CHRIST AND THE SABBATH.
By William N. Glenn
WE learn from Ps. 33: 6 that "by the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth." In the first chapter of John we have a corroborative thought connected with the word: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made." Verses 1-3. In the fourteenth verse this Word is specifically identified as follows: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth." There is no dissent from the fact that the Word here spoken of is Christ. And of Christ, the "only begotten," we are told, in Col. 1: 15, 16, that he is "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature," and that "by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him." And not only were all things made by him, but "by him all things consist." Men are apt to consider Christ only in connection with his earthly mission and his mediatorial office, ignoring the fact of his active existence and partnership with the Father from the beginning. By this short-sighted view they fail to fully realize their obligation to him as the joint author of all their blessings. To fully appreciate the blessing of creation, it must be viewed in the light of an opportunity to secure an eternal life in a sinless world, under the personal reign of King Emanuel. It is argued in favor of a first-day Sabbath that it is in honor of Christ, in honor of his resurrection, in honor of redemption. But the seventh day having been set apart and hallowed as a memorial of creation, is not Christ, the Creator, honored in its observance? Again, what is redemption? We learn from the third chapter of 2 Peter that the present earth is to be destroyed, and that according to promise there will be a new earth. The promise is in Isa. 65: 17: "Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." This earth is under the curse of sin. When Adam transgressed, the curse came not only upon himself and posterity, but also upon his entire dominion. "Cursed be the ground for thy sake;" "thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee," were the words pronounced. Redemption, then, includes the redemption of the earth from the curse; and this will be brought about by a destruction of the old and creation of a new earth. The prophetic promise also adds: "But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for, behold, I307create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy." The apostle John testifies concerning his own prophetic vision: "I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven." Rev. 21: 1, 2. This new Jerusalem is the city that Abraham looked for, "which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Heb. 11: 10. But in connection with John's vision, he further says: "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God." Rev. 21: 3. We see from the foregoing that the new earth, which is to be the home of the redeemed, the New Jerusalem, which will be the holy capital of the new earth, and the people of God, who are to be the inhabitants of the new earth, are all to be re-created. Redemption is simply creation over again; and the Sabbath will continue to be, as it always has been, a memorial of creation. Of Israel (which will always be the name of God's people, because they prevail with God, Gen. 32: 28) the prophecy says: "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord." Isa. 66: 22, 23. Christ is the Creator and Re-creator (Redeemer), and the Sabbath which he hallowed and blessed in the beginning, "because that in it he had rested from all his work," is, and always will be, the memorial of creation.
W. N. G.