The law of God is immutable. We understand that God is eternal, His word is eternal and His law is eternal. It is inconceivable to think that if God himself did not break or change His law but instead gave his only son to fulfill it, that we are no longer subject to it. Even worse is to think that a human being can change God’s law. The Bible sets up the law as something which reflects the character and justice of God. The inspired pen,
“'[b]y the law is the knowledge of sin.' 1 John 3:4; Romans 3:20. In order to see his guilt, the sinner must test his character by God's great standard of righteousness. It is a mirror which shows the perfection of a righteous character and enables him to discern the defects in his own” *1
The bible continues to say:
“love is the fulfillment of the law” *2,
“Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law the truth” *3,
“Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good” *4,
"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” *5,
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul...” *6
Saying that we no are longer subject to the law or that the law has been changed means that the character of God and His justice have changed.
Those who think this must try their hardest to avoid the fact that,
“…God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” *7
It is true that we are saved by grace but there is a prerequisite to receiving the pardon of Christ. Genuine repentance can only occur when the character and justice of Christ is reflected by us in light of His commandments. The law is like a mirror which shows us our sins, the impurities that exist within us and reminds us how much God hates sin. For that reason Jesus tell us:
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” *8
The fourth commandment (the Sabbath) has always been a point of discussion. When culminating the creation, God
“… rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” *9
This same language we find in God’s commandments,
"[f]or in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” *10
What differences exists between Saturday, Sunday or any other day if the objective is to worship God? But in Scripture there is no other day which the Lord has rested, blessed and sanctified aside from Saturday. Do you dare go against what God has sanctified? And if Jesus himself fulfilled the commandment, for on Saturdays He went to the synagogue *11, can any human being say that it is no longer necessary to fulfill a commandment that God himself fulfilled?
What importance does the Sabbath have for our times? As much in Genesis as in Exodus the fourth commandment is based on the principle of creation. Saturday is a reminder of who our Creator is. The message of the first angel reminds us,
“[f]ear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.'” * 12
How extraordinary! The hour of His judgment has arrived reminding us that we will be judged by our works. And if by our love to God we have kept His commandments and we have repented of our sins, the Lord in his love and by His grace cleanses us from all traces of sin and saves us not because we have kept his law but because he loves us! For that reason Saturday is so important, because it leads us to worship the one that made the Heavens and the Earth, the sea and the fountains of waters. The enemy does not want us to worship our creator nor does he want us to be saved. He accomplishes this by saying that the law no longer exists or if it does exist, it has changed. For that reason the true worshippers of Christ stand out because they keep the commandments, especially the Sabbath (Saturday). Finally, I emphasize that in the new Heaven and Earth
“from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me” *13
The Sabbath for all eternity will be kept as a reminder of who God is and what he has done for mankind.
1* The Conflict Of the Ages, “27 - Modern Revivals,” Elena G. White
2* Romans 13:10
3* Psalm 119:142
4* Romans 7:12
5* 1 John 5:3
6* Psalm 19:7
7* Eclesiastes 12:14
8* John 14:15
9* Genesis 2:2,3
10* Exodus 20:11
11* Luke 4:16
12* Revelations 14:7
13* Isaiah 66:23
No comments:
Post a Comment