THE SABBATHTHE SABBATH DEBATEDEBATE

(Barbados, May 19, 2007)(Barbados, May 19, 2007)

Rev. Clinton ChisholmRev. Clinton Chisholmclintchis@yahoo.comclintchis@yahoo.com

FUNDAMENTAL POINTERSFUNDAMENTAL POINTERS

As I contend on my CD ‘The As I contend on my CD ‘The Sabbath vs. Sunday Debate’ the Sabbath vs. Sunday Debate’ the Sabbath cannot be discussed in Sabbath cannot be discussed in

isolation from the covenant to which isolation from the covenant to which it belongs, that cut at Sinai. it belongs, that cut at Sinai.

The covenant at Sinai is called in The covenant at Sinai is called in scripture “the first covenant” scripture “the first covenant”

(Heb. 8.7; 9.1) the “old” covenant (Heb. 8.7; 9.1) the “old” covenant (Heb. 8.13) “the law” (Gal. 3.17)(Heb. 8.13) “the law” (Gal. 3.17)

The stones with the Decalogue The stones with the Decalogue were called “the tables of the were called “the tables of the

covenant” (Deut. 9.9), the book in covenant” (Deut. 9.9), the book in which it was written was called which it was written was called “the book of the covenant” (Ex. “the book of the covenant” (Ex. 24.7) and the ark in which it was 24.7) and the ark in which it was deposited was called “the ark of deposited was called “the ark of

the covenant” (Deut. 31.26)the covenant” (Deut. 31.26)

The Decalogue then was at the The Decalogue then was at the heart of the “old/first covenant” heart of the “old/first covenant”

or “the law” and is at times or “the law” and is at times equated with the covenant (Ex. equated with the covenant (Ex. 34.28) by the figure of speech 34.28) by the figure of speech

called synecdoche (a part called synecdoche (a part representing the whole).representing the whole).

WITH THE “OLD/FIRST WITH THE “OLD/FIRST COVENANT” OR “THE LAW” COVENANT” OR “THE LAW” THE SABBATH STANDS OR THE SABBATH STANDS OR

FALLS. FALLS.

Only if the Sinaitic covenant is Only if the Sinaitic covenant is still binding, still binding, in all its particularsin all its particulars, ,

can Sabbath observance be can Sabbath observance be regarded as binding today, regarded as binding today,

because the Sabbath cannot be because the Sabbath cannot be separated from the Sinaitic separated from the Sinaitic

covenant. So we need to explore covenant. So we need to explore the witness of the New the witness of the New

Testament concerning the Testament concerning the Sinaitic or Old covenant.Sinaitic or Old covenant.

As Uriah Smith (a leading Adventist As Uriah Smith (a leading Adventist of another era) said in his book of another era) said in his book

Two Covenants,Two Covenants, “If the Ten “If the Ten Commandments constituted the Commandments constituted the

old covenant, then they are forever old covenant, then they are forever gone.” (p. 5)gone.” (p. 5)

Let’s now focus on the biblical Let’s now focus on the biblical evidence for the evidence for the

abolition/abrogation of the old abolition/abrogation of the old covenant with Sabbath at its heart.covenant with Sabbath at its heart.

The Abolition of the Old The Abolition of the Old CovenantCovenant

1. Galatians 3.17-4.7 1. Galatians 3.17-4.7 Gal. 3.25 “Now that faith has Gal. 3.25 “Now that faith has come we are no longer under the come we are no longer under the

infant-guide (Gk. infant-guide (Gk. paidagogos)paidagogos) [the Law].” Why not?[the Law].” Why not?

3.26 “For we are all mature sons 3.26 “For we are all mature sons (Gk. h(Gk. huioiuioi) of God ) of God through faith through faith

in Christ Jesus.”in Christ Jesus.”

2. Gal. 4.21-31 (Hagar & Sarah 2. Gal. 4.21-31 (Hagar & Sarah allegory)allegory)

4.24 “…the women represent two 4.24 “…the women represent two covenants…”covenants…”

Hagar = Sinai = bondageHagar = Sinai = bondage Sarah = Jerusalem above = Sarah = Jerusalem above =

freedomfreedom 4.30 “Get rid of the slave woman 4.30 “Get rid of the slave woman

and her son…”and her son…”

44. . Heb. 8.6-13Heb. 8.6-13 8.13 “By calling this covenant 8.13 “By calling this covenant

‘new’, he has made the first one ‘new’, he has made the first one obsolete and what is obsolete obsolete and what is obsolete

and aging will soon disappear.”and aging will soon disappear.”

5. Heb.10.1, 8-105. Heb.10.1, 8-10 10.9 “He sets aside the first to 10.9 “He sets aside the first to

establish the second.”establish the second.”

6. 2 Cor. 3.7-116. 2 Cor. 3.7-11 3.7 “Now if the ministry that 3.7 “Now if the ministry that

brought death, which was brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone…”engraved in letters on stone…”

3.11 “And if what was fading 3.11 “And if what was fading away came with glory, how much away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which greater is the glory of that which

lasts.lasts.

7. Eph. 2.147. Eph. 2.14““He is our peace who has made He is our peace who has made the two one…by abolishing in the two one…by abolishing in

his flesh the law with its his flesh the law with its commandments and commandments and

regulations…”regulations…”8. Col. 2.13-148. Col. 2.13-14

“ “God made you alive with God made you alive with Christ…having cancelled the Christ…having cancelled the

written code, with its written code, with its regulations…”regulations…”

SINCE, AS WE HAVE SHOWN, SINCE, AS WE HAVE SHOWN, BIBLICALLY, THE OLD COVENANT HAS BIBLICALLY, THE OLD COVENANT HAS BEEN ABOLISHED, ABROGATED, SET BEEN ABOLISHED, ABROGATED, SET ASIDE BY GOD, IT MEANS THAT THE ASIDE BY GOD, IT MEANS THAT THE SABBATH TOO, AS A PART OF THE SABBATH TOO, AS A PART OF THE

OLD COVENANT HAS BEEN OLD COVENANT HAS BEEN ABOLISHED, ABROGATED, SET ASIDE ABOLISHED, ABROGATED, SET ASIDE

BY GOD.BY GOD. For more detailed arguments see my For more detailed arguments see my

CDsCDs‘‘The Sabbath vs. Sunday Debate’The Sabbath vs. Sunday Debate’

‘‘Galatians: The Christian & the Mosaic Galatians: The Christian & the Mosaic Law’ Law’

‘‘Sabbath’ in Ex. 16.34 and 20.11Sabbath’ in Ex. 16.34 and 20.11 Ex.16 is the first appearance of the term Ex.16 is the first appearance of the term

and concept of Sabbath in the Old and concept of Sabbath in the Old Testament and is either a pre-covenant Testament and is either a pre-covenant

trial run of Sabbath obedience or a literary trial run of Sabbath obedience or a literary strategy by the writer designed to give the strategy by the writer designed to give the

reader advance information about the reader advance information about the nature of the people with whom God nature of the people with whom God

would make/cut his covenant at Sinai. would make/cut his covenant at Sinai. Either way the Sabbath cannot be pulled Either way the Sabbath cannot be pulled

out of its covenant setting.out of its covenant setting.

Re the use of ‘Sabbath’ in Ex. 20.11, it must Re the use of ‘Sabbath’ in Ex. 20.11, it must be remembered that Moses wrote the book be remembered that Moses wrote the book

of Exodus after the events happened and so of Exodus after the events happened and so from a history of Sabbath practice he calls from a history of Sabbath practice he calls the 7the 7thth day proper, a Sabbath. (cf. “I was in day proper, a Sabbath. (cf. “I was in

Primary School with P.M. Arthur”) Primary School with P.M. Arthur”) He does something similar in Ex. 16.34 re He does something similar in Ex. 16.34 re the Testimony even though the Testimony = the Testimony even though the Testimony = stone tablets became realities only after the stone tablets became realities only after the covenant is cut (Ex. 20) and after the “book covenant is cut (Ex. 20) and after the “book of the covenant” was written by Moses (Ex. of the covenant” was written by Moses (Ex.

24.7, 12)24.7, 12)

Sabbath, creation ordinance?Sabbath, creation ordinance? An ordinance is a practice An ordinance is a practice

commanded as such. Sabbath is commanded as such. Sabbath is not even mentioned let alone not even mentioned let alone commanded in the whole of commanded in the whole of

Genesis. Further, nobody could be Genesis. Further, nobody could be commanded to imitate God’s rest commanded to imitate God’s rest in Genesisin Genesis because the rest there because the rest there is equal to cessation from creative is equal to cessation from creative

acts. ‘God rested’ means God acts. ‘God rested’ means God stopped creating on the 7th day.stopped creating on the 7th day.

Mt. 5.17ffMt. 5.17ff This text is a deadly Spaniard This text is a deadly Spaniard machete for Sabbatarians, for if machete for Sabbatarians, for if

the passage is viewed as the passage is viewed as arguing for the continuing arguing for the continuing

validity of the law (and hence of validity of the law (and hence of the Sabbath) then the Sabbath) then IT IS EVERY BIT IT IS EVERY BIT OF THE LAW OR OLD COVENANT OF THE LAW OR OLD COVENANT THAT WOULD BE STILL BINDING THAT WOULD BE STILL BINDING

SINCE NOT ONE SMALLEST PART SINCE NOT ONE SMALLEST PART IS TO BE REMOVED!! IS TO BE REMOVED!!

Note though Note though thethe critical time critical time limitation “till all is fulfilled”. limitation “till all is fulfilled”.

John 19.28-30 capture the John 19.28-30 capture the essence of Jesus’ finished work essence of Jesus’ finished work

on Calvary as satisfying on Calvary as satisfying (fulfilling) all the demands of the (fulfilling) all the demands of the whole Old Testament (=‘the law whole Old Testament (=‘the law and the prophets’). Note vv.28, and the prophets’). Note vv.28, 30, “Later, knowing that all was 30, “Later, knowing that all was now completed…Jesus said “It now completed…Jesus said “It

is finished (Gk. is finished (Gk. tetelestaitetelestai))