Posted on 04/26/2025 4:04:57 PM PDT by vespa300
Christ and the Creation-Sabbath
The New Testament takes for granted the creation origin of the Sabbath. A clear example is found in Mark 2:27 where Christ refutes the charge of Sabbath-breaking levelled against the disciples by referring to the original purpose of the Sabbath: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Christ’s choice of words is significant. The verb “made-ginomai” alludes to the original “making” of the Sabbath and the word “man-anthropos” suggests its human function. Thus to establish the human and universal value of the Sabbath, Christ reverts to its very origin right after the creation of man. Why? Because for the Lord, the law of the beginning stands supreme. The importance of God’s original design is emphasized in another instance in reporting the corruption of the institution of marriage, which occurred under the Mosaic code. Christ reverted to its Edenic origin, saying: “From the beginning it was not so” (Matt 19:8). Christ then traces both marriage and the Sabbath to their creation origin in order to clarify their fundamental value and function for humanity.
(Excerpt) Read more at anym.org ...
Another explicit reference to the creation-Sabbath is found in the book of Hebrews. In the fourth chapter, the author establishes the universal and spiritual nature of the Sabbath rest by welding together two Old Testament texts, namely Genesis 2:2 and Psalm 95:11. Through the former, he traces the origin of the Sabbath rest back to creation when “God rested on the seventh day from all his works” (Heb 4:3; cf. Gen 2:23). By the latter (Ps 95:11), he explains that the scope of this divine rest includes the blessings of salvation to be found by entering personally into God’s rest (Heb 4:3,5,10). Our immediate concern is not to understand the meaning of the rest mentioned in the passage, but rather to note that the author traces its origin back to the time of creation when “God rested on the seventh day from all His works” (Heb 4:4).
So compelling. Using the Bible the late Dr. Bacchiocchi shows how Christ traces BOTH marriage and the Sabbath to creation. Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man. Paul said woman was made for man too.
Quote from Dr. Bacchiocchi:
Thus to establish the human and universal value of the Sabbath, Christ reverts to its very origin right after the creation of man. Why? Because for the Lord, the law of the beginning stands supreme. The importance of God’s original design is emphasized in another instance in reporting the corruption of the institution of marriage, which occurred under the Mosaic code. Christ reverted to its Edenic origin, saying: “From the beginning it was not so” (Matt 19:8). Christ then traces both marriage and the Sabbath to their creation origin in order to clarify their fundamental value and function for humanity.
And to think even for a single second, that anyone or church could either change this holy seventh day, or abrogate it, when Christ is going through all the trouble of elevating it and restoring it to it’s true value and function for humanity.
Get outta here.
Interesting comments from Dr. Bacchiochi in this newsletter #157.
Quote:
Why is the Sabbath under the constant crossfire of controversy? Why Catholic and Protestant leaders never seems to get tired to attack the Sabbath as a Jewish institution terminated at the Cross? Why is it that they do not seem to have a problem to accept as “Christians” the rest of the nine commandments? What makes the Sabbath so objectionable? The Sabbath Challenges Us to Be God-Centered Could it be that the major reason is more existential rather than theological?
Could it be that most people find the Sabbath commandment objectionable because it summons us to consecrate the time of the seventh day to God? Most people today are very touchy about time. They want to use their time, especially the weekend, to seek for pleasure or profit, not necessarily for the presence and peace of God in their lives. We live today in a self-centered society where people are more interested in what pleases them, than in what pleases God. The Sabbath The Sabbath and Creation 2 challenges us to be God-centered not only on the seventh-day, but by reflex every day. This helps us understand why the Sabbath plays a vital prophetic role in the endtime showdown between true and false worship.
What a statement. Dr. Bacchiocchi uses the word “reflex” to illustrate how by keeping the 7th day Sabbath, then by “reflex” to be God centered on every day.
Wow wow wow. I heard one great Protestant Sabbath keeping Christian say the seventh day Sabbath is an “anchor” that helps keeps us grounded in Christ. Immovable. Faithful. Committed. Each week we lay aside all the wordly matters and concerns and come back to our creator.
Imagine for a moment, if every family in the household, honored the seventh day Sabbath. From Friday, which the Bible calls the “preparation day” and then with sundown, the family came together in prayer and worship. Arising early Sabbath morning to attend church together. To be together in Church, praising and worshipping our Lord. Setting aside this holy 24 hours for holy time. Sacred time.
John Lennon said Imagine a world with no religion. The Bible says imagine if you decided to honor your Lord and Savior with your family together, each and every Sabbath day.
Here, the Seventh day Adventist group, the Heritage Singers....and a different take on “Imagine.”
Wow..and we were there too..many years ago in the crystal cathedral, standing room only that Sabbath afternoon.
“Imagine”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78CgC4Q35sg
Dr. Bacchiocchi points out that the creation origin of the seventh day sabbath, it is not of Mosaic origin.
And this......he says God blessed the Animals in Genesis 1:22, then he blessed man in Genesis 1:28. And finally, he blessed the seventh day in Genesis 2:1 and 2.
And people want to say the seventh day sabbath is Jewish. I guess animals are Jewish too? And I guess Adam was Jewish too?
If we only read our Bibles and stopped listening to our pastors and priests. We are Protestants.
God blessed Animals, God blessed man, and God blessed the 7th day. In Genesis......all in Genesis.
Genesis 1:22, Genesis 1:28. And Genesis 2: 1 and 2.
Give me a break will ya.....look it up in your Bible:
22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that [h]moves on the earth.”
2 Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
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