|
||||||||||
 |
|
|
||||||||
Commentary on "Rest"
Day 6: Thursday, May 21, 2009
Introduction
People say we’re trying to work our way to heaven. Why is it that the one Commandment that’s “all about rest” (the fourth) is the one that’s turned into a way to work our way into heaven? What’s wrong with this picture? What’s the message to us here in Heb. 4:9-11? Matt. 11:28-30 calls us to rest in Him. He will give us rest and it finds one expression in His universal Sabbath day. Anyone can say that they’re resting in Christ: anyone can say that they’re saved by grace. But the keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath is a visible expression of that rest, a living parable of what it means to be covered by His grace. The Sabbath stands as a symbol of our rest in the completed work of Jesus for us. Our obedience to this commandment is a way of saying, “We’re so sure of our salvation in Jesus, we’re so firm and secure in what Christ has done for us, that we can—in a special way—rest from any of our works because we know what Christ has accomplished for humanity through His death and resurrection.”
Problems
“Anyone can say that they’re saved by grace, but KEEPING the seventh-day Sabbath is a visible expression of that rest.” This is a very “works-oriented” statement. They’re talking out of both sides of their mouths. On one hand, they make it sound like they’re choosing , out of altruistic love for God, to honor the Sabbath (however subjectively that may be) and that they’re so sure of their salvation and Jesus’ finished work of salvation that it just stands as a symbol—like it’s optional. On the other hand, anyone in the denomination knows that Sabbath allegiance is the “seal” of the true believer/church in the end times (Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 605) and that Sunday worship is considered “The Mark of the Beast” (Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, p. 117). Only people embracing the S.D.A. message will be saved.
The Investigative Judgment underscores that one can’t be certain of salvation because Jesus’ work on the cross wasn’t really finished, but entered another “phase” in 1844—the cross didn’t end it all, only helped. The bottom line is you can’t embrace S.D.A. theology and say you are only Sabbath-keeping because “we’re so sure of our salvation that we just want to do this as an outward expression”. You either embrace Adventist theology or Christ; they’re mutually exclusive and one must choose which stands as truth. Sabbath-keeping is done out of fear of losing salvation—it’s a doctrine of demons, because it stands in blatant contrast to the Gospel of Christ (Gal. 1:6-9).
Summary
- Yes, working at “resting” is a form of “works” to earn God’s favor. It’s not done out of altruistic love for the Creator and Redeemer, but motivated by fear.
- Both Heb. 4:9-11 and Matt. 11:28-30 call us to “rest in Him” from our works (to earn salvation), not physical work, and Sabbath day rest.
- Strict obedience to the fourth Commandment is the opposite of being secure in Christ and of salvation. It’s primarily a form of covering oneself to be certain of salvation. Ask them to stop keeping the Sabbath—is it really optional? What about what Ellen G. White says about it?
Copyright 2009 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised May 11, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.
Official Adventist Resources
Standard Edition Study Guide Week 8
Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 8
Easy Reading Edition Study Guide Week 8
Search the Complete Published Ellen G. White Writings
