Wednesday, November 07, 2018

More on Seventh-day Adventism

Monty Python, like, Finney

I watched the video below once again, a couple of times.

First review: November 27, 2017

Edited from first entry with new material:

In contrast to a Sabbatarian view, I would note, the Apostle Paul writes against the Judaizers (In Galatians in particular).

Hebrews 8: forward discusses that there is a new covenant.

Sabbatarians will disagree with the dismal of this core doctrine of theirs, but the Apostle Paul appears to support Christian Liberty on the matter:

Colossians 2:16-17 is devastating to a Sabbatarian theology:

Colossians 2:16-17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

16 Therefore no one is to [a]act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath [b]day— 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the [c]substance [d]belongs to Christ.

Footnotes: Colossians 2:16 Lit judge you Colossians 2:16 Or days Colossians 2:17 Lit body Colossians 2:17 Lit of Christ

The Sabbatarian argument that it is not the Hebrew Bible 'Sabbath' being discussed in Colossians seems a desperate one. I do not think that in light of Judaizers, Paul would make such a comment unless it had a clear meaning of Sabbath day. Based on Wright's commentary I would reason that the Hebrew Bible literal Sabbath day was an aspect of the shadow of the things to come in Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 13: 10). Wright (118-119).

In a reasonable New Testament theology, the spirit of the Sabbath is followed on Sunday, the Lord's Day, resurrection day.

Romans 14: 5 is also not helpful for a Sabbatarian position:

5 One person [c]regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, [d]does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. 7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Mr. Gore explains that Seventh-day Adventism uses hyper-speculation with eschatological theology although he stated that they were Christian believers. This would be debated within the Church. A major concern I have with this movement is the elevation of what should be a secondary issue, the Sabbath, to the level of a primary issue, in regards to salvation. According to Mr. Gore, orthodox SDA views would exclude non-Sabbatarians from the Kingdom of God. This is serious error and cultic theology.

Stating that one must follow the Hebrew Bible, Sabbath and not the Lord's Day, to be saved through Jesus Christ is biblical and New Testament heresy.

To claim those that worship on Sunday, have the mark of the beast, is also heresy.

It is a heretical replacement for the biblical theology of being justified and saved by grace through faith, alone, for good works and not by good works, by Jesus Christ's applied atoning and resurrection work for believers (Romans, Ephesians, Galatians), with instead a heretical form of works righteousness. I am not denying that some Adventists do hold to some key gospel essentials and doctrines.

PAILIN, D.A. (1999) Enlightenment, in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Limited.

WRIGHT, N. T. (1986)(1989) Colossians and Philemon, Grand Rapids, IVP/Eerdmans.