The Sabbath

[Chomsky]

The Old Testament tells Israel how to keep the Sabbath, including what to do and what not to do. However, I think most, if not all, Adventists, agree that it is impossible to keep the Sabbath as described in the Old Testament.

Why are there no guidelines on how to keep the Sabbath in the New Testament, considering Paul's clarification on other Jewish traditions, such as circumcision and diet?

 

[Chief]

Could it be that the Sabbath ordinance was never an issue during the new testament time? Could it be that everyone agreed on the Sabbath and therefore there was no need to emphasize its ordinance?

 

[Chomsky]

I do not believe that could be the case, especially because the law was not given to the Gentiles. It was specifically given to the Jews, and that is why there was an issue between Paul and Peter regarding how non-Jews should approach the Law.
If we assume that there was no issue with the Sabbath during the New Testament time, it would imply that the only issue the Gentiles did not have an issue with the Sabbath, but apparently had issues with other things that Paul talked about, including basics such as fornication, adultery, lying, alcoholism, and a plethora of other problems.
It has also occurred to me that the Jews themselves had an issue with the Sabbath, which is why they confronted Jesus regarding the same.
I would think that, based on this, Paul would have talked about the Sabbath, like he did on many other basic issues, such as dress.
It is also key to note that apart from the 4th commandment regarding the Sabbath, Paul mentioned all the other nine in his letters, although not verbatim.

 

[Grunion]

Are there any other ceremonial feasts the Seventh-day Adventists observe in addition to the Sabbath?

 

[rob]

The Lord's Ordinance and Foot Washing are ceremonial feasts. We also by tradition observe Camp Meetings,
which are simile of the Feast of Tabernacles, but much of this observance is reduced to formality and thus not what the feast keeping was originally designed for by God.

Chomsky said "However, I think most, if not all, Adventists, agree that it is impossible to keep the Sabbath as described in the Old Testament."

Rob" I doubt that. The Sabbath "ceasing day" is a part of the faith principles in the Ten Commandments, so observing the faith principle is by asking God through faith. And a Divine Power flows, what is impossible in asking for Divine help?

The problem is we assume we do things using human power, which is a myth and something that means nothing to the Lord.

Imagine if God ceased to empower biological decisions for a few seconds, but empowered biological creatures to remain living; and Satan was also no allowed to automatically empower "Self" powers into the human like He does, could the humans steeped into doing things dysfunctionally, continue to do things, as a biological agent? The answer is no.

Once the human agent's nature wishes to sin dysfunctionally, the human agent cannot with a provider of some sort providing.
This is the reason why the Devil is termed a "provider" : (I translate the verse with Hebrew intent)

Joh 8:44 Ye are of your "provider" the devil, and the lusts of your "provider" ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the "provider" of it.

And confirmation from our prophet my findings are correct?

Guard carefully your own heart, lest you become selfish and covetous, and you weave into the web the threads that Satan provides, threads of the same kind as those that form the texture of his own character. . {Ms 50, 1903, par. 8}

So asking God for Divine Help, even on Sabbath, is easy. Ask and it shall be given you the Bible says.

Shalom

 

[rob]

I will concur with what the Chief said, Here is the Bible verses that support Chief statements.

Ac 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

The NT verses tell us the Sabbath was a common event in NT times, both Jews and Gentiles and also Jewish Gentiles attended synagogues on Sabbath, as Paul also attended them.

Shalom

 

[Chief]

Are there any other ceremonial feasts the Seventh-day Adventists observe in addition to the Sabbath?

If you put it that way, I'd say the Sabbath commemorates creation, which is a 6-day event culminating on a seventh day Sabbath. This is important because it establishes God as the creator and the only one to be worshipped (Revelation 14:7) - leaving no room for evolution theory.

The ceremonial feats I am aware of are feasts of booths, feasts of weeks, and feasts of unleavened bread (Deuteronomy 16:16)

 

[rob]

Like your reply CHief

SDA Dr Norman Gulley speaks of Sabbath in Genesis and Exodus as two memorials

Genesis :creation:
Exodus :redemption:

A third Sabbath theme will also be remembered

Isa 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

"Jesus-YHWH the restorer of all things shalom.