Hebrews 4:9-10 (ESV): "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his."
Kapatid, whenever we look at arguments like Darleen Nieves’ take on sabbatismos, we really need to read the text through a New Covenant lens. Kung Old Covenant blinders ang suot natin, maliligaw tayo. Let's look at the actual logic here without the mental gymnastics and see why forcing Hebrews 4:9 to mean a strict Saturday Sabbath just collapses on itself.
First, look at the very quote they used from Vine’s Dictionary. Sure, it defines sabbatismos as "a Sabbath-keeping," but did they read the rest of their own source? Vine explicitly clarifies that in this passage, it means the "perpetual sabbath 'rest' to be enjoyed uninterruptedly by believers in their fellowship with the Father and the Son." Bakit na-cut 'yung part na 'yun? You can't use a dictionary to prove your point while totally ignoring the exact sentence where the author debunks your conclusion. The rest being talked about here is our permanent fellowship in Christ, hindi kalendaryo.
Second, let’s push their logic to the very next verse. Hebrews 4:10 says whoever enters this rest has rested from his works just as God did from His. Think about that. Did God rest on the seventh day and then clock back in to create another universe on Sunday? No, His rest from creation is permanent. Kung literal na araw ng Sabado lang ang tinutukoy dito, does that mean once you enter this rest, bawal ka nang magtrabaho forever? Ang labo, 'di ba? The rest we're talking about is resting from our dead works and the impossible weight of the law, not taking the weekend off from your secular job.
Third, look at the context just one verse prior. Hebrews 4:8 says, "For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on." Back in the Old Testament, the Israelites kept the Saturday Sabbath every single week under Joshua. Marami silang Sabado sa Canaan! But the writer of Hebrews flat-out says Joshua didn't give them the true rest. If sabbatismos just means keeping the seventh day, why did David (in Psalm 95) and the writer of Hebrews centuries later have to plead with the people about entering "another day" called Today? Because the Old Covenant Saturday was just a shadow. Joshua gave them a piece of land; Jesus gives us eternal rest.
Finally, bringing up Old Testament words like Qadash (to sanctify) completely misses the New Covenant reality. Yes, under the old system, holiness was tied to physical days, physical temples, and the nation of Israel. But Christ fulfilled all of that (Colossians 2:16-17). The Sabbath command in the Decalogue was always pointing to a greater reality. Jesus literally stood up and said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Bakit tayo babalik sa anino (literal na Sabado) kung nandito na mismo 'yung nagbibigay ng pahinga natin?
Stop trying to earn your standing before God by managing a calendar. Are you resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ today, or are you still striving to justify yourself through Old Covenant shadows? Drop the heavy yoke of the law. Find your true sabbatismos in Christ alone, and rest completely in His grace.
FORMER ADVENTISTS PHILIPPINES
“Freed by the Gospel. Firm in the Word.”
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