God is the lawgiver. Isaiah 33:22 says, “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is He who will save us.” Read: Isaiah 51:4.
God is the only lawgiver. James tells us, “There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? (4:12)
How does the law state that God is Creator? _______________________________________________________________________________
In the Sabbath command, found in Exodus 20, he tells us, “For in six days the LORD made haven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is…” (verse 11a)
How does the law state that God is our Redeemer? ________________________________________________________________________
In the Sabbath command, found in Deuteronomy 5, we are told, “And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm…” (verse 15a)
In the sabbath commandment, we are given two titles of God: Creator and Redeemer. This paints a portrait of God as a loving divine ruler. It shows God’s completeness and perfection of his sovereignty of our beginning (Creator) and our end (Redeemer). He is the “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Rev. 22:13).
In both listings of the sabbath commandment, Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, we are told to ‘remember’. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, we are told to ‘remember’ – meaning ‘not to forget’. In Exodus, we are told to remember the sabbath day. In Deuteronomy, we are told to remember that we are a ‘servant in the land of Egypt and that the LORD…brought the out thence’. To get the significance of what is being said in Deuteronomy, we rely on what we have learned about Egypt which is an environment that is against the God of the Bible and His word. Egypt is a picture of a depraved, fallen condition. It is clear that we are servants (slaves) of this sinful state; however, it is also clear that the LORD is the Redeemer from this fallen condition that we find ourselves in.
In both cases, there are those that will say these sabbath texts are specific to Israel. If we look at the context, God the Creator of all and the Redeemer of all…then it goes without saying that it is for ‘all’.
In both listings of the sabbath commandment we also told to keep it holy* and that He blessed it. This tells us that it is the only day set apart for holy use and is set apart for the lofty purpose of enriching the divine-human relationship. It is set apart to rest from our labors (physical) and rest in Him (spiritual, mental). It is set apart to remember: who we where created in the image of, the beauty of the universe, the elegance of nature, the stunning variety in the animal kinds, and the love and compassion of our Creator and Redeemer.
*To ‘keep’ something, means it already was. God ‘hallowed’ the day, this time is carved out to spent with Him is a holy, sanctified, and blessed way.
See post titled: The Sabbath, A Sign of Sanctification.
A Memorial and A Celebration
The sabbath is a memorial to creation (Ex. 20:8-11) and a celebration of our redemption (Deut. 5:12-15). It is a reminder both that God created us, and that he desires to save us. The Sabbath covenant is a sign that God will complete His work in man, which He began at creation. It is a testament to His faithfulness, which endures forever.
We are created in the image of God and according to His likeness (Gen. 1:26). We were made perfect. And, When God looked upon his creation he said ‘it was very good’ (Gen. 1:31). He rested, or ceased, from all His work which He had done (Gen. 2:2). So, all was perfect and complete. God wants us to REMEMBER that.
We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Satan has been defeated by the perfect, sinless life of Jesus Christ our LORD and Savior. At the cross, Jesus paid our ‘wages of death’ (Rom. 6:23), which is the ‘lake of fire second death’ (Jude 1:12 (doubly dead); Rev. 2:1,11, 20:6,14, 21:8) the Bible speaks of. We are to celebrate this victory of Christ on our behalf.
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. Deuteronomy 6:6-8
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. 2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. 3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. Proverbs 7:1-3
Upon our Hands and Heart
God desires to write his commandments upon our hands (what we do) and our heart (how we think). His commandment are commands of love…love towards him and love towards others. These are the outward ‘signs’ that we are His, and the inward ‘mark’ that we have allowed Him to write upon our heart.
Furthermore, by keeping the sabbath we are demonstrating our allegiance to the Father* which is a signal, sign, mark, evidence, proof, and remembrance. Which also demonstrates our allegiance to the Son, Jesus Christ (John 10:30).
*We find the Father in the sabbath – sABBAth.
What was Not Nailed to the Cross
Nothing was taken from the Law of God after the fall of our first parents. The principles of those precepts were not changed, but additional precepts were given to meet humanity in their fallen state.
The precepts, from the feasts to the sanctuary services, that was added were ceremonial and pointed to the Messiah to come. These pointed to His death and work on our behalf. Upon the cross they were nailed at His death. They were no longer needed for he fulfilled the requirement. The curtain in the temple was torn, from top to bottom, The symbolism is unmistakable: a new era in salvation history had begun. The sacrificial services, for so long pointing to Jesus, were no longer necessary. The old earthly type was now replaced by something so much better (Heb. 8:1-6). The barrier between God and His people was removed. All people are free to approach God because of Christ’s sacrifice for our sins.
Jesus Himself finished before the sabbath approached, and rested in the tomb until the first day of the week when He burst forth from dead and began His work as our High Priest and Mediator. He stayed true to the commandment in his death, burial, and resurrection.
Sabbath as a Sign of God’s Power and Love
God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it – set it apart to a holy use. He gave it to Adam as a day of rest. It is a memorial of the work of creation, a time to reflect upon our redemption; and thus a sign of God’s power and love.
He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. Psalms 111:4
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God…All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. John 1:1-3
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead. Romans 1:20
And since the Sabbath is a memorial of the work of creation and a sign of redemption, it is a token of the love and power of Christ.
I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Ps. 40:1-3
Just as he brought froth the children of Israel out of slavery to sin, He too hears our cries and can bring us up out of our sin and firmly establish us in His righteousness. We just need to trust Him as our Redeemer and Friend.
Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. Isaiah 8:16
The seal of God’s law is found in the fourth commandment. Only this, of all ten, brings to view both the name and the title of the Lawgiver. It declares Him as the Creator of heaven, earth, sea, and all that is in them; showing his claim to reverence and worship above all others.
Aside from this precept, there is nothing in the decalogue to show by whose authority the law is given. And, no other day was set apart, made holy, and blessed by God. This day was made for a particular reason.
The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath. Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. Mark 2:27-28
The Sabbath is the Lord’s Day. He made it for mankind.
For all things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. John 1:3
By Him the Sabbath was set apart as a memorial of His work of creation. It reminds us that He is our Creator and Sanctifier.
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. Colossians 1:16
Then the Sabbath is a sign of Christ’s power to make us holy. Moreover, it is given to all whom Christ makes holy.
He is the head of the body, the church. And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself. Colossians 1:18,20
I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctifies them. Ezekiel 20:12
As a sign of His sanctifying power, the Sabbath is given to all who through Christ become a part of the Israel of God.
Hebrews 4:4, “For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his work.”
My holy day, the Bible is clear, this time was designed by God for a specific reason. It was to honor God and to take delight in Him.
If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable…then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord. Isaiah 58:13, 14.
The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty in the end of time. The great controversy, which began in heaven long ago, was over the question of God’s authority. This was the issue that Satan brought forth in the Garden, and the challenge remains the same today, as well.
Bound Together by Love
Breaking one of His commandments result in the breaking of them all (James 2:10). They cannot be divided, they exist together. The Author of the law who forbids stealing, murder, lying, etc. is the very same Person who says “Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy…”
There are many sincere followers of Christ who simply do not know the truth about the seventh-day sabbath, and that it is still binding – just as the other nine are.
Jesus’ death did not abolish is law in any way, shape, or form. He fulfilled the law, meaning He lived a perfect life – He was sinless; AND He paid our wages for the transgression of the law. He came to save us from our sins (Matt. 1:21)…He did not come to change his law or unbind it in anyway. See: Matthew 5:17-19; John 14:15; Rev. 14:12, 22:14).
It is our allegiance to Him and to His word of truth, His complete-perfect-unchangeable law, that results in a ‘right’ to the tree of life which is in the city of God. It is our inheritance or birthright if you will.
Identity of Sin
The law of God identifies sin in all of its varied forms. Without it we would not know the appearance of sin, and we would be left with ‘survival of the fittest’ mentality. Knowing the definition of sin explains our condition and the need for a Savior – sin is transgression of the law and the wages of sin is death (1 Jn. 3:4-6; Romans 6:19-23). The law points us to ‘right doing’. Righteousness is the foundation of God’s government. At the core of righteousness is love. Let’s look at God’s law in the light of what it is to compel us to do.
We are to love God with all every fiber of our being and the first four commandments tell us how to do that:
- God is the only God, there is no other. He is first in our life. We give Him praise for he is goodness and love.
- We seek to reflect the image of God for we are created in His image and His likeness. He is love and we are to image that love.
- We will praise His name throughout the eternal ages. He is worthy of praise and worship because He is God. He is.
- We are to rest in Him on His day that he set apart for us. It is a day of fellowship with our Creator and Redeemer. A time to demonstrate our love and allegiance to Him, and a time to fellowship with others in corporate worship.
We are to love others as ourself:
- We are to love and respect our parents. We honor them with our words and actions.
- We love others to the degree that we would be willing to lay down our own life for them.
- We love others by respecting and honoring them through pure intentions and motives that are uplifting to God.
- We give to help those in need because we want the best for them.
- We bear up all things in truth and in love for our neighbor.
- We show sincere joy and happiness towards others in all they do and have accomplished.
Not one of these can be removed. This defines love and love is what God’s law hangs upon. God Himself is love. We see acts of love and kindness that transforms the heart, builds character, and images our Creator and Redeemer.
We can understand why the law of God is called perfect and converts the soul (Ps. 19:7-11). What is perfect does not need to be changed, removed, or done away with. We are converted by living God’s law out in our life.
Conclusion
The seventh-day Sabbath is a sign of the creative and redemptive power of Christ. It points to Him as the source of life, knowledge, love and truth. It is the sign that points to the relationship that exists between God and His people. A sign by which we honor Him as our Creator and Redeemer.
It recalls mankind’s ancient glory, and thus witnesses God’s purpose to re-create us in His own image.
God declared that the Sabbat is a sign between Him and the children of Israel forever. Today He gives to all spiritual Israel the Sabbath as a witness that One omnipotent, infinite in goodness and mercy, created all things. See: Romans 2:28-29, 2:11-16; Acts 10:34.
The Sabbath is to be a sign between God and His people as long as He should have a people upon the earth to serve Him, declaring to the world their loyalty to the only true and living God – the Sovereign of the Universe.
As the Sabbath was the sign that distinguished Israel when they came out of Egypt to enter the earthly Canaan, so it is the sign that now distinguishes God’s people as they come out from the world to enter the Heavenly rest.
Through the observance of the Sabbath He desires to:
- preserve among people the knowledge of Himself
- direct our minds to Him as the true and living God, and that through knowing Him we may have life and peace.