SABBATH AS A TYPE OF CHRIST OUR SPIRITUAL REST AND SUNDAY AS A TYPE OF NEW CREATION

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Feb 1, 2014
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#1
I've been reading a pdf book called Lying for God (available as a free pdf; do a google search) concerning Seventh Day Adventism in particular, but the concepts apply to some Sabbathkeepers.

Note that I don't care if someone observes Saturday rather than Sunday (or no day like myself) but I object strongly to the cultic ones who deny the salvation of non-observers. I am not real fond of the ones who are related to the Restorationist movement that claim to be the true church, and propose that Christians have basically been following the teachings of Roman Catholicism in regards to Sunday (I find their historical "facts" to be false, and the book Lying for God covers a lot of the reasoning, not the least is that the first "pope" was installed in 600 AD, long before many Sabbatarians claim the Sabbath was changed by the Pope..almost no Christians were observing the Sabbath by AD140 and that is unquestionable).

My practice is to attend services on Sunday because I enjoy the people I fellowship with, and I don't enjoy the fellowship of individuals who slander Christians who think differently on the topic. As an Armstrongite, I was a Sabbathkeeper for over a decade, so I understand the other position, although Armstrongites might have had slight differences.

Anyways, one of the points that the book brings up provoked my interest. The hint was that the weekly cycle could be viewed as a type of Jesus and his redemptive work. He "worked" during the six days by living a righteous life as our sinless sacrifice and "rested" or ceased his work of redemption on Friday evening. He said "it is finished" in a very similar way that God finished the creation by the end of the sixth day. He then "rested" in the grave and was resurrected on the first day of the next week as a new creation, with a resurrection body.

I realize that some will harp on the three days and three nights clause of Matthew 12:40 to discredit this view, but to them I say that Jewish reckoning counted part of a day as a full day. Only Matthew 12:40 seems to support their view, and it could be viewed as an emphatic way of expressing this time period. Additionally, they must use the "double Sabbath" argument that proposes he was not crucified on Friday, and that requires some awkward reading of Scripture, with the context phasing between the weekly Sabbath and an annual festival in an awkward manner. I held that view myself for over a decade so I know where they are coming from, but I rejected that view upon careful examination. I would suggest reading the booklet "Three Days and Three Nights" by Ralph Woodrow in this regard.

Seventh Day Adventists should not be raising that argument with me, as they don't hold that view from my understanding. They realize that Jesus was crucified on Friday and raised on Sunday.

One thing I like about MANY (not all) Seventh Day Adventists is that they are honest in their replies. I don't agree with their theology, but I do like many Seventh Day Adventists as people. I think many of them disagree with their church's position on abortion as well, but they don't address it with their church as vocally as I think they should. I can't figure that one out.

Anyways, I like this explanation concerning how the weekly cycle can relate to the work of Christ in salvation, and knowing Jesus is YHVH, it makes a lot of sense.

I will also point out that Matthew 11:28-30 and Colossians 2:16-17 indicate Jesus is our spiritual rest, and that the festivals, new moons, and Sabbaths pointed to him as their substance or reality. The claim that the word "Sabbath" in Colossians 2:16-17 applies to annual Sabbaths is redundant as that is covered under the word festivals. Additionally, there's no place in the NT where the word used, sabbaton, refers exclusively to an annual festival, so I don't find the typical argument to be credible.
 
Feb 1, 2014
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#2
Just to be clear, Jesus is YHV and always existed. He has two natures; God and glorified man. So, I can rightly say that Jesus as a glorified man is a new creation, without compromising the fact that he is YHVH and has always existed. I totally agree with the Trinity doctrine and the hypostatic union.

I am saying this in case someone may think I am Arian or some other person who denies the full deity of Jesus. I do not.

He is a prototype for what we will become as a glorified man, although we will never become God. To claim that is blasphemous.
 
C

cuz

Guest
#3
Well put Sparkman Amen