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Enter Into His Rest
Scripture Reading: Revelation 14:9-12
I. Review
1. We know by the study of prophecy that the United States will form an image of the papal beast by the Protestant churches uniting with the government to enforce their decrees (especially worship on Sunday—it being the mark of the papacy).
2. Upon this union and worship of the mark is pronounced the most fearful threatening ever addressed to mortals. Revelation 14:9-11.
3. On the other hand we see a people obeying God rather than the dictates of this apostate Protestant union. Revelation 14:12.
4. Since the Sabbath is such an important institution of God, and since it will be the main point of controversy between the people of God and those who worship the beast or his image, it follows that it is very important for us to understand what does it mean to truly keep the Sabbath.
II. Why Did the Lord Institute Sabbathkeeping?
1. That ye may know that I am Jehovah your God. Ezekiel 20:20.
a. True Sabbath keeping tells us to whom (which God) we belong; identifies us as His.
2. A perpetual [practically eternity # 5769] covenant. Exodus 31:16.
a. Which covenant? The only covenant worth anything is the New Covenant. Hebrews 8:10.
b. Which part of Sabbathkeeping is a continual reminder of the new covenant? Exodus 35:2 (16:23; Leviticus 23:3).
(1) How is this rest a sign of the new covenant? Exodus 20:11.
(2) Rested from what? Genesis 2:2,3.
(3) How does this rest from work show a new covenant? Hebrews 4:4, 10.
(4) So to enter into His rest, we are to cease from doing our own works. Ephesians 2:8, 9.
(a) What are our own works that we must cease? Galatians 5:19-21.
(b) In order to get away the from works of our own flesh, we must be born again. John 3:5, 6.
(c) Thus to keep the Sabbath, we must cease from our own works and let the Spirit produce the fruit of the Spirit in us.
(d) This is the only way in which Sabbath rest may be holiness to Jehovah. Exodus 31:15 margin.
(e) Let us therefore labor to enter into that rest. Hebrews 4:11 margin.
3. What is the only way to keep this type of Sabbath? Hebrews 4:1,2.
a. Why couldn’t Israel enter into His rest? Hebrews 3:12, 19; 4:4-6.
b. Thus the just shall live by faith. Romans 1:17; Galatians 2:20.
c. But how did Israel come to the point of unbelief? Hebrews 3:8-11.
(1) How did this unbelief begin? Hebrews 3:15-18.
(a) In other words, this was rejecting the evidences of God’s leading.
(b) Thus if we aren’t living by faith in perfect obedience to God, we are not keeping the Sabbath holy.
(c) This is so because when we live by faith it results in perfection in our life. 1 John 5:4.
d. Where do we begin this work of faith? Romans 3:28.
(1) How is this signified by the Sabbath? Deuteronomy 5:15.
(a) He brought them out through a mighty hand.
(b) How did the Lord do this through a mighty hand?
[1] Notice Sabbath points to Creation. Exodus 31:17.
[2] Is it enough to look back at Creation 6,000 years ago? No! Psalm 51:10.
[3] So to be born again means to have a new heart created in us and this is what it means to be justified - a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17.
e. But is it enough just to begin this walk of faith? Hebrews 3:13, 14.
(1) Therefore, the Sabbath becomes a sign of sanctification. Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 20:7, 8.
4. How does the Sabbath work to Sanctify us?
a. Must be clean from sin before sunset (on preparation day) Nehemiah 13:22-19.
(1) For we are connected with the priesthood. 1 Peter 2:9 margin #4.
b. The shewbread was prepared every Sabbath. 1 Chronicles 9:32.
(1) What is our true bread today? John 6:48, 53, 54, 56, 63.
(2) Especially on the Sabbath day are we to partake of this bread—after speaking on the Sabbath: Hebrews 4:12; (Acts 13:26, 27; 15:21).
c. We must meet together on this day. Leviticus 23:3; Hebrews 10:25.
(1) Why? Hebrews 10:24.
d. In these three way the Lord works to sanctify us through the Sabbath.
5. Thus a blessing is pronounced upon those that keep it. Isaiah 56:2.
a. And this produces Happiness. Isaiah 58:14, Psalm 144:15.
(1) And thus it was called a sign. Ezekiel 20:20.
(2) "No other institution which was committed to the Jews tended so fully to distinguish them from surrounding nations as did the Sabbath. God designed that its observance should designate them as His worshippers. It was to be a token of their separation from idolatry, and their connection with the true God. But in order to keep the Sabbath holy, men must themselves be holy. Through faith they must become partakers of the righteousness of Christ. When the command was given to Israel, ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,’ the Lord said also to them, ‘Ye shall be holy men unto Me.’ Exodus 20:8; 22:31. Only thus could the Sabbath distinguish Israel as the worshipers of God." Desire of Ages, p. 283:3.
b. For this reason it was made for man. Mark 2:27, 28.
(1) But its mere outward observance is a mockery. "Again Christ reiterated the truth that the sacrifices were in themselves of no value. They were a means, and not an end. Their object was to direct men to the Saviour, and thus to bring them into harmony with God. It is the service of love that God values. When this is lacking, the mere round of ceremony is an offense to Him. So with Sabbath. It was designed to bring men into communion with God; but when the mind was absorbed with wearisome rites, the object of the Sabbath was thwarted. Its mere outward observance was a mockery." Desire of Ages, p. 286:1.
III. Conclusion
1. Let us therefore arise and build the old waste places. Isaiah 58:12.
2. "There remaineth therefore a keeping of a Sabbath to the people of God." Hebrews 4:9. margin.
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