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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
In Colossians 2:16-17, the apostle Paul declares, "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. T...
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Jae Park
The following is my limited understanding regarding Sabbath. I. My Position regarding the Sabbath. We do not have to keep the Sabbath Law as NT believers. We worship God in spirit and truth (Jn 4: 23,24) without limitation of time and space. We worship God personally day and night; cooperatively either Saturday or Sunday or Wednesday or any time and any place. II. Personal Understanding about Sabbath 1) Sabbath is a part of Ceremonial law [Lev 23]. a) People in OT must keep the Sabbath on Saturday, if not, they are punished (Exo 31:14,15, Numb 15:32-36;) b) If you want to keep the Sabbath law, you must keep all the law. Not just the Sabbath on Saturday, but all the feasts, sacrifices, circumcision. c) If you break even one law, you break all the law. (James 2:10) No one can be justified before God by observing the law. (Gal 3:11) If we try to keep the law, we are separated from Christ. (Gal 5:4) 2) The Gospel changed everything about ceremonial law. (Heb 7:12) a) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. (Gal 3:13) The law is fulfilled in Christ (Rom 8:3-4) Christ is the end of the Law. (Rom 10:4) Jesus Christ offered Himself for our sins once for all. (Heb 7:27) Therefore, No needs of animal sacrifice, No needs of human priests, No needs of Temple, No needs of Tithe, No needs of keeping the Sabbath b) We are saved by faith not by the law (Acts 15:5-20, Rom 3:28) We are not under the Law but under Grace. (Rom 6:14) We are dead to the Law (Rom 7:4) Believers in NT are completely free from the OT laws. (Gal 5:1) Believers enjoy the freedom in Christ 3) The Sabbath was a Shadow (Col 2:16,17) a) The Sabbath was a Shadow. God’s rest did not come through Moses, Joshua, David. But theirs are just a shadow of Salvation Rest. b) Jesus is the Reality: Jesus gives us True Sabbath [Rest] (Mat 11:28-30) True Sabbath: Eternal, Heavenly Rest in Christ 4) Sabbath Laws point to the true Rest of God. (Heb 4:8-11) a) God’s rest in Genesis was a picture of God’s rest for eternity. b) Mosaic rest was a picture of Salvation Rest. c) Earthly rest of Canaan was a picture of Spiritual Rest of Heaven. d) The Sabbath-rest of God is still available to God’s people in Christ. 5) Sabbath Laws was not in the New Covenant. (Mk 14:24) a) Jesus ended the ceremony of the Sabbath (Rom 10:4) We do not have to observe the Sabbath like Mosaic Sabbath. b) We are not under the ceremonial law: but Grace of God in Christ. (Rom 6:14) The Sabbath Law is no longer necessary in the life of believers. (Gal 5:1) c) Sabbath Law was never recommended to Gentile Believers. (Acts 15:23-29) Apostles never encouraged believers to keep the Sabbath. 6) Spiritual Rest in three different time dimension a) Jesus gave us the eternal rest on the Cross. [Past] b) Now, we have eternal rest in Christ here on earth. [Present] c) Soon, we will have true rest in heaven. [Future] III. In Summary The Sabbath day is very complicated system of Laws. Sabbath is a Shadow and Jesus is the reality. Sabbath points to the true rest of God. Jesus gives us the true rest in Heaven. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. Every day, especially on Lord’s Day, let us praise God as Creator, as Savior, as Sanctifier. Let’s enjoy true Sabbath in Christ today while earnestly hoping for the perfect eternal Sabbath in Heaven. Let us praise God; honor Him; worship Him with all our hearts and souls and strength. What a privilege for us to have time to worship Him
Nathan Toronga
Yes, God requires His children to observe His Sabbath. It is a serious error to teach otherwise. If anything, there are ONLY two things that the Godhead demonstrated, although it wasn't necessary for God to do so. One was resting, as stated at Genesis 2:2-3. God does not weary, (Isaiah 40:28), but He rested anyway. As a demostration for us, His children. The second demonstration was the baptism of Jesus. Scripture clearly teaches that we're baptized 'for the remission of sin' Acts 2:38. But Jesus was without sin, yet He got baptized anyway. Again, as our example. God sums up this mystery at Isaiah 56:1-8, (verse 1 puts the prophecy into the New Testament era, and verse 2 is for Hebrews). To claim that the law was 'done away with, nailed to the cross', etc, is to deliberately ignore the teaching of Scripture and clear confessions by Jesus and Paul, both of whom are accused of 'abolishing' or somehow putting an end to the law (which includes the Sabbath commandment). Here's what Jesus demonstrated: Luke 4:16, 'He went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day, He went into the synagogue, as His custom was.' Same custom as Paul. Acts 17:2, 'As His custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,' IN THEIR OWN WORDS: What did Jesus say about the Law in general? Luke 16:17, "It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law" And Paul? Romans 8:7, "The sinful mind is HOSTILE to God. It does NOT submit to God's Law; nor can it do so." To attempt to quote these two in our rebellion is a most daring feat. Their actions and words will leave all rebels with no string to hang onto, nor a leaf to hide behind. WHO WROTE THE COMMANDMENTS? The Yisraelites traveled with God, who was a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Exodus 13:21-22; Numbers 14:14. This is the SAME God who wrote the Torah - The Ten Commandments. Nehemiah 9:12-15. He is the SAME who gave them water from the Rock. Now, WHO was He? 1 Corinthians 10:4, 'And drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from the spiritual Rock that ACCOMPANIED them, and THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST.' That is why, even before there ever was any New Testament Scripture, Paul says 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever' Hebrews 13:8. He will NEVER change. He doesn't change. So, having given the Torah, would He repudiate it? What would that mean? It would mean that His laws were an error, they were given presumptuously. And that God has repented, and conceded that after all, the devil is right. I've heard some claims that Jesus broke the Sabbath. Because that is what His accusers said. And people take that as fact. Yet Jesus clearly denied violating the Sabbath. If we were to be guided by the statements of these accusers, then we'd also have to believe that Jesus was a demoniac, because they charged Him with that also! Mark 3:22. We'd also have to believe that he was mad, because His own family charged Him of that too. Mark 3:21. Nobody is ever forced to keep any of the commandments, but we teach those who voluntarily wish to be in the family of God, what His requirements are. It is never compulsory. For the people of God, the Sabbath still exists. Hebrews 4:9-10. The ONE day per week Sabbath, not the old wives' tales that EVERYDAY IS A SABBATH. Has God said that? Show us the verse where the Apostles kept EVERYDAY as a day of Sacred Assembly, where shops are always closed, where people do not work. The Law came from heaven, and IS in heaven today. Revelation 11:19. Bless.
Bongani Cele
Yes God does require us to. Hebrews 4 speaks of this very question and explains if you do not enter into this REST of the seventh day as He did, you are being disobedient. Immediately after God created Adam, He instituted a day of rest to spend with His creation. His creation was beautiful, the world with it's plants, animals and His image, then the Sabbath day. No pain, no evil, no sin and the Sabbath was part of that beauty. Then Satan came and changed laws and times (daniel 7:25). In heaven where we are headed, the beauty of Eden will once again be seen after Jesus has restored that which was lost and the Sabbath will be there as the day we worship God (isaiah 66:22-23). Jesus is a Sabbath keeper (Luke 4:16), Paul was to and the early church (acts 13:14, 16:13, 13:44, 18:4, 13:42, 17:2). The Lord's prayer states "let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" - Sabbath is the day of worship in heaven" as stated in Isaiah 66. Leviticus 23:3 Good News Translation (GNT) 3 You have six days in which to do your work, but remember that the seventh day, the Sabbath, is a day of rest. On that day do not work, but gather for worship. The Sabbath belongs to the Lord, no matter where you live If one does not need to keep the Sabbath, then they also don't need to have just the Lord God as God, they also don't need to keep the commands not to murder, steal, respecting parents and loving your neighbor. James 2:10 states if you break one command you are guilty of breaking them all. In the bible there's more then one Sabbath, there are also yearly and ceremonial Sabbaths (Lev 23) and there's God's commandments, sometimes referred to as laws and also Moses laws....which is where the confusion lies when Paul talks about Sabbaths & laws. We takes the 10 commandments and put it in there.
Steve Nearman
Scriptures says: "All things were written for our learning", however not everything is for Christians to do. Many take commands and instructions given to others and apply to themselves or others in error. This can be avoided by "Rightly Dividing" 2Tim 2:15 Most of what we see in the world today presented as "Christianity" is actually a mix of Judaism, paganism and Christianity. There are four cardinal rules for Bible understanding. We must observe: 1. Who is speaking? 2. Who is being spoken to? 3. On what authority are the words spoken? 4. To what age, or time period, do the words apply? Though the Bible is God's infallible inspired record, it not only records God's words, but also words of men and women, words spoken by angels, Satan and demons. Some recorded words of men, Satan and demons are lies, which contradict truth elsewhere in the scriptures. Also, some of God's words are applicable only to a particular individual or group of individuals and for only a particular time. There were times when men spoke and wrote words which God gave them as His words, while at other times they were inspired to speak and write their own words and human observations which do not have infallible authority. We are assured of God's help in observing these rules of correct understanding if we carefully study the Bible itself with the desire to be approved of God and accepted by Him. Read Ps 25:9 John 7:17 Luke 24:45 Joh 16:13 1Cor 2:9-12 1Joh 2:20, 27 Mat 5:6 Neglect of these points has lead to much confusion and false doctrine. Whereas, careful application of these precepts may help open the Holy Scriptures for a clearer understanding of the will of God for our lives. It is readily apparent and understood by most that the law of circumcision is a Hebrew ritual which has been abolished for Christians. It should also be just as apparent that "the law of commandments contained in ordinances" is also abolished. What are these ordinances? Gal 4:9-11 The Hebrew feast days were required by the law, but described as weak and beggarly elements for Christians because they are just copies of the reality that we have in Christ. These feasts included: the Feast of Unleavened Bread (AKA the Lord's Passover Supper or just the Lord's Supper), the Feast of Harvest, the Feast of Ingathering, as well as the Sabbath Day. Christians are not to be under bondage to these. Col 2:11-17 "you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by the circumcision of Christ, buried WITH Him (not like) in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. This isn't saying you can do anything you want and keep others from judging you. It's saying the ordinances have been wiped out so don't let anyone require you to practice the "Do's" & "Don'ts" of the law regarding: meat, drink, holy days, new moons, or sabbath days. These were all a shadow of things to come, but Christians have the reality of those things in Jesus Christ. Like baptism, we are not to be baptized LIKE Christ for we were baptized WITH Christ. For I have been crucified WITH Christ not LIKE Christ. The same applies to the sabbath. Christ was the perfect law keeper, for all mankind, because no man can keep the law. It was given as a "schoolmaster" to bring us to Christ, proving we need a savior. In Acts 15 we find that the gentiles (anyone not a Jew and never under the law) should not be put under the law as the Jews were. So keeping the Lord's Sab
Bruce Lyon
Those who follow the lord Jesus and are in him do not have to keep any ordinance other than to be baptized [total immersion] and to keep the lord's supper until he returns. That's it for all who in the lord Jesus. No wearing of certain clothing, no keeping of any day or days, nothing. Salvation is a freely given gift of God and it is all of Him and nothing of us at all. To keep the Sabbath [7th day] is of an by itself not wrong to do as a believer, but to do so as a requirement for salvation is to practice what Paul calls down a curse upon those who mix law and grace. Galatians 3:13 Christ did redeem us from the curse of the law, having become for us a curse, for it has been written, ‘Cursed is every one who is hanging on a tree,’ To go back to keeping the "law" including Sabbath keeping in order to be saved is to insult to Jesus and questions what Jesus has done for us by being hanged on a tree! Galatians 3:10 for as many as are of works of law are under a curse, for it has been written, ‘Cursed is every one who is not remaining in all things that have been written in the Book of the Law — to do them,’ Indeed, the law was brought into being to act as a schoolmaster until the coming of the Messiah Jesus. Now that he has come and died for us in order that we might be reconciled to his God and our God his Father and our Father, something the law could not do! Again, if I am in Israel and go to a Messianic Christian church and observe the Sabbath there is no problem in doing so, because I don't do it to gain salvation or reconciliation with my God since Jesus has done it all for me according to God's undeserving Grace for me. All Jesus asks of me is to follow his creed: Mark 12: 29-31: Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, you shall love your neighbour as yourself. This is the spirit of the law that we can keep as enabled by the power of the spirit of the lord Jesus. Notice that Jesus adds some words to the original command: Deut 6:4-5 Hear, O Israel: YHVH our God is one LORD: And you shall love YHVH your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might - strength. In Mark 12:29-30 - Jesus adds the word mind... interesting. Jesus is my Sabbath rest! Mt 11:28 ‘Come unto me, all you labouring and burdened ones, and I will give you rest, Indeed, I have found my rest in the lord Jesus, who will bring me into his soon coming kingdom when he come to Jerusalem to sit on the throne of David and rule over Israel as King and over the nations as King of kings and Lord of lords during the thousand year rule where we will kings and priests ruling with him. Re 1:6 and did make us kings and priests to his God and Father, to him is the glory and the power to the ages of the ages! Amen. Re 5:10 and didst make us to our God kings and priests, and we shall reign upon the earth.’ May that day soon come!
Christa Upton
Require? How about "allow"? God giving us the Sabbath reminds me of a parent telling a child: "Your chores are done; now you can go play!" What child would respond, "Oh, but I don't want to play. Give me more chores!" Mark 2:27-28 says, "And He said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.' " On the other hand, it is clear that it is wrong to make specific "rules" about what can and can't be done on the Sabbath, particularly if one is doing good. Matthew 12:12 says, "Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Obviously it is also NOT wrong to worship on the Sabbath, so enjoying church and a day of rest on the same day is one possibility. Finally, I believe that Colossians 2:16-17 means that it does not matter WHICH day we take a day of rest. Therefore, if someone's job requires them to work on Saturdays or Sundays, it is perfectly acceptable to take a day of rest on Wednesdays. Since God set the precedent of taking a day of rest during the week of creation--before the law and even before any sin, why not enjoy a day of rest every week?
Sotia Kolone
Let us be clear on certain facts. There are different types of Law in the Bible. It is of course true that the Sabbath is part of a Law - The Moral Law (10 commandments). This is not the same as Ceremonial Laws which God gave to Moses as guidance in celebrating Holidays and the different types of sacrifices. This is the set of Laws which point to Jesus. This is the set of Law which Jesus had done away with since He was the fulfillment of such. However, the Moral Law cannot be abolished or done away with as Jesus said, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven." Matt 5:17-19. Jesus here is referring to the Moral Law because after this phrase, He talks of the 10 commandments. The phrase, "till all is fulfilled" means until Sin has been done away with. Because that was the purpose the Moral Law was given. "Therefore, by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Romans 3:20. This Law does not save for the purpose of the Law was to reveal to us Sin. Jesus saves us! So, as long as Sin remain in this world, so does the Law, "until everything is fulfilled." Col 2:16, 17 does not refer to the weekly Sabbath cycle. It refers to those holidays that the Jews also called sabbaths. It refers to ceremonial sabbaths not the weekly Sabbath cycle. The weekly Sabbath was made for us and God demonstrated how we should make use of the day in Genesis, He rested. This does not mean to remain idle on the Sabbath. Rest here is to stop doing what we usually do any other day of the week, that is, working for our benefit, and do things that glorify God more as we recognize His Creatorship ans ownership of us. The perfect example was Jesus when He was here on earth. His observance of the Sabbath includes worship, fellowship and doing good for the purpose of glorifying God, especially healing the sick. I believe as Christians, we should imitate Christ and not just do what we think is best for us. Paul, the great apostle said, "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1. God Bless
George Delmindo
Jesus Christ had considerable to say and to teach about the Sabbath, and its observance. In Mark's Gospel we read of the beginning of His ministry, and the Gospel he taught. Repeatedly He said this Gospel came direct from God the Father - God's message to mankind. Jesus came into Galilee, after John the Baptist was thrown into prison, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God, calling on men to repent, and to believe. Yes, but to believe what? Believe this very Gospel which Jesus brought from God, so Jesus Himself said! (Mark 1:15) He called His disciples, and immediately "they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the Sabbath Day, he entered into the synagogue" v21. It was Jesus custom to attend the synagogue services on the Sabbath (Luke 4:16). Jesus preached in the synagogues in towns throughout Galilee (Mark 1:38-39). Jesus, teaching as part of His Gospel how to observe the Sabbath said: "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27-28). "The Sabbath was made", Jesus said. It is one of those things that was made. Who, then, made the Sabbath? God is the Creator. But it is written in Eph 3:9, "..God, who created all things by Jesus Christ." John' Gospel begins: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.." That "Word" was Jesus Christ. Christ was with God the Father from eternity. All Things Were Made By Him - Jesus Christ! So it was Jesus Christ who MADE the Sabbath. God made it through Jesus Christ or by Him! Very few realize it today - but the Sabbath was made by Jesus Christ! No wonder, then, He said plainly that He is Lord also of the Sabbath! (Mark 2:28) The Sabbath is a space of TIME. God set it as that space of time from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. Whenever that time comes to us, we are in a holy time! It is God's time, not ours! God MADE it HOLY - and in the 10 Commandments, He commanded us to keep it holy! Many do not realize today that it is sin to profane that which is holy to God! When God made the Sabbath, He blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. (Gen 2:2-3) What does "sanctified" mean? According to Webster, sanctified means "set apart, for HOLY use or purpose." He set apart this day from other days - set it apart for holy use - for a day of physical rest, in which His people may assemble and worship God! Can any one make a day holy? God alone can make a day Holy. So you cannot keep any special day of yours in place of the Sabbath. That day is Holy! He hollowed the seventh day, meaning His divine presence is in that day! The Eternal called to Moses out of the burning bush and commanded Moses: "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." Why and what made that ground holy? God's Presence in the burning bush! God is Holy. In the very same manner, God's presence is in His Sabbath. He rested on that first Sabbath to put His presence on that day! This made it holy time! When this same "Logos" or Word was made flesh - when He came as Jesus Christ in the human flesh - He was still putting his divine presence in that same weekly recurring Sabbath - He went into the synagogues as his custom was! Jesus Christ is still the same, today, as He was yesterday, and shall be forever (Heb 13:8). Jesus Christ *has not changed* - He is still putting His presence in his Sabbaths. Jesus Christ said,"If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, even as 'I have kept my Father's commandments', and remain in his love." (John 15:10)
Shantkumar S. Kunjam
I believe that God's people are not required to keep or observe sabbath day. The believers are required to live sabbath life everyday. Some people, specially our Seventh-day Adventist friends, refer to Is. 66:23 as proof-text for sabbath keeping, even in heaven. In interpreting Is. 66:23 in favor of sabbath keeping, these interpreters overlook couple of things. 1. Is. 66:23 mentions 'one New Moon to another' and 'one Sabbath to another'. But Rev. 21:23 mentions that in heaven there will be no need of sun or moon for light. There will be perpetual day in heaven (21:25). 2. In Is. 66:23 the reference to moon and sabbath is clearly for counting months and days, not for keeping new moon festival or observing sabbath. I believe the situation referred to here is not heaven but millennium rule of Christ on earth. During the millennium rule we will still need the light of the sun and the moon. By their presence only we will be able to count months and weeks. In interpreting Gen. 2:1-3 also many people overlook what does the actual text say. This seventh day is not like our 24 hours day. In this day only God had entered. This day is without end. There is no mention of "there was evening and there was morning the...." for the seventh day. This seventh day was running its course at the time of Joshua (Heb. 4:8), at the time of David (Ps. 95:11), and it is still running its course for the present believers (Heb. 4:9). In fact sabbath rest of seventh day is another name for heavenly life. The commandment of sabbath keeping on every seventh day of the week was meant to be a reminder for God's people of the heavenly life. Jesus our Lord never gave any one day more important than other days. He lived sabbath life everyday, and hence He was always accused of sabbath breaking. Nor the disciples observed any one day as more important than other days. Sunday worship was always a reminder to them and is to us that our Lord had risen from the dead on that day. Hence Sunday worship is a reminder that our Lord is risen from the dead, and not a sabbath observance. We don't observe sabbath, we are supposed to live sabbath life everyday. Hence I believe that sabbath observance is not required for Christian believers, but they are required to live sabbath life everyday as our Lord did. The same way our Lord has revolutionized all the commandments; such as, we do not lie under oath only, we are supposed to never lie. For God's people killing does not take place only after somebody is put to death, but it takes place whenever somebody is angry on his neighbor. We do not commit adultery when we have actually had slept with someone out side marriage, but we have already committed adultery when we have looked at someone lustfully. May we are enabled to live sabbath life everyday by God's help after the example of our Lord.
Jeanice Aviv
God created the Shabbat for a reason. It wasn't without reason, He knew we aren't working machines, and that rest is needed. It can only be to our privilege to keep it. The Shabbat is one day a week, that is ask of us to do nothing, all we should do is rest. How awesome is that. God is the creator of the universe. He know us better than anyone will ever know and if he commands us to a have a rest day, it is for the best of us. God wouldn't have commanded the Shabbat if it didn't had any meaning. Think carefully before doing away with the Shabbat. Nothing is without meaning, and so the Shabbat also.
James Leo Kropf
Our creator God established a day of rest at the conclusion of his created week. It was a day that God ceased from what he had done one the previous six days. Jesus says that the Sabbath, a special day of rest was made for man. What God made for us and we refuse to accept it as he intended only results in our losing the blessing he desires for us.
Dennis Caldwell
In my honest opinion. If I am to be like Jesus, I must keep the sabbath as Jesus kept the sabbath. If I am to be like the apostles I must meet with the church on the sabbath like they did throughout the book of Acts. Also I believe, just as God "created" something on each of the days of creation week; I must believe God created the sabbath rest (which the seventh day is named later) by resting on that day. Therefore the sabbath is as much a part of creation as the sun, the oceans, the animals, birds, and humans. It stands to reason then, to deny the sabbath day is to deny the creator and His creation as still being a reality and truth. Peace
Pateresio Laliqvoka
Good Day Everyone, My belief after reading Genesis to Revelation after this last 50 years or so is this; 1. After creation from the first day to the sixth day the Almighty Creator rested. 2 But on the 6th day he created man with the intention to be like HIm. 3 So I, the created should be resting like HIM on the day he rested in order to be like him. May the Almighty Open you eyes like he opened mine four years ago. P Laliqavoka.
L.S. James
Of the Ten Commandments (Ex 20:1-17), the Sabbath is one that New Testament believers are generally unconcerned or uncompromising. Are Christians to observe the Sabbath? Israel as the only theocratic nation was slapped with an exhaustive law that included Sabbath observance. Israel as God’s covenant people thus differs from others bereft of such demands then or now. Incidentally, neither were the antediluvians or the Patriarchs advised on Sabbath-keeping. What then of Christianity that, in being an offshoot of Judaism, defined the Messianic believer as a spiritual entity distinct from the nation of Israel, meaning to say that the Church never replaced the nation as its successor. And as the Messianic faith saw an influx of Gentile converts, the Jerusalem Council that convened around 50 AD decreed a simpler way for Gentile Christians to live in lieu of the Law: "We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well." (Acts 15:27-29). Because Sabbath-keeping is one of the 613 Laws of the OT, for a believer to revert to the Law is to effect a fall from grace to legalism. Paul, once a religious bigot, was so grieved by this retrogression, or ‘backsliding’ if you will, that he declared those ‘foolish Galatians’ accursed (anathema) that is to be damned! Why was Paul so irate? Paul in guarding his flock discerned that a blend of law and grace brewed a different gospel that bent the salvation message of Christ Jesus which is God‘s gracious gift to whom He wills without any human merit. "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed…" "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace… As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!" (Gal 1:6-9; 5:1-5:12) Make no mistake, even though Christ Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath - because He is God (Mk 2:23-28) that ‘No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?” ‘(Dan 4:35) - the New Testament believer has the freedom in Christ that makes neither the Sabbath (Saturday) nor the Lord’s day (Sunday) binding or any more religious. "One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it..(Rom 14:5-1). So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ." (Col 2:16, 17). "So with 613 Laws of the Old Testament beckoning, are Christians to keep the Sabbath? For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." (Jam 2:10).
Author Terrance Leon Austin
Everyday is to be kept holy. Jesus Christ Himself is the Sabbath, therefore everyday is a day of rest in the person of JESUS.
Julie Favazza
We, as Christians, are absolutely to keep the Sabbath. We have to be careful not to pick and choose scripture, as it is The Word. Jesus is The New Covenant and has fulfilled the law. We must remember that the Sabbath is Holy to God. It is one of the Ten Commandments. These were given to the children of Israel for their generation and every generation to come. If we ignore one tittle of these commands, we ignore all. Jesus came to fulfill the Law, not the Ten Commandments, as it was impossible to keep the law and remain Holy. God gave us a way to Him and His holiness through the precious gift of His Son, Jesus. Jesus never took away the Ten Commandments. A lot of people seem to take Matthew out of context. He speaks to the Jews about the law and the specific ceremonial commands prior to Jesus’ sacrifice. What was said to them was the traditions of men do not lead to life but to death, because those traditions alone will not save them, i.e. the circucision, washing of hands, dietary laws. As a matter of fact, The book of Matthew, written for the Jewish people never tells them not do these things, but instructs these things alone are now just the traditions of men. No longer the law, as Jesus is the law and is the only way to the Father. “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12
Charles K.
It is extremely clear to me that we are “commanded “ to keep the Sabbath. Yes, it is specifically listed in HIS 10 Commandments (why anyone would think they could remove one or change it is beyond me), but it was / is the ONLY day that He made holy. He literally created another day and named it “the Sabbath “, as opposed to the other 6 days, specifically so man would have a special day, a holy day to spend with HIM. Certainly, God is everywhere and can be found every day of the week, but this reinforces His intention to “carve out” another day to be with Him. If He literally created another day it must be special- we are the ones who have reduced it to just another typical day of the week justifying we can worship with Him on any day WE choose. Man can NOT make something holy that is common (Sunday) and man can NOT change His commands. Man can spend time with Him every day of the week but He has told us where He will be on each Sabbath for a very special reason... He put this on His calendar! There can not be anything in the NT that conflicts or disagrees with that found in the OT! Only our interpretations, or our misinterpretations of the NT Scriptures will produce these results- and this one, the breaking / changing of the 4th commandment has Satan written all over it! Why, it is so easy for him to get us to break His law- after all, it is not as important as the others such as ”thou shall not kill”! It is only changing a day..... Paul spent 3 years with Jesus where He taught him everything he needed to know before he was ready to preach to the Gentiles. And this is AFTER Paul’s education in the Scriptures during his ENTIRE life as a Pharisee. Don’t you think Jesus would have taught Paul that it would be just fine if the gentiles could change His Sabbath? The Sabbath is not a Jewish day of worship / rest / holy time to spend with God, it is MAN’S day to spend with Him! The cross had no affect on the Sabbath! It was holy both before AND after the cross and His Word will NEVER fall away or fail. Obey God or obey man- your choice. It is that simple! This is not a multiple choice question, nor are we to turn this into a discussion where we put ourselves on the same level as God - this is not up for our debate or discussion- He has already created this day for US and declared it holy.....period!
James Kraft
Colossians 2:13 Let no man, therefore, judge you in food, or in Drink, or in a feast day, or of in a new moon, or a SABBATH DAY. Galatians 2:21 I do not void the grace of God, for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Romans 4:5-8. Colossians 2:13. Romans 6:23. The gospel. First Corinthians 15:1-4. Galatians 1:6-8 Though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received from us, let him be accursed. First John 2:2. John 3:16-18. John 6:40 John 6:47. Romans 3:26-28. You cannot boast in a free gift. Romans 6:23.
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