After about 40 years in the Seventh-day Adventist Church (in the Southern California area), I left the church to find Jesus.
I had experienced and observed so many absolutely cruel things in my realm of Seventh-day Adventist relationships, that the only sane choice seemed to be to find a church that honored the commandment to “love one another” and I did…within the loving arms of a Sunday-keeping fellowship. The only thing that bothered me was the Sabbath. “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy” echoed through my mind and possessed my studies.
As a child I felt the greater presence of God in my life. I believe that because I had some godly people praying for me, I survived my childhood of an alcoholic mother with bizarre and frightening behaviors, an absent father and later in my adult life a shattering divorce. These experiences left me feeling unloved and unworthy no matter how hard I tried to be good enough to be loved. I have had Christian counseling for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the counselor wept with me during many of the sessions not understanding how I survived. He told me that the severity of my home experiences is something most people would not live through.
I left the church to find Jesus, now, look at what Jesus did… to bring me back to truth: I couldn’t find anywhere in the Bible that the Sabbath was changed from Saturday to Sunday, so that I could enjoy (with a happy heart and a clear conscience) worshiping with my Sunday-keeping church. So, I began the journey back to the Seventh-day Adventist faith.
I discovered that when I used my reasons to not obey the Ten Commandments, that I was practicing idolatry. I was worshiping my excuses instead of God. Using sad memories and past relationship failures as an excuse to not obey God is wrong. Harboring unforgiveness for wrongs done is an excuse. I learned that when I forgive bad things in my heart, it doesn’t mean that the person was right to do them. It means that I forgive, as Jesus forgives me. I learned that anything that keeps me from obedience pure and simple is sin.
The over-riding theme in my healing process is this: Jesus Christ purchased me with His blood. He wants me? Yes, at last I am loved. Jesus loves me. Jesus loves me not because I am good enough to be loved, but for free, like a present, and I want to keep His commandments out of gratitude. Not only the commandment to love one another but all Ten Commandments, too. The compelling story of salvation fills my conscious mind and eclipses human failings and haunting memories. I have chosen to allow Christ to heal my heart and make me sensitive for others who I might be able to help. Scars from my terrifying past are healing as I have resolved to not allow any human failing to keep me from the power of truth.
If you are praying for someone the Lord has brought to your mind, please continue to do it. You never know the long range effect your prayers may have on someone’s life. If you are discouraged or just plain mad write me. I care about you. You are important to the church. I will help you get started in the healing process. My e-mail address is Vivienne@nwi.net
By Vivienne Evans
Vivienne and her husband, Howard, were baptized and united with the Wenatchee WA Seventh-day Adventist Church in 2002.
Read about more changed lives at the NPUC Changed Lives website.
Dear danserns,
Hi!
I just want to point out that the Sabbath has never been changed to Sunday (as some unfortunately think). The Sabbath is still the Sabbath, the Seventh Day of the Week. Sunday or, properly, the Lord’s Day is a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection and victory over death, the devil, hell, and sin. It was a great victory, a victory that is still being powerfully felt throughout the world today.
The Sabbath is the Day of the OLD Covenant and the Lord’s Day is the Day of the New Covenant. I am a Gentile Christian and a “Sunday” worshiper (as you call it), but we do not worship God only on Sundays! We worship God every day (including Saturday). Worship is a way of life and not an event that happens only once a week (Saturday or Sunday). What is important, the DAY of worship or the OBJECT of worship? Will God reject my worship if I worship Him on Monday? All the days of the week were created by God and all the days of the week therefore are HOLY days.
Christianity started with the Jews (and the Old Testament), but soon Gentiles became part of the Christian Faith. Gentiles did not keep the Old Covenant because they were not part of it. So, the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem had to decide what to do with the Gentiles coming in to the Church. In Acts 15 we find their decision: 1. abstain from sexual immorality, 2. food offered to idols, 3. eating blood, and 4. strangled meat. I wonder why there is no mention of the Sabbath. I don’t want to argue (I have heard most of the arguments since 1987 anyway). I am just trying to give another voice to this post to give balance to those who may read it (i.e., if you will post my comments).
We find in the Book of Acts and in the Teachings of the Apostle Paul that the early Christians met on the First Day of the week and on all other days as well.
It is quite interesting to note that the Adventist in this post DID NOT FIND JESUS in the Adventist church but found Him in a Sunday-keeping church. So, Jesus is in the Sunday-Keeping church! So, what’s the point of going back to where he did not find Jesus in the first place?
If Jesus is in the Sunday-Keeping churches, are they also going to be in heaven after the Judgment? If yes, then what’s the big deal with the debate entitled: “Sabbath or Sunday?” It is pointless!
If we claim to know Jesus, then let us just love one another no matter what day we worship God. Let us stop wasting time in pointless debates that leave us exhausted and exasperated. We must not be sidetracked! WE HAVE A WORLD TO WIN!
God bless you.
Carpe Diem!
By the Grace of God,
X-sinner
“In six days the Lord made “the heaven and the earth” and all living things upon the earth, and rested on the seventh day of that first week. Thus He established the Sabbath as a perpetual memorial of His completed creative work.”
“It is the Law of God:The great principles of God’s law are embodied in the Ten Commandments and exemplified in the life of Christ. They express God’s love, will, and purposes concerning human conduct and relationships and are binding upon all people in every age. These precepts are the basis of God’s covenant with His people and the standard in God’s judgment. Through the agency of the Holy Spirit they point out sin and awaken a sense of need for a Saviour. Salvation is all of grace and not of works, but its fruitage is obedience to the Commandments. This obedience develops Christian character and results in a sense of well-being. It is an evidence of our love for the Lord and our concern for our fellow men. The obedience of faith demonstrates the power of Christ to transform lives, and therefore strengthens Christian witness. (Ex. 20:1-17; Ps. 40:7, 8; Matt. 22:36-40; Deut. 28:1-14; Matt. 5:17-20; Heb. 8:8-10; John 15:7-10; Eph. 2:8-10; 1 John 5:3; Rom. 8:3, 4; Ps. 19:7-14.)”
“Sabbath:The beneficent Creator, after the six days of Creation, rested on the seventh day and instituted the Sabbath for all people as a memorial of Creation. The fourth commandment of God’s unchangeable law requires the observance of this seventh-day Sabbath as the day of rest, worship, and ministry in harmony with the teaching and practice of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a day of delightful communion with God and one another. It is a symbol of our redemption in Christ, a sign of our sanctification, a token of our allegiance, and a foretaste of our eternal future in God’s kingdom. The Sabbath is God’s perpetual sign of His eternal covenant between Him and His people. Joyful observance of this holy time from evening to evening, sunset to sunset, is a celebration of God’s creative and redemptive acts. (Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11; Luke 4:16; Isa. 56:5, 6; 58:13, 14; Matt. 12:1-12; Ex. 31:13-17; Eze. 20:12, 20; Deut. 5:12-15; Heb. 4:1-11; Lev. 23:32; Mark 1:32.)”
I’m trying to figure out how the Sabbath was part of the old covenant. Tell me if I’m wrong but, I thought the Sabbath came on the 7th day of creation and that the old covenant didn’t come about until after the fall of Adam?
You are right. The Sabbath was given to Adam and Eve as the crown of creation week, (see Gen 2:1-3; Mark 2:27-28). The fourth commandment says “remember the Sabbath day,” The word remember implies that this fourth commandment, the Sabbath, was already known. Israelites would think of its origin in Gen 2:2-3 and its mention earlier in Exodus 16:5, 22-30 even before the giving of the law in Sinai, Exodus 20. In fact, the language use in both Exodus 20:9-11 and Revelation 14:7-12 is the language of Genesis 2:2. May the Lord continue to bestow His blessings upon you as you seek His Word for guidance in your life.
Dear Friend
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You express what many Christians have been taught about Sabbath and Sunday. But the Bible evidence is quite different.
In the Bible, the Sabbath is the Lord’s Day. It is the “Sabbath of the Lord’s your God” (Exodus 20:10). Jesus said He was “Lord of the Sabbath day” (Matthew 12:8; Mark 2:28; Luke 6:5). It wasn’t until decades after the last apostle died, during a time of great persecution of Christians and comprise by many Christians, that people began to call Sunday the Lord’s Day. (For careful documentation of this see “From Sabbath to Sunday: A Historical Investigation of the Rise of Sunday Observance in Early Christianity” at http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/books/sabbath_to_sunday/)
The Sabbath is not a matter of days, but a matter of Lords. Who should pick which day we keep holy- our Creator, who made the world in six days and rested on, blessed and made holy the seventh, or us, as His creation (Exodus 20:11; Genesis 2:1-3)?
All true worshipers should worship seven days a week in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). This true worship includes working on the six work days specified by our Lord as work days (Exodus 20:9). It also includes doing no work on the seventh day, which is “the Sabbath of the Lord your God,” and allowing all humans and animals in your household the blessing of no work on the Sabbath as well (Exodus 20:10).
The Sabbath is an eternal blessing to those who worship Jesus as Lord. It was
• Given by Jesus in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:1-3; John 1:1-3, 14) to all mankind, not just people of one ethnic group or time in history (Mark 2:27- Greek is “anthropos” the human race).
• Taught graphically through the giving of the manna (Exodus 16)
• Written on two tables of stone by God’s own finger (Exodus 20:3-17; 31:18)
• Kept by all God’s people in the Old Testament (e.g. Psalm 119:97)
• Given as a sign that the Lord is the One who sanctifies us (Ezekiel 20:12)
• Was taught and reinforced by Jesus who kept it as His custom (Matthew 12:1-12; Mark 2:23-28; Mark 6:2; Luke 4:16; etc.)
• Kept by the apostles throughout the Book of Acts with both Jews and Gentiles, both at the synagogue and outdoors when there was no synagogue (Acts 13:14, 27; 42-44; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4)
• Stated by Jesus as something important when Jerusalem fell to the Romans in 70AD (Matthew 24:20)
• Foretold that it would be kept in the New Earth (Isaiah 66:22-23)
The Sabbath is mentioned in Acts 15. It is assumed that it is a part of the life of the New Testament church in verse 21. The list you mentioned of areas of agreement in the early church found in Acts 15 does not include other commandments as well- Not blaspheming God’s name (3rd commandment), Honoring parents (5th commandment), Not murdering (6th commandment), Not stealing (8th commandment) etc. This does not mean that the church no longer found these commands of God important.
Jesus didn’t die on the cross so we could lie, cheat, steal, covet, take His name in vain or forget His Sabbath day. Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins, not in them (Matthew 1:21) which includes all violations of His holy law (1 John 3:4). When the law of God is appreciated fully we realize where we have sinned and are driven to Jesus as our Savior (Romans 3:20, 31; Galatians 3:24).
There is nothing wrong with the holy law of God (Romans 7:12). The problem is with our sinful hearts (Romans 7:14). The New Covenant doesn’t take away God’s law but writes it in our minds, so we know what is right and wrong, and in our hearts, so we obey Him out of love (Hebrews 8:8-10). When we really love Jesus we keep His commandments and they aren’t a burden to us (1 John 5:3). The saints of the last days are pictured as having the faith of Jesus and keeping the commandments of God (Revelation 14:12).
When self is at the center we can miss Jesus even if He is right beside us. But Jesus can find us anywhere, even when we are living lives in open violation of His law of love. He is a gracious and loving Savior, Lawgiver, Lord, Judge and Soon-coming King.
So now I ask you again what I asked a month ago. If you were convinced from your own study of the Bible that the seventh day was the Sabbath of the Lord, would you begin to keep it holy by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit?
Learning to trust Jesus for salvation and asking Him to continue changing my mind and heart to reflect His character (= His law),
Dan Serns
I just started a new site that I am posting some of my Bible studies to. I would appreciate any comments you may have.
http://hystar.wordpress.com/2008/08/15/parable-of-the-sower-explains-how-to-study-the-bible/
i was born in the church,but that not important to me what is more important to God is that we obey him not just the sabbath but the whole commandments.because for us keeping the sabbath it tells the whole world that we have been marked.God said sabbath is a sign between us and Him.so GOD bless.
I love the way you put this: “Anything that keeps me from obedience, pure and simple, is sin.”
-thank you
Dear Vivienne,
I am so happy to hear that you are back into the Seventh Day Adventist community!
The Seventh Day is the true sabbath, as said in the Bible. But what many people do not realize is that not only is Saturday the sabbath, but its the day that signifies that we are true followers of God. Although worshiping every day is very good, nothing can replace the true sabbath day.
God does not change. He did not change the day of the Sabbath. He wants us to truly understand the significance of the special day for sabbath.
You must be careful to look only at God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. People may fail, people have faults, and people will disappoint. However God is perfect and he will never fail, never disappoint, and will never give you up.
I hope that you can affirm your faith in Christ and continue to grow in harmony with God. I hope that when He comes back to Earth to take us to Heaven that I can meet you.
Love
Your faithful Brother in Christ
Dear Vivienne,
Your experience sounds so familiar to mine. In my case, I did not leave the church. The church kicked me out because of my struggles with sin. I was treated with coldness by some in the leadership of the church. When it became apparent I needed help, I was offered criticism and rejection.
Out of pain and rejection I chose to go to a Sunday church when the need for church fellowship and worship practice became too great and I could not bear the thought of facing another Adventist church.
Amazingly, I learned more about the love of God than I had ever seen in the Adventist church. I never rejected or disagreed with the truth of the Bible as taught by the Adventist church I just chose a different fellowship.
In time God healed my pain and I returned a stronger person to a balance of the Law of God and the Love of God in my own heart, if not in the church. After a few years I even forgave the church as God forgives me and was rebaptized.
I understand and empathize with your struggle and I am happy for God’s love finding you and your success in coming back.
i just completed a study based on a Sabbath school lesson in May 2009 centering on the healing Jesus did on the Sabbath. My own study lead to so much more. Jesus appointed the 12 and the 70 on the Sabbath. It also shows how Jesus healed on the Sabbath in an attempt to reach the Pharisees and other legalists. The point is, Jesus showed us how to keep the Sabbath.
http://adventbiblestudy.wordpress.com/2009/05/22/a-study-of-the-sabbath-what-jesus-did/
Even if all the arguments for ‘sabbath-keeping’ would stand up, it wouldn’t send you to the Seventh-day Adventists. (Why not messianic judaism, or one of several other sabbatarian churches?)
You have to buy into several more fallacies, eschatological and otherwise to arrive squarely on the front door of the SDAs.
But we sunday-keepers forgive you! We’ll continue to minister to and strengthen your wayward members so when their egos fully recover they come running home to you with a bolstered messianic complex.
For the most part it makes our lives easier when they go back to you! You must be running some sort of deliquent-training program over there!
Ah, it’s all in good fun. I love you and the Lord loves you.
Hi Jim–
Great to hear from you.
We’re sorry your experience growing up in the Seventh-day Adventist Church didn’t give you a deeper more joyful relationship with the Jesus Christ of the Bible.
All of us who choose to accept Jesus and walk with Him daily will have the temptation to take our eyes off Jesus, whether it is because of the pleasures of the world, life’s cares and sorrows, the faults of others or our own faults.
If you are ever interested in re-examining the Bible doctrines as understood by Seventh-day Adventists I’m sure there will be a pastor, church leader or member near-by who would be happy to study together with you. You can also find lots of great online resources at http://www.Bibleinfo.com, http://www.amazingfacts.org (click on “free stuff”) and http://www.adventist.org (click on “beliefs”).
We hope and pray that each of your days you will sense God’s leading through His written word and the Holy Spirit and experience the fruit of the spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, meekness, etc. (Galatians 5) and be prepared to welcome Him on the day of His glorious return.
Blessings to you,
Dan Serns
How is it that Col 2:16 mentions the Greek word Sabbaton (Strong’s # G4521) which by definition only means 7th day Sabbath and the common word “week” (you can look this up to verify.). To support this fact, I have listed all the scriptures in the New Testament where this word is used. (Every place speaking of the 7th day sabbath in the new testament, every instance uses this word) And note that it only means either the 7th day sabbath or the common word “week”; thus confirming the definition of this word when you look up it’s meaning. Here are all the scriptures that use this word:
Matthew 12:1, Matthew 12:2, used twice as 7th day sabbath in Matthew 12:5, Matthew 12:8, Matthew 12:10, Matthew 12:11, Matthew 12:12, Matthew 24:20, used twice (first as 7th day sabbath and second as the common word “week”) in Matthew 28:1…
Mark 1:21, Mark 2:23, Mark 2:24, used twice for the 7th day sabbath in Mark 2:27, Mark 2:28, Mark 3:2, Mark 3:4, Mark 6:2, Mark 16:1, Used as the common word “week” in Mark 16:2, Also appears as the common word “week” in Mark 16:9…
Luke 4:16, Luke 4:31, Luke 6:1, Luke 6:2, Luke 6:5, Luke 6:6, Luke 6:7, Luke 6:9, Luke 13:10, Luke 13:14, Luke 13:15, Luke 13:16, Luke 14:1, Luke 14:3, Luke 14:5, Used as the common word “week” in Luke 18:12, Luke 23:54, Luke 23:56, Used as the common word “week” in Luke 24:1…
John 5:9, John 5:10, John 5:16, John 5:18, John 7:22, John 9:14, John 9:16, Used twice as 7th day sabbath in John 19:31, Used as the common word “week” in John 20:1, Used as the common word “week” in John 20:19…
Acts 1:12, Acts 13:14, Acts 13:27, Acts 13:42, Acts 13:44, Acts 15:21, Acts 16:13, Acts 17:2, Acts 18:4, Used as the common word “week” in Acts 20:7, Also used as the common word “week” in 1 Corinthians 16:2, and lastly it is used in Colossians 2:16 as the 7th day sabbath.
“How ironic that the very last scripture that uses this word tells us that it was a shadow of things to come. After this, it is mentioned no more! Also all sabbatarian new testament proof texts that mention “the sabbath” are in this above list. How ironic!”
I would like to use simple logic here. We know that fish does not come from serpents, neither do they gather grapes from bramble bushes. Even so, God would never misuse a word, as even the use of words have rules. Now it is a fact that the word Sabbaton used in all these scripures that I’ve just listed above only means 7th day sabbath and the common word week. Just like yes means yes and no means no. God would never put the word “no” where He means “yes”; and if the 7th day sabbath did not belong in Colossians 2:16, He would have never used the greek word Sabbaton (which is translated in the KJV as sabbath days, just as it is translated in all those other verses of scripture meaning the same thing consistently all the way to Col 2:16 where it is last used).
If anyone seems to be contentious over this, consider the consistency of how this word is used all over the New Testament until Col 2:16 where it is last used. There can be no exceptions to the rule; if the word sabbaton can mean anything other than what it means, then I can use the word yes to mean no. If this does not agree with your doctrine, it’s not what I said that’s the problem. You need to count your doctrine to be at a loss and come to terms with the truth. Remember, we can do nothing against the truth. We can only do for it.
The arguement against the sabbath days in Colossians 2:16 meaning the 7th day sabbath using Leviticus chapter 23 is also of no avail when you consider the original Hebrew text, God’s conversation with Moses, how He distinguishes the feasts from the 7th day sabbath twice in the text, and how Moses responds in verse 44.
God introduces the feast days in verse 4 as one who uses a colon before making a list. Then He begins to specifically give out the details and commandments concerning these appointed times. He mentions the “sabbath of the LORD” in verse 3; then in verse 4 He says,”These are the “feasts of the LORD”, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.” This is the first distinction between the “sabbath of the LORD” and the “feasts of the LORD”. I will get to the second distinction in a moment.
I would like to mention how a certain SDA tried to read in a distinction that just did not exist within the text because of the distinction God made twice in the chapter. He tried to make a categoric distinction between the Hebrew words “chag”(Strong’s # H2282) and “mo’ed”(Strongs’s # H4150) used in the text. The chags were the feasts that involved the sacrifices where the jews would sit down to eat. The mo’eds were all the rest that did not involve eating, meaning “appointed times” and was also used to summarize all those days which were “besides the sabbaths of the LORD” in verse 38. This is the second distinction, by the way.
The reason that this SDA’s observation of difference between those two Hebrew terms were irrelevant to the debate was because of how God used the term “mo’ed” to summarize all those days that were “besides the sabbaths of the LORD”. This is the context and integrity of the chapter.
When God finished speaking to Moses, Moses does exactly what God commanded him in verse 44 which says, “And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts (mo’ed- Strong’s # H4150) of the LORD.” Notice the word “chag” is not used in this verse. Also notice that the “sabbath of the LORD” was already given to them prior to this chapter, so Moses gave them all these thing that were “besides the sabbaths of the LORD” , using the term “mo’ed” to summarize all these things.
This is interesting because the Hebrew word “mo’ed”(Strong’s # H4150) has a Greek equivilant in the new testament; the term “heorte”(Strong’s # G1859) used in Colossians 2:16 as “feast” in most English translations just before the New Moon is mentioned. Everything that was besides the sabbaths of the LORD in Leviticus 23 is covered in the term “heorte” (“feast” in English) in Col 2:16; just like all those things are covered in the Hebrew term “mo’ed” (“feast” in English) in Lev 23:44 when “Moses declared to the children of Israel the “mo’ed” (feasts) of the LORD.”
We read the bible in English, so the word for us is feast or feasts. The definition of this term according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is: 1.) an elaborate and usually abundant meal often accompanied by a ceremony or entertainment: Banquet
b (1) : something that gives unusual or abundant enjoyment (2) : Abundance, Profusion
2.) a periodic religious observance commemorating an event or honoring a deity, person, or thing.
According to this last definition, we can see that the word “feast” also means “appointed times” and was the correct English term to adequately depict the Hebrew word “mo’ed” in our English text of the bible, as it also means “appointed times”. So, verse 44 which says, “And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the “feasts” of the LORD”, is right on the money.
When you truly go through Leviticus 23 with a fine tooth comb, it clearly shows that there is nothing else left for the English term “sabbath days” in Col 2:16 to mean anything other than the 7th day sabbath. Even all the times when you see the word sabbath in the text of Leviticus 23. For example, when God gives Moses the “Feast of Weeks” or what is now known as “Pentacost”, the word sabbath is used multiple times. The average SDA would see that and conclude that all these times the word sabbath is mentioned here proves that the “sabbath days” in Colossians 2:16 is talking about yearly feast days.
But… when you read the text closely, the very first time you see the word “sabbath” after verse 4 is in verse 11. Starting from here let’s identify all those usages of the term “sabbath”. The word “sabbath” in this verse is the 7th day sabbath. The priests waved the sheaf offering on the 8th day. Leviticus 23:15 does a count starting from the morrow after the sabbath ,which is Sunday (the day the priests waved the sheaf offering), from there to count 7 sabbaths (seven 7th day sabbaths).
Verse 16 finishes the thought saying, “Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.”. Now note: the Hebrew term used in the text for sabbath mentioned since verse 4 to this point is “shabbath” (Strong’s # H7676). I say this because the next use of the English word “sabbath” will not use the same Hebrew term 7676, but the term “shabbathon” (Strong’s # H7677), which has a different meaning than “shabbath” (Strong’s # H7676).
Shabbathon means- a sabbatism or special holiday:sabbath.(H7677)
shabbath means- intermission, that is, (specifically) the Sabbath:- (+every) sabbath. (H7676)
The next term for “sabbath” is used in verse 24 as “shabbathon”, referring to the memorial of blowing of trumpets.
The only day that uses the Hebrew term 7676 other than the 7th day sabbath in this chapter is the Day of Atonement in verse 32 where it is used twice, which only occurred once a year. This is the only day other than the 7th day sabbath that “no work” was to be done “at all”. All the other feast days commanded that no “servile work” be done. This meant they could not go to do their trade that day, but could do other things as long as the work was not servile.
This couldn’t be used to mean the “sabbath days” in Colossians 2:16 because it is already mentioned in the Greek word heorte (“feast” in English) in the same verse covering it just like how it is covered in Leviticus 23:44 in the Hebrew word “mo’ed” (“feast” in English). When verse 44 says, “And Moses declared to the children of Israel the feasts (mo’ed) of the LORD”, period, it showed Moses being obedient to God right away giving the children of Israel “everything” that God gave him that was “besides the sabbaths of the LORD” in Leviticus chapter 23, the Day of Atonement being included here.
Next, “Besides the sabbaths (7676) of the LORD” is mentioned in verse 38. After this 7677 is used twice in verse 39 where they are translated “sabbath” in English. Verse 39 being the last verse to mention “sabbath”.
In conclusion, I would like to summarize my position. I have many scriptural witnesses (over 50) attesting that the “sabbath days” in Colossians 2:16 is indeed the 7th day sabbath. I covered the definition of the Greek term “sabbaton”, and how it is used consistently for every instance of the mentioning of the 7th day sabbath in the new testament. Every scripture using this term used it only to speak of the 7th day sabbath and or the common word week. All the scriptures using this term are unanimous all the way to Colossians 2:16 where the term is last used.
I examined every arguement against this fact; including the arguement using Leviticus chapter 23 as a proof text against this, when in fact it actually proves that the sabbath days in Col 2:16 is in fact the 7th day sabbath.
If for no other reason, there is just nothing else left that it could mean since everything else is covered by the Greek term “heorte” used as “feast” and “holyday” in the English translations; just like they are all covered in Leviticus 23 by the Hebrew term “mo’ed” used as “feasts” in the English translations. The only thing not given in debut by Moses in Leviticus 23:44 is the “sabbaths of the LORD”. Everything else besides the sabbaths of the LORD in Leviticus chapter 23 is given in verse 44 definitively; thus giving us infallible proof that the 7th day sabbath is in fact the sabbath days mentioned in Colossians 2:16.
Dear Eugene Wakefield–
Thank you for your participation with this blog. Your comment is rather lengthy, and based on your use of Strong’s concordance to identify Hebrew and Greek words.
Rather than take the time to address your comment in detail here I would like to encourage you to read a previous post on our blog (“Lifelong Learning- Colossians 2:16″ found at http://npucnewsletter.wordpress.com/2009/06/24/lifelong-learning-colossians-216/ ) and to order and carefully and prayerfully study the book mentioned. It is the most comprehensive study of Colossians 2:16 ever done, including the Greek text.
May God guide us into His truth as we humbly learn from His word every day and seek to walk in His ways until His soon return.
Maranatha,
Dan Serns
what is the difference between sabbath day churches and sda churches other than not under the conference….?
Dear Pat RW,
Very good question! I considered very carefully other churches and groups before returning to the SDA church. Obviously it is not because of the organization itself but the fundamentals of the teaching. I am not prepared to go into detail, but I always found that the SDA teachings were the closest to the Bible to choose from.
As a believer in the prophecy of Malachi 4:4 I considered Judaism but they reject the Messiah. I considered Messianics but they are still stuck to Jewish tradition. I considered many others but in the end, despite the errors and failures which exist, I find a heart for the truth there. When the prophesied reform of Malachi 4:5 occurs, I believe it will begin in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Dear Pat,
The Seventh-day Adventist church is a rapidly growing movement that is working together to take all of God’s truths to all the world. We welcome you to join with us in helping us accomplish this. To read a list of Seventh-day Adventist beliefs, click on this link: http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html
http://euneirophrenia.wordpress.com/
You talk so much about the Sabbath. What about the other laws that are broken more wide spread. Have you forgotten them? They need more mentioning. I hope that you do not think these other laws are less important. More over, you speak more about seventh day than you speak about our Lord and Savior. Why?
Dear Vivienne,
Thank you for your message. My brother has left the SDA church also to join a Sunday church and I am praying that he will return. We may have all of the truth just as the Jews did in Jesus’s day but His message was more readily received by the Gentiles. Unless we add to the truth we have the love that they have we may miss our opportunity to finish His work. I live in Tennessee and there are massive Baptist churches on every corner. Not that we should do everything that they do but people need to feel the acceptance and forgiveness and the love in our churches that you found in your Sunday church. I know there are good people in our church too. But I don’t think your case is unique there are others who believe they need to find Jesus outside of our church. Let’s show them Jesus in our churches. God bless you and continue to share what you learned.
I have thought seriously of leaving the SDA church because I am tired of all the legalism, cruelty, and the dead churches I deal with. I don’t want to get rid of the Sabbath though. I do wish there were more Sabbath-keeping churches around that werent SDA.
Dear Brother,
I am sorry you feel that way and I would like to apologize to you for the heartbreak my church caused you. I also want to tell you that some time ago I felt the same way you are feeling right now.
I thought of leaving the church and forgetting about everything that has to do with religion. I had a terrible experience with the people that were suppose to be “the people of God”. And I asked myself “how can they call themselves Christians?” I prayed and I prayed and I prayed until God answered me. Here is what he said to me in a nutshell: “Love me with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.” I then realized that the “wheat and the tare” must grow together till the end. Good people and bad people must stay together till the end. The church is full of good people and bad people. Children of God and children of the devil. Both must stay together till the end. I understood that it is our duty as children of God to show love and acceptance to people, even if they are evil (Matt 5:43-48).
My brother, I encourage you to pray a lot. Do not leave the church. Find somebody in the church who is in love with Jesus. Learn from that person. Get closer to Jesus. Get up early in the morning, spend one or two hours contemplating Jesus. Read the Bible, Desire of Ages and Steps to Christ. I assure you, you will be changed into the likeness of Jesus. And pray that God will use you as an agent for the transformation of other people. Especially the legalists. I know, because I too was a legalist. But now have been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. I will be praying for you and if I can be of any help, please contact me here at the North Pacific Union Ministerial Department.
RJCanals
Ministerial Director
North Pacific Union Conference
Ramon.Canals@nw.npuc.org
CA, I would encourage you to listen the Holy Spirit as He calling your attention to Spiritual matters. Like many who have studied the Scriptures directly; absent SDA commentaries, EGW’s writings pray that He (i.e., the Holy Spirit) will lift the veil that comes as a result of years of legalism.
I keep a blog here myself (outofadventism.wordpress.com). In it I captured several of the notes I wrote as I was led out of Adventism by the Holy Spirit. I also have other excellent resources (websites, articles, churches, etc.) in the margin on the right had side of the screen. I was a 4th generation SDA, baptized when I was 12 then again after i was married and returned from Desert Storm. I was very active in the Church and in good standing at the time I issued my exit letter (http://wp.me/P1tilv-J). There was no bitterness or heart ache to cause me to want to leave.
I don’t know all that you have been through in your walk with Him that has lead you to this point. However for me (and I suspect this is where you have been led now), the shadow of the Jewish Sabbath was the last to be lifted. I too struggled with the question, “Why is it if all the other teachings in the Adventist church were incorrect, that Legalism (e.g., works of the Law for Salvation such as the Jewish Sabbath) seemed incontestable.
I’d encourage you to pray for wisdom and discernment, then read Galatians–it was addressed SPECIFICALLY to Christians who were told by Judiziers to go back to keeping the law for salvation. (e.g., Jewish Sabbath). I almost guarantee you will get tied up in knots while you read it as you may in-fact initially re-read it with Adventist glasses on. This is where we were taught to understand “the law” as two separate laws (one ceremonial the other moral). Hence when you read it you will be tempted to say ahh that was only the “ceremonial” law. This notion of two laws was foreign to the Jew, to Christ and the Apostles as the entire Law was moral. They never taught this–it is an Adventist construct–so if the original hearers/readers and writer think this we should understand it in the way they DID mean it.
This is one of the largest traps in our Adventist upbringing on how we read scripture and is NOT Scriptural. When Christ died on the cross he fulfilled ALL (Gr. pas) the LAW (Gr. nomos) (see Romans 8) hence Col 2:14-17 says what it does and Romans 14:5-15;1 says what it does. Scripture is replete with the fact that ALL the requirements of the law WAS, IS and CONTINUES to be fulfilled by Christ’s Death for believers. Pray and read at least Galatians once a day for the next month (it’s not a magical formula) it is Scripture and meditating on it for a while.
Know that you are engaged in a Spiritual Battle and have more fellow Christians praying for you and for the Holy Spirit to lift the veil. if you wish to contact me feel free (wiredog@wiredog.net).
God Bless!
hi Vi,
I read through the thread and I am saddened that so much energy is wasted on the topic – Sabbath. Jesus commanded us to believe and preach the GOSPEL and only the true and undefiled gospel. Paul also reiterated this command and he too set the example of preaching and living the gospel.
You can read through the Christian’s covenant with God and you will not find a single proof that the Sabbath has bearing on our salvation or that it is part of the Gospel.
I just wish that you would spend your energy in discussing about the only thing that matters with regards to our salvation – the gospel. Better yet search through the Bible on how you could acquire the Holy Spirit. these things are what matter over and beyond your efforts in keeping the Sabbath.
May God’s spirit guide you to the truth.
Sunni
Dear Sunni
I also read through this thread. It is important that we spend our energies on the GOSPEL. However, the modern understanding of what constitutes the gospel is perverted. If you commit a sin, how do you feel afterwards? Does not the Holy Spirit convict you of the wrong? Does not your conscience drive you to the cross where you confess your sin and receive pardon for you sin?
Now if the devil can convince us that something that is a sin in fact is not a sin any more, then he will have very many people commit that sin and they will never go to the cross and confess and forsake.
Fortunately the Bible says that in the days of ignorance, God winks at. But to him that knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin.
Paul said the same thing. He would not have known that it is a sin to covet if the commandments did not say so. Paul also gives a very clear definition of what it means to love your neighbour in Romans 13:8-10. Jesus made it very clear that the two most important commandments is to love God and to love your neighbour.
John says in his 2nd epistle that love is the keeping of the commandments. The new testament also says that if you break one commandment, you are guilty of them all.
So if and when Seventh Day Adventists speak of the Sabbath, as they are doing in this thread, it is because they love God and are very aware of what the Bible says with regards to love for God. (It is very easy to prove that Jesus is God).
Without love we are nothing says the Bible. Jesus said: If you love Me, keep My commandments. Jesus did not command us to keep sunday. Peter said in his 2nd letter that the writings of Paul is wrested and twisted even unto their own destruction. These words are very true.
If there are two passages in the Bible that speak of the same topic, the one being very difficult to understand and the other being very simple and plain, would you not also use the simple, plain teaching of scripture as an anchor and guide to understand the more difficult passages? This will prevent us from twisting the scriptures.
I trust that these words will help many confused about the writings of Paul.