Gates of the City

Even though I believe in a Saturday Sabbath, and may well be considered by many to be a Sabbatarian, on this subject I want to express firstly that I do not believe “Keeping the Sabbath” will save you. However, I do believe that recognizing it as an ever-present truth for the people of God, and keeping it holy, will definitely serve to heighten your personal communion with God. I say that upon the confidence that truth still sets men free, and brings them into a greater admiration of His wisdom, a fuller liberty of worship, and a closer fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Additionally, His Sabbath promises still serve to comfort the people of God that neither their labors nor sufferings are in vain.

1 John 1:3 – That which we have seen and heard we declare unto you, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 4:7 – God again marks out a certain day, saying through David, “Today,” (after so long a time). Even as it is said, “Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 So then there remains a keeping of the Sabbath rest to the people of God. 10 For he who has entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from His. 11 THEREFORE LET US LABOR to enter into that rest [yet future rest], lest anyone fall after the same example of unbelief.

2 Timothy 2:10 – Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 Faithful is the word, for if we are dead with Him, we shall also live with Him. 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

For clarification, I am not a Seventh Day Adventist – and for those who don’t know this, quite a few Sabbatarians are not. Furthermore, I have found more issues of concerns with many Sabbatarians than I have with people who observe Sunday as their  Sabbath or day of worship. Specifically, I strongly reject the legalism many have regarding the Sabbath, making it a determination of salvation, or that somehow Sunday worship is the “mark of the beast.”

Moreover, having study the history of revivals, I have frequently reflected upon how God has used men from different denominations which have held conflicting viewpoints on various Christian topics which are not fundamental to salvation. However, I have yet to discover any significant revival where God used a Sabbatarian who preached a 7th day Sabbath as part of his evangelistic message. This certainly is something which I regard very noteworthy, and will leave it there.

Currently my family and I attend a local Church that meets of Sunday because it is where God at the moment has undoubtedly led us. Furthermore, I wholeheartedly believe that when I was strictly just a “Sunday go to meeting” follower of Christ, that God still loved me. Likewise, I assure you He does not love me more after having come to a conviction that the 4th commandment has not been ratified, altered, or changed in God’s perspective, (which I believe is still prophetic pointing forward). All that said, I humbly admit that because of my careful examination of scripture and prayerful consideration of the seventh day Sabbath, I believe that Saturday is remains the focus of the 4th Commandment.

Hebrews 4:9 – So there is still a Sabbath-keeping for the people of God. (Bible in Basic English Translation.)

The Law of the Lord has always been perfect, and will always remain so. However, if there is any weakness with the Law, it is to be discovered in its limitations, because God did not intend for His statutes to be the means to save mankind, but rather as the Author of them, God has clearly defined through them the path of righteousness wherein He walks and where we too must walk (after having been regenerated) if we wish to have fellowship with Him.

Amos 3:3 – Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

1 John 1: 3 – … And truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we write these things to you so that your joy may be full… 7 For IF we walk in the light, as He is in the light, [then] we [the Father and His Son, with us] have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Therefore, while the law indeed points the right way by defining the path of righteousness, and precisely reveals all men’s sin and error, the law by itself is nevertheless still but the letter, or communication of God’s will for mankind. Consequently, the Law can only work death in those who transgress it. For it is the Author of the Law Himself, the living Spirit of God from by whom the Law was given, which alone quickens and breathes life afresh into repentant sinners who have, by the Law alone, discovered their true condition. For by defining the way of righteousness, the Law reveals exactly how and where men are guilty of rejecting God, proving they are in fact sinners by exposing how exceeding sinful they are and how contrary to God’s righteousness they behave. But therein is its weakness, for there is no 11th Commandment that says if you have broken any of these previous 10, then do this and you shall live. Therefore, the strength of sin to kill is the law, for by it men are exposed and condemned by their pride and persistent pursuit of going their own way.

Still, both the Spirit and scriptures have always been revealing that “the just shall live by faith,” and not by any methodical keeping of the law, for he that has transgressed in one part becomes guilty of the whole. Nevertheless, true faith in Christ works to bring us back to God, and simultaneously seeks a restored harmony with the righteousness of the law and a restoring our hearts to a full agreement with God’s will. If we have godly faith, we will then seek to be faithful to God. It is as Charles Spurgeon once said, “Those boasting in the law say, ‘Do this and live.’ But the Spirit of grace through Christ says, ‘Live and do this.’”

But concerning promotion of the seventh day Sabbath, I have often found it almost futile to try to reason with most people why they should “Keep the Sabbath holy,” when they have little or no regard for the other 9 commandments given to guide them into holy relationships with their Creator and fellow man. Why would I labor to focus on a day held in question by so many, and adamantly declared to be Saturday or Sunday by others, when there are so many other issues dealing with  men’s immoral hearts that demand greater attention if they are to be reconciled to their Creator?

Having said all that, I am simply sharing the following articles written by Nathan Albright and originally posted on his blog Edge Induced Cohesion concerning the Sabbath of God made for man. Again, these articles are not written by me, and while my personal convictions regarding the Sabbath vary slightly in certain areas, Nathan’s articles are absolutely worthy of any serious seeker of a deeper understanding of the many aspects of God’s Sabbath made for man. But like scripture states, “Let every man be fully persuaded within himself.”

Romans 14:4 –  For who are you that judges another’s servant? Before his own master he stands or falls. But he will stand, for God is able to make him stand. 5 For one indeed esteems a day above another day, and another esteems every day alike. Let each one be fully assured in his own mind. 6 He who regards the day regards it to the Lord, and he who doesn’t regard the day, does not regard it before the Lord. Likewise, he who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, does not eat to the Lord, and gives God thanks.

Still, as it is with all God’s truths, unless one’s heart is truly turned to the Lord there is a veil upon the heart which keeps one from being able to fully appreciate and apply the blessing of God’s wondrous provisions for those who love Him. I therefore encourage the reader to approach these matters both humbly and prayerfully, for he who thinks he knows anything knows nothing as he ought. That is not to say Brother Nathan has faultlessly unraveled all the mysteries around the Sabbath, but he certainly has presented much to be prayerfully considered.