Sabbath

Gen 1:31-Gen 2:3

What does the Sabbath mean? What's the big deal? Will God really send people to eternal death because they go to church on the wrong day?

Sam story: "I can't 'cause I'm SDA?" Or Brent's story, "Can't you get some special dispensation from your priest to go out with us tonight?

It's almost like we're apologizing for God. He's given us a rule that we know is important, but we don't know why.

I'm sick of apologizing for what I believe.

To do it differently we must understand what the Sabbath is about in the first place. Why did God institute it? But first, I want you to:

1.	List in your group: What are some of the typical reasons we talk about for God giving us the Sabbath?

a.	He knew we'd need it 'cause we'd be tired at the end of a week. Now that's true, but how scriptural is it?

b.	As a memorial of creation–but what does that mean?

c.	We need a day to go to church, a day of worship–there's no such thing as one day that's better than another for worship–this has led us to being 7th-day Adventists instead of 7-
day Adventists.

Now we're going to go to scripture to look at why the Sabbath is so significant, starting at the beginning. Where is the Sabbath first mentioned in the Bible? Gen 2.

Start reading at 1:31

31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

NAU Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.

2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.

3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

Facts:

1.	What did God see in verse 31?

a.	All that he had made

2.	How much of it?

a.	All of it

3.	How good was it?

a.	Very good

4.	What day was this?

a.	The sixth day with evening and morning (24 hour day).

Interp:

1.	What is included in 'all that He had made?'

a.	Heavens and earth in all their vast array.

2.	(Gps) What is the significance of it all being very good in God's estimation?

a.	He was pleased with it. He wouldn't change a thing. It was perfect down to the last detail.

Facts:

1.	In what condition are the heavens and earth and all their hosts, now in 2:1?

a.	Completed

2:2 literally says , 'on the seventh day' God completed His work which He had done . . . .

2.	What was completed on the 7th day?

a.	God's work which He had done.

3.	What did He do next?

a.	Rested

4.	From what?

a.	All His work which He had done.

Interp:

1.	Why did God rest?

a.	His work was completed

2.	Why was it completed?

a.	It was perfect.

Illustrate: Did you catch that? How do you know when you're done working on a project, paper, snowman, etc.? When it's time to turn it in because you know you'll never have it the way you want it. Have you ever gotten something creative down to where you wouldn't change a thing? I have only once or twice, and even then I'm sure it could be improved, but God routinely makes things so that they can't be improved upon!

Facts: –watch closely now

1.	What did God do to the seventh day?

a.	He blessed it and sanctified it

2.	What do bless and sanctify mean?

a.	Bless: 'to endue with power for success, prosperity . . . longevity, etc. frequently contrasted with the word meaning to esteem lightly or curse.'

b.	Sanctify: 'to place in the realm of the sacred, versus the realm of the common.'

3.	Why did he bless and sanctify it?

a.	Because in it He rested from all His work (whose work?)which God had created and made.

Interp:

1.	(Gps) What does it mean for a day to be blessed and sanctified?

a.	It has power beyond that of the normal common realm.

2.	Why did He bless the 7th day again?

a.	Because He rested in it

3.	Why did He rest on the 7th day?

a.	(From the text, any clues) His work was complete!

4.	Why was it complete?

a.	It was perfect

5.	(Gps–consensus) So if you're hearing all this, you can tell me now Biblically why God made the Sabbath:

a.	God blessed a certain day because He rested in it and He rested because His work was 1st perfect and 2nd complete.

b.	Highligh:

i.	It's perfect: Aren't you glad? God doesn't make mistakes. Everything He made was good. He gets to the end of the week, looks at all He's made and declares it "very good." It was perfect, couldn't be improved upon. This is how God works! All of God's works are perfect!

ii.	It's complete: He had completed His work which who had done? He! Aren't you glad for that? God doesn't rest when he's tired. He rests when he's done, completed His work. Perfect and complete. These two words describe how God works. He doesn't rest until everything he is doing is first perfect and second? Complete

Come back to our list of reasons from beginning:

6.	How scriptural are these reasons?

a.	He knew we'd need it 'cause we'd be tired at the end of a week. Now that's true, but how scriptural is it? God didn't create the Sabbath because Adam and Eve were tired and needed a break. Picture Adam and Eve, they've just been created Friday afternoon and here God tells them it's time for a day off. Are they tired? No. So why does God tell them to rest? His work is perfect and complete.

b.	As a memorial of creation–but what does that mean? This is probably the best, but I can believe that God is the Creator and still not be resting in His perfect and complete work.

c.	We need a day to go to church, a day of worship–there's no such thing as one day that's better than another for worship–this has led us to being 7th-day Adventists instead of 7-
day Adventists.

7.	So why does God tell us to cease from our work once a week?

a.	So we don't forget that His work is perfect and complete. His work was perfect and complete before we had done any work. He doesn't ask us to rest because we're tired, although we appreciate the physical rest. He asks us to rest because His work is perfect and complete.

8.	(Gps) How does resting from our work help us remember that His work is perfect and complete?

a.	Hint? "How perfect and complete is your work at the end of the average week?"

i.	There are always a lot more things we should have done. So the reason I rest can never be because my own work is perfect and complete.

ii.	Illustrate--Only man on campground who hasn't sinned in 3 weeks. What other lies?

b.	The whole point of the Sabbath is to teach me that there are things that God can do that I can never do, and that He has done that I will never finish.

c.	Do you believe that? Did Adam and Eve finish creation for God? Could they add anything to it? Had they done anything to deserve it?

d.	So here on the eve of the first Sabbath, Adam and Eve find themselves in a unique position. They're alive and being given dominion of a world they didn't create or contribute anything to and God tells them to rest.

9.	What could they do in response?

a.	They had a choice, but thankfully they took the only obvious option and received it as a free gift from a generous God and set about enjoying it.

b.	God apparently didn't want them to forget this. So He gave them their first whole day and every 7th as a day of resting in what He had done for them, perfectly and completely.

10.	How long did this wonderful situation last?

a.	We don't know, but it only gets 2 chapters in the Book.

11.	(Gps) What did the snake imply about God's work in 3:4.

a.	Not only that it was not perfect and complete,

i.	Snake attacked perfect: "Your eyes will be opened!"

ii.	and complete: and you will be like God knowing good and evil.

b.	but what would make it perfect and complete?

i.	Implied that Eve's work could make it perfect and complete. When we try to complete God's work, we're buying into that lie. Talking w/ a friend about salvation a friend told me, 'but I know I've got to contribute something.'

ii.	How much could Adam and Eve contribute to making God's work better? Nothing–they weren't even alive until it was already perfect!

12.	Eve believed the serpent's lies, and what happened to God's creation?

a.	God's creation was no longer perfect

13.	and if it's no longer perfect, what else is it no longer?

a.	Complete

14.	What does God do when His work is not perfect and complete?

a.	Keeps working (John 5:17)

15.	Until when?

a.	It's perfect and complete again.

I'm going to take a leap with you tonight to look briefly at God's work in another place.

Read John 19:30

16.	What was finished/completed?

a.	Jesus' work as sacrifice–prefigured in the sacrifices of the outer court of the sanctuary service.

17.	If it was finished, what else was it?

a.	perfect

18.	What did He do next?

a.	He again rested on the Sabbath in the tomb, and didn't rise again to enter the next phase of His work until Sunday morning, after the Sabbath!

19.	(Gps) What is the significance for me of Jesus' work being perfect and complete at the cross.

a.	I don't have to render perfect and complete work to be saved.

b.	Jesus is doing the re-creating of this planet–we aren't called upon to do it.

c.	The Sabbath is still a gift to remind me of His work by ceasing my own.

20.	But how many of us have turned the Sabbath into a work we do for God so He will be pleased with us?

a.	It's entirely possible to get the day right and not be resting in God's perfect and complete work, and to get the day wrong and be resting in God's perfect and complete work. So who needs to change? (Trick question.) Both. Tell Eric's story. He knew how salvation works and when He saw the day containing the message of rest in Christ, all his defensiveness dropped.

Application:

1.	Anyone here need to praise God for His work?

2.	What are some practical ways to experience resting in God's work on the Sabbath in light of what we've seen?

a.	Don't work–story–tell about Coreena leaving the counter messy. Andrew rearranging His work schedule.

b.	Give yourself a break instead of being a perfectionist.

c.	??

3.	In light of this, how can we more effectively share the Sabbath with others?

a.	Help them experience it with you before 'proving' it

b.	Let the Spirit work on them–focus on helping them understand how to trust in God for salvation first. The day is easy then.

c.	Now when someone asks you why you don't do something on Sabbath you can say, "Saturday is a special day for me." If they're still curious, you can say, "I take a whole day away from my own work to remember how good God's work is, and so I don't become dependent on my own work to get me to heaven."

Heb 10:14 "for by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being sanctified."

Phil 1:6 "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

God is at work. His work of making me perfect in Christ is already done perfectly and completely. His work of sanctifying me, and making me mature and complete in Christ is still in process, but He will finish it.

1.	We are as incapable of doing anything to deserve salvation as Adam and Eve were of doing anything to deserve creation. We were dead in trespasses and sins, Paul tells us. Can a dead body do anything to deserve being resurrected?

2.	--by the way did you know that Christianity is the only religion where you start off perfect? Every other religion in the world has you slowly, painfully working your way back to God, hoping that maybe if he's in a good mood when you leave this world that you'll make it. The God of the Bible is the only God who says, I'll accept you just as you are. I don't have a checklist of things you must do before you can come to me. I know you can't do them anyway. You have a debt you can't repay, but I want you to be with me, so I'll take your debt on myself. --Isn't that good news? Can somebody say amen?

3.	This is the message of the Sabbath

4.	There's even better news today, can you handle even better news than that?

5.	So if you're believing that God counts you as perfect in Christ, is God done with you yet? Oh, no. Now in His incredible mercy, he's going to grow you up to completion. Phil 1:6 "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ."

6.	Perfect and complete--both are God's works. Both justification and sanctification are God's works, and the Sabbath is the sign of both. Deut 5:15 "You shall remember that you were a slave in the Land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to observe the Sabbath day." Ezek 20:12 "I gave them my Sabbaths to be a sign between me and them that I am the Lord who sanctifies them."

Aren't you glad God isn't just in the business of forgiving us? Forgiving isn't difficult for God. It comes naturally to him, he is generous and forgiving by nature, but how kind would it be to forgive us but not grow us up to maturity? Sin is painful and destructive because it is self-
centered. How kind would it be to perpetuate someone's selfish and destructive habits by giving them eternal life in which to suffer the effects of sin. God is good, he doesn't count our sins against us, but he doesn't condemn us to repeating them forever. Amen?

He is in the restoring business as well.

story of Liversidge and the dance hall. Surrender, continual rest in what he's done actually gives us new habits, but the good news is that while you are growing, you are not condemned because God has declared You perfect in Christ. Do you believe it? It's yours by faith.

The Sabbath is a 24 hour dramatic reminder that I must rest from my attempts to save myself, both to justify myself before God, and to sanctify myself. Remember who sanctifies me? Ezek 20:12. This is why we're told in Heb 4:10 "Anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work just as God did from his." What work is the Hebrew writer admonishing us to rest from? Our own. So we are left resting in God's work for us and in us.

Are you getting this? At the heart of the Sabbath is the message that we cannot make ourselves perfect, or justify ourselves, nor make ourselves holy, sanctify ourselves, but God has justified us, and is sanctifying us. It tells us once a week, not I, but Christ.

Is that an important message? Can you begin to see why the Sabbath is such a big deal. Any other day of worship is man's invention. It becomes a way of saving ourselves, of making ourselves holy and acceptable before God. Is this a message worth dying for? Jesus thought so. The apostles thought so. I think so, too.

Are there Sunday-keeping Christians who understand this truth? Yes. Are there church-going Seventh-day Adventists who believe the Sabbath is about man's work? Are there some who believe it is a work that we must to do get to heaven? Who needs to change? Both. God gave us the Sabbath to be a sign to us, and he blessed it. There's no other day blessed like the Sabbath. No other day has the message of God's perfect and complete work. We need to keep it, just like we need to have footwashing and communion. Not in order to be saved, but in grateful acceptance of the saving work of God for us and in us.

But which of the above groups is understanding most clearly the issue? Those who have the wrong day but understand salvation. When they see the issue in the light of the Sabbath, it won't bother them to change days, but the startling thing is that those who are not seeing the issue, who are trusting in their own works rather than God's, those who are trusting in their Sabbath-keeping won't have any trouble changing days either, to the day that represents human works the ground of every other world religion. GC(608) "As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel's message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition." (Sunday is man's rest day all around the world even in Muslim countries, sunday is the bank holiday. It's a human invention.)

Is there anyone here today who is trusting in Christ to be their Savior? Are you resting in what He has done for you and is doing in You? You've understood the principle of the Sabbath in terms of salvation. You ought to be praising Him this morning.

Now when someone asks you why you don't do something on Sabbath you can say, "Saturday is a special day for me." If they're still curious, you can say, "I take a whole day away from my own work to remember how good God's work is, and so I don't become dependent on my own work to get me to heaven." If they're still curious, say, "The Sabbath is my day to rest in what God has done for me and is doing in me," and explain to them about God's perfect and complete work, reconciling and restoring us to His image.

It doesn't say anything about communion w/ God (directly)

a.	Nor about rest from our work–indeed Adam and Eve could hardly be tired enough to need a day off–they hadn't been working all week, they might need a good night's sleep, but not a day off.

Alright, so far it makes sense that God would highlight a day because His work was done, and it makes sense that He would rest on that day, but why does God tell us to rest on the 7th day? (If you're like me you've got to admit that you're work is rarely satisfactory and never done.) If the Sabbath is connected with perfect and complete work, why do I get a day off?

b.	Grace: The Sabbath was blessed because God's work was perfect and complete, and never because ours is. How often we get that confused, thinking that we must get everything done before we can enjoy the Sabbath.

c.	The Sabbath has always been about His work and not about mine. Hallelujah! On that first Friday evening when Adam and Eve were still wet behind the ears, God said to them, "I want you to remember that all my work of creating this world for you is perfect and complete. You can't add anything to it to make it better. I didn't leave it half baked. I did it perfectly when you were dust, and I'm giving it to you as a gift. Therefore you are not to do any work during this next day. I want you just to enjoy my completed work in all its perfection. There will be work for you to do, but remember that your work can never substitute for mine–that's why I want you to stop each 7th day from your work to rest in mine.

How about taking over His ministry–do you know how you know if you're taking over his ministry–if you get elated when it goes well and depressed when it goes poorly. If He is doing the work, we know that He will do it how? Perfectly and completely. "In the heart of Christ, where reigned perfect harmony with God, there was perfect peace. He was never elated by applause, nor dejected by censure or disappointment. Amid the greatest opposition and the most cruel treatment, He was still of good courage. But many who profess to be His followers have an anxious, troubled heart, because they are afraid to trust themselves with God. They do not make a complete surrender to Him; for they shrink from the consequences that such a surrender may involve. Unless they do make this surrender, they cannot find peace. {DA 330.3}

So if Christ in You does the work, you will not be up and down. We are called to cooperate, but it is God who completes the work.