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By Mike Meharry

HOME / STUDIES / THE SEAL OF GOD

The Sabbath taught as "seal"

I used to believe, and have been told by many SDA's that "keeping the Sabbath" was the "seal of God in the last days", and that those Christians who were not "keeping the Sabbath" would not have salvation.

[The] law requires the observance of this seventh-day Sabbath… It is a symbol of our redemption in Christ, a sign of our sanctification, a token of our allegiance" (fundamental belief #19).

I loved the Sabbath rest and it has given me many opportunities to worship my creator and redeemer, but as I have studied the Scriptures I get a very different description of the "Seal of God".

The SDA teaching on Sabbath keeping being the seal of God came from the early Adventist founders:: "the seal of God is his Holy Sabbath" Thoughts on Revelation, page 452 (U Smith). Also in Early Writings, pages XXI, 38, 48,58, 67, (E G White) One may not find "Sabbath keeping" and "Seal of God" phrases in the same sentence in Early Writings, but the context and statements show that this teaching is clear and undeniable.

The dictionary definitions of seal are as follows:

1. an embossed emblem, figure, symbol, word, letter, etc., used as attestation or evidence of authenticity.
2. a mark, sign, symbol, or the like, serving as visible evidence of something, anything that serves as assurance, confirmation, or bond: She gave the plan her seal of approval.
3. to assure, confirm, or bind with or as if with a seal: They sealed the bargain with a handshake.
4. to decide irrevocably: to seal someone's fate.
5. to grant under one's seal or authority, as a pardon
   —Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 03

 

The Bible defines "seal"

The Bible seems very clear in what it says about God's Seal:

"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come". 2 Corinthians 1:21, 22 (NIV)

The seal of God-or God's seal shows authentic ownership, and evidence that we are His. He has approved of us as His children.

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1:12,13 (NIV)

It is God's decision that we are His children not by our human doing; all that we can do to be His child is to believe and receive Christ as our Lord and Savior.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." 1 John 3:1 (NIV)

We become children of God by believing that Jesus was the Son of God, accepting Him as our Savior, and knowing Him as such. It is who we know, not what we do that makes us Gods children. God alone (as the one who gives or places the seal) through Jesus Christ has the authority to assure us of our pardon from sin, guaranteeing what is to come (at the second coming of Christ). Notice how well these texts fit with the definition a, b, and d above.

God claimed and sealed Jesus as His Son (just like us) and gave him the seal of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove and/or a bright light with the voice of God pronouncing Jesus as His Son. This was at Jesus' baptism and on the mount of Transfiguration, Luke 3:22, and Matthew 17:5 .

"But don't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval." John 6:27 (NLT)

The Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, was the sign or seal of approval God gave to Christ at His baptism and on the mount of Transfiguration.

"They replied, ‘We want to perform God's works, too. What should we do?' Jesus told them, ‘this is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.'" John 6:28, 29 (NLT)

The corollary to what Christ is telling us here is that we can do nothing, no other work can be done, to earn the Holy Spirit (seal) except that God wants us to believe that in Jesus Christ alone is our Salvation. God, through Jesus Christ, is the source of the Holy Spirit (our seal)

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:26 (NIV)

No work or deeds are to be done on our part, only Believe. This was the clear instruction of Christ. Salvation is God's Work, not man's work, God does not want nor does He need any of our work(s).

"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30 (NIV)

Again this is very clear—we are sealed by the Holy Spirit , designated for the day of redemption, or the second coming of Christ, when He takes us to be with Him, forever.

 

When we believe

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory". Ephesians 1:13, 14 (NIV)

This seems obvious enough, when we first believe and accept the gospel of Christ we are "marked in Him with a seal" from the "promised Holy Spirit" "guaranteeing our redemption". These are not my words and no where do I see anything written or hinting that the seal of God that assures our salvation is dependant on anything we do or any commandment that we keep (i.e. the Sabbath). The only commandment that Christ gave here is that we believe that He is the Son of God sent by the Father for the salvation of sinners (John 6:29 above)

"Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." Revelation 7:2, 3 (NIV)

Here again we see that the seal of God comes from above and not as a result of any action on our part, except that it is placed on our forehead- which is symbolic of the part of our brain used to make decisions about right and wrong. The only thing we can do to receive this seal is to decide whether or not to accept it.

"They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads". Revelation 9:4 (NIV)

The corollary to this is that only those will survive who have accepted the gift of Gods seal through the Holy Spirit. Those who have tried to work for it will not have received it because a true gift cannot be worked for or repaid, and they will not survive to enter eternity.

 

The evidence of ownership

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children" Romans 8:16 (NIV)

The Holy Spirit gives evidence that we are God's children, that means we have accepted His authority and are His possession. See above "seal" definitions.

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name". John 1:12 (NIV)

Here is another promise that we have the right to claim to be Gods heirs, His children, all we have to do to claim this is to believe, nothing else can be done to claim that we belong to God. To truly believe in His name means that we accept that He is who He says He is, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh who became a substitute for all our sin because we can not deal with it ourselves.

 

Defining "sign" versus "seal"

Now let's look at the terms "sign" versus "seal". SDA's have used these terms interchangeably to spin their proof texts to support the Sabbath-Seal of God doctrine. They argue that they are synonymous and that they mean the same thing. The original term for "seal" (Hebrew, chotham: Greek, sphragis) is never translated "sign" in the Bible. The original term for "sign" (Hebrew, oth; Greek, semeion) is never translated "seal". I think we should let Gods word speak for itself, and as for the dictionaries I have found the following: Older dictionaries (75years and older) do not relate the "sign" versus "seal" in their definitions. In newer dictionaries, when used as a noun, I found that in some cases, the use of the word "seal" was related to "sign", but that does not make them the same thing. For example; I can use my "hiking stick" as a "pointer", but I have a "pointer" that I use for lecturing that can in no way be used as a "hiking stick".

"Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy." Ezekiel 20:12 (NIV)

Whether God was talking about the 7th day Sabbaths or the annual Sabbath feasts has been debated at length. Either way that is beside the point here. This text says that the Sabbath(s) was/were given to man as a sign from God, a sign that He was the one who saves mankind by making them "holy". Man's job at that time was to accept the sign by keeping the Law. But he (man) failed miserably as Paul say:

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God",Romans 3:23 (NIV)

"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned". Romans 5:12.

But God in His mercy gave Jesus as the law-keeper for us because we could not do it. Christ became the new sign or seal for us and he seals us with the Holy Spirit. Sabbath keeping was about accepting the salvation provided by God; it was never given as prerequisite for salvation.

Ezekiel 20:12 speaks in the past tense when it says "I the LORD made them holy", so how can keeping the Sabbath (or any other commandment) earn our seal of righteousness, or make us holy, which God has already done?

 

Our identity through Jesus Christ

This is much more about being identified with God and by God than how we can earn that identity by our behavior. It was all about being identified with God through Jesus Christ. Paul explains this beautifully in Romans 4 using Abraham as an example:

"If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness'." Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.' "Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised…" Romans 4:2-5,9-11 (NIV)

According to Paul, this text tells us that Abraham was identified with God (the righteous one), because of what he believed by faith before he prepared the sign of circumcision. Circumcision was only the sign that he was sealed by God. Let me restate it in review, the seal of God shows that we are identified with Him and his righteousness.

Now, for if we believe that Christ is our righteousness unto salvation, we have been given the seal, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit cannot be earned or bought.

"When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, ‘Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. 'Peter answered: ‘May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!'" Acts 8:18-30 (NIV)

Trying to earn the Holy Spirit or seal of God is no different than trying to buy it. It is the same thing as tying to exchange one thing (service or money) for something else; this is certainly not the same as freely accepting a gift graciously. Since Christ has come and fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17) for us, anyone who tries to be made "holy", righteous, or sealed for salvation by keeping the Sabbath or any other service to God, is rejecting the Lord Jesus' sacrifice for them;

"For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace." Galatians 5:4 (NLT)

"Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin". Romans 3:19-20

This is hugely important and should be restated: as scriptures teach here, any human effort to keep the law, including Sabbath keeping, cannot account for our identity of salvation with God or by being identified with His seal. In fact if one believes what Galatians 5:4 says, "keeping the Sabbath" to show or earn favor with God will actually cut us off from the grace of Christ. When we say that we have to add something (like our behavior) to what Christ has done on the cross to have salvation, or to be sealed for the "day of redemption," it is the same as saying we must help God to complete His work for our salvation. When we do this, we put ourselves on the same level of God, and think we can do part of His Job. Is this not blasphemy, and a very dangerous claim to make?

 

Love responses not part of the law

A common SDA answer or spin on this is that the Sabbath is kept in a love response to God and as a remembrance of His creation. This may be sincere, but if it is truly a love response to God, it would not be required (as SDA doctrine teaches) and could not qualify as a sign or seal; it would be a gift of praise and only that.

The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is Gods job, period.

"The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble." Psalm 37:39 (NIV)

"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD." Jonah 2:8,9 NIV).

The Old Testament has the same message as in the New Testament, salvation comes from God not from mans effort. And we can not have "salvation by combination" (faith and works). The SDA Church, under the direction of Ellen G. White and others, clearly teach (with pride), and believe that the only the true Sabbath keepers are "sealed for salvation" at the time of Christ's return (or day of redemption) and will be saved. This is clearly "salvation by combination "and is not possible according to the Bible.

Carefully and prayerfully consider Gal 3:1-25:

You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. "All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.' Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ‘The righteous will live by faith.' The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, ‘The man who does these things will live by them.' Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.' He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,' meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,' meaning one person, who is Christ. What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one. Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. Gal 3:1-25 (NIV)

 

A legal contract or covenant

In keeping with the connotation of the definition of the word "seal" as defined above, the word "covenant" also can be used similarly. Below are two of the definitions given by the Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 03:

1. a formal agreement of legal validity, esp. one under seal
2. an early English form of action in suits involving sealed contracts.

Therefore, we can also look at the seal of God as a legal contract—a covenant. Circumcision was given as a sign of the covenant from God to man through Abraham even before the Sabbath was given to Moses.

"I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you." Then God said to Abraham," As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. Genesis 17:7, 9-11 (NIV)

The only commandment given in this covenant was to be circumcised, period, nothing else. The covenant was given to man by God as a sign that He wanted to "be your God and the God of your descendants after you." God wanted His children to be identified with Himself in a profound way. That profound sign was changed from circumcision to; the belief and acceptance, through the power of the Holy Spirit, that God has redeemed us by the reincarnation, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Can there be anything more profound than what Jesus Christ has done?

Paul talks clearly and strongly about the old sign of circumcision (being identified with God) in Titus:

"For there are many rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive others. This is especially true of those who insist on circumcision for salvation. They must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money." Titus 1:10, 11 (NLT)

 

The Sabbath and circumcision replaced

The Sabbath was given to the Israelites as a reminder ("remember the Sabbath…") that God gave them to be identified with Himself after the sign of circumcision was given to Abraham. According to the Scriptures, both have been replaced by the Gospel sealed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Now the sign is Baptism and the reminder is the Lord's Supper ("this do in remembrance…"). But The SDA doctrine taught is that now the Sabbath is the seal or sign that replaced circumcision. As one can see plainly by reading the texts given above, this is NOT what the Bible teaches.

This study of God's Word implicates that the SDA Church emphasizes worshiping the Sabbath as much or more as the Savior, instead of worshiping the Savior more on the Sabbath. This is a very unfortunate position to be in. Galatians 5:4 says

"For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace".

I cannot find any contextually correct reference in the Scriptures that says keeping the Sabbath is a sign, seal, or symbol that we are God's Children at the time of Christ's 2nd coming (or the day of redemption). If this were the case, Jesus Christ and His disciples would have made that extremely clear in scripture and in their teaching. God has given us the seal of the Holy Spirit which shows by how we keep the only commandments Christ gave to us: Love your God and Love your neighbor.

 

End time followers

SDA's, have championed these following texts as proof that the end time remnant keep the commandments as a sign that they are saved:

"Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus." Rev 12:17 (NIV)

"This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus". Rev 14:12 (NIV)

The context of these verses does not tell us that we are sealed by commandment keeping, which can be seen as a sign of our following Christ. It is a description of His followers, and what they do—have the testimony of Jesus which is the Biblical Gospel message of "saved by grace, not by works". We cannot have "salvation by combination". This is what the SDA's actually teach. However, the Bible teaches salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ.

SDA fundamental beliefs #19-20 teach otherwise. SDA's are "speaking out of both sides of their mouth" at the same time. They must either choose salvation by works without the grace of Christ as stated in Galatians 5:4, or fully rely on the grace of Christ and not on Sabbath keeping for salvation. According to the Bible, there are no other options—only a choice of one of these two.

In conclusion, one may enjoy the Sabbath if he or she wishes, but if one is to remain true to the Scriptures and not the teachings of man he or she must separate "Sabbath keeping" from the "seal of being identified with God" and His people. This is not my teaching, but the teaching of Gods word.

Will SDA's listen, or will they continue in pride with the teachings of man?

 

 

Copyright 2009 Life Assurance Ministries, Inc., Glendale, Arizona, USA. All rights reserved. Revised November 2, 2009. Contact email: proclamation@gmail.com

In fact if one believes what Galatians 5:4 says, "keeping the Sabbath" to show or earn favor with God will actually cut us off from the grace of Christ.

The Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, was the sign or seal of approval God gave to Christ at His baptism and on the mount of Transfiguration.

This study of God's Word implicates that the SDA Church emphasizes worshiping the Sabbath as much or more as the Savior, instead of worshiping the Savior more on the Sabbath.

I cannot find any contextually correct reference in the Scriptures that says keeping the Sabbath is a sign, seal, or symbol that we are God's Children at the time of Christ's 2nd coming.