THE BANNER AND SEAL OF GOD'S GOVERNMENT CHRIST THE CREATOR AND REDEEMER SEARCH AND SHARE MINISTRY www.searchshareministry.com (The Sabbath Commandment) Overview: God created all things through His Son Jesus Christ (John 1:3; Col. 1:16, 17). This is God s love demonstrated by Christ through His power of creation. Christ made the whole Creation to become God s object of His love. God is the source of love; Christ is the channel, the way of love. The Father deals with the whole creation through His Son whether in accepting worship service, in providing them their needs; the protection and care this is called God s righteousness. (See Righteousness Series). Christ wrote God s love His character on the creation as it said the heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1). He represented God s power by creating all things during the six days of creation and rested on the seventh day (Gen. 2:1-3 Ex. 20:11). He made the Sabbath to remind that mankind with the whole creation is God s object of love. The Sabbath is to commemorate that through Christ God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all the things therein. When Christ had finished the six days of creation He rested on the seventh day and blessed and hollowed it, and when He died, He rested in the tomb on the Sabbath while His enemies were busy keeping Him there (Luke 23: 52-56), these fulfills that He is the Creator as well as the redeemer. Israel was commanded to keep the Sabbath day to remind them that it was God who redeemed them from the power of Egypt (Deut. 5:15). Christ in representing God, is both our Creator and Redeemer the message of the Sabbath commandment. Satan in his effort to usurp Christ s position masters his devices in removing or changing the Sabbath. His works are to exalt himself upon God s creation and divert them from the true Creator and Redeemer that they may worship the false Christ. Theme: GOD THROUGH CHRIST IS OUR CREATOR AND REDEEMER THE MESSAGE OF THE SABBATH. I. THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT Ex 20:8-11 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 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: 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 Sabbath commandments represent that God through His Son is the Creator, Sustainer, Ruler, Security, and the Redeemer of the earth and the whole universe. It is the seal of His law and the sign or banner (with seal) of God's 1) Creatorship or power ownership, authorship, and authority over the whole universe. And (2) Character or love Sustainer, Security, and Redeemer. This is the heart of God's law which defines, testifies, and declares tha Christ is the relationship or link between the Creator and the creatures or mankind. This is also the banner of God's two major victories against Satan and sin; through Christ divinity in heaven and His humanity on earth. Note: In keeping the Sabbath, it is the sign that we accept, acknowledge, and appreciate God s power and character; that through Christ He is our Creator, Sustainer, Ruler, Security and also Redeemer. It reminds us that through His Son, He is the One who ministers unto us with love, in which our service to Him (as loyalty and love) is just our response to such a great love. Mk. 2:27, 28 It portrays Christ as our link toward God through His work of creating us. The fourth commandment expresses the authority and workmanship of God through Christ, His love, and His relationship to man and the creation through His Son. As Creator, man owed Him with supreme love. PP 48 "In Eden, God set up the memorial of His work of creation, in placing His blessing upon the seventh day. The Sabbath was committed to Adam, the father and representative of the whole human family. Its observance was to be an act of grateful acknowledgment, on the part of all who should dwell upon the earth, that God was their Creator and their rightful Sovereign; that they were the work of His hands and the subjects of His authority. Thus the institution was wholly commemorative, and given to all mankind. There was nothing in it shadowy or of restricted application to any people." A. THE MEANING OF THE SABBATH Shabbath (Hb,)--primarily means a cessation from the accomplishment of work within the appointed time, a rest because the task is completed in the required time. This word in the Bible is primarily applied to rest from the accomplished work. Thus the seventh day is called the Sabbath of the Lord because He rested in it after His work of creation within six previous successive days (Ex. 20:11). The Sabbath differs from ordinary rest, a rest because of physical exhaustion in which the work is still unaccomplished. God rested on the seventh day, not because he was exhausted, but because His task was completed within the appointed time. It is a seal which is a sign that His work is finished. In Leviticus 23:3, the Israelites were required to finish their work within six days to rest on the Sabbath day to commemorate God s creative and redemptive power. Thus, the seventh day of the week is the Sabbath, the sign and the seal of the Lord the Creator. B. MODEL/PATTERN: GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY
God completed His work by the Seventh day and rested on it and made it holy or chosen, appointed for the sacred purpose (Gen. 2:1-3). C. RELATIONSHIP: GOD MADE THE SABBATH FOR MANKIND The creation of man (the human race) and the institution of the marriage signal the completion of God's work within six complete days. So when the Sabbath had come the task was fully accomplished based on the plan. He rested with man, for His rest was not just for himself (for He to remind them of God s goodness and authority over them. D. COPY: MAN HAS TO FOLLOW GOD S EXAMPLE God requires man to accomplish his task within six days as God did during the creation week. He appointed to them the Sabbath day that he might rest as God did (Ex. 20:8-11). God made the weekly cycle for mankind to exercise their appointed work as token of gratitude to God s work in the soul. Through the many blessings man receives through week; in the Sabbath day he will commemorate the goodness of the Lord. This celebration is not intended for any deeds of man but of the Lord s done in the soul. Therefore, man should rest on God s appointed day of rest, not on any other day of the seven, but on the seventh day of creation. Christ has completed or His sacrificial work for the salvation mankind. Therefore man is required to rest in the seventh day as a sign of acceptance of God's ministry in the soul (Heb. 4:1-12). Man should keep the seventh day and not his own appointed day because salvation is God's work which is not base on human works. Man has no prerogative as of God in choosing any day of the week to rest as his own Sabbath day. So, it is logical to keep the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath of the Lord, for the Lord is the same Creator and Redeemer. The Sabbath tells the same truth. Any other day to be placed by man over the Sabbath is a preference to himself than his Creator, to his work than God s work. E. THE CONCEPT OF THE SABBATH: THE SEVENTH DAY OF THE CREATION WEEK Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:11 Deuteronomy. 5:15 THE SABBATH Sign of Christ s power and victory by Creation The sign of Christ power and victory by Salvation Gen. 2:1-3 The seventh day is the commemoration of God s work in creating the heavens and the earth;. God rested on the seventh day after accomplishing the six days creation work. He blessed and sanctified the seventh day
Ex. 20:11 The seventh day of the creation week is the Sabbath day. God appointed and segregated for it for sacred purpose. It is the seventh day of the week and not any day which men may appoint for God. It is God-made and not a man made appointment (See Gen. 2:1-3) day of rest and worship. The Bible does not imply that the Sabbath is to be designated by six days of man's labor but of God's work-"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." (See Ex. 16:25,26 God is the one who designated the seventh day of the week as sabbath, and which day of the six days man s work must start or end). Note: If this commandment refers to any seventh day after any six days of any person, then every body is free to choose and observe his own seventh day. This leads to confusion. The Sabbath will become a man's Sabbath. This commandment refers to the Sabbath of the God (Deut. 5:14 "But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God") the day which He had blessed (Gen. 2:1-3). Ex. 20:8 The commandment that should be remembered throughout the week and should not be forgotten by men. It started with the word remember Mk. 2:27 God made the Sabbath for man signifies that He cares for them Isa. 56:1-8 God blesses everyone that keeps the Sabbath. Through the Sabbath commandment God shows no discrimination of races. It is the day that signifies man s relation to God as his Redeemer Heb. 4:4-11 God s rest, the seventh day which the people of God should enter in to rest from all their works Matt. 11:28-30 The day of rest that signifies that God through Christ gives man rest from heavy yoke of human traditions and have the yoke of salvation. Note: Can man choose for himself any rest day for God out of the seven? 1. Rom. 14:1-10 Man can only choose any day for God like fasting at any day of the week as long as it will not supplant God s commandments like the Sabbath (See Matt. 15:3-6) 2. The seventh day Sabbath was chosen and appointed by God for the benefit of man. It is not man who can appoint it for himself (Mk. 2:27, 28). 3. The Sabbath is not a celebration or commemoration of man's work but of God's work. Therefore, it must be kept on the appointed day of God, not on the day which man would like to choose. 5. To change the appointed day of the Sabbath to serve the Lord are actually making Lords out of ourselves disguising in the name of the lord.
6. God made the Sabbath to be commemorated on the seventh day and not in any other day of the week 7. God intend to share the Sabbath with the creation that He may draw them to Himself (Mark 2:27). II. THE BANNER WITH SEAL OF CREATORSHIP, OWNERSHIP, AUTHORITY AND MINISTRY The seal: name, title, and jurisdiction (Ex. 20:8, 11): Name: (Yahweh Elohim) Lord God Title: Maker or Creator Jurisdiction: Heavens and earth For in six days the Lord.. made... the heavens and the earth... The Sabbath is the flag or banner or sign with God s seal on it. The seal signifies; ownership and authority, identification and a sign of completion and security of the work; a certification and recommendation, an approval and guarantee, and the name and responsibility of the Maker. The seventh day signifies that God's seal is beyond the power of the creature for it exists in time, not in matters that man can be touched, be changed or be destroyed. Man cannot change the time without changing the God whom they must serve. If they change God's law they make themselves as gods and bring ruin upon themselves. They could not touch the time as well as the invisible God. PP307 "The Sabbath is not introduced as a new institution but as having been founded at creation. It is to be remembered and observed as the memorial of the Creator's work. Pointing to God as the Maker of the heavens and the earth, it distinguishes the true God from all false gods. All who keep the seventh day signify by this act that they are worshipers of Jehovah. Thus the Sabbath is the sign of man's allegiance to God as long as there are any upon the earth to serve Him. The fourth commandment is the only one of all the ten in which are found both the name and the title of the Lawgiver. It is the only one that shows by whose authority the law is given. Thus it contains the seal of God, affixed to His law as evidence of its authenticity and binding force." III. THE TWO GREAT MEMORIALS OF GOD S WORKS THROUGH CHRIST 1. The Sabbath is the memorial of Creation the work of Christ (Ex. 20:8-11; Gen. 2:1-3; John 1:3)
2. The Sabbath is the memorial of Redemption or Deliverance of Israel from the bondage of Egypt and sin the work of Christ (Deut. 5:12-15; Jn. 8:36) Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16, 17, Ex. 20:11 Through Christ all things were made; like the heavens and the earth were created by Him in six days and rested (shabath) in the seventh day. Thus, our keeping of the Sabbath day is the sign of our acceptance, acknowledgment, and appreciation of God s creative love through His Son toward us. The Sabbath signifies that God through Christ is our Creator, Sustainer, Security, and Ruler. Note: The Sabbath is the memorial of the two great victories by Christ against Satan. First, the creation of the earth is the banner of Christ's victory in heaven. And, second, the redemption at the cross is the banner of His victory on earth. 3. The Sabbath is the sign of Christ's ministry on earth a) The Sabbath is the commemoration of the beginning of the ministry of Christ on earth (Lk. 4:16-21). b) The Sabbath is the commencement of Christ's ministry on earth (Lk. 23:44-24:1-8). This is the sign that we accept Christ as our Redeemer sent by God, the Father. Christ the Creator. Christ the Redeemer. IV. THE SEAL A. THE SEAL OF REDEMPTION Eze. 20:12 The Sabbath is a sign of God's relationship to His people, the God who saves and sanctifies them. ***The Sabbath is the flag or banner of God s government with His seal Eze. 20:20 The Sabbath is a sign of acknowledgment to the redeeming God Note: Sign (physical aspect like a banner or flag or physical circumcision) and seal (spiritual aspect like righteousness by faith) (Rom 4:11). The seventh day sign (literal) points to the creator and creation relationship seal (spiritual) B. THE SEAL IN OUR LIVES THE HOLY SPIRIT REPRESENTING THE LAW Eph. 1:13; 2:1-8 The Holy Spirit serves as the seal to the saved.
Rom. 8:9-11; John 14:26 The Holy Spirit represents Christ to us and to God. Heb. 8:10; 2Cor. 3:3-6 The Holy Spirit represents the Law in the heart and in the mind. Through His presence the law is being written in the heart. Heb. 4:4-11 Through the Holy Spirit we are made in harmony with the law as seen through the sign, the true Sabbath keeping. Note: The Sabbath and the Holy Spirit represents God s seal. V. THE SIGN OF LOYALTY AND LOVE Ex. 31:13-18 God's people must observe the Sabbath throughout their generation as the sign of their loyalty to God through Christ, the Creator and Redeemer. Isa. 56:4,5 The sign for anybody who has chosen God and becomes faithful to the covenant. The Fourth Commandment says to worship God through Christ as your Creator and Redeemer by keeping the Sign of His love, the Sabbath day. Note: Christ s authority or power and character He represents for God are the test of loyalty both in heaven and in earth, whether the intelligent creatures will covet His power or to love His character. Satan has deceived mankind in coveting the place of Christ and to hate and misrepresent His character. 6T350 "From the pillar of cloud Christ declared concerning the Sabbath: "Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you." Exodus 31:13. The Sabbath given to the world as the sign of God as the Creator is also the sign of Him as the Sanctifier. The power that created all things is the power that re-creates the soul in His own likeness. To those who keep holy the Sabbath day it is the sign of sanctification. True sanctification is harmony with God, oneness with Him in character. It is received through obedience to those principles that are the transcript of His character. And the Sabbath is the sign of obedience. He who from the heart obeys the fourth commandment will obey the whole law. He is sanctified through obedience." REFLECTION The most important commandment and the most controversial law is the Sabbath commandment. Many claim that it was abolished or made obsolete, and yet they put their own law and tradition above it. Thus they are guilty of putting themselves in the position of God. The Sabbath of the Ten Commandments is the Creator's banner. It is the sign given to man that God through Jesus, the Son is the Creator, Sustainer, Ruler and Redeemer of mankind. This is God's signature that He cares and is directly involved in every affair of his creatures. This is the sign, the banner wih the seal and His zeal of completing His ministry in redeeming the creation, the re-creation of our
lives and in securing us fully from evil and sin through eternity. The rejection of the seventh-day Sabbath would mean rejection of the Son of God. -------------------------------------- Note: The early Christians kept the Sabbath day on the seventh day before and after Christ's resurrection and ascension to heaven (Lk. 23:56; Acts 13:14, 42-44; 17:2--in the synagogue, Acts 16:13-15--out side the synagogue). There are ceremonial Sabbaths; 1. The Day of Atonement Lev. 16:29-34; 23:26-32. 2. The seventh year Sabbath Lev. 25:1-8. 3. The feasts; of unleavened bread, of the trumpets, tabernacles, Pentecost and others. These are the Sabbaths which foreshadow the ministries of Christ and which was its body (judgments) nailed at the cross but its shadows (anti-type) has to be fulfilled till the end (Col. 2:16; Eze. 45:17). Hos. 2:11 mentions the ceremonial (celebration Sabbaths) to be stopped. Its anti-type like the day of atonement (Dan. 8:14) which began in 1844 AD has to be kept in principle. Christ will never take away the Moral Law Sabbath, As He will not take away His ministry to His creation (Matt. 5:17-19).