man, was I grad and that was all over that formal education. 33:37 It was a lot of work, 33:38 but let me tell you when the Sabbath began 33:43 I just put it all aside may been test week, 33:46 finals coming up next week, 33:48 maybe I had major papers that were do and maybe 33:51 I wasn't, you know, ready, but, my friend, 33:54 I never was tempted on the Sabbath 33:58 to do my school work. 33:59 Never, because I always believe 34:01 by that resting on the Sabbath day 34:04 that I was fresher, I have more energy. 34:09 And by the way let me tell you, 34:11 you could get more dude in a week 34:13 if the happiest productivity is the-- is the game. 34:17 Yes, but you can get more done in a week 34:21 by keeping the Sabbath than by working seven days a week. 34:26 That can be proven scientifically. 34:31 We need the rest and it is when the Sabbath begins 34:35 and, you know, I'm living in this little trailer here 34:37 that Ginger and her husband were kind enough to provide for me. 34:40 Thank you, Ginger. 34:42 And it's my practice at home when the Sabbath hours began 34:48 I turned on my computer and I have a certain, 34:52 there is a couple of websites with beautiful Christian music. 34:58 And I open the doors from my study 35:00 where my computer is, 35:01 so that this music can just infiltrate the whole house 35:05 and all of these beautiful Christian music it's peaceful, 35:10 it's restful, it's joyful. 35:14 There is just in my mind 35:16 and I know this for many who keep the Sabbath, 35:18 because of years of doing that is like a switch goes off. 35:22 Maybe I've been hurried 35:24 and maybe I've been under a lot of pressure, 35:26 but when the Sabbath begins I just, 35:28 I enter into another, I go to another dimension 35:31 if you want to put it in, 35:33 you know, I just go to another place 35:36 and it's restful and peaceful. 35:38 I remember in Vallejo, California 35:40 that's in the bay area, 35:42 I had this had this African-American grandmother 35:46 and her granddaughter attending my meeting. 35:48 She was-- what was she about 22 or something 35:50 and I remember one Saturday afternoon stopping by. 35:54 I wish I could remember names to see 35:57 she and her grandmother they were living together. 36:00 And I knocked on the door. 36:01 This is the afternoon. 36:02 And here she opens the door, 36:03 she is in her pajamas 36:05 which kind of makes me a little bit embarrassed, 36:07 you know, and she was it and she said, 36:10 oh she says you know I've been in my bedroom 36:14 and I have been relaxing today. 36:18 It was her first steps in seeking to keep the Sabbath. 36:22 And so she was experimenting a little bit 36:25 with this idea of just resting. 36:27 She took it very literally. 36:29 You know, she was in bed half the day. 36:33 Well, bless her heart and her grandmother, 36:37 remember we talk warm light 36:39 and, you know, they made their decision 36:41 as they studied out their Bible 36:43 and as they found out this really is a blessing. 36:46 After all God did put a blessing, didn't He? 36:49 So there is this other spiritual side to it 36:52 that is truly wonderful. 36:55 I've been not part for this for anything. 36:58 I'm gonna live longer for this, 36:59 by the way you will too. 37:02 So again the question is, do we need it? 37:04 The Wall Street Journal reports that professionals 37:07 on average work 44 hours a week in the area of law, 37:13 finance and medicine it's more like 88 hours plus. 37:18 And on top of that the Wall Street Journal reported 37:21 that factory workers in the United States 37:23 work 430 hours more each year 37:28 then their German counterparts. 37:30 In other words the American factory worker 37:34 is working two and a half months 37:36 more each year than the Germans. 37:40 We are out working the Germans. 37:43 Can you believe it? 37:46 But we know about those who have come to this country. 37:49 Let me tell you, those who were satisfy 37:50 with the study score are where living 37:52 at didn't come to this country, 37:55 but it was those who are looking for something better 37:57 they would driven for something better 38:01 they have an idea they can make a better life here 38:03 and they were willing to work for it. 38:06 And so we have the work ethic. 38:08 Here in the United States work is good in its proper place. 38:13 But remember God says you need the Sabbath, 38:16 you need to rest. Of course we need it. 38:18 And so the Sabbath points back to the God 38:23 that established the Sabbath. 38:25 It points back to His creative power, 38:28 it also points to the God who gives us rest, 38:33 it points to the God that brings to us peace 38:36 through Jesus Christ. 38:38 In the words of Jesus Himself in Matthew 11 38:40 He said, "Come to Me, all who are weary 38:43 and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 38:47 Take My yoke upon you, learn from Me, 38:49 for I am gentle and humble in heart, 38:51 and you shall find" what? 38:54 "Rest for your souls." 38:56 See this is not just physical rest, 38:58 because Jesus said, 38:59 I will give you rest to your souls, 39:01 for your souls. 39:03 And, my friend, it is impossible 39:05 apart from Jesus to experience 39:10 the rest of the Sabbath. 39:14 The Sabbath is a indicative of the rest 39:16 that we find in Jesus and so as it means 39:19 by which we enter into His rest 39:21 and it points forward to the final rest 39:23 that will be ours. 39:25 When the conflict is ended 39:28 and we inhabit that eternal kingdom 39:30 when we are in paradise restored. 39:35 We all rest. 39:36 Gonna take a long vacation. 39:38 You know, spend pretty tough down here 39:40 lot of balance that we thought here 39:42 is been kind of stressful down here hasn't it? 39:46 And so when we get into the kingdom? 39:49 We're all gonna take a long vacation aren't we? 39:52 It's gonna be wonderful, it's gonna be beautiful. 39:55 So it points forward, but then are those who say yes, 39:58 but I know what the Bible does talk about the Sabbath, 40:01 but I keep Sunday in honor of the resurrection 40:05 which sounds very spiritual. 40:07 But, my friend, show me one text only one 40:11 where the Bible instructs us that we ought to keep Sunday. 40:15 It's not hard to do for there are only eight texts 40:19 in the New Testament 40:20 that even speaks of the first day of the week 40:22 and that's where you find it first day. 40:24 They didn't call the days of the week. 40:26 In New Testament times Saturday and Sunday, 40:28 you know, that comes from our Roman calendar, 40:31 but they called it the first day of the week. 40:33 We all know Jesus was resurrected on the first day 40:36 of the week is a fact is glorious it is powerful 40:39 where we will be without the resurrection in Jesus. 40:42 This is not too, 40:44 you know, undermine the significance 40:46 of the resurrection because it is vital, 40:49 but it again is the question 40:51 and what does the Bible really teach? 40:53 And, my friend, it's not there. 40:55 Take a concordance and look at it. 40:57 It does speak of the resurrection, 40:59 but look for any statement there 41:02 that we ought to keep the first day 41:04 in honor of the resurrection, 41:05 it's just not there. 41:08 You know you can make a fine case 41:09 that we ought to be keeping Thursday evening. 41:15 Thursday evening, Thursday evening, 41:18 it was on Thursday evening 41:19 that Jesus gathered His 41:20 disciples together in the upper room. 41:23 It was on that Thursday evening 41:25 that Jesus gave them the cup 41:27 and He gave them the bread 41:28 representing His broken body and His spilled blood. 41:33 The basis of the new covenant was given there to is these 41:36 some of the most beautiful teachings of Jesus 41:38 were given on that Thursday night, 41:41 but, my friend, the Bible does not teaches us 41:43 that we ought to follows the example of the disciples 41:46 as they did in one occasion 41:47 when they met with Jesus in the upper room. 41:50 So we don't do that. 41:52 We can make another case 41:53 that we ought to be keeping Friday 41:55 for after all it was on Friday 41:57 that Jesus died for our sins on the cross of Calvary. 42:01 I mean where would we be without the crucifixion? 42:05 You see it sounds rational 42:08 when you talk about these things 42:09 apart from what the Bible really teaches. 42:11 It sound spiritual and it sounds theological, 42:14 but without a Biblical base it is not Biblical. 42:20 And so the practice is not in harmony with the Bible 42:22 what the Bible teaches particularly 42:24 when the Bible teaches is the seventh day 42:26 that we ought to keep. 42:29 And by the way if you want to celebrate the resurrection 42:32 do it in the Biblical sense, look at Romans 6:3-6 42:37 where it says by baptism we enter into His death, 42:40 we are burying with Christ in the baptism 42:43 and as we come up out of the waters 42:45 we are celebrating His resurrection. 42:50 Now that's a Biblical way to celebrate the death, 42:53 burial and resurrection of Jesus 42:55 if we want to be Biblical about it. 42:58 In contrast to the eight 43:00 references to the first day of the week 43:02 in the New Testament if you count them up 43:04 you will find 60 specific references 43:07 in the New Testament to the Sabbath. 43:10 That's a little bit shocking to a lot of people to find out 43:13 that the Sabbath is quite prominent 43:15 actually particularly in the gospels. 43:18 But it is quite prominent 60 to 8 43:21 the weight of evidence is quite clear as you look at it. 43:26 You know, take a concordance 43:27 and take a look at it at some point. 43:31 But there are those who say it can't be that important. 43:35 I suppose those same people will be standing there 43:37 if they were there the tree the knowledge of good and evil. 43:41 It's kind of, you know, I think the devil was saying something 43:44 like that it's only the piece of fruit come on, 43:48 you can't be that serious it's only a piece of fruit. 43:51 Of course the consequences tell us a different story. 43:54 It's what the fruit represented. 43:57 What did it represent? 43:59 It represented loyalty to God. 44:03 Didn't it not? 44:05 And, my friend, it may just seem like a date. 44:08 Oh, what's in a date anyway? 44:10 It's what the date represents. 44:13 And what does it represent? 44:16 Loyalty to God and loyalty to Bible teaching 44:21 it's what it represents and that's what God has done 44:25 when He is blessed them and when He is sanctified. 44:28 In my wife's family, my wife's family 44:31 Sabbath keeping Christian-- 44:32 Sabbath keeping was something fairly new. 44:34 It all began with my wife's older sister Andrea 44:38 who is seven years older than her 44:39 living in Twins Fall, Idaho. 44:42 And she and her mother Andrea were not getting long 44:45 they were having these arguments and these fights 44:47 and finally it just got little bit ugly 44:50 and Andrea said, I'm leaving home. 44:53 I think she was about 17, 16 or 17. 44:56 I'm leaving home. 44:57 And her mother in effect say good ridden, 44:59 I'll help you pack your bags. 45:01 Well, it's not very nice situation. 45:03 And so she did 45:05 and she traveled all the way to Walla Walla, Washington. 45:09 Now listen to I state this now. This was culture. 45:12 She moved in with her boyfriend's family. 45:16 Who happen to be Sabbath keeping Christians 45:19 which began to raise some real questions in Andrea's mind. 45:23 She had an attack of appendicitis 45:26 found herself in the Walla General Hospital 45:29 that's run by Sabbath keeping Christians. 45:32 And those were in the days, those were in the days 45:35 when you went into the hospital 45:37 you actually spent a few days there, recovering. 45:41 You know, now the day they put you into the hospital 45:43 and before the day is out you are hardly, 45:46 you know, you've just hardly waking up 45:48 you're still a little bit groggy, 45:50 but they get you in the wheelchair 45:51 and they get you out the front door 45:53 and you are on your way home. 45:56 But those of the days when you spend 45:57 a little bit time recovering. 45:59 She was visit by the chaplain 46:01 who was the Sabbath keeping Christian. 46:02 And she began to asking him some questions and she said. 46:07 Andrea told me this. 46:08 She said, I knew he was wrong. 46:10 And I was gonna prove it. 46:12 She found a Bible in the drawer there 46:14 and she began to study. 46:17 And let me tell you the more she studied 46:19 the more she discovered 46:21 it really was what the Bible talked. 46:24 And she ended up becoming a Sabbath keeping Christian. 46:27 Within five years of Andrea doing that 46:30 my mother-in-law a Roman catholic 46:34 also took the time to study this out 46:36 and became a Sabbath keeping Christian. 46:39 And my wife who was about 16 years of age 46:43 also studied this out and decided 46:45 that she have been going to the Methodist Church 46:47 decide to become a Sabbath keeping Christian. 46:51 So it's just fascinating how this works out. 46:54 I've got to share this with you, 46:55 it's all about the car, the car, 46:58 the 1973 Mustang Mach 1, 47:01 only a youth pastor could get away 47:03 with that kind of a car today. 47:05 After finishing my masters' degrees 47:08 we were in Pasco, Washington. 47:10 I was an associate pastor. 47:11 My wife said, I'm going to give you a job 47:13 and she found one as a secretary at the local Christian church. 47:18 And, you know, two full time pastors on staff. 47:21 So this was a major church in the community 47:24 and it was that car you see 47:26 we were one car family at this point 47:27 that's the point of the story, the picture. 47:30 And so which one I was driving her to work 47:32 picking her up and in the process 47:34 I got acquainted with the pastors 47:35 and one day the senior pastor 47:37 and I have never brought the issue he said, 47:38 I'm really would like to talk to you 47:40 about this matter of the Sabbath. 47:41 So we set an appointment. 47:43 And I came, drop down at her off at her desk. 47:46 He asked me into his office close the door 47:48 and almost blew me over 47:50 when he begin might saying that 47:51 he knew that there was no Biblical reason 47:54 for keeping Sunday. 47:55 I was not expecting him to be that honest. 47:59 And he went to explain 48:00 that because most Christians keep Sunday 48:03 that they as a church keeps Sunday 48:05 to preserve harmony in the families of the church. 48:10 Now I'm not here to judge anybody, 48:12 but here's a clergyman that saying 48:13 despite what the Bible teaches, 48:15 though it is one of the commandments 48:17 that they keep Sunday knowing for a while 48:19 that there is no Biblical reason for doing so. 48:22 Well, my friend, there are Biblical reasons. 48:25 It is one of the commandments. 48:27 I remember Aaron and Gloria 48:31 block attending the series of mine with their family. 48:33 And I remember when we came to this subject. 48:36 And I remember Gloria was the first really 48:38 as she studied this was really convicted 48:40 and then finally her husband Aaron 48:43 and finally they made a decision 48:44 to become Sabbath keeping Christians. 48:46 And Aaron said to me, you know, 48:48 I'm a deacon in my church, 48:50 I've been there long time and I'm close to my pastor. 48:53 And he said, I need to say something before, 48:57 you know, I make my final decision here. 49:00 Explain to him why and he said I want you there. 49:03 So I showed up at their house went into the kitchen door 49:09 and Gloria met me she said, well, the pastor 49:12 and some of these elders in the next room. 49:14 And she said, they don't know you're coming. 49:17 Now that made me just a little nervous. 49:20 I wish they had said something. 49:22 You know, we have a guest that's coming, 49:23 but we're going to some meeting something. 49:25 But I went into the room 49:28 and, you know, we had a wonderful conversation, 49:31 because there was so many things 49:32 that we have in common and yes 49:33 we talked about Ten Commandments 49:35 and yes we did talk about the Sabbath 49:38 and Aaron himself almost got blown at his chair 49:42 when his pastor said before his elders 49:45 and Aaron and Gloria that he believed in the Sabbath 49:50 and that he kept it. 49:54 But that they worshiped on Sunday. 49:57 Aaron told me later he said, 49:59 I've known this man well 50:00 for so long and for him to say that 50:03 that he believed and kept it. 50:06 I was doing research in new Newberg, Oregon 50:08 and the local Nazarene pastor called up 50:11 and said to my friend Tim Main. 50:13 He said, Tim, he says, 50:14 you know, I know you are right about the Sabbath. 50:18 It's interesting to have Sunday keeping preachers 50:21 and saying those kinds of things. 50:23 Do you know on the new earth 50:24 we're gonna be keeping the Sabbath. 50:25 Here it is Isaiah 66 50:27 "'For just as the new heavens and the new earth 50:30 which I make will endure before Me,' declares the Lord, 50:33 'So your offspring and your name will endure. 50:36 And it shall be from new moon to new moon 50:38 and from Sabbath to Sabbath, 50:40 all mankind will come to bow down before Me,' 50:43 says the Lord" 50:45 So the new earth will going to be coming 50:47 before God to worship Him on the Sabbath. 50:51 So there a continuity from the beginning of creation 50:55 through the Old Testament the New Testament 50:58 right on down into the new earth. 51:02 It's really a wonderful thing. 51:04 But how about this issue, 51:05 do we know which day is the seventh day. 51:08 Well, the naval Observatories the leading authority 51:10 on this question of time in this country 51:13 and this is what they say. 51:14 "The cyclical order of the days of the week 51:16 has never changed. 51:17 Furthermore there have been no breaks 51:19 in the sequence of week days, no lost days." 51:23 The longest existing calendar in existence 51:27 is the Jewish calendar it's 4,000 year old. 51:32 And when the Jewish calendar says 51:35 it's the seventh day look at your own calendar 51:38 because it's the same seventh day 51:40 that is in our calendar the Julian calendar. 51:42 It was put and in fact by Julius Caesar in 47 BC. 51:49 So there is no indication 51:51 that we have lost track of the weekly cycle 51:54 is something that goes back to creation. 51:57 And we still have the weekly cycle today. 52:02 Some of experimented 52:03 the communist in Russia experimented 52:05 with the 10 day work week it didn't work. 52:09 And so left at the dictionary, but my friend, 52:12 one is the significant historical events 52:15 that led to the change of the Sabbath 52:16 from Saturday to Sunday 52:17 came under the Empire Constantine 52:21 at the Council of Nicea in 321 AD. 52:25 That's when many Christians began to keep Sunday 52:28 they left the Sabbath behind. 52:30 Jesus said "If you love Me, 52:31 you will keep My commandments." 52:34 You will keep my commandments. 52:36 My last text Luke 23, talking about Nicodemus. 52:39 "This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 52:42 And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, 52:45 and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, 52:48 where no one had ever lain. 52:50 And it was the preparation day." 52:52 That's what they called Friday. 52:54 "And the Sabbath was about to begin." 52:56 It's record here in Luke. 52:57 "Now the women who had come with Him 52:59 out of Galilee followed after, 53:01 and saw the tomb and how His body was laid." 53:04 They wanted to be sure that 53:05 things were gonna be taken care of properly 53:07 these women that loved Him. 53:09 "And they returned and prepared spices and perfumes." 53:11 They didn't have local funeral parlors 53:13 it was for the purpose of burying Christ properly. 53:16 So they went home to prepare 53:18 the traditional spices and perfumes. 53:21 "And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment." 53:25 They interrupted the burial of Jesus. 53:27 His disciples to keep the Sabbath holy. 53:31 I think they are regarded the Sabbath a reflection 53:33 and Jesus regard for, because it says 53:35 "But on the first day of the week, 53:37 at early dawn, they came to the tomb, 53:39 bringing the spices which they had prepared." 53:41 They interrupted it to keep the Sabbath 53:43 and they came early on the first day 53:46 to finish the burial of Jesus. 53:49 There is something else significant here 53:50 on what day of the week 53:52 that Jesus rest in the grave? 53:55 Sabbath. 53:57 So we put it together at the beginnings of time 54:00 Jesus came to this planet as the Creator the life giver 54:05 and when He finished the work of creation He rested. 54:08 Two thousand years ago Jesus came again 54:12 for the purpose of our redemption 54:16 and when He cried out it is finished He rested again. 54:24 He rested again. 54:26 I want to mediate on the words of the song. 54:34 There is a quiet place 54:42 Far from the rapid pace 54:46 Where God can soothe 54:52 My troubled mind 55:02 Sheltered by tree and flower 55:08 There in my quiet hour 55:13 With him 55:16 My cares 55:20 Are left behind 55:31 Whether a garden small 55:36 Or on a mountain tall 55:41 New strength 55:44 And courage there I find 55:56 Then from this quiet place 56:02 I go prepared 56:07 To face a new day 56:12 With love 56:14 For all mankind 56:17 With love for all mankind 56:29 There is a place 56:32 and there is a time for quiet rest. 56:36 Peace, peace that only Jesus can give. |
Revised 2014-12-17