Galatians 4:3-6, “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Hebrews 4:9-11, “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”
I had never paid close attention to Galatians 4:3-6 before. God created the universe as we know it today in six days, and then rested from His works on the seventh day. God did this intentionally to make a type. A “type” in Scripture is a person or thing in the Old Testament that foreshadows a person or thing in the New Testament. God patterned mankind's work week in accordance with God's six days of labor in creation. This is fascinating if you think about it. The Bible teaches that God created mankind in HIS OWN IMAGE. Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
But wait there's more! Not only did God create man in His own image, but He also designed the solar system, time and the seasons as a pattern for humanity to follow. Exodus 34:21, “Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.” That is so amazing! The Lord Himself worked for six days, and that is the number of days that God intended for mankind to labor.
And then there is a much needed day of rest, a time to reflect upon the six days of labor and be proud of one's accomplishments. There is nothing as frustrating as having a job (work to do) that does not produce a joyous feeling of satisfaction at the end of the week. Many people hate their jobs (their work) and do not enjoy their labors. I do not believe that God ever intended for men to do work that does not bring them fulfillment and satisfaction in some capacity. It is true that the person who finds work to do which they enjoy will never have to “work” another day in their life. I work night and day on my website ministry, but to me it does not feel like work at all, because I love and enjoy what I do for Christ.
Man laboring for six days is a type of human self-righteousness. The Sabbath Day is a type of Jesus Christ in Whom we completely rest for salvation. Even in Creation we see the Gospel so beautifully symbolized, that is, a person is saved by ceasing from their own dead works and wholly rest in Christ. Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Don't ever let anyone (e.g., Robert Breaker or Peter S. Ruckman) tell you that people were saved by works in the Old Testament. As we just read in Acts 10:43b, “all the prophets” testified that salvation has always been through faith alone in Christ alone.
The Hebrews were slaves in Egypt. They were in cruel bondage to the world. Egypt in the Bible always pictures the unregenerate sinful world. Galatians 4:3-6, “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Jesus was made under the Law. That is, He was born in the Old Testament.
If Jesus had sinned even one time, He would have been under the curse of the Law, just like every other unsaved person. But Jesus perfectly kept the Law, as only the God-man could do. Beware of Pastor John MacArthur, who errantly teaches that Jesus didn't have God's blood flowing in His veins! Friend, Jesus was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:23). That means that God the Father was literally Jesus' biological Father. Of course Jesus had God's blood flowing in His veins, which means Christ did NOT have the sin nature as you and I do, inherited from Adam (Romans 5:12). Jesus was the sinless, spotless, perfect Lamb of God (John 1:29; 1st Peter 2:21-22).
Galatians 4:3-6, “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” What a blessed truth! Dear reader, if you are a child of God, do you realize that you and I were once in bondage as slaves to this wicked world, but Christ has redeemed from under the Law to make us adopted sons of God? I get bubbly just thinking about it!
In the Old Testament God was known as Jehovah, Lord, Yahweh, et cetera; but in the New Testament He is know by every child of God as, Abba, Papa, Father. Our dear Savior invites us to boldly come before the heavenly throne of grace for help in our time of need:
Hebrews 4:14-16, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Jesus today is our Sabbath! There is no Sabbath Day anymore (Colossians 2:14-16). The Seventh-Day Adventist religion is a cult that worship the Sabbath Day. Colossians 2:14-17, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
Old Testament Ceremonial Laws Were a “SHADOW” of Things to Come
Please notice Verse 17, “Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” Hebrews 10:1, “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.” The Bible is very plain in this matter. The Old Testament Law was a “shadow” of future things to come, and not the reality of those things. This is why WE ABSOLUTELKY KNOW that Jesus sprinkled His literal liquid blood upon the heavenly Mercy Seat (Hebrews 12:24), because that is exactly what the Old Testament high priest did:
Leviticus 16:14-15, “And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:”
Yet, Dr. John MacArthur and Pastor R.B. Thieme Jr. (1918-2009) sinfully teach that Jesus DIDN'T bring any blood to Heaven. Dr. MacArthur calls it “superstitious” to teach that Jesus' blood is in Heaven. Pastor MacArthur is a false teacher!
Jesus is our Sabbath today! There is no Sabbath Day to observe in the New Testament. The Sabbath was an Old Testament Ceremonial Law intended only for a specifically people, the Jews. It was to be observed in a specific region, the Holy Land. Those religions today who foolishly emphasize the Sabbath are detracting from Christ Himself, of Whom the Sabbath foreshadowed. The Seventh-Day Adventist religion remind me of a child to whom a Christmas gift is given, but the child is more infatuated with the wrapping than the actual gift...lol.
The same is true of proponents of “Lordship” salvation. They are more enamored with the Law than they are with Christ. Romans 10:3-4, “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Galatians 3:24-26 teaches that the Law serves its purpose by bringing sinful men to Christ to be saved by grace. Once a man has been born-again through faith in Jesus Christ, the law no longer has any power over that man.
What a beautiful truth! God is more than amazing. Our blessed Savior did all this for us because He loves us. GOD LOVES YOU!!! I said God loves you! He sure does. Dear friend, Creation itself teaches us God's simple plan of salvation—cease from your own works and rest wholly in Jesus' name. ...
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
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