The Bible teaches (Gen 2:1-3) that the Sabbath was instituted during the creation week and God RESTED on the Sabbath and BLESSED the Sabbath day, and MADE IT HOLY.
The only
thing that God gave in his own handwriting is the Ten Commandments (Ex. 31:18)
which we believe to be the foundation of what God's character is like and what
he wants us to be like also. (Ex 20:2-17) This, fourth commandment, is the only
one of the Ten Commandments that starts with the word "Remember...",
because God knew that mankind would forget this one as time went along (the
Israelites had already forgotten it by the time God gave them the reminder in
the Ten Commandments) and that it was important enough to Him to write with
his own finger in stone "Remember."
This command of God clearly spells out that the Sabbath is memorial (a birthday
if you will) of God's creating the world in less than a week (Ex. 20:8-11).
I imagine that if all mankind "Remembered" the Sabbath each week,
we would not be questioning IF there was a
creation at all and teaching evolution in our schools. This also makes it clear
that the Sabbath was not just a Jewish tradition but a command for all mankind
since the first week of the creation of man. This is why Jesus said, "The
Sabbath was made for man, not man
for the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27). The Bible shows that Jesus was the creator
of the creation week (1 Cor 8:6 & Heb 1:1) and the Sabbath, therefore Jesus
said "I am the Lord of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:28).
Jesus kept the Sabbath (Luke 4:16) and there is no place in all of Scripture
where God has told us to do otherwise. God did not change the holiness of the
Sabbath from the seventh day to any other day. We all know that Jesus raised
from the dead on Sunday, but there is no Biblical command to keep any day holy
other than the Sabbath of creation. Jesus even RESTED on the Sabbath in the
grave!
"There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God. (Hebrews 4:9).
The Bible says that "Sin is the transgression of the Law" (1 John
3:4 KJV). We are not saved by keeping the law, but through grace. "For
it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:7-9) but "Do we then nullify the
Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law."
(Romans 3:31).
No one can earn salvation or God's favor by keeping God's commandments, but
it is a result of knowing God's will and obeying Him.
To have an explanation of how the ARC does its events on the Sabbath...this discussion will continue by linking to "The Sabbath and Cool Cars" at http://users.techline.com/leiske/arcsabbathday2.html
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