Now let me start off with a question. Which of the 10 Commandments does not make sense? You say, “Well, they all make sense.” Well I’m looking at it from the standpoint of human reasoning. Well, from the human standpoint it does make sense that we ought to worship one God. That we ought not to curse Him and swear and take His name in vain. Makes sense. That we should honor our parents. That we shouldn't lie or steal or kill or whatever. It all makes sense, right?
Which commandment does not make sense, according to human thinking? The Sabbath. Because why does it have to be the seventh day? Why can't it be the first or the sixth or the fifth or whatever? Well, what is the reason?
It's not our reasoning. But it's based not on human reason, but on Revelation. Right? Based on Revelation. And you know, when we're looking at the fourth commandment and the Sabbath, things seem to be, what should I say, moving in the direction that you and I believe there's a lot more emphasis on Sunday. In this country and overseas.
There's going to be a meeting of the Christian Coalition here in this country, sponsored by the Vatican. Also, there was a big meeting in Austria sponsored by the Vatican. And with the emphasis on the importance of Sunday, getting out of it that the world and particularly, of course, the developing countries are swinging more and more towards the secular. We need to get people back to God. Right? And of course, Sunday is the first day of the week. Not only does it represent the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but it also represents the first day of creation. Okay? In the beginning God spoke and said let there be light, and there was light. It is a symbol of light, of a new creation to come. Of a new world order of peace. And so we need to get back to God, and of course, the first day is a symbol of that new creation. So these are some of the things that are going on.
This sermon is not about last day events. But I just want to highlight that. Now the question is, when you and I have to stand for the Sabbath, what do we stand for? Why do we stand for the Sabbath? Well, because it's a sign of creation. Well, true. Because the Bible says so. True. Right? Because God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. True. But I want to give you a bigger picture.
Now I don't know about you, but I’m not willing to die for a day. I'm not willing to die for a number. I am willing to die for what that day and that number represents. I'm not willing to die as a veteran for the flag of the United States, as far as the cloth is concerned. But what it stands for. Freedom to worship. Freedom of conscience. Freedom of choice. Freedom of speech, and on and on and on. Right?
So I want to look at the larger picture. Why do we stand for the Sabbath? Why will we stand for the Sabbath even unto death? Because it's talking about a new country. The country that Abraham looked for. Abraham, it says, “looked for a city whose builder and maker is God.” The new Canaan. Okay, what else does it stand for? It stands for the authority of Jesus Christ.
Let's go back. I want to take you back briefly, quickly, alright, to eternity past. Of course, Lucifer, being the first created, as far as we know, Lucifer means what? Son of…? Son of the morning. The first rays of sun. So Lucifer could use the argument to the other angels, “okay, I have been here as long as the son of God.” How would the angels know? Differently? How would they know differently? Well, if Lucifer was created first, how would the angels know differently? They wouldn't, would they? It would be his word against God's Word. And so God called a meeting. You've read that in the Spirit of Prophecy. God called a meeting and proclaimed, all right, the full divinity of His son, who Jesus Christ was. If you go to the book of Hebrews, He says, the Father says, Thy throne, oh God, is forever and ever. Okay? The scepter of righteousness. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity and so on. So God proclaimed, yes, who His son was.
We also know that Lucifer wanted to have part in the creation of this world. Right? Now, when you stop and think and you say, wait a minute. You know, like I tell my students. It is neither painful nor fatal to think. So think therefore. Well you think, now wait a minute. What is this all about? If Satan would have been given the power to create, or if he would have been able to achieve his goal. Okay? I will be like the most high. Right? You would no longer have a Trinity, you would have what? Quadrinity? Well, I don't know that doesn't make sense. But whatever. You'd have a quad, instead of three persons. Right? There would be no Trinity. Right? And so this whole issue over the authority of Jesus Christ, and when the Father called that meeting, Satan stood up before Him and verbally pointed his finger at God, not literally but verbally, and said I refuse to accept the authority of Christ over me. That would have broken up the Trinity right? And so They had to make a decision. Of course, Michael and His angels fought, and the dragon fought and so on and he was cast out of heaven. Right? Came down to this earth.
The whole issue of the great controversy has to do with who Jesus Christ is. Are you with me? His authority. You come to the New Testament. You know you can talk about Jesus Christ. Talks about Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord. You can accept Jesus Christ as your savior for the forgiveness of sin, but the real issue is what? Is He your Lord? Because as soon as you talk about Jesus Christ as Lord, you're talking about obedience. Accepting His authority over you and that is the bottom line of the last day issue. Right?
And so after Satan, of course, was thrown out of heaven, God went forward with His plan to create this earth. Why did the Father let Jesus create this earth? Could not the Father have created it? Could He have? Why let His son? Well, we say, well the Father used His Son to do it. Well, that's part of the answer, but in the bigger picture, because the Father said, “Son, I want you to do the creating, because it will be a statement to the universe, to Lucifer, alright, who You are. The creator.”
You know, as John says, “in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. All things were made by Him, without Him was not anything made that was made. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory as the glory of the only begotten of the father.” So what you’re talking about, is you're talking about the Sabbath, okay, as a symbol or sign of Christ's authority. Who He is. That is the issue in the last days. And as soon as you change days of worship, you are denying, rejecting, who Jesus Christ is. You are rejecting His lordship, His authority. Okay?
So it's not a question of a day. It's not a question of a number. It's a question, it's about Him. It's all about Him. It's not about a day. Not that the day is not important. That's not what I'm saying. But the issue is, it's all about Him.
And then when we look at the beginning, of course, the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve, and so on. Then we have sin come in. And after man sinned, he lost his freedom. Not just a matter of, well, I know Adam sinned, Adam and Eve sinned and okay, they passed their nature, their sinful nature, on to us,. Which is true. But literally, literally; and I want to say that again, literally we lost our freedom. Freedom of choice was gone.
Let me read to you a statement from Great Controversy, page 505. Genesis 3:15, you're acquainted with that text. God said, I will put enmity in you, a dislike of sin, I will put it in you. Because after sin it wasn't there. It was gone. This enmity is not naturally entertained. When man transgressed the divine law his nature became evil. He was in harmony, not at variance with Satan. There exists, naturally, no dislike of sin. No enmity between sinful man and the origin of sin. Had not God especially interposed, Satan and man would have entered into an alliance against heaven. Partnership. Against Christ. Are you with me? This human race was gone. And instead of cherishing enmity against Satan, the whole human family would have been united in opposition to God. Adam and Eve were not unwilling captives. They were not unwilling captives. They were willing captives. To whom you yield your selves to obey, his servants you are. To whom you yield yourself to obey. And they would've made an alliance.
Now what happened? The instant man sinned, Christ stepped between the living and the dead. Let the penalty fall on Me. Restore their freedom of choice. Put enmity in them. It's called the Divine implant. Put freedom of choice in them. The cost of that freedom is My life. Freedom is not free. Your freedom of choice is not free. It cost the life of the Son of God. And not to choose Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord is an insult to Him. It flies in the face of Calvary. Are you with me? Now I can put it in veteran language. Yes. There was no greater veteran, there will never be a greater veteran than Jesus Christ. Okay? Who paid the price that you and I may have freedom of choice. Freedom of conscience. Freedom to worship. And that's why we're here today on the Sabbath, because of what Sabbath stands for. But it's not about a day. It's not about a number seven. It's all about Him. That's what it's all about. Are you with me?
And so the question is, you know? Are you willing to die for your heavenly country? Are you willing to die to uphold the Constitution of God? The Big 10? Are you willing to die for your King? Yeah, that's the question. And then of course, we also have restoration in these texts you’re familiar with. I will create a new heaven and a new earth. Right? The former shall not be remembered or come into mind. No more sorrow, pain, sickness, death. First Corinthians, the 15th chapter gives us just a little clue of what is going on behind the scenes. First Corinthians, the 15th chapter and beginning with verse 24. First Corinthians 15, beginning with verse 24, "Then cometh the end when He, Jesus, shall have delivered up the kingdom to God the Father. After He hath put down all rule, all authority," would include Lucifer's authority. All authority. All power. And He must reign or be in charge til all enemies are put under His feet, and the battle is over totally. Although, the key battle was won, where? The turning battle was won at Calvary. And after He hath put all things under His feet of course, then He Himself, verse 28, shall be subject unto Him who put all things under Him. And that is God. So that God may be all in all. So Jesus Christ returns home. Victoriously. Okay? The veteran. The veteran of heaven. It's all about Him, and His authority. And the Trinity is together once more. To reign for ever and ever. Yeah?
And so the Sabbath will be kept. And as it says in Philippians the second chapter beginning with verse 11. And at the name of Jesus Christ what? Every knee should bow, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is what? Lord. See the issue? Do you see the issue? That He is Lord. The authority of Jesus Christ. That is the issue. And every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father. That's what veterans are all about. Not the glory to themselves. Right? To the glory of the Father.
And then of course, yes, we will keep the Sabbath. From one new moon to another. Yes. We will keep the Sabbath. Not only will we keep the Sabbath, but the Angels will keep the Sabbath. Why would Angels have to keep the Sabbath? I mean, if the Sabbath has to do just with this planet, and the seven-day cycle, why would Angels have to keep the Sabbath?
Well what did we say in the beginning? What is the issue? The issue is the authority of Jesus Christ. So if you want to look, you know, if you want to take down the reference. Early Writings 217. Even the angels will keep the Sabbath. Why? As a recognition of Jesus Christ. Acceptance of His authority. Who He is. What He has done. Okay? What He has accomplished. That's what it's all about. And so when you and I stand for the Sabbath, remember, it's not about a day, but what the day represents. It's all about Him. It's all about Him.
Yeah. We’ve no abiding city here. Sad truth were this to be our home. Right? We look forward to our new country, and we look forward to our new King. The one that we have chosen. The freedom to choose.
Let's bow our heads for prayer.
Father in heaven. Sometimes we don't see the big picture. That it's all about Him. And who He is, and His authority. That He is the Commander in Chief, the Commander of all the armies of heaven. He is our Lord and He is our King. And this morning on this Sabbath day, we bow our knee to Him, and all glory and honor and power be His, for ever and ever, amen.
Crown Him With Many Crowns. Let's turn to 223. Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne.
Hymn of Praise: #15, My Maker and My King Scripture: Revelation 5:11-13 Hymn of Response: #223, Crown Him With Many Crowns
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Sermon at McDonald Road transcribed by Steve Foster 11/27/07