I have come into contact with many Seventh Day Adventist folks in my time sharing the Gospel. They seem to be caught up on one particular teaching and that is the keeping of the Sabbath day. Almost all of the sermons on their television broadcasts talk about this and in person they can’t seem to have much conversation beyond boasting in how they are “Sabbath keepers.” They are very proud of this and base their entire standing before God on the fact that they attend church on Saturday.
I have even asked them what gives them confidence in their salvation and they always go back to the fact that they keep the Sabbath. The Bible makes it clear however that our confidence should be of God and not ourselves nor can salvation be earned by our good works in fact no one will boast in the sight of God.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-31)
I find one other major problems for so called “Sabbath keepers.” The Bible says that God demands perfect obedience to His law.
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” (Galatians 3:10)
While Seventh Day Adventist followers boast in being “Sabbath keepers” they are faced with a problem. The Bible reveals that if you break the law in one point you are guilty of the whole thing.
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10)
This tells us that if we break the law in one point we are guilty of the whole law. While you make your boast in keeping the Sabbath day I must ask: do you lie? put other things before God? dishonor your parents? covet? Since no one is perfect I’m sure you know that you have broken God’s law. You can’t say, “well I’ll be okay when I face God because I keep the Sabbath.”
If you break the law in even one other point you are condemned as a lawbreaker. This means that you are under the wrath and condemnation of God. Let me urge you with love and compassion to flee to Christ and put your faith in Him alone for salvation. You can’t trust Christ and your keeping the Sabbath. You must repent of your sin and put your faith entirely upon the work of Christ on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins.
If you are trusting in your so called Sabbath keeping I urge you to count that as nothing and embrace Christ. He was the perfect law-keeper and when we trust in Him God credits His law-keeping to our account. Just as your sin was charged to Jesus and He was punished for it so His righteousness can be credited to you.
The Gospel Beacon 