Righteousness by Faith in the Seventh Day Sabbath

Herb Kersten

The Problem

If the world could do without the 7^th day Sabbath for millennia before Mt Sinai then it could do without it in the era after the Cross. If these two gaps are indeed there, all 7^th day Sabbath keepers face a huge problem. 

Why is it so important to know?  Because the last book of the Bible describes last day Christians before Christ's return as "commandment keepers". (Rev 12:17; 14: 12; compare 22:14).

The Gospel

The good news of the Gospel is that all that God requires from you has already been achieved by Jesus and when you accept Him for your salvation then all Christ's achievements are credited to you.  This is called 'righteousness by faith'.  It says you are saved by works - Christ's works.  When grasped in its simplicity, all Christians who are anxious about their standing before God will enter into rest, knowing they are accepted, complete in Him and without condemnation.  This simple truth lodged in the heart is the greatest motivator to obey God.  The fruit is always spontaneous obedience to God's commandments. 

For Evangelicals

The good news of righteousness by faith must be implicit in the 7^th day Sabbath if it is to cut any ice with contemporary Christians today.  If the 7^th day Sabbath is to gain the attention and hold the interest of contemporary evangelical Christians it must be found in Creation, at Calvary and in the New Earth.  Only then can it be said that the 7^th day Sabbath contains the Gospel for all men for all time and in all ages.

Come with us on the most amazing Gospel journey that addresses all these issues.

Calvary and Creation parallels

The Bible offers golden clasps that connect the garden of Gethsemene with the garden of Eden, the tree of Calvary with the tree on Eden.  We would expect this because The Bibles portrays Christ as the second Adam (Romans 5:14-19).  And if the connections between Creation and Calvary are indeed there, you would expect the 7^th day Sabbath to feature prominently in both.

The First Clasp: Two Gardens

In Eden's garden all was delightful.  In the garden of Gethsemene all was terrible.

In Eden's garden Adam fell.  In the garden of Gethsemene Jesus conquered. 

In Eden's garden humans were dealt a knock down.  In the garden of Gethsemene Satan was dealt a knock out. 

In Eden's garden spiritual war was waged by day.  In the garden of Gethsemene spiritual war was waged by night.  

In Eden's garden the race was lost.  In the garden of Gethsemene the race was saved. 

In Eden's garden Adam took the fruit from Eve's hand.  In the garden of Gethsemene Jesus took the cup from the Father's hand.

In Eden's garden Adam hid himself.  In the garden of Gethsemene Jesus showed Himself.

In Eden's garden God looked for Adam.  In the garden of Gethsemene Jesus looked for God. 

From Eden's garden Adam was driven.  From the garden of Gethsemene Jesus was led.

In Eden's garden the sword was drawn.  In the garden of Gethsemene the sword was sheathed.

These are not just convenient literary devices that fall easily off the tongue, as is evident from more clasps that follow:

The Second Clasp: Two Trees

Throughout Scripture, the cross of Christ is often described as a tree. See Acts 5:30; 10:39; 13:29; Gal 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24 etc.

In Eden the tree was an instrument of curse.  On Calvary's tree Christ was made a curse for us so we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Eden's tree revealed the knowledge of good and evil.  Calvary's tree reveals the knowledge of good and evil. 

Eden's tree was in the midst of the garden. (Gen 2:9).  Calvary's tree was in the midst, between two thieves (John 19:18). 

Eden's tree was a tree of life in the midst of paradise.  On Calvary's tree Jesus became your Substitute so you may have Paradise.

Eden's tree was planted by God.  Calvary's tree was planted by humans. 

Humans were forbidden to eat of Eden's tree.  God invites us to eat of Calvary's tree. 

In Eden Satan deceived with the invitation 'take, eat and be blessed'.  At Calvary, God redeems with the invitation 'take, eat and be healed'. 

Adam stole from Eden's tree and lost life.  The thief stole from Calvary's tree and gained life. 

Eden's tree would have become a tree of life if Adam and Eve had believed.  Calvary's tree is a tree of life when you believe. 

Apart from Eden's tree, the first Old Testament reference to a tree is Gen 18:4-5 where it is a symbol of rest and nourishment.  The second is in Ex 15:23-25 where it is a symbol of transformation.  The third is in 2 Kings 6:4-6 where it is a symbol of resurrection and ascension.  So Calvary's tree is for all who believe: rest, transformation, resurrection and ascension.

The Third Clasp: Two Creations

The greatest completed events in human history are the creation of man and the re-creation of fallen man. 

The close of creation's work in Eden is described as 'finished' (Gen 2:1).  The close of redemption's work (re-creation) at Calvary is also described as 'finished' (John 19:30). 

Both creation and re-creation were divine works with which humans had nothing to do. 

Both works occupied six days, were declared 'finished' and were followed by rest on the 7^th day.  The divine pattern is work 6, declare it finished and enter into rest on 7^th.  On this principle alone the 7^th day Sabbath is opposed to salvation by works.  It is a weekly reminder to shun the Pharisee's road to heaven by accepting the gifted eternal rest that Jesus offers.

Jesus rested an entire day in the tomb on the 7^th day when He could quite easily have risen again on the 7^th day.  Why did He rest that day?  It is the first Sabbath of a new age, celebrating the new creation you find in salvation.  It celebrates the saving death of the second Adam as well as the birth of the first Adam.  Each week henceforth would commemorate creation's calendar and redemption's calendar.  So the Sabbath is a memorial of salvation - and as with all Bible memorials it commences with the event it memorializes.  Sunday therefore comes three days too late.  The words "It is finished" were uttered as the Sabbath drew near.  Each Sabbath thereafter would be a reminder of the finished work of redemption. 

The Fourth Clasp: Two Adams

In Eden, Adam a son of God, made in the image of God, head of the human race, naked, was put to sleep in the afternoon of the 6^th day to have his side opened to receive his bride. 

At Calvary, Jesus the second Adam, Son of God, the image of God, head of the church, naked, atones for Adam's sin and was put to sleep in the afternoon of the sixth day to have His side opened to receive His bride the church. See John 19:34; Ephesians 5:23-33; Rev 19:7-9.  

Both Adams entered into rest on the 7^th day after creation was finished and after re-creation's work was finished.

Jesus said "The Sabbath was made for the man..."  (Mark 2:27).  The Greek reads "made for the man..." meaning Adam, as representative of the human race.   If the Sabbath was made for the first man as head of the human race it was made for the last man and every man in between.

The Fifth Clasp: The Number 7

Throughout the Bible the number '7' appears principally in connection with God but also the idea of 'rest', 'perfection' and 'completeness'.  We first find it in Genesis.  It appears more than 50 times in The Book of Revelation.  For example, God made the world in 7 days.  The walls of Jericho fell after the people led by 7 priests carrying 7 trumpets circled the city for 7 days and circled the city 7 times on the 7^th day.  Namaan the leper was healed after washing 7 times in the Jordan.  Jesus passed through 7 trials.  Pilate had asked Him 7 questions. There were 7 testimonies given in Christ's defence. 

Jesus made 7 statements from the cross:

1.    Father forgive them ...

2.    Today I say to you, you will be with Me ...

3.    Woman behold your son ...

4.    My God why have you forsaken Me ...

5.    I thirst.

6.    It is finished.

7.    Into your hands I commend my spirit.

Jesus suffered on the cross for 6 hours, said 'It is finished' and He entered into rest on the 7^th hour.  He rested in the tomb the whole of the 7^th day.  

God worked 6 days creating the world, then 'it was finished' and He entered into rest on the 7^th day. 

During Passion week Jesus worked 6 days to redeem mankind and He entered into rested on the 7^th day. 

The divine pattern is work, finish work and rest.  And that's the pattern for your salvation.  Christ's finished work when accepted by faith allows you to enter into rest by stopping your reliance on your own efforts at salvation.  Salvation is a finished work gifted to anyone who will accept it by faith.  It is the best motivator to rest from your own work to gain salvation.  

The 7^th day Sabbath is God's emblem of this Gospel truth and when properly understood allows you to say the 7^th day Sabbath is the world's oldest Gospel preacher which since Eden, has invited people everywhere to accept God's gift of eternal rest. 

The Sixth Clasp: Two Memorials

The 4^th Commandment gives the reason for Sabbath rest - to memorialise God's creative power.  See Exodus 20:11; compare Exodus 31:17.  The point being that all Bible memorials commence with the event they memorialise. Other examples are The Passover which began immediately with the event it memorialised, the 12 stones erected on Jordan's bank at the time of the river crossing and the Lord's Supper.  Consistent with these, the Sabbath also commenced at Creation because it memorialised that event (see Exodus 20:6). 

Being a creation memorial and nota Mt Sinai memorial it was introduced before there was any Jew.  Therefore the 7^th day Sabbath is not Jewish no matter how much some may wish it to be. 

The Gospel Sabbath In Hebrews 3 and 4

From Hebrews 3:18 to 4:11 you find the key words 'enter' and 'rest' nearly a dozen times and they are mixed in with a direct reference to Gospel, faith, Creation and the 7^th day. (See Hebrews 4:3-4).  Here is a powerful Biblical wrap up of all we have said so far because it combines the identical expressions we have used: entering into rest, Gospel, faith, finished, a direct reference to Creation and the 7^th day.

What is the writer trying to say?  Where is the righteousness by faith in the 7^th day Sabbath that this paper purportedly offers you?   You find it in Hebrews 4:10:

"For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works, as God did from His".

Here is the righteousness by faith that rejects the Pharisee's road to heaven by accepting Christ's finished works.  That's the Gospel.  That's the true essence of the 7^th day Sabbath and it comes around each week because we are so prone to forget it and slip back into legalism.  That's why the Sabbath command commences with the word "Remember", because we are such forgetful Christians.  The 7^th day Sabbath is certainly legal because it is buried in the middle of God's law but it was never intended to be legalistic.  There is a difference.  I hope your marriage is legal but not legalistic.

To Be Sure To Be Sure

The first New Testament reference to the 7^th day Sabbath is found in Matthew 12:1.  But it is preceded by 11:28-30 which offers the true essence of the 7^th day Sabbath:

"Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and my burden is light".

That's the essence of the 7^th day.  By twice using the word 'rest' and saying that our own labor at salvation makes us 'heavy laden', Jesus teaches righteousness by faith.  Because Jesus says "rest for your souls" he is obviously talking about non-physical labor   This is the essence of true 7^th day Sabbath observance - rest for your souls because of the finished work of Christ.

By laying down your tools and taking off your work clothes every Sabbath, you are acknowledging that you have ceased from salvation by works during the week before.  You can't be a true Sabbath-keeper if you are not resting in Christ's works from Sunday to Friday.  If your Sabbath keeping fails to symbolize your rest from salvation by works your Sabbath keeping is as meaningless as that of Saul before the Road to Damascus.  The Sabbath is therefore an emblem of our peace in Christ through the completed work of atonement, a seal of righteousness by faith because the essence of faith is looking away from self to someone else.

All who see the meaning of the Cross no longer depend on their own works and refuse to be encouraged or discouraged by their own deeds, finding rest from sin and guilt by faith's entrance into Christ.  By believing this Gospel we enter God's presence, symbolized by the Sabbath rest day from time's beginnings. 

Summary

The perfect redemptive work of Christ accomplished a new creation.  It justified God, ransomed the world, consolidated heaven, shook hell, condemned the devil, magnified the Law, satisfied justice, delighted God the Father, glorified God the Son, brought down to earth God the Holy Spirit, nullified sin, petrified Satan and justified sinners.  The 7^th day memorializes the lot.  That's why the dear Lord asks us to remember it.  

In this paper we have shown that there are significant links between re-creation at Calvary and creation and that the 7^th day Sabbath featured prominently in both.  Little wonder the Sabbath will also be kept in the New Earth.  (Isaiah 66:23).

The last book of the Bible describes last day Christians before Christ's return as "commandment keepers". (Rev 12:17; 14: 12; compare 22:14). 

From sermons preached in the Healesville Seventh-day Adventist Church on 21 February, 2009 and Ferntree Gully Seventh-day Adventist Church on 11 April, 2009.

All Bible texts quoted are from the New King James Version.

Published by Herb Kersten

Suite 244, 135 Cardigan Street Carlton, Victoria 3053.  

Email: hkea@hkea.org.au