CHAPTER 7 – A Call to Action

In pursuit of the truth

When I began the pursuit to understand the truth about Sabbath according to the Bible, I was simply seeking what God had to say about this topic. I wanted to settle in my own mind “once and for all” the truth about Sabbath observance. I was not looking for information in order to build an argument against anyone; however, the more I read in the Bible about the Sabbath, the more I realized that many people had gotten it wrong, and that they are still teaching in error about the Sabbath.

Here are some facts I learned about the Sabbath, according to the Bible.

Sabbath in the Past

After rescuing Israel from the oppression of slavery in Egypt, the Lord brought Israel to the Wilderness of Sin. He tested Israel by giving them manna for six days each week, but none on the Sabbath. Of course, some of the people failed the test by looking for manna on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:1–5, 13–29). This was the first time in the Bible that the Sabbath day was named, and observance of it commanded. Later at Mount Sinai, the Lord made Sabbath observance a part of the Old Covenant by including it in the Ten Commandments. The Lord said,

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:8–11)

In the book of Exodus it is very clearly stated that the Old Covenant was ratified between the Lord God and Israel (Exodus 19:1–9; 20:1–22; 24:1–8), and that the Sabbath was a sign between the Lord God and Israel (Exodus 31:12–18). The Ten Commandments are the words of the covenant (Exodus 34:27–28). No other nation was enjoined to observe the law contained therein. All the promises within the Old Covenant pertained to Israel alone. Of course, God’s ultimate purpose was not to completely reject all other nations, leaving them with no benefits from the Creator; instead, God was working His plan through Israel to bless all nations (Genesis 12:1–3; Galatians 3:8–9; Revelation 7:9–17).

The Lord predicted Israel would break their covenant (Deuteronomy 31:19–20), and sure enough, they did. Through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord promised He would make a new covenant with Israel, but not like the one that Israel broke (Jeremiah 31:31–32), or as He said through Ezekiel, the covenant they made void (Ezekiel 44:6–7). The Israelites as a whole were never fully committed to the laws of God; they profaned His Sabbaths by mixing idolatry with Sabbath observance (Ezekiel 23:1–4, 36–39; Amos 5:21–27).

Through His prophets the Lord promised to bring an end to the Sabbaths (Hosea 2:11; Isaiah 1:11–15), but the people did not believe Him, nor did they understand His words. Instead, the Pharisees made up many burdensome and unnecessary rules for the Sabbath, rules that were beyond what the Lord had intended. When Jesus arrived on the scene, He acted and spoke on many occasions to correct the misunderstanding Israel had about the Sabbath:

Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27; see also Matthew 12:1–13; Mark 2:23–28; Luke 13:10–17; John 5:1–46)

Sabbath in the Present

As I continued to study the topic of the Sabbath it became very clear that strict observance of the Sabbath according to the dictates of the Old Covenant is not commanded by God to be observed by Christians, and will not save anyone from the penalty of death. Therefore, insisting on and teaching strict observance of the Sabbath is misleading, and dangerous; it can lead to false assurance of being saved, or give a false impression of godliness. This does not mean that believers cannot, or should not meet on the seventh day of the week to worship the Creator (Romans 14:5–6); the problem comes in making this time of observance a requirement for salvation, or sanctification.

Currently, there are still many Jews around the world who observe Sabbath because they have denied the arrival of their Messiah; therefore, they continue to follow the dictates of the Old Covenant, and their own traditions. There are also many Christians around the world who observe the seventh-day Sabbath, and others who treat the first day of the week, Sunday as their Sabbath.

The Old Covenant which contained the Law of Moses, was in force until the death of Jesus Christ. At His death the New Covenant^[1] was ratified (1 Corinthians 11:25; Luke 22:20). Christians are governed by this New Covenant, in which weekly Sabbath observance is no longer required because the Sabbath rest is fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 3; 4). When the Old Covenant method of Sabbath is observed, the present reality of Sabbath rest in Jesus Christ is misunderstood. Here is one way the apostle Paul stated this truth:

So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ Himself is that reality. (Colossians 2:16–17 NLT;^[2] see also Galatians 4:9–11; Hebrews 8:5; 10:1)

The ceremonies and sacrifices prescribed in the Law of Moses were merely pointing to Jesus Christ—the final sacrifice (Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:24–25). His was the only sacrifice that actually, and forever forgives the sins of those who acknowledge Jesus is Lord, and believe God raised Him from the dead (Luke 24:25–27; Acts 10:43; Romans 10:9–10; Galatians 2:16; Hebrews 10:1–18).

Sabbath in the Future

Jesus predicted a future Great Tribulation that would be worse than any time in the past. He warned the Christians of that future time that when it is time to flee, “pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will” (Matthew 24:20–21). The Jews alive during the time of the tribulation who observe Sabbath will continue to defend it—with violence if necessary. Jesus was cautioning His followers to pray for conditions conducive to escape from danger.

In Ezekiel 34:11–31, the Lord says that after the tribulation, and during the millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ, He will restore Israel to their land:

For thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out” (Ezekiel 34:11).

“I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land.” (Ezekiel 34:13)

During this Millennial reign of Christ, the Sabbath will once again be observed (Isaiah 66:23; Ezekiel 44:24; 45:17; 46:1–5, 12).

What is the point?

Considering all this, the fact that observance of the Sabbath at the present time according to the Old Covenant is no longer required (Hebrews 8:6–13), the fact that many people still blindly observe Sabbath (2 Corinthians 3:12–16), that belief in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is what saves a person (John 4:34; 17:4; 19:30; Acts 16:30–31), and that Sabbath will be observed again in the future, what am I calling on people to do? What is the call to action?

Study the word of God

The action I am calling people to take is this: read, and study your own Bible for yourself; do not simply rely on your pastor, preacher, teacher, parents, relatives, friends, foes, etc., to tell you what the Bible says about the Sabbath. We need to read and study our own Bibles in order to prove what God actually said, to protect against false teachers, and, to prepare for service before God.

Prove what God actually said

One reason for personal Bible study is to hear and understand what God actually said, and expected of the recipients of the Old Covenant on Mount Sinai concerning the Sabbath. We also study to learn what God expects from us, who are also beneficiaries of the New Covenant. Remember what Luke wrote about the Bereans:

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these [Bereans] were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. (Acts 17:10–11)

We do not have any excuse for not studying the Scriptures on our own (Luke 16:27–31). In fact, one way to prove our calling is to add knowledge to our faith (2 Peter 1:5–10). This is not talking about just any kind of knowledge but “the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Peter 1:2). Furthermore, the acquisition of this knowledge is not to be a one-way street; it should lead to appropriate action as we minister to others (Ephesians 2:8–10; 4:1–3).

Protect against false teachers

A second reason for personal study of the Bible is to protect ourselves against false teachers. In Ephesians 4:11–13, Paul explains that it is the job of pastors and teachers to equip believers for ministry. But how do you know if your pastor or teacher is true, and that what he is teaching is God’s truth? You do this by comparing what he says, with the truth contained in the Bible (Psalm 119:160; John 17:17). In other words, do as the Bereans did, “They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth” (Acts 17:1 NLT). One goal of being taught by true pastors and teachers of God’s truth is to help keep believers from being misled by false teachers (Ephesians 4:14–16).

Ever since the debacle in the Garden of Eden there have been false teachers providing conflicting information, contradicting God’s truth. They are false because they were never sent by God, and they teach lies (compare with Proverbs 6:16–19; 2 Corinthians 11:10–15; Galatians 2:1–5). When Jesus was teaching His disciples about signs of the times of the end He warned them about false teachers:

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)

“Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.” (Matthew 24:11)

“And then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Behold, He is there’; do not believe him; for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect.” (Mark 13:21–22)

Concerning false teachers, Jude made the following appeal:

Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. (Jude 1:3)

“Contend” means, to struggle to surmount a difficulty or danger. To “contend for” means to engage in a competition or campaign in order to win or achieve something. “Earnestly” means, with sincere and intense conviction; seriously (Oxford 2005). In the Greek, “contend earnestly” is actually one word – epagonizomai (G1864), which means, to struggle for. If we do not study the word of God, we do not and would not know what to struggle for.

Jude continued by saying:

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4)

This is a serious problem since Jesus is the foundation of our belief; denying the only true foundation leads to disaster (Matthew 7:24–27). The main consequence of people being misled by false teachers is that both may end up in hell—forever! (Revelation 9:11; 20:10–15) Referring to the Pharisees Jesus said, “Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If one blind person leads another blind person, both will fall into a ditch” (Matthew 15:1 ISV). Of course, the elect cannot lose salvation (1 Peter 1:3–5), but our Christian witness can be severely weakened by false teaching and doctrines, and in turn cause others to stumble, and miss out on opportunities to participate in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 9:24–27; compare with Psalm 101:6; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6).

Many biblical writers warned God’s people about the harmful doctrines and deceptions of false teachers. They admonished God’s people to be on guard against the lies, so that they would not be carried away by error (Deuteronomy 13; 2 Peter 2).

So then, what is our protection against false teachers? One way to protect ourselves is to study, and be saturated with God’s truth which He has revealed to us in the Scriptures. By doing this we will be able to know when we are being taught the truth by our true spiritual leaders, or if we are being lied to by false teachers.

Prepare for service before God

A third reason for personal Bible study is to prepare for service before God.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)

In this verse, Paul told Timothy to diligently study in order to,

Present yourself approved to God

In the study of the Scriptures, we should be diligent, work hard, and do our best. In Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV Solomon said, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol^[3], to which you are going.” While we are alive on this earth, and functioning as a workman of God, we are to regularly study the word of God.

Oxford Dictionary tells us that, “study is the devotion of time and attention to acquiring knowledge on an academic subject, especially by means of books.” Strong’s Concordance says that the Greek word spoudazo (G4704), which is translated in the King James Version of the Bible as “study” in 2 Timothy 2:15 is defined as, “to use speed, that is, to make effort, be prompt or earnest: – do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study.” (Strong 1890)

What is the point here? The study of the Scriptures is not to be a half-hearted exercise that we somehow squeeze into our busy schedule. It should be intentional; we should set aside time each day so as to acquire the true knowledge of God, through the study of His word. Of course, as believers the assumption is that in this study we are being taught by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13; 1 John 2:18–27).

After hearing all these reasons for the study of God’s word, someone may still be unconvinced and say, “Why use all your might to devote time and attention so as to acquire knowledge from the books of the Bible?”

Going back to what Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:15, we see that the study is to be done “to shew thyself,” or as other translations put it, “present yourself to God.” This means to handle the word of God in such a way so as to seek approval by Him^[4]. This is not passive; it is an active demonstration, or expounding of the truth garnered from the diligent study of the Scriptures. We stand beside God to seek His approval of our presentation of His word to other people.

Of course, we speak for the purpose of giving people the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16; 10:9–10, 14–15), but Paul said to seek the approval of God. This standing beside God is not as an equal—because He is our Master. Therefore, Paul said to work hard in study and handling the word of God, to seek the approval of God as one of His workers, because we do not want to be ashamed in the presence of God. This is illustrated in the next point.

Be a workman not ashamed

In Matthew 25 Jesus gave examples of what the kingdom of God is comparable to. Starting in Matthew 25:14 He tells of a man who entrusted his possessions to his slaves before he went on a journey. “To one he gave five talents,^[5] to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey” (Matthew 25:15). After a long time he returned to settle accounts with his slaves.

The slave who had been given five talents had traded and gained five more; likewise, the slave who had been given two, gained two more. To both of these slaves the master said, “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21, 23). The slave who had been given one talent did not trade it, and therefore gained nothing; instead, he buried the talent in the ground. To this slave the master said:

“You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:26–30)

Wow! To be called a wicked, lazy, and worthless slave in front of everyone is quite embarrassing and brings great humiliation on oneself. By not being diligent and working hard to trade the one talent that he had been given, this third slave proved he could not be trusted with any more than one talent. This slave had learned a lesson on how to be ashamed, by not doing more with what little he had been given.

Workmen of God have already been given abilities and gifts for the purpose of doing the work of ministry (Ephesians 2:8–10; 4:1–16). In addition to this we must work hard, be diligent, and do our best in the study of the Scriptures, so that as workmen of God—as we preach and teach the truth, we can get the approval of God, and then we will not be ashamed in His presence (compare with 2 Timothy 2:3–6).

Accurately handle the word of truth

False teachers have various reasons for misrepresenting God’s truth. Perhaps it is pride, or arrogance, or even ignorance. Whatever the reason is, false teachers mishandle the word of truth. For a true workman of God, accuracy is expected in the teaching of the word of God. Paul maintained the standard of accuracy when preaching and teaching, and he expected Timothy to do the same (2 Timothy 1:13–14; compare with these examples of accurately handling scripture: by Jesus, Matthew 4:1–11; by Peter, Acts 2:14–41;by Stephen, Acts 7:1–53; by Philip, Acts 8:26–40).

In the King James Version of the Bible the last part of 2 Timothy 2:15 states what the standard should be for a workman of God. It states that workmen of God should be, “rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Accurately handle

The phrase “rightly dividing” is based on the Greek word orthotomeo (G3718) which means, “to make a straight cut, that is, (figuratively) to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message).” (Strong 1890)

The word “dissect” means to methodically cut up (a body, part, or plant) in order to study its internal parts. It also means to analyze (something) in minute detail. (Webster 1828)

Some of the other Bible translations render this phrase as, “rightly handling” (ESV), “handling aright” (ASV), “accurately handling” (NASB), “correctly handles” (NIV), “correctly explains” (NLT), and “handling the word of truth with precision” (ISV). In all of these renderings the point is that the workman of God diligently studies the Scriptures so that when he preaches and teaches the word of truth, it is done in such a way that the message accurately states what God intended it to mean.

According to Oxford Dictionary, when referring to information, the word “accurate” is defined as, correct and exact in all details. When speaking of an instrument or method, accurate refers to the capability of providing such information, for example, an accurate thermometer. Accurate also refers to faithfully or fairly representing the truth about someone or something. Dictionary.com describes the word “accurate” to mean, free from error or defect; consistent with a standard, rule, or model; precise; exact; careful or meticulous.

A surgeon demonstrates accuracy when he uses his sharp scalpel to make incisions in order to expose an internal area of the body. This precision is necessary so that the diseased or malfunctioning part of the body can be exposed, and then adjustments can be made to correct the malady. In the same sense, the workman of God accurately uses the word of God to dissect, or open up a person spiritually to be exposed to the truth of God. As a result, this person becomes subject to adjustments in his attitudes and beliefs, which then affects his actions, and the way he is expected to live each day. The workman of God does not have to change the message to make it palatable, or less offensive; he simply preaches the word of God (2 Timothy 4:1–2).

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:12–13; compare with the work of the Holy Spirit mentioned in John 16:7–11)

The word of truth: The Gospel

Earlier it was stated that one reason to personally study the Bible is for protection from false teachers. When we have diligently studied the Scriptures, and have had its truths confirmed to us by the Holy Spirit, we are able to discern when a false teacher is speaking lies, and is misrepresenting the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:14–18, 23–26). Accuracy is essential when preaching and teaching, but what exactly is the word of truth? In 2 Timothy 2:15, the “word of truth” refers to the gospel message. This is made clear in the following comparative verses:

We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth. (Colossians 1:3–6)

The gospel is the good news that God will forgive our sin, and save us from the penalty of our sin, which is death (Genesis 2:15–17). This penalty was imputed to us at birth because of the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12–21). The good news is that the penalty for our sin was paid by Jesus, the Christ, who God sent from heaven to die in our place (John 3:16). The gospel message includes the fact that not only did Jesus die on a cross and was buried, but that He rose from the dead on the third day as He said He would. Paul reminded the Corinthians of this truth when he wrote:

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:1–4 ESV; compare with Luke 24:13–21)

It is at the hearing of the gospel, belief in its truth, and confession of the Lord Jesus Christ that the miracle of salvation takes place (Romans 1:16; 10:9–10). The gospel message presents a narrow way to salvation, and that way is through Jesus Christ (John 6:44, 65; 10:7–9; 14:1–6; 1 Timothy 2:5; compare with Matthew 7:13–14; Luke 13:23–30; Acts 4:12). This is a precise message that does not allow for deviation from the truth (Galatians 1:6–9). Working hard to study and understand this message should then lead to an accurate understanding and presentation of the gospel message.

The word of truth: The Law and the Prophets

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 that the word of truth, which is the gospel message is rooted in the law and the Prophets. Within the law and the Prophets are the words that can lead a person to repentance (compare with Luke 16:19–31; 24:44–47). This is seen in Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14–42), and Paul preaching at a synagogue at Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:13–41). Each of these sermons started at a different place in the Old Testament, but they both contain a message about Jesus the Righteous One, repentance, and the forgiveness of sins.

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he reminded Timothy that the Scriptures are sufficient for equipping believers for the work of God.

You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14–17)

The word of truth: Every word of God

Ultimately, the word of truth refers to everything that God has said and will say in the past, present, and future. Before Israel crossed over the Jordan River into the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 1:1–5), Moses explained to them the means by which they should live:

“[The LORD] humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything^[6] that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD. (Deuteronomy 8:3)

Many years later, when Jesus was tempted by Satan to turn some stones into bread, Jesus countered by quoting Scripture:

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'” (Matthew 4:4)

The Psalmist encapsulated the value and longevity of every word of God:

The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting. (Psalm 119:160)

Jesus confirmed that the totality of God’s word is truth when He said:

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

CONCLUSION

The truth about Sabbath is contained in the Holy Bible, which is the book that many Christians claim is their guide to the issues of life. The Sabbath continues to be a topic that is a source of confusion to many people simply because they have not taken the time to read and study for themselves what the Bible actually says about Sabbath. This truth can be found if a person desires to know God’s truth, as opposed to man’s lies. This truth can be found if a person diligently seeks for it.

The call to action is for Christians to study their Bible in order to prove what God actually said, to seek protection from false teachers, and to prepare for service before God. The call to action is to accurately teach the word of truth which is the gospel—the good news that God will forgive the sins of those who believe the truth about the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ; this word of truth is rooted in the law and the Prophets, and in every word of God.

If we do not personally study the Bible, we will only know these truths by hearsay, which can lead to error. When we take the time and put out the effort to study God’s written word, we will be enabled to accurately teach other people.

We study the Bible to learn, believe and live the truth.

CHAPTER 7 – A Call to Action

From The Sabbath Was Made For Man by Meshach Baptiste. Copyright 2021. RBGDevotional.org

RBGDev 82–0–110

27-Jun-21, 06:41