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Being sealed with the Holy Spirit means that we complete the race and overcome the law and spirit of the beast, same as the spirit of the flesh, the spirit of the world, and all its characteristics it represent. Many expressions for the same law and spirit.
(1. Cor 2:12 and Romans 8:2).
The origin of sin stem from the law and spirit and its characteristics that do not represent God, but God's arch enemy, Satan. Therefore, sin must be eradicated from the root: the root of the heart. The "heart" and “mind” represents our inner, spiritual man. Here it is to obey God's law, the 10 commandments, including the Sabbath, which is the often neglected commandment.
God's law is built on, and represents God's character: love. A higher, divine form of love that is unique and sacred, and much grander than the version we are often being presented with in this world. To reject the light of today means to choose to remain in spiritual darkness and stick to the shadows, representing the old law and covenant. "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, whom you received as a seal
for the day of redemption." -Ephesians 4:30. "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, yes, in him you also, when you came to faith, received the seal of the Holy Spirit, who was promised, he who is pledged on our inheritance, until the redemption of the people, at the price of the glory of God. " -Ephesians 1:13-14.
So we are sealed by the holy spirit, who give us spiritual power to sanctify our character, our hearts. So we keep the law of God with a motivation of love because we have faith in Him, His atonement, His way, His law, His kingdom, as we receive His character traits by His grace. His Divine law of love is built on his character which is love Divine. This happens by the power of the holy spirit of God, who write the Law of God on our hearts and minds. This can only happen if we have faith in God’s and Christ’s law of love, first, and want to have Him as Lord and master. So we receive pardon by His sacrifice, for our transgressions, if we repent. We are also sanctified day by day, by choosing Christ and His way of the cross, as our master and lord, and want to obey His heavenly Law of love, and crucify the law of the spirit of this world.
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” -1. Cor 2:12
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” -Romans 8:2
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live”. -Romans 8: 4-10
So as we see: We either choose to remain in the spirit and law of the flesh, same as the spirit and law of this world and of death. Or, we choose to receive the spirit and law of Christ, the spirit and law of life. This happens day by day and increasingly, if we advance on the path of righteousness, from immaturity to maturity in Christ. From the old to the new law, covenant and order.
“This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” Ephesians 4: 13:15 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen». - 2 Peter 3:18 ...since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him" -Colossians 3: 9¨-10
The ten commandments of divine love, written on our hearts and minds by the aid of the holy spirit of God. By grace through faith in Christ Jesus. Faith in His atonement, in His Law, in His spirit, in His heavenly government.
The Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments. It is part of God's holy law, built on His character of everlasting love.
The Sabbath (see Exodus 20: 8-11) has a special meaning as it represent the commandment in which God is identified as the Creator Himself, and presents His authority, and what and who He is Lord of. Both earth and heaven. While Satan is only lord of this world, the earthly and the spirit of it. The earth, both literally and spiritually, representing the apparent, the physical, the temporal, the shallow, the sensual, the mundane, the external and typical -which are the shadows, hence he is a god representing darkness, not available light. While Christ and Jahve is God over both this earth and more so the heavens, both literally and spiritually speaking. Spiritually speaking, the kingdom of God *also* represent the innermost, the heart, the deeper things, the everlasting and true spiritual progress from immaturity to maturity in Christ. See Luke 17: 20 -21
“Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord.” -Hebrews 12:14
The Sabbath is also referred to as the seal of God. It was instituted at creation.
"And God finished on the seventh day the work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because on it he rested from all his work, what God had created and would do." Genesis 2: 2-3.
Jesus Himself, who is God and creator (John 1: 1-3, Col 1:16), also kept the Sabbath in His death, when He suffered and died for our sins, when He came as a human being and by His life showed us the true way. And gave us an opportunity by his atoning sacrifice and blood to be reunited with God. The same was the case for Paul and all the apostles.
The Sabbath is also the very heart and center of God's ten commandments. It unites the Creator with the creation, the divine with the human: The first and greatest commandment (the first four dealing with our relationship with God, summed up in one):
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and of all your understanding ", and the second great (the last six commandments, which include our relationship with our neighbor, summed up in one): “And you shall love your neighbor as yourself. "- Matthew 22: 37-39.
The Sabbath is also the only commandment that God asked us specifically not to forget. Was it because he knew that his people would? It is also the day He set apart, blessed and hallowed (sanctified). It also represent Rest = Peace = Order. Law = Order. Order leads to peace and rest. And again: it contain the seal of God: His name, title and area of Authority.
The cross
- symbolizing denying the spirit and law of the flesh and this world. It also represent what sin cost: physical suffering, and mental struggles like grief, betrayal etc. Jesus was mocked because He did not step down from the cross: meaning He did not escape the physical suffering or even mental struggles (grief, betrayal, mockery), although he could have since He is God. Likewise, He still does not always remove the physical or mental struggles for the sake of His people. He can, but He does not always choose to. Because in the sanctification, we are supposed to be tried and tested and go through fiery trials, among other reasons, for the sake of learning and maturing. We need both theory and experience, under the guidance of Christ and His spirit. Hence many make the mistake/error of the mob who scorned Christ when suffering on the cross, and tell their followers who are not relieved from their suffering: that they do not have the power to step down from the cross. But His power is a lot more higher than to simply relieve temporal sufferings. His power and miracles that are of a spiritual nature, are much more powerful and long lasting, of a heavenly and everlasting value. But it is formed on the inside, and not always apparent. But it is more easily discerned for those who have spiritual glasses on. We are nearing the very end of the age and we are nearing the second arrival of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. God’s pure truth. His deeper truths. His true character has been covered with a veil that has gradually become thinner and more transparent with time. This is not the age for blind faith. "Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." 1. Cor 13:12. This is the age where we need to search intensely, knock very hard and pray daily to find Him as He is, so we also can identify all the false idols, so our hearts and minds can get more in tune with, and closer to Him. While God is love, He has rules, and His school is tough, yet full of blessings that are not as much valued by this world.
Sidenote: Notice also how the bible use the phrase "new order" about the new covenant. So, the sanctification is a journey from the old order/ law/ covenant, to new order/ law/ covenant.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy! Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. You shall not do any work, neither you nor your son nor your son. neither thy servant, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord has blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. " -Exodus 20: 8-11
The Sabbath is not a shadow. It is one of the ten commandments, the holy law of God, written with the finger of God. Christ came to fulfill the law, make the law more complete. Not to abrogate the law. But the light of the fullness of the sabbath was not made known during the typical age of the old covenant. We can not spiritualize away the ten commandments, but we can understand it and receive it more fully, more complete.
Christ said: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." -Matthew 5:17
"Here is the patience of the saints. Here are they that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus." '-Revelations 14:12
So we could say that the Sabbath is a seal of having the law of God written on our hearts and minds, by grace (in the sanctification) through faith. This is also the image of Christ and God. It should be a blessing to all mankind. And it is this commandment that connects humanity with divinity. That does not mean we are to remain in sin and the spirit of the world, but saved from it. In this way, the Sabbath, serves as a reminder of Jesus Christ and His Divine kingdom, in the sense that His law is written on our hearts, by the holy Spirit of God, in the path of righteousness, through faith. So, the triune God is our creator and our sanctifier.
“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.“ -Exodus 31:13
"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." - 2.Timothy 2:19
The original 7th Day Sabbath, represent worship of the creator and sanctifier. Hence a test of devotion and loyalty for God, and to see if the law of Christ by faith really is being written on our hearts and minds and not just on tables of stone. Advancing from old, immature to new, mature. Sanctification according to the new covenant and order of Christ is the process of salvation, the life long baptism from unholy to holy. By receiving the law of Divine love on our hearts and minds, by the grace, power from the holy spirit of God, through faith.
NOTE: And while we are not saved by being members in a church, I personally am convinced that this denomination is the true Sabbath keeping church/movement that is closest to the pure word and doctrines of the Bible. That is their fundamental beliefs. You can read more about these beliefs and this church organization by clicking here and here.
I think there are several layers of interpretations of this from the more superficial and literal, to the deeper and more spiritual interpretations. Or maybe one can say that this is to interpret it from a slightly different angle. Regardless, I use the Bible as a basis for reaching this conclusion. The battle is spiritual first and foremost, and is primarily about the controversy between Christ and His way and law, and Satan and His law and ways.
Here is the interpretation that the church I am a member of teaches. The angle I use is not about repealing this interpretation, but about going more to the root, to the spiritual forces behind, and not focusing so much on organizations or countries. But I urge people to get aquainted with this interpretation as well, which is more about analyzing the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, to find out which organizations and countries are the last ones responsible for carrying out the arch-enemy's agendas. But note that we are not called to condemn people anyway, no matter what. That is a sin according to the word of God. Many also deceive without being aware of it, and we are all called to live up to the light that shines on our individual path, at any given time. Nor do we know if any of these will later accept the full truth available to us today. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." -Matthew 7:1-2 There can be no question left as to whether it should be revered. But one is not automatically saved if one keeps the Sabbath, but still reject other light (truths). If you are still in doubt, make sure to study it our carefully. There are numerous resources just a click away on the world wide web. Start with Sabbathtruth.com Here are a few quotes from one of the founders of this church. As you see quite in harmony with the message in this series of identifying the seal of God as well. "Are we seeking for his fullness, ever pressing toward the mark set before us, the perfection of his character? When the Lord's people reach this mark, they will be sealed in their foreheads. Filled with the Spirit, they will be complete in Christ, and the recording angel will declare, “It is finished.” - Review and Herald, June 10, 1902 "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” Could a more powerful appeal be made?" -Sabbath School Worker, January 1 1896 "The seal of the living God will be placed upon those only who bear a likeness to Christ in character. As wax takes the impression of the seal, so the soul is to take the impression of the Spirit of God and retain the image of Christ..
The seal of God's law is found in the fourth commandment. This only, of all the ten, brings to view both the name and the title of the Lawgiver. It declares Him to be the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and thus shows His claim to reverence and worship above all others. Aside from this precept, there is nothing in the Decalogue to show by whose authority the law is given. The Israelites placed over their doors a signature of blood, to show that they were God's property. So the children of God in this age will bear the signature God has appointed. They will place themselves in harmony with God's holy law. Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads—it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved—just as soon as God's people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come."
-Our father cares, page 95 -Who Shall Receive God's Seal? March 24
These next supporting quotes was found and added late February 2021
"Those only who have clean hands and pure hearts will stand in that trying time. Now is the time for the law of God to be in our minds, foreheads, and written in our hearts."
-The Faith I live by. page 339.
"The prophet John, looking down to the last days, saw that the temple of God was open in heaven, and the ark of his testament was seen. That ark contains God's holy law, and John sees a people whose eyes are directed to the temple; their attention is fixed upon the law contained in the ark."
“Here are they that keep the COMMANDMENTS of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Heaven is watching this work with the deepest interest. Angels are watching the development of character, and are weighing moral worth. They are bidden to PLACE A MARK UPON THOSE WHO ARE LOYAL TO GOD'S COMMANDMENTS; such will have special help from God to endure the test and proving of the time of trouble."
-HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE FOREIGN MISSIONS OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS, PAGE 196
Found 26th of May 2021, posted by Caroline Weeks on the FB group "Favorite E G White Quotes:
Here we see Ellen White also connect the Sabbath with the sanctification and the EVERLASTING COVENANT. (Same as the new law and covenant). Are we soon going to start recognizing the crucial importance of the New, mature, everlasting covenant? I have had a major wake up call on this the last year simply by prayerfully studying the word of God. Both the sanctification, and more importantly: sanctification in relation to the new covenant. Hence also in this sense, preaching the Sabbath more fully, in a more complete context.
"The Sabbath given to the world as the sign of God as the Creator is also the sign of Him as the Sanctifier. The power that created all things is the power that re-creates the soul in His own likeness. To those who keep holy the Sabbath day it is the sign of sanctification. True sanctification is harmony with God, oneness with Him in character. It is received through obedience to those principles that are the transcript of His character. To us as to Israel the Sabbath is given “for a perpetual covenant.” To those who reverence His holy day the Sabbath is a sign that God recognizes them as His chosen people. It is a pledge that He will fulfill to them His covenant. Every soul who accepts the sign of God’s government places himself under the divine, everlasting covenant. He fastens himself to the golden chain of obedience, every link of which is a promise.
—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 350.
Bibleverse to support this above quote: "Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them." -Ezekiel 20:12
The quote to the left by Ellen White out the moral image of God, was found August 6th 2021.
The seal inside a greater seal is all about love. Love Divine.
The law of God = Love Divine:
1. Love for God. 2. Love for humanity .
The sabbath, which is the seal of God's Law (a seal within a greater image), unite these two main commandments. It unites the divine with the human. This is partly why it is the most important commandment of all the ten.
In Christ, God humbled himself in order to reach humanity. He became a servant for mankind, even to the point of offering up His life, truly risking His throne in heaven. The creator became a servant for His own creation, because He loved them, us so much. He was crucified in the flesh, symbolizing the spirit and law of the flesh, of self, of the world. He crucified the ceremonial, the temporal, the external, the apparent.
Hence it was the outer, the external, the immature version of the law that was nailed to the cross. Not the heart of the law, which is the new law and covenant, which is the law of God written on our inner, spiritual man: our minds and hearts by grace and power by the holy spirit, through faith in Christ. His sanctification. "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant," -Mark 10:43 "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Hebrews 8:10 God sacrificed Himself for humanity. For me and for you. The Sabbath Day is a true loyalty test to see if we want to sacrifice your idols for Him. Whom do you truly serve. Is it man? Is it money? Is it fame and worldly success, more than God. Or is God above all else? This test involve spiritual sacrifices to God. Sacrificing present comfort, traditions of men, maybe risking our job (money), risking losing friends and family, sacrificing time by setting aside every Seventh Day devoted to God. But Divine love require total obedience, and love first and foremost to God. Man comes in second. 1. Love to our Creator. 2. Love for creation. The fourth commandment, about the Seventh Day sabbath, is the only commandment which identify God as the creator of heavens and the earth. Are you married to the prince of this earth? Or to the king of heaven? That is the question and the real test for all to answer. Are you bound to this earth, or tied to Christ? It is soon time to make your final decision and place your feet inside the camp where you belong. Babylon = all roads apart from the true way. Or Christ, who is “the way, the truth and the life”?
Continue to the rest of the series "Identifying the Image, Seal and Mark of the Beast"
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