Sabbath: The New-Covenant Life
Image © Pacific Press
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: 1 John 1:4; John 5:24; Romans 3:24-25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 4:16; Revelation 2:11; Revelation 20:6, Revelation 20:14; Revelation 21:8.
Memory Verse: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
This quarter has been a study on the covenant, which (to pare it down to its simplest, purest form) is, basically, God saying, This is how I will save you from sin, period.
Though the outcome, the grand finale of the covenant promise, is, of course, eternal life in a world made new, we do not have to wait for it to enjoy the covenant blessings today. The Lord cares about our lives now; He wants the best for us now. The covenant is not some deal where you do this and this and this and then, a long way off, you will get your reward. The rewards, the gifts — they are blessings that those who by faith enter into the covenant relation can enjoy here and now.
This week’s lesson, the final in our series on the covenant, looks at some of these immediate blessings, some of the promises that come from God’s grace shed into our hearts because, having heard Him knock, we have opened the door. Of course, there are more blessings than what we can touch on this week. But it is just a start, a start of something that will, indeed, never end.
The Week at a Glance: Why should we feel joy? On what basis can we claim that promise? What is it about the covenant that should free us from the burden of guilt? What does it mean to have a new heart?
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, June 26.
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When I go on my bird photography expeditions one of the last thoughts on my mind is taking fancy clothes. A few pairs of jeans, enough T-shirts to last between laundry opportunities, a couple of pairs of boots that I can walk through swamps with a chance of keeping my feet dry. Sometimes we find ourselves on a weekend in a town where there is a Seventh-day Adventist Church. And I always like to join the congregation in my cleanest T-shirt and least dirty pair of jeans. I remember I went to one church where the welcome was a bit thin. And the sermon comprised of readings from Ellen White about the sanctity of God's house. Sideways glances were made at the pair sitting there in T-shirts and jeans and it was clear that we had breached protocol and broken a few commandments. I suggested to Carmel that maybe we should tell them that we were from another denomination and thinking of converting, just to see if that would make a difference. She thought that would have been a bit naughty and so we left after the service as quietly as we came.
The problem was that this church was caught up with law and protocol and had lost the joy of living and sharing the Gospel. To them Sabbath-keeping was about wearing suits and not talking in church even to the extent of not welcoming visitors in the church because it might break the sanctity of the sanctuary. It was a sombre and unwelcoming experience.
I hope that this week we can share some of the joy of living a saved life. Jesus said:
That's not sombre law-keeping; it has a sense of shareable joy about it!
Maurice, I can relate, with some amusement, to the situation into which you fell with that congregation while wearing what I'm certain was a very nice t-shirt. When the Testimonies are esteemed above the principle of God's law(love) people can become very oppressive of their own brethren. This is not the fault of the Testimonies, which are too often misunderstood and misapplied.
Concerning the greetings within the place of worship, we do have very direct and specific counsel, which some may interpret in a more extreme manner than is justified, but either way, this does not eliminate greetings before and after the service. I have been where "happy Sabbath!" greeting were encouraged during the worship service which have become pure bedlam, with loud voices, joking, laughing, etc. Some have experienced difficulty finding the proper balance of kindness, courtesy, and propriety. Depends on where one has been and what example they have to follow. We have not been too careful on these matters, which began to deteriorate rapidly somewhere in the late 70s - early 80s if I recall. I have been where some insisted that everyone kneel for EVERY prayer, including the table blessing. Indeed, some have really struggled to find their way to obeying the will of God in some matters, and one must often exhibit what Paul counsels in Eph 4:2,3. This is always our best response no matter which side of the issue we find ourselves.
Perhaps a t-shirt that is printed to look like a tuxedo next time? 😉
Hi Maurice, thanks for making me laugh at your story! I totally understand and agree with what you are saying. I was just telling my Sabbath school class this past Sabbath, “before we judge the children of Israel in the Old and New Testament, we need to look at ourselves as well because we are not that much different”.
I also told them to Do Not miss the point of what this quarter has been all about, God’s Promise, His Everlasting Covenant. The children of Israel, as a people sure did miss the point, but there were a few that did get the message. The point is, from the beginning, and especially after the fall, God’s desire above all else is to commune with us, to restore and reconcile us back to Him, back to the original love relationship, or communion, that He had with Adam; this is the entire meaning of the covenant.
Then the Lord instructed Moses to “Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them" (Exodus 25:8), they missed that too point, that God Himself wanted to be with us, sinful, ungrateful us, but He still wanted to dwell among us. Here’s the problem: As I said before, God desires above all else to commune with us; but We do not desire, above all else, to commune with God. Many of us want a Santa Claus relationship with God, and the rest of us that says we desire to have a love relationship with God, to commune with God, desire that as long as it doesn’t interfere with our other relationships, such as our jobs or careers, our families and friends, or just plain old doesn’t interfere with what “I“ want to do.
I’m sorry if I’m not talking about “joy” today, but I hope someone get something out of what I’ve written today. We are like the Jews during Jesus earthly ministry, who thought that they were so privileged to be called God’s people that they didn’t want to mingle with anyone else; everyone else was unclean or had some kind of defilement. Are we, as God’s remanent church, like that? What “JOY” would be all around us, in our home, in our churches, and in our communities, if we only desired to serve God and his lost sheep? I do remember that is what Jesus’ last commission to Peter and to all of us, was all about, see John 21: 15-17 and Matthew 28: 18-20. Also, Love and Joy goes hand and hand, as the singer Al Green (now Pastor Al Green), says in his famous song, “Love and Happiness”.
God’s blessings to you all!
He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die. Psm 19:16
The New-Covenant Life
Bro Maurice I would like to know where the suit and tie and formal dressing came from? Many are so rapped up in the dressing that the essence of the gospel and sabbath had been erased from their minds. Not saying you should go to church naked. It is the same reasoning that many holds, i.e non should go to church in bright colors. Many are so concern about the outward than the inward. Paul speaks about our adorning. As we grow in Christ, the Holy Spirit shall make all things clear to us. I can write many more but this for now.
'The covenant is not some deal where you do this and this and this and then, a long way off, you will get your reward. The rewards, the gifts — they are blessings that those who by faith enter into the covenant relation can enjoy here and now.'
This is what I was saying all the time. Jesus wants us to enjoy this covenant life now, in the present. Everlasting life begins now and cont, it is now and not something to look forward in the future. Many do not believe that is why their Christian lives are so miserable then they fall away from Christ. So grew jealous of others who possessed this type of life and show it out in many ways- e.g by testimonies. Christians should be the happiest people on earth. Calling each other, checking up on each other and encouraging each other. When last did someone/two check on you, or did you checked on someone/two.
My New Life, just for the fact that it is God’s gift of life for me, is the greatest blessing all by itself. It is our Faith that keeps us living this new life as citizens of the kingdom of God. This is what makes living the New Covenant Life so special - it provides the foundation for our life.
No matter where I live, under what type of government I live or who the people are that I live among, I am always at home in the Kingdom of my heavenly Father. My conduct remains the same whether I live in the North, South, East or West of this world, I will always live in the Kingdom of God.
To me, this is the true blessing of the New-Covenant Life.
In a way we have already moved away from this earthly home when we became the citizens of our Father's home as we live our lives in fellowship and friendship with other faithful believers. Yes, we want to see our dreams and aspirations fulfilled, but, ultimately, whatever the Father's plan is for our life, we know that we are in His capable, loving hands.
“Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” is one of the blessings Paul wrote about to the church in Rome. Isaiah, centuries before wrote: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, who's mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in thee”. Jesus spoke of giving His peace to those who believe in Him. Of all the benefits we receive from making a covenant with God, peace seems to be prominent as one of the immediate blessings we may receive from the new covenant life today.