The religious Jews judged Him because He gave revival to that man on Sabbath. He answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I also am working"
According to their religious concepts, they were resting and keeping the Sabbath, but they didn't understand there was no rest for the Father and the Son while the poor sinners were not saved.
While the religious Jews were resting to keep the Sabbath, the Father and the Son worked for sinners could receive life and get rest.
The Sabbath was ordained so that Man could rest in God and enjoy Him, not to remain enslaved.
For God, His true rest is to heal people so they can enjoy with Him and in Him.
The Sabbath i the old testament was only a shadow of the true rest and that is Jesus Christ himself now:
"Come to Me all who toil and are burdened, and I will give you rest" Matthew 11:28.
I'm not sure:winksmile:. Sin is defined as transgression of the law. The 4th commandment is in the law. So is working on the 7th day of the week/Sabbath a sin? I'm not talking about what day we worship on, I don't think that matters. I know people say that every day is their sabbath, but then that would mean they could never work. "6 days shalt thou labor". The fourth commandment isn't just a command to rest and acknowledge the creator, it's a command to work the rest of the week as well. What do you guys think? If you observe a different sabbath than what God designated, do you refrain from work on that day and make it holy?
First let me say; I would probably be a Seven Day Adventist except for two things:�
1)Ellen G. White's writings being held as equal to Scripture.
2)The Doctrine of Investigative Judgement
It is to bad cause I really respect the Adventists except for those two things, #2 I could shrug off, but #1 no way.�
As far as the Sabbath is concerned; it was, is and will always be Saturday, the seventh day. It is a shadow of the reality when revealed in Christ; we rest from our own works to attain Salvation. Can it be wrong to keep to keep the 4th commandment? Yes, if it is only kept on Saturday as a day of rest in a attempt to gain merit from God. However if it is kept keeping in mind the reality behind the shadow makes it 'kind of doublely right' lol
The OP used the example of Jesus healing on the Sabbath. This is a poor example; the commandment calls us to rest from OUR works, not God's work. This is exactly what Jesus was teaching by healing on the Sabbath.
Thank you for the endorsement sir, and as an Adventist, I'm qualified to clear up a few things:winksmile:.
1) Ellen White is not held up as equal to scripture, neither by her own words, or by any official Adventist endorsement. Now, being an Adventist, I do know that it is a tendency in human nature to exalt things more highly than they should, but it does not mean that is actually the case. I know many Adventists that do what you're describing, but it is not endorsed by anyone, and not by Ellen White. One point I like to bring up is that many Christians use the uninspired Strong's concordance to interpret the bible, doesn't that mean they put Mr. Strong above the scriptures:laugh:? I do believe Ellen White was inspired by God for much of her work, and unlike most "false prophets" who are only out to lift themselves up and get what they want, she lived a life of christian self-denial, love, service, and "practiced what she preached". On a related note, there are also many Adventists that like to think they're the "remnant church" and everybody is going to become an Adventist before the end, etc. That is also not an Adventist belief, and it's actually a little funny, because the people that do this, are usually the same ones that hold E.G. White up too high, and even Ellen White believed that the huge majority of true Christians are not Adventists. So basically, it's not fair to judge the entire Adventist church body by the beliefs of some.
2) The investigative judgment doctrine is very complicated, and it is tied into the belief that there is a greater controversy going on beyond our tiny world. Sin did not start on the earth, and God has a universal controversy He is dealing with beyond our atmosphere. He is being very careful not to pull out the wheat with the weeds. The point in the IJ doctrine that people usually have an issue with is that there will come a time when Jesus' intercession will stop, and for a short time there will be no more priestly ministry for the atonement of sin, meaning that the remnant church on the earth would need to be perfect and sinless during that time, but it is often understated that the Holy Spirit will be poured out like it has never been before, and the remnant will not be perfect and sinless through their own power. There are many more details, if you would like to know more, maybe we can start another thread. The issues around this doctrine are also partly based on a misunderstanding, here's some history.
http://www.whiteestate.org/issues/shutsdae.html
"Yes, if it is only kept on Saturday as a day of rest in a attempt to gain merit from God. However if it is kept keeping in mind the reality behind the shadow makes it 'kind of doublely right' lol"
I can say from personal experience that the Sabbath is a blessing. I would also like to add that I believe the Sabbath is going to be extremely significant in the context of it's original meaning. It was originally founded as a memorial of creation, and I don't think I need to point out the attacks on Genesis that are taking place in our current "Scientific" atmosphere, even by other Christians. Do not be surprised if it becomes a focal point before Jesus returns.
2 Peter 3:5
3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Revelation 14
6And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Exodus 20
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
The following is copied fro the "Official Site of Seven Day Adventistism" (Adventist.org) from the "Fundamental Beliefs" page: (capital letters mine)
-----------
18. The Gift of Prophecy:
One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of ELLEN G. WHITE As the Lord's messenger, HER WRITINGS ARE a continuing and AUTHORITATIVE source of truth which provide FOR THE CHURCH comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested. (Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:14-21; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 12:17; 19:10.)
---------
Mrs Whites' writings are Authoritative for the Church. Assuming they agree with Scripture, then why are her words have to be taken as Authoritative if the Bible already teaches it ???�
_________________
24. Christ's Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary:�
"................. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry. It is a work of investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement. ........."
--------------
IMHO : This should not even be considered as a "FUNDAMENTAL" belief. No matter if it is true or not, this is a secondary non-essential doctrine. And the fact that it is considered a 'fundamental' belief gives me cause for concern.
I understand what you're saying, but a pastor's voice is also authoritative, and many other voices as well. Leaders and teachers and elders and prophets are important, even if all they say are just words from the bible, and even if they say stuff that we don't like, or even if they say some things that are just their opinion. I do take some issue with the way Adventists hold onto every word of Ellen White like she was absolutely and continually prophesying all the time, with no breaks for her own personal opinions, etc. There is no such standard in the bible. Some prophets of God, like Balaam, were definitely NOT speaking God's word constantly, and it's unsafe to assume that anyone would, and unfair to condemn anyone if they don't speak inspired words 24/7. The bible is the only test either way, and a prophet's words should not be held up to unhealthy standard.
The belief on the heavenly sanctuary and investigative judgment are extremely important in the context of the prophecies in the bible. God placed prophecies in the bible for us to understand and prove the validity/reliability of the scripture. There are several interpretations of those prophecies, but if they are studied exhaustively, as they did before and after the great disappointment, you come to a predicament, and many Christians lost the faith or fell back on some pretty strange interpretations, simply because of a prophecy that didn't "come true" like they thought it would. To me, after studying prophecy, the historical Adventist interpretation is the only one that makes sense, and pulls many things from the bible that are brought into a much more cohesive and beautiful picture of God's plan, but it is also very difficult to accept without a lot of searching for all the details. I've been an Adventist for a long time, and it's only been very recently that God brought me to a point where I understand it and it's supporting principles enough to even think it's true.
