Call Us: 423 661-4734 | Email: requests@comeandreason.com      
Sabbath: Why Saturday and What Makes It Holy?

Sabbath: Why Saturday and What Makes It Holy?

I wanted to know if you had much info or guidance to any resources that speak to the significance of Sabbath being on the 7th day.

Obviously 7 is a design template that God founded the world upon, but I guess more of what I’m getting at is what is the significance of Saturday, the original 7th day Sabbath versus keeping Sunday every 7 days. Because even though the majority of the “Christian” world does not keep a Sabbath(and that includes SDA’s) some do and I’m not convinced, that outside of the fact that Sunday has the history of being a mandated day of worship, that I have a satisfactory answer as to why one should keep Saturday instead of Sunday. I don’t buy into the whole “because God sanctified it” argument, because I believe what sanctifies Sabbath is the concepts and characteristics of God that it has been imbued with, it is not a mystical day that has more power than another day. Thoughts, resources, and/or links would be appreciated.

Thanks, T


You have articulated many of the elements very well but may have overlooked the significance. Remember the context of when the Sabbath was made, God was being attacked, politically, His reputation and character. Lucifer in heaven had begun his “war” but the Bible tells us this cosmic war is not with might and power but with words, ideas, and concepts (2Cor 10:3-5). Revelation says there was “war in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back” (12:7). The Greek word translated “war” is “polemos” from which we get “politics.” Satan, being the father of lies, lied about God in heaven and caused great confusion in the minds of intelligent beings throughout the universe in regard to God.

The “court” of universal opinion in regard to God’s trustworthiness was seated and God, rather than merely “claiming” His rightness, rather than merely “declaring” the truth, did more; He gave evidence. God began to create Earth and this solar system. A new kind of creation, a microcosm of the universe, with a new kind of intelligent being, mankind, made in the image of God and given God-like abilities of procreation and dominion to rule (1Cor 4:9). Man was to reveal the truth about God by ruling the earth in perfect love and having children in a perfect world.

Mankind itself is evidence, but God’s creation week didn’t end there. After this immense display of power, creating earth, the planets of our solar system, the sun and all life on earth, God did something amazing. He created the weekly Sabbath. He presented the truth about Himself in love and then created the Sabbath, resting, resting His case before the universe, leaving all beings free to make up their own minds – about Him!

You have articulated correctly that the elements of truth, love, and freedom associated with the Sabbath are what make it holy as these are the principles of God’s character. But don’t forget the importance of evidence. If you have a murder, by a pistol, and you have seven identical pistols, but only one was used in the murder, which one is entered into evidence? Only the one used to commit the murder. So only the Sabbath can be entered into evidence for God’s character of love – and why?

Because Day One of creation week revealed what about God? That he has power,  And Days Two through Six? That he has power. Only Day Seven, the Sabbath, reveals the character of the One who wields the power. So, if God were like Satan alleges, there would be no Sabbath, but because God is not on a power-trip, inflexible, afraid of His free-thinking creatures, and instead is like Jesus, the weekly Sabbath exists and every week the very existence of the Sabbath is “proof” that God is not like Satan alleged, that God can be trusted with all power.

What a wonderful blessing the weekly Sabbath is! Rightly understood, it stands as a shining light, every week, declaring the truth about our all powerful God – that He is equally gracious and loving and trustworthy will all power. It declares that God respects the freedom and individuality of His intelligent creatures and would never use His power to “force” beings to conform. It declares that our all powerful God genuinely wants His intelligent creatures to be free, and in their freedom, understand Him and freely choose loyalty and love for Him! And genuine Sabbath observance is each week celebrating the God who is exactly as Jesus revealed Him to be, each week taking time apart to remember the truth about God’s character of love and then practicing that truth in our lives. Sabbath-keepers not only worship on the day which proves our God is as Jesus revealed, but live lives in which they present the truth in love and leave others free.

This is why Satan hates the weekly Sabbath and wants to get people to forget it. He wants people to forget God’s character of love, the principle of truth, and the practice of freedom. And those who forget the Sabbath, and all it represents about God’s character, will be part of the “beast” system which uses coercion and force, “no one can buy or sell save him who has the mark of the beast” (Rev 13:17). This is Satan’s method, to coerce, force and use power to impose his way.

The Jews in Christ’s day knew which day of the week was the Sabbath, but they forgot the meaning and significance and failed to incorporate the principles of God into their hearts, and sadly they killed the Lord of the Sabbath. This is the inevitable result of believing Satan’s lies about God. Satan knows his lies about God will be destroyed by the truth and thus he hates the Sabbath, because the Sabbath is proof of God’s goodness and love. This why God has asked us to “Remember the Sabbath,” so that we will hear God every week saying, “Remember I love you. Remember I am not as Satan has alleged. Remember I will not coerce you or inflict arbitrary penalties upon you. Remember, with me you are truly free – please, won’t you Remember, Remember me?”

Email me the blog whenever a new one is published.

Donate online, securely via PayPal using your credit or debit card (no PayPal account needed, unless you want to set up a monthly, recurring payment).


cancel recurring payment

 

Want to use zelle instead?
See how on our
Support and Donations page.

Upcoming Events

calendar

Testimonial Post Slider

Testimony 71

When I was 9 years old, I remember setting at our devotional table with a hunger and thirst for God that wanted more, deeper, BETTER. I can remember literally crying and pounding on the table, “I know these teachers didn’t mean to give us error. They taught what THEY had been TAUGHT, but didn’t ANYBODY READ THE BOOK?!?!?” It mattered to me then. It mattered to me as a teenager. It matters now as I teach bible classes. It didn’t have to be so hard as I watched so many give up and lay God’s great plan and gift of salvation aside as being “impossible.” Then, a friend sent me a link to Come And Reason’s website. I grew excited. YES! FINALLY! Then another friend told me to stay away, saying her son had just broken up with a girl because she was involved with Come And Reason and that “Tim Jennings preaches a false gospel.” But, AFTER many years of developing an authentic and, dare I say FUN relationship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit I see this message has been around a LONG time, since the apostle Paul, Ellen White, Graham Maxwell, Ray Foucher, and yourself (though I admit, you’ve made me back up, rewind and replay the clips, and get out my well-worn Bible on a few things.) I’m so thankful I have found LIGHT during these DARK days. I am not alone.

Vicki DiNitto

Testimony 23

I would just like to add my voice to the many people who, I believe, must have contacted you to express their appreciation for the “Healing the Mind” DVDs. I’ve been listening to your Bible study class discussions for many years and I’ve been personally blessed by your research and teaching about the character of God.

L. G., Oakland, MI, USA

 

Testimony 29

Thank you for all of your work to correct misconceptions about God’s character. So many people that my husband and I have talked to seem to be against the natural law construct and view it as “errant” and “dangerous.” Having learned more about it through your blogs and lessons, I don’t really understand why they view it that way, except that it means they have to relearn theology they have known for their entire lives. But I’m so excited to relearn this. For the past few years I have been questioning how I could trust a God who punishes arbitrarily and is full of wrath for those who don’t obey His commands. That view made me afraid to “mess up” or “not be good enough,” even within my relationship with God. I really appreciated the point you bring out about God not wanting us to serve Him because we are afraid, but because we love Him.

Melissa H., IN, USA

 

Testimony 6

I got the book “Could It Be This Simple?” a few months ago and the reading was wonderful and I was fascinated. I lent the book to a friend at work. She is having a difficult time and the book is helping her to find Jesus and I found this very exciting. She has asked me questions and I can see her life changing.

H. S., Australia

 

Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA

 

Testimony 3

My husband is a pastor and I listen to your lesson almost every week. Thank you for helping me in my study life and to help me love the “real” God more.

C. F., NC, USA

 

Testimony 57

You have helped make sense of thirty two years of confusion. The material you freely provide reorganized so much of my life into such a beautiful pattern that has always been hinted at from within, but misguided with my training and what I was experiencing externally. My filipno parents, who were converted from Catholicism to SDA, were sincere and did their best to raise me the right way and I have deep respect for them. However, being immigrants and not understanding the language made for a difficult transition as I was growing up, which also applied to my spiritual growth as I learned the patterns of religion. I have been listening to as many bible study classes and reading blog posts as my time in a work truck will allow, searching for the practical applications of where spirituality and reality meet, and I thank you for helping me find that. You have helped me reach a point in which I can truly say that I love God, that I believe He loves me, and, like David, I delight in His law. God bless.

Emmanuel V., Calgary, AB Canada

Testimony 60

Just watched watched lesson 10 in the 1st quarter 2021 bible study classs on Isaiah. I want to thank you for your intellectual spirituality; it’s not an oxymoron! From the point of view of a teacher I also enjoy seeing how much personal pleasure you clearly take in not just tasting, but feasting on God’s word – it reminds me of Jeremiah not being able to hold it in! It makes me smile that your cup is so full and overflowing that you make it to Tuesday’s lesson (on a good day). It just goes to show the richness of God’s Word.

God bless the Come and Reason Team from our church here in Great Britain.

Andrew H., Great Britain

 

Testimony 50

After coming into contact with Come And Reason Ministries, I can finally say that many of my unanswered questions have fallen into place. I discovered that my view of God’s Law was “imposed laws and rules” with “imposed punishments” and that this was the major culprit of my many unanswered questions. Thanks be to God for using you and those around you to help us who have struggled with this “infection” of thought. I have now rejected the “imposed law” concept to fully embrace “Design Law”… to look thru “Design Law,” instead of “imposed law,” is a relief.

Viliami L., Australia

 

Testimony 16

Your seminars are still inspiring and changing our lives and we continue to share the principles we have learned from you. Your ministry has changed our lives!

E.W.

 

Testimony 35

I am so pleased with the response your message is receiving at my church from the middle-aged to the young adults. I have given out 100 copies of the first two seminars and there are more request every week. One of my [class members] came to me after viewing the series, grateful and impressed with how easy the message was retained. He had been a Seventh-day Adventist in fear all his life, and felt like the scales were removed from his eyes after viewing the seminars. I am so impressed by the change I see in members who have received this message, we are in one accord. However, I am sadden by the negative response of the older people. I am verbally attacked anytime I talk about imposed laws, but I believe my mission is to enlightened everyone I can. I watch your Bible Study Class on YouTube every Friday night and I feel like I am apart of the class. All of you are in one accord and I am so blessed to have found you. I pray that all of you continue to spread this message and I am committed to doing my part.

Clara S., Westfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 54

I had a lot of pressure, as a pastor’s kid, to conform and be “good.” I was good at being “good.” I thought my life was going along well until it all started falling apart and I could not figure out why! In my search for “why is this happening to me, God?” I came across your book, “Could it be this Simple,” and God started revealing to me the many distortions I held about His character, His principles, and how He has designed His universe to operate. I remember thinking, “Wow, I have had this all backwards.” I was happy and angry all at the same time. Happy to have the light of truth break through the darkness, revealing a wonderful, beautiful way of understanding God and His plan for His children, and angry, because I felt deceived and cheated by the church, my family, and myself!

My heart thrills when I listen to your bible study lessons. Literally I have gone from death to life. It is a journey I look forward to every day, as God reveals areas this distortion affects. Praise GOD! I will ever be grateful to God for this ministry and your cooperation with the Spirit!

Karen S., Portal, AZ, USA

 

Testimony 37

Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

I can tell you that this new, “present truth” message is far grander and life-changing than when I shifted from being an agnostic and then a nominal Christian. It has radically altered my worldview, because it reveals a God that makes sense. It is a revolution. I believe that Dr. Jennings’ message is the final message that must go to the world. If any message could be called “righteousness by faith,” as abused as that term is by the right and the left, this is that message, because Jennings’ biblical message identifies a God who is different, whose character isn’t an impossible contradiction.

I walk this path now without fear. I see people differently, and the Holy Spirit burns in my heart. Many call Dr. Jennings’ message false and compromising, but it isn’t false, because I’ve seen the fruits within my mind and body. It is not compromising, because in this message is the only road to holiness that makes any sense. No longer do I behold a pagan god who is always angry and suspicious. Instead, I behold a God who is freeing and loving, always working for our good, and giving me every reason to love my enemy even to my own death, just as Jesus pleads with us. God is good.

Anthony L., CA, USA

 

Testimony 1

Thank you! I love listening to the Come And Reason Ministries Bible study classes and am using some of your notes to get the lessons together that I will be teaching. You always have such good quotes and Bible texts and pull things together to make good sense.

T. C., IN, USA

 

Testimony 14

We really appreciate your views on the judgment and they make good sense considering our free choice.

Anonymous