Gods Sabbath

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E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

In order to follow His example, we must have a thorough un derstanding of what Christ did. And we need a very clear, accu rate, and ever-increasing knowledge of the way in which Christ relates to His Father.

Christ Affirmed

Christ’s unqualified success in executing His vital mission on this earth was due to His looking to the Father in a certain, spe cific manner from which He never deviated. At the end of His work He was just as faithful to those same principles with which He had commenced it. Therefore, He could truthfully say, “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” John 17:4. Christ knew exactly how to relate to His Father, and no mat ter what pressure was brought to bear upon Him, He refused to operate by any other principles. Satan, also realizing the terms under which Christ was guaranteed success, was unrelenting in his efforts to divert Christ from God’s perfect ways. If he had succeeded even in the smallest degree, the plan of salvation would have been ruined. When Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River, a voice from heaven declared His relation to the eternal Father. “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alight ing upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” Matthew 3:16, 17 (NKJV). When God spoke those wonderful words, “This is My belov ed Son”, He was announcing a relationship and affirming His recognition of His own responsibilities in it. He was the Fa ther; Christ was the Son. In these respective roles, each had His part to play. The Father must provide the plans to be exe cuted, as well as guidance in the fulfillment of them, protection from the designs of the enemy, all the physical, mental, and spiritual power and also materials necessary to achieve the proposed results.