AboutAnthony Expertise Can one know God and not keep His commandments? Let John answer (1Jn2:4). He that says, I know Him and keeps not His commandments (including the 4th) is a liar and the truth is not in him. Since Seventh-Day Adventists derive their teachings from the Holy Bible, I will answer questions on any Biblically related subject or topic and questions on distinct Adventist practice and doctrine. Remember Paul`s words that state in the last days there will be deceivers seeking to lead astray many, yet the sincere believer can take comfort in the Lord`s promise that anyone desiring to know His truth will know it. May the Lord bless you as you seek Him.
Experience I graduated from an Adventist University with a major in Behavioral Science and a minor in religion including an intermediate study of the Greek written language. I earned a master in religion from Liberty University a Baptist seminary. I have been a student of the Bible and of Biblical history for over 30 years.
Question QUESTION:
Were our first parents (Adam and Eve) omniscient? I don’t think so.
But that is the crucial question the Sabbath-keepers, who claim the Sabbath is a creation ordinance, have to answer. As far as I can tell from the Bible, the first human beings only followed what God told them to do or not to do, not what God was doing since, not being omniscient, they did not know what God was doing. So when God rested on the first Sabbath they did not rest because:
1. First, they did not know since God did not tell them He was resting (to claim they followed His example is to claim they were omniscient).
2. Secondly, God rested one day after creating the first human beings, so humans were only one day old and the Sabbath comes only after six days of work.
There goes Sabbath-keepers’ last supporting pillar up in smoke!
placido
ANSWER: Dear Placido, as even a novice student of Scripture knows, Only God is omniscient. As for Adam and Eve knowing God’s will, Scripture alludes to the fact that God’s law was written in their hearts. Much like what again happens with the new covenant experience. Oh, but then again you are confused with that issue too. I did not even wish to respond to your first question because I already knew that even if an angel of God came to present you with His commandments you would still find objection. The only reason I wrote you again is because God impressed me to. I know that you are not sincere in your search for truth because God promises that anyone (yes, even you) who wishes to know the truth then that truth will be revealed to them. Now you do a lot of surmising but it all amounts to human reasoning and no Scriptural support. I’ve given you many Scriptures supporting the 4th commandment yet you had no response. You just wish to follow cunningly devised fables. I asked you to supply just one Bible verse to support your Sunday idea yet again you could not respond. If you are looking for someone to scratch your itching ears then send you questions to Sal because he is more than willing to scratch away. You see Placido, if I don’t tell it like it is then not only do I do God a disservice, but I also do you a disservice. Remember “4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
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QUESTION: You said you did not feel like responding to my question until God “impressed” you to respond. I just hope you are not trying to say I must hold God responsible for any shortcomings in your response. My last question was about the so called Creation Ordinance. Instead of answering my question (as God impressed you to do), you accused me of not being “sincere” and of “a lot of surmising” that “amounts to human reasoning”. You have just demonstrated that there is nothing in Genesis that you can lean on regarding the so called Creation Ordinance. That is why you jumped to Hebrews 4 to prove what was supposed to be in Genesis. So, my question remains unanswered: was the Sabbath a Creation Ordinance or not?
I hope God shall impress you again, this time to answer the question, but before then, let’s think a little bit about this so-called Creation Ordinance.
The inspired writer of Genesis gave us minute details, including what fruits to eat, yet he apparently forgot to mention this very important Creation Ordinance.
If the Sabbath was an ordinance (“an authoritative rule”, “an authoritative command”, “an authoritative order”) given to humanity at creation, why was it not made known at creation? How is it possible to give an authoritative command without making it known? If it was written on man’s heart (as you allege), why was it unknown before Sinai (Nehemiah 9:14)?
Brother Anthony, instead of trying to cover-up for false teachers/prophets, why not simply do the most Christian thing: be honest with yourself and admit this Biblical truth.
Placido
PS: I know that when you said "I’ve given you many Scriptures supporting the 4th commandment yet you had no response” you had someone else in mind – not me. You never asked me “to supply just one Bible verse to support your Sunday idea”. I never ever mentioned Sunday here because I firmly believe that Christians have to worship God every day, not once a week.
Answer The Sabbath along with the 10 commandments were know to the human race since day one and not made known at Sinai. Notice that God said of Abraham, well before Sinai “Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my COMMANDMENTS, my statutes, and my LAWS. “ As for Nehemiah 9:14 “And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant” that you quoted here is what the verse really means. The Sabbath along with most of the other commands and statues had been forgotten by Israel while in Egyptian bondage. Compare the similar wording in Ezekiel 20:5 “And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, AND MADE MYSELF KNOWN UNTO THEM in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;” Does this mean that God did not exist before He “MADE HIMSELF KNOW IN THE LAND OF EGYPT?” Certainly not. Similarly, because He made the Sabbath known (again) does not mean it never existed before. Now go and apply your human reasoning and dispute with God’s word. The Sabbath existed at creation and will continue for all eternity into the earth made new with or without you. 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another (every 30 days), and FROM ONE SABBATH TO ANOTHER, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
