The Doctrine of Christ

LESSON SIXTY-EIGHT The Sign of the Old Creation and of the New Creation

1. The Sabbath is a sign of the original creation and of God’s rest at its close. Exodus 20:11; 31:16, 17. TDOC 198.5

2. The Sabbath is a sign of the creative power of God working through Christ, since all things were created through Christ. John 1:3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Hebrews 1:2. TDOC 198.6

3. The Sabbath is further a sign of the everlasting power and divinity of Christ, since these are revealed through the creative work. Romans 1:20. TDOC 199.1

4. The Sabbath is a sign of God’s power working unto sanctification or salvation. Exodus 31:12, 13; Ezekiel 20:12. TDOC 199.2

5. The Sabbath is a sign of God’s power working through Christ in the new creation, since salvation from sin is a creative work. Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17, ARV, margin. TDOC 199.3

6. The Sabbath is therefore a sign of our acceptance of God’s power working through Christ for our salvation from sin, and true Sabbath keeping is the experience of the rest from sin which is a consequence of faith in Christ as our all-sufficient Savior. Ephesians 3:20, 21; Hebrews 7:25; Romans 1:16; 1 Peter 1:5. TDOC 199.4

NOTES

The Sabbath a sign

“The Sabbath was a sign between God and the children of Israel, because they alone were the worshipers of the Creator. All other nations had turned from him to ‘the gods that have not made the heavens and the earth.’ For this reason the memorial of the great Creator was committed to the Hebrews. Thus was the Sabbath a golden link uniting the Creator and his worshipers.” TDOC 199.5

“The sign, or seal, of God is revealed in the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, the Lord’s memorial of creation. ‘The Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths you shall keep; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.’ Exodus 31:12, 13. Here the Sabbath is clearly designated as a sign between God and his people. TDOC 199.6

“The mark of the beast is the opposite of this, the observance of the first day of the week. This mark distinguishes those who acknowledge the supremacy of the papal authority from those who acknowledge the authority of God.”-Testimonies for the Church 8:117. TDOC 199.7

“The Sabbath is a sign of the relationship existing between God and his people,-a sign that they are his obedient subjects, that they keep holy his law. The observance of the Sabbath is the means ordained by God of preserving a knowledge of himself and of distinguishing between his loyal subjects and the transgressors of his law.” -Testimonies for the Church 8:198. TDOC 199.8

“The Sabbath is ever the sign that distinguishes the obedient from the disobedient. With masterly power Satan has worked to make null and void the fourth commandment, that the sign of God may be lost sight of. The Christian world have trodden underfoot the Sabbath of the Lord, and observe a Sabbath instituted by the enemy. But God has a people who are loyal to him. His work is to be carried forward in right lines. The people who bear his sign are to establish churches and institutions as memorials to him. These memorials, however humble in appearance, will constantly bear witness against the false Sabbath instituted by Satan, and in favor of the Sabbath instituted by the Lord in Eden, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.”-Testimonies for the Church 7:105. TDOC 199.9

“The line of demarcation between our people and the world must ever be kept unmistakably plain. Our platform is the law of God, in which we are enjoined to observe the Sabbath day; for, as is distinctly stated in the THIRTY-first chapter of Exodus, the observance of the Sabbath is a sign between God and his people. ‘Verily my Sabbaths you shall keep,’ he declares; ‘for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.’ ‘Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” TDOC 200.1

“We are to heed a ‘Thus said the Lo rd,’ even though by our obedience we cause great inconvenience to those who have no respect for the Sabbath.”-Id., 122. TDOC 200.2