We do not keep the Sabbath
to be saved. Rather, we keep the Sabbath as an evidence of having experienced
the saving power of God's grace.
However, “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath
faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? . . . Even so faith, if it hath
not works, is dead, being alone.” James 2:14, 17. Once we accept Christ
as our personal Savior He immediately comes to dwell in our hearts, through His
Holy Spirit, and replaces our stony hearts with new hearts. On this new heart
He imprints His divine law (Hebrews 8:10).
When this divine
transformation happens, man loses his old enmity to the law, and begins to
rejoice in keeping God's law (Psalms 40:8, Romans 8:4).
Within this context
obedience becomes the evidence, or better said the "fruit" of our
conversion, rather than the means of our salvation. Only now can we truly keep
the law because we have been enabled by His transforming power; by His dwelling
in our "new" hearts (2 Corinthians 5:17).
“Ye see then how
that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. . . For as the body
without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:24, 26. We keep the law by
His grace because we love Him and are in great awe at the cost He bore to bring
us this second chance.
We keep the law by His
redeeming grace because it reflects the beauty of our Savior. John 14:15, 21.
Oh, what an experience it
is once we become conformed to His will through His indwelling in us (2
Corinthians 3:18).
