Page 594 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISM

Heresy #2—Sabbath-Keeping to show it is not binding, that Seventh-day Adventism
Let us investigate exactly what Seventh-day makes such a big deal over sabbath observance? They
Adventism teaches about the sabbath. Following is a have a very different understanding of the sabbath and
breakdown of these teachings from their own of the things of God than the apostles did! With one of
publications. their correspondence courses, the SDA sent me a lovely
First Adventist Teaching about the Sabbath: The printing of the tablets containing the Ten
sabbath is eternally binding upon men from creation. Commandments. It was printed on expensive gold paper
Seventh-day Adventism says the sabbath was made for stock, and the sabbath was highlighted, supposedly as it
mankind in general and was given to Adam in the was highlighted in Ellen White’s visions. I assume I was
Garden of Eden. Sabbath-keeping, therefore, is a sign of supposed to treasure this. No, my friends, I do not glory
loyalty to God, the Creator. in the sabbath. The apostle Paul said the sabbath is not
“God instituted the Sabbath in Eden; and so long as for me, and I believe him.
the fact that He is our Creator continues to be a reason 3. The sabbath was a type of salvation (He. 4:9-10).
why we should worship Him, so long the Sabbath will Adventists admit that Old Testament types and shadows,
continue as its sign and memorial. ... The keeping of such as the Levitical offerings, were fulfilled in the life
the Sabbath is a sign of loyalty to the true God” (Ellen and death of the Lord Jesus Christ, yet, they maintain
White, The Great Controversy, p. 386). that the sabbath was not so fulfilled. In Hebrews 4,
“The Sabbath was kept by Adam in his innocence in though, the sabbath is presented as a type of salvation.
holy Eden; by Adam, fallen yet repentant, when he was As God rested on the seventh day from His work of
driven from his happy estate. It was kept by all the creation, the believer today rests in the completed work
patriarchs, from Abel to righteous Noah, to Abraham, of Christ. In order to enter into God’s rest, a person
to Jacob.” (Ibid., p. 398). must quietly accept God’s work and must cease from his
What the Bible Says own work (Jn. 6:28-29). Salvation is God’s gift.
1. The sabbath, though mentioned in Genesis 2:2-3, Third Adventist Teaching about the Sabbath: The
was not given to man until it was given to Israel in the sabbath law has been changed, with the harsh demands of
wilderness (Ne. 9:13-14). the Mosaic system no longer binding. Adventists do not
2. The sabbath was given, not to mankind in general, keep the O.T. conditions of the sabbath, but they claim
but to Israel alone as a special covenant sign between they do not have to because the conditions pertaining to
her and God (Ex. 31:13, 17). the sabbath have changed in this age. One of Ellen
3. Ellen White added to Scripture in teaching that White’s visions is offered as proof for this.
Adam and the patriarchs kept the sabbath. The Bible “In the most holy place she saw the ark that contains
says nothing about this. In fact, it cannot be true. If the the law, and was amazed to note that ‘the fourth, the
sabbath had been kept by mankind in general from the Sabbath commandment, shone above them all; for the
creation, it could not have been given as a special sign Sabbath was set apart to be kept in honor of God’s holy
to Israel. name...’ There was also shown her the change of the
Second Adventist Teaching about the Sabbath: The S a b b a t h , t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f S a b b a t h
observance...” (Ellen White, Messenger to the Remnant,
sabbath continues to be binding upon N.T. believers. p. 34).
“...from this it is evident that all Ten Commandments “The institutions that God has established are for the
are binding in the Christian dispensation, and that benefit of mankind. ... The law of Ten Commandments,
Christ had no thought of changing any of them. One of of which the Sabbath forms a part, God gave to His
these commands is the observance of the seventh day people as a blessing...” (Ellen White, The Desire of Ages,
as the Sabbath...” (Bible Footlights, p. 37). pp. 245-246).
What the Bible Says What the Bible Says
1. The N.T. is the only infallible guide to explain the 1. The sabbath law was severe and rigid. The Jews
relationship of the N.T. believer to the Law of Moses, could do no work on the sabbath (Ex. 20:10; 31:14-15).
and it plainly teaches the believer is not bound to the They could bear no burden (Je. 17:21). They could light
sabbath law (Col. 2:16-17). no fire (Ex. 35:3). Only in warm climates such as Israel’s
2. According to the N.T. epistles, the sabbath could this be reasonably observed. The law of the
question has no relevance to the church. In all the sabbath was so severe that God had an Israelite stoned
instruction God gave the churches, there is only one merely for gathering sticks to build a fire (Nu.
mention of the sabbath (Col. 2:16) and that one 15:32-36). The Law of Moses was not given to be a
mention was only to show that it is not binding upon blessing. The apostle Peter had lived under it all his life
N.T. believers. Is it not strange, in light of the fact that until he was converted in his adult years, and he called
the N.T. epistles mention the sabbath only once and that

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