| A
Conversation with a Seventh-day Adventist |
||
| Date:
Wed, 25 Jun 1997 09:57:50 -0400 (EDT) From: Rolaant McKenzie To: SDA Subject: Re: EGW Question On Wed, 25 Jun 1997, SDA wrote: > Rolaant, > > > Why does EGW say that the Sabbath is the seal of God when the Bible > > indicates that the Holy Spirit is? > > I appreciate you mentioning several important Bible verses on the seal > of God. The Holy Spirit seals Christians--there is no doubt about it. > There is, however, a lot of Biblical evidence regarding the seal which > you did not mention. Are you willing to look at the entire body of > evidence on what the "seal of God" is? > > * As you noted, the Holy Spirit is the sealing agent (Eph. 1:13; 4:30; 2 > Cor. 1:22; 5:5) > > * In the OT the high priest wore a mitre, and over his forehead was an > inscription reading "Holiness to the Lord" (Ex. 39:30). Hmm... Doesn't say the Sabbath is the seal. > * Josephus writes that upon the priest's diadem "was engraven the sacred > name." Johsphus 5:5:7 Still doesn't indicate the Sabbath is the seal. > * The seal contains the name of the Lamb and the name of the Father. > (Rev. 14:1; 22:4). Doesn't say the Sabbath is the seal. > * Paul indicates the seal of God is "Let every one that nameth the name > of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Tim. 2:19). But Paul doesn't say the Sabbath is the seal. > * Those sealed are said to be "blameless" (Rev. 14:5). This is from the > Greek word "amomos" which means "without fault inwardly and outwardly." But it doesn't say keeping the Sabbath makes one blameless or is the seal of God. > * Yahweh spoke through Isaiah saying, "Bind up the testimony, SEAL the > law among my disciples." Is. 8:16 But it still doesn't say the Sabbath is the seal. > A close examination of this evidence will reveal that the seal of God > entails holiness, blamelessness, and a departing from iniquity. > Obedience to God's law, including the Sabbath, is the fruit of a life > wherein the Holy Spirit rules and reigns, bringing every thought into > obedience to Christ. And that is why the seal is the Holy Spirit rather than the Sabbath. EGW said the seal of God was the Sabbath. She was wrong. > > Why do the words of EGW contradict the Bible on this issue? > > They don't contradict the Bible, Rolaant. They contradict your > interpretation of the Bible. To get a fuller picture of what EGW wrote > concerning the "Seal of God" and the Holy Spirit, take a look at the > following quotes: EGW made plain statements regarding what the seal of God is. The Bible plainly describes what the seal of God is. EGW's definition and the Bible's definition contradict. So I either I have take EGW's definition over the Bible's, or accept what the Bible says. I choose the latter. > "As the wax takes the impression of the seal, so the soul is to take the > impression of the Spirit of God, and retain the moral image of Christ. > We are to become partakers of the divine nature, realizing in our > experience the vigor and perfection of spiritual life." RH 11-1-1892 > > "The work of the Holy Spirit is to convince the world of sin, of > righteousness and of judgment. The world can only be warned by seeing > those who believe the truth sanctified through the truth, acting upon > high and holy principles, showing in a high, elevated sense, the line of > demarcation between those who keep the commandments of God, and those > who trample them under their feet. The sanctification of the Spirit > signalizes the difference between those who have the seal of God, and > those who keep a spurious rest-day." BT 12-1-1903 But SDA, in this second quote she makes Sabbathkeeping a requirement for those who get the seal of God. Scripture does not teach this. This also does not change the fact that she also said the words below: The sign, or seal, of God is revealed in the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, the Lord's memorial of creation" Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 117 "...Too late they see that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the seal of the living God" The Great Controversy, p. 640 When EGW calls the Sabbath the seal of God, she contradicts the Scriptural teaching that the Holy Spirit is the seal of God. May God bless your study. ______________________________________________________________________________ Rolaant McKenzie SDA: "Why do you keep only 9 of the commandments, disregarding the Sabbath? Can you show me one text in the Bible where God changed the Sabbath to Sunday?" Christian: "I 'keep' the commandments, thank you, not just ten. Can you show me one text in the Bible where Gentile Christians are required to keep the Sabbath?" |
||
| Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | ||
|