[POLL] Should Christians Rest and Keep Holy the Sabbath Day?

[stuart lawrence]

To understand the spiritual message of the Bible requires more than just fixating on the letter of it. The Pharisees of Jesus day knew the literal words of the then scriptures inside and out, but they did not understand the true message the letter contained.
The Israelites were, God told Moses a stiff necked heathen people who would soon desert him once they reached the promised land. Such people needed to be encouraged to set aside time to meditate on God and worship and praise him.
The Christian is under a different covenant, and has the holy spirit who dwells in them. And through the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, Father and Son dwell in them and they in Father and Son. Therefore the Christian will, instinctively dwell/ meditate on Father and Son every day. Their meditation on God is every day, not only one specific day. So the spiritual intent of the fourth commandment is reflected in the Christians life all seven days, including Saturday. Hence rom 14:5
In saying that, Paul states in rom ch14 his view is: All food is clean. But if anyone believes food is unclean, then for them it is unclean.
The same applies for sabbath days. If anyone believes they should set aside a certain day as a sabbath day, then they should do that.

 

[Bob S]

The Sabbath of the old covenant was not dealing with morality as were the other 9 commandments. God ask Israel to observe a special day to remind them of creation and being led out of bondage in Egypt. It was designed for only that nation and was to last as long as the covenant was kept by the Israelites. It seems like almost no one one posting on this board is able to recognize this fact. The new covenant would not be like the old one. Yes it is different because God's law is written on our hearts. The new covenant is for all mankind not just Israel. We need not observe all the ritual days and other acts that were only pertinent to Israel. Jesus is God and He gave us new laws that are written on our hearts. He fulfilled His Father's command for Israel and gave us a new commands to believe in Him and to love others as He loves us. Love is the guiding force of the new covenant. Read the book of John. Then read 1st and 2nd John. Our laws are all about love. You will find but few rituals in the New Testament. James writes about doing good deeds to others. Our faith in Jesus is indicated to how we help others in Christian love. Faith without good deeds is dead. He was not telling us to keep the old covenant ritual laws. all the laws concerning morality have been in existence since the beginning of time and will be our duty and privilege throughout eternity. Christians are held to a higher standard than those who followed Moses. I follow the one who is able to keep me from falling and presents me guiltless before the Father. I stumble and sometimes I fall, but I always am lifted up by my Savior.

 

[DarylFawcett]

Obedience comes from faith( rom1:5)

Obedience to what?

 

[CDF47]

Aabsolutely, yes. The new covenant to me commands that we assemble.
Hebrews 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Those who believe we must be Sabbath observant do not have a good grasp on the covenants. The old covenant was about making Israel a great and Holy nation. Ex 19:5-6 The new covenant is about making you and me presentable for our Heavenly home. The old covenant was for Israel exclusively. The new covenant is for all mankind.

I agree. I wish there were more churches that gather on Saturday in my area.

 

[stuart lawrence]

Obedience to what?

Obedience to God/ the law he places in our hearts

 

[CDF47]

As I haven't read through the rest of this thread, somebody may have already pointed this out, but we also have Jeremiah 31:31-34 which basically says the same thing.

Jeremiah 31:31 ESV "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD.
33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

That is a good OT verse of the LORD writing the law on our hearts.

 

[CDF47]

To understand the spiritual message of the Bible requires more than just fixating on the letter of it. The Pharisees of Jesus day knew the literal words of the then scriptures inside and out, but they did not understand the true message the letter contained.
The Israelites were, God told Moses a stiff necked heathen people who would soon desert him once they reached the promised land. Such people needed to be encouraged to set aside time to meditate on God and worship and praise him.
The Christian is under a different covenant, and has the holy spirit who dwells in them. And through the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, Father and Son dwell in them and they in Father and Son. Therefore the Christian will, instinctively dwell/ meditate on Father and Son every day. Their meditation on God is every day, not only one specific day. So the spiritual intent of the fourth commandment is reflected in the Christians life all seven days, including Saturday. Hence rom 14:5
In saying that, Paul states in rom ch14 his view is: All food is clean. But if anyone believes food is unclean, then for them it is unclean.
The same applies for sabbath days. If anyone believes they should set aside a certain day as a sabbath day, then they should do that.

Agreed

 

[Bob S]

I agree. I wish there were more churches that gather on Saturday in my area.

Why my friend? What would you glean there than at churches who worship at other times? What is so special about those who think God expects them to observe a day given only to the Israelites and has nothing to do with Christianity? As I have indicated Christianity is not about keeping days. It is about serving our Savior Jesus Christ. It is about salvation. Old covenant Sabbath was one thing about how God wanted Israel to live in this World. New covenant is about how we gain our eternal home.

 

[Bob S]

That is a good OT verse of the LORD writing the law on our hearts.

What law?

 

[BobRyan]

That is a good OT verse of the LORD writing the law on our hearts.

True - and quoted verbatim in the NT Hebrews 8:6-10 ... unchanged from OT to NT.

 

[BobRyan]

What law?

The one that says "do not take God's name in vain" Ex 20:7 and that says "Honor Father and Mother" Ephesians 6:2 as the "FIRST" commandment in that still-valid-unit-of-law "with a promise".

 

[BobRyan]

To understand the spiritual message of the Bible requires more than just fixating on the letter of it.

It is very easy to see that "do not take God's name in vain" Ex 20:7 still applies .. as does all the TEN Commandments.

 

[BobRyan]

Jesus fulfilled the Law, something that man could not accomplish. .

True - Jesus' Commandments say "Do not take God's name in vain" Ex 20:7 and He of course perfectly complied - obeyed...

So should we. It is "still " a sin to take God's name in vain - even for Christians.

IF we break that commandment - we can repent and ask forgiveness under the Gospel -- under the NEW Covenant where that law is "written on the heart".

 

[BobRyan]

Shabbat Shalom!

Shabbat Shalome

 

[BobRyan]

I agree, Christians should not tell people they must follow the Law, .

Then do you oppose James 2... 1 Cor 7:19 "what matters is KEEPING the Commandments of God"???

 

[CDF47]

Why my friend? What would you glean there than at churches who worship at other times? What is so special about those who think God expects them to observe a day given only to the Israelites and has nothing to do with Christianity? As I have indicated Christianity is not about keeping days. It is about serving our Savior Jesus Christ. It is about salvation. Old covenant Sabbath was one thing about how God wanted Israel to live in this World. New covenant is about how we gain our eternal home.

I feel like the Lord intended worship to remain on Saturday and the enemy purposely changed it to Sunday for many. I think this is what Daniel meant when he said they will think to change the times and laws. I think worship is best on Saturday in my opinion.

 

[CDF47]

What law?

Love God and neighbor which all the other commandments are based on.

 

[CDF47]

True - and quoted verbatim in the NT Hebrews 8:6-10 ... unchanged from OT to NT.

Nice. I saved both of these verses to my PC. I remember the one from the NT but didn't realize it was also in Jeremiah and then repeated. That's cool.

 

[CDF47]

True - Jesus' Commandments say "Do not take God's name in vain" Ex 20:7 and He of course perfectly complied - obeyed...

So should we. It is "still " a sin to take God's name in vain - even for Christians.

IF we break that commandment - we can repent and ask forgiveness under the Gospel -- under the NEW Covenant where that law is "written on the heart".

When I was 17 I used God's name in vain in an argument with my mom (I hardly ever did that, especially in talking to me mother) and lightning came down, struck the tree in front of our house, and crushed part of the roof of my car within 1 second of me saying it. That Commandment still applies and I have repented since.

 

[CDF47]

Then do you oppose James 2... 1 Cor 7:19 "what matters is KEEPING the Commandments of God"???

This may refer to love God and neighbor. I rest on the Sabbath and keep it holy to the best of my ability and I try not to spend any money but I am not certain that it is still a must based on other verses in the Bible from Paul.