AS GOD by C. Castberg

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 6, 1900

“AS GOD.”

By C. Castberg

C. CASTBERG.

The fourth chapter of Hebrews furnishes, to my mind, one of the strongest arguments in regard to the obligation of Christians to keep the seventh-day Sabbath.

A close perusal of this and the preceding chapter will reveal the fact that Paul speaks of two rests. After reviewing the history of ancient Israel, and showing that their unfaithfulness, their lack of faith, frustrated the plans of God respecting themselves, he says: “For we which have believed do enter into rest.” Heb. 4:3.

This rest is an everyday rest. Christ says: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28. This does not mean cessation from labor, or idleness; but a restful, peaceful state of mind and body, even if the storms of temptation beat upon us, and the waves of unrest surge around us. The true Christian is never idle: he is a working man. Although the work may be hard, and the results seemingly small, still he rests; he rests in faith; he is stayed on the unmovable rock, the word of God; he has a peace “which passeth all understanding.” The difference between him and a worldly man is that he has ceased to work. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil. 2:13.

Whatsoever the Christian does, whether it be manual or spiritual work, as it is “God which worketh” in him, his works are the works of God; they are the works that “were finished from the foundation of the world.” Heb. 4:3. Read also Eph. 2:8–10. “For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.” Heb. 4:4. We see this grand truth exemplified in the grass and the plants to-day. The work they perform, the fruit they bear, was finished in these words, spoken before God rested on the seventh day: “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit.” Gen. 1:11.

“Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein [into the rest], and they [the Jews] to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To-day, after so long a time; as it is said, To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Joshua had given them rest, then would he [God in David] not afterward have spoken of another day.” Heb. 4:6–8, margin.

If Israel had been faithful, there is no doubt that God would have led them from victory to victory until the whole earth would have been filled with “the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” This is plainly revealed in the song of Moses and the children of Israel. Christ, their invisible and invincible leader, would have guided them in his strength unto his holy habitation. See Ex. 15:13, 17. But Israel fell short of the mark. Joshua did not give them rest, and God speaks of another day,—another day of salvation,—probation is prolonged. Read, in this connection, Romans 9–11.

“There remaineth therefore [because he has spoken of another day, because probation is prolonged] a keeping of a Sabbath to the people of God.” Heb. 4:9, margin. The Greek word apoleipo, rendered “remaineth,” does not mean something future, but something that is “left” here with us (the word is thus translated in 2 Tim. 4:13, 20). The day of salvation being prolonged, it follows of necessity (“therefore”) that a keeping of a Sabbath is left to the people of God. “For he that is entered into his rest,” he has come to Jesus and has received his rest, “he also rests from his own works, as God from his.” Heb. 4:10, Norwegian translation.

The one who has entered into his rest, and whose works are all done in the Lord, rests from his own works, “AS God did from his.” But on what day did God rest from his works? — On the seventh day. Verse 4. To rest, then, as God rested, he must rest on the seventh day. No other day can be a rest day; for the only day on which God rested was the seventh day. And only the one who has entered into his rest can really and truly enjoy the Sabbath rest; for his works “are wrought in God.” John 3:21.

“Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” Heb. 4:11.