Further Thought:

It is very significant that Paul in Hebrews used the Sabbath rest, and not Sunday, as a symbol of the salvation through grace that God offers us. The use of Sabbath rest in this way implies that Sabbath was cherished and observed by believers. From the second century A.D. forward, however, we find evidences of a decisive change in the church.

Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com

Sabbath observance ceased to be considered a symbol of salvation and was, instead, considered a symbol of allegiance to Judaism and the old covenant, one that had to be avoided. To keep the Sabbath became the equivalent of to “Judaize.” For example, Ignatius of Antioch (around A.D. 110) remarked: “Those who lived according to the old order have found the new hope. They no longer observe the Sabbath but the day of the Lord — the day our life was resurrected with Christ.” — Jacques B. Doukhan, Israel and the Church: Two Voices for the Same God (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2002), p. 42. Similarly, Marcion ordered his followers to fast on Sabbath as a sign of rejection of the Jews and their God, and Victorinus did not want to appear that he “observed the Sabbath of the Jews” (See Israel and the Church, pages 41-45). It was the loss of the understanding of Sabbath observance as a symbol of salvation by grace that led to its demise in the Christian church.

“The Sabbath is a sign of Christ’s power to make us holy. And it is given to all whom Christ makes holy. As a sign of His sanctifying power, the Sabbath is given to all who through Christ become a part of the Israel of God. …

The Sabbath points them to the works of creation as an evidence of His mighty power in redemption. While it calls to mind the lost peace of Eden, it tells of peace restored through the Saviour. And every object in nature repeats His invitation, ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.’ Matthew 11:28.” — Ellen G. White,  The Desire of Ages, pages 288, 289.

Discussion Questions:

<–Thursday

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Key Thought: Hebrews describes a rest that belongs to God and also is a Sabbath rest. True Sabbath rest offers us a foretaste of the future God has promised.
January 29, 2022

1. Have a volunteer read Exodus 20:8-11.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What two things does the Sabbath rest commemorate, and how are they related?
3. Personal Application: How should keeping the Sabbath help us understand our complete dependence upon God, not only for existence but also for salvation? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “What’s the difference between entering into Sabbath rest and a legalistic keeping of the Sabbath? Is one based on rules and the other with no rules or guidelines? Is it the reasons for keeping the Sabbath and the frame of mind?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 3:12-19.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Why was Israel unable to enter into the promised rest?
3. Personal Application: In what ways can you help build the faith of fellow believers? How can you make sure that you never say or do anything that could weaken another’s faith? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Since the rest that the Israelites didn’t enter into was faith in Christ, doesn’t that supercede keeping the weekly Sabbath, since Jesus is our rest?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 4:1,3,5,10..

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. How does God characterize the rest He invites us to enter?
3. Personal Application: How can we enter into His rest even now? How can we rest in the assurance of salvation we have in Christ, and not in ourselves? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “If entering into God’s rest is not related to Sabbath-keeping, then how are we to rest? How are we to stop working to rest in Christ? Resting in Jesus without any reference to the Sabbath of the Ten Commandments seems like antinomialism.” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 4:8-11.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How is resting on the Sabbath an expression of salvation by grace?
3. Personal Application: What is the relationship between Sabbath observance and justification by faith? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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