THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN - GOD'S WORD vs TRADITIONS OF MEN
The very same topics that we discuss here was also discussed in the day of Jesus. The mainstream preachers of Christ's time all claimed to be Children of God because their claim was that they were the Children of Abraham right? This was their claim to being God's people.
JOHN 8
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed,
and were never in bondage to any man: how say thou, Ye shall be made free?
They claimed belief on the God of Abraham, they claimed to be in bondage to no man. But what did Jesus tell them...............?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin.
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them,
If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
40 But now ye seek to kill me,
a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication;
we have one Father, even God.
44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45
And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
There is more on this engagement between Jesus and the Mainstream God of Abraham preachers of His time in
John 8.
Certainly the Pharisees studied the bible as it existed then. AS did Jesus.
Luke 24:27
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Yet these two factions, Jesus and the Mainstream preachers of His time had almost opposite understandings of the Bible.
It is fair to say not all Jews of that time had the same understanding as the Mainstream Preachers.
Luke 1:5
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife
was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name
was Elisabeth.
6
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
So there seems to be a trend here.
The Mainstream Preachers claimed to be God's people, they read God's Words, yet they "Transgressed the Commandments of God by their own doctrines and traditions." (
Matthew 15:3-9)
Yet there is no indication that Zacharias or Jesus did this and followed them.
So we have one example of understanding that was gained by study in
obedience to the instructions in God's Word, ( Zacharias and Jesus)
And another example of study in
disobedience to the instructions of God's Word. (Mainstream preachers of that time)
There were more than just Zacharias.
Matthew 2:1
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Here is another example of people who had a completely different understanding than the Mainstream preachers of that time. Is it wrong to assume that they, like Zacharias, also studied in obedience to the instruction?
And Peter, which side of this topic did he fall on?
Acts 5:32
And we are his witnesses of these things; and
so is also the Holy Ghost,
whom God hath given to them that obey him.
33
When they heard
that,
they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
Now why was it that the Jews sought to persecute Jesus and the prophets? It was because they refused to obey the instruction of God, and created their own instructions, and the other example did not.
So fast forward to today. We have a Mainstream Christian teaching that "Transgresses the Commandments of God by their own traditions and doctrines."
This is not a judgment, rather, a simple fact.
It is Mainstream Christian Tradition to transgress God's Sabbath Commandment and replace it with the Catholic Sabbath (Sunday worship). It is Mainstream Christian Tradition to create images of God in the likeness of some long haired men's shampoo model, transgressing the first and greatest commandment.
It is Mainstream Christian Tradition to transgress God's Food Laws, and create their own definition of clean and unclean.
So it seems that even today, if a person studies in obedience to God's simple instructions he see's the scripture one way.
If a person studies scripture in disobedience following the traditions and teachings of man in place of God's Word and to God's simple instructions, he sees the scripture in another way.
I believe what Peter taught, that the Holy Spirit (Spirit of Truth) is given to those who do not "Transgress the Commandments of God by their own religious doctrines and traditions.
But I also know from Peter and Jesus that this belief will infuriate "many" who come in Christ's/God's name.
23 "When they heard
that,
they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them."
Matthew 10:22
And ye shall be hated of all
men for my name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved."
My hope is that you might consider these words and understand.
John 3:19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (Is it evil or righteous to transgress the commandments of God by doctrines and traditions of men?)
20
For every one that doeth evil (Transgress God's Commandments by their own Traditions) hates the light, neither cometh to the light,
lest his deeds should be reproved.
Is this why the Mainstream preachers of Peters time set about to kill or silence Peter, so he wouldn't expose their transgression of God's Commandments?
21
But he that
does truth cometh to the light, that
his deeds may be made manifest,.(let your light shine)
that they are wrought in God.
So a circle complete once again. Those who live a doctrine created (wrought) by God have a different understanding than those who live a doctrine created by man who follow the traditions of man. The above was shared with me recently by a friend. I hope it was a blessing to you as it was for me.
Now the important question is who should we obey God or man...............?
The Jews (Pharisees/Lawyers) had placed so many restrictions on the Sabbath commandment through there man made traditions that it had become a burden to the people and was nearly impossible to keep (
Luke 13:14;
John 5:10-18; 9:16; etc.).
This was never how the Sabbath was to be kept. What did Jesus teach us about the Sabbath? Let's look to the Word of God.....
1. It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath (Matt 12:1-8; 10-12; 24:20;
Mark 3:1-5;
Luke 6:1-10; 13:14-16; 14:1-5;
John 7:22-23; 9:14;
Mark 1:21;
Mark 6:2;
Luke 4:16; 31;
Luke 14:1; 23:56)
2. Jesus made the Sabbath for all mankind (
Mark 2:27)
3. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (
Mark 2:28)
4. If you do not believe and follow God you cannot enter His Sabbath rest (
Hebrews 4)
5. It is one of God’s 10 commandments we break it we are guilty or breaking all (
James 2:8-12)
6. Breaking it is sin (
1 John 3:4)
7. God’s true followers keep it Holy as God commanded (Rev 14:12; Rev 22:14; Eze 20:20)
8. Jesus is our example and he kept the Sabbath (Matt 12:1-8; 10-12; 24:20;
Mark 3:1-5;
Luke 6:1-10; 13:14-16; 14:1-5;
John 7:22-23; 9:14;
Mark 1:21;
Mark 6:2;
Luke 4:16; 31;
Luke 14:1; 23:56;
John 2:6; Matt 16:24; 1 Cor 11:1; Eph 5:1-21; Pet 2:20-22)
9. The Apostle kept the Sabbath (Acts 13:14; 13:27; 13:44; 15:21; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4; Rev 1:10)
God’s Law in the NC is written on our hearts it is through love and it is love that fulfills God’s Law in us as we walk not after the flesh but after the spirit and is why Jesus says f you love me keep my commandments. (
John 14:15;
John 15:10). If we knowingly and willfully break one of God’s commandments we commit sin (
1 John 3:4). This includes the 7th Day Sabbath which Jesus made for us and commands us to keep as a holy day.
God gives us the other six days to labor and work and do whatever we like. We worship God everyday but the 7th Day God says is a Holy day that God has made for His people. Jesus is the maker of this day. It is the "Lords Day" and God has commanded us to keep it Holy (
Mark 2:27-28;
Exodus 20:8-11). The Sabbath is a sign that we worship the only true God of creation (
Ezekiel 20:12). We follow Jesus because we love him (
John 14:15;15:10). Love is the fulfilling of God's Law in us as we walk by faith in the Spirit.
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NOTE: PLEASE NO FLAMING OR GOADING; THIS IS A DISCUSSION THREAD ONLY FOR
SHARING GOD'S WORD IN LOVE; FRIENDLY DISCUSSION PLEASE!
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May God bless you as you seek him through His Word.
