The Sabbath A Perpetual Sign—Part 3

By Joseph Bates (adapted)

If the Sabbath was not instituted in Eden, why would Moses mention it in his account of the creation of the world? Why not appropriately reserve mentioning it for two or three-thousand years in his history, until the time when manna fell in the wilderness? (See Exodus 16:23.) Then he could state that this was the institution of the seventh-day Sabbath.

I answer (and for the very best of reasons), that he didn't do that, because the Sabbath wasn’t instituted when the manna fell!

Let’s look at that text: “And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice

God’s Covenants With Man—Part 4

Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3 • Part 4

Under the Law

Then what of the Old Covenant? Does it serve any purpose at all today?

The Old Covenant stands as a warning to us—showing us the folly of trying to live under the law—something that the New Testament spends much time teaching us:

“Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?” Galatians 4:21.

Under the Old Covenant, Israel was dependent on the law to declare that they were

God’s Covenants With Man—Part 3

Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3 • Part 4

Ratified Covenant

Paul makes an important point about covenants in Galatians 3:15:

“Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.”

Before a covenant is ratified, you can make changes to it. You can add things to it, and you can take them away from it again. Up until the point it is ratified. Once the blood has been shed in ratification of the covenant you cannot disannul any part of it, or add anything to it.

Since the Old Covenant was ratified in Exodus 24:8, nothing could be added to it or