Why Protestant churches dont keep the Sabbath.

reddogs · Aug 27, 2017

So is the Law confined to the Old Testament as many Christians have been taught that the Gospel was not introduced until the New Testament. They are taught we are in "age of grace" , and no longer is it necessary to be concerned with "works of the Law" or Gods Commandments. As they are told, this replaced the Law which was from the Old Testament. So did God change or is someone lying:

ECCLESIASTES 3:14 "I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever
GALATIANS 3:8-9 Paul says that Abraham heard the gospel. "And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ?In you all the nations shall be blessed. So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham." NKJV

HEBREWS 4:2 The Children of Israel heard the gospel preached to them in the wilderness. "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them; but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it."

During the Old Testament time, the gospel/good news, was that the Savior would come to pay the penalty for sin. Since the death of Christ, the good news is that a Savior has come, and has died on the cross to pay the penalty for sin.

So are those in the New Testament only ones to find grace or receive a "new" Grace:
GENESIS 6:8 "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord."
EXODUS 22:27 God said, "I will hear; for I am gracious."
EXODUS 34:6 God is "merciful and gracious, long suffering"

The word "grace" means "unmerited favor", and it has been shown by God to mankind ever since Adam and Eve were spared instant death and all through the Old Testament. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, He doesn't change and every believer from Adam through Abraham to this very day, has known the grace of God.
Every lamb brought by an Israelite represented Christ. They were forgiven in exactly the same way that we are forgiven today when we claim Christs as our substitute (Gen. 4:4; Gen. 8:20; Job 1:5). Christ said, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad" (John 8:56).

So did false ideas, traditions and 'salvation by works' creep into the understanding of the Gospel:
Yes, that was the corruption of the gospel that was taught by the religious authorities of Christs day. Jesus warned them as they had come to believe that there was merit or value in the ceremony itself, rather and whom it was meant to point to. They completely lost the symbolic meaning of the sacrificial service.

ROMANS 3:20 "For no human being will be justified in his sight by works of the law, since through the law comes the knowledge of sin."

As Jesus showed with the rich young ruler, no one, not in the New Testament or the Old Testament, is saved by keeping the law, as he kept every one, it is by faith.

HABAKKUK 2:4 (Old Testament) - GALATIANS 3:11(New Testament) "The just shall live by his faith."

Salvation and oneness with God in the Old Testament, as in the New Testament, was to be a gift of God, received by faith.

DEUTERONOMY 9:6 "Know therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness; for you are a stubborn people.

DANIEL 9:18 "Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy." NIV

Those in Old Testament were saved in exactly the same way as in the New Testament, by the grace of God. So are those in the Old Testament the only ones that have to follow the Commandments:
ROMANS 13:10 "Love is the fulfillment of the LAW."
I JOHN 5:3 "This is love for God; to obey HIS COMMANDMENTS."
JOHN 14:21 "Who ever has my COMMANDMENTS and obeys them, he is the one who loves me."
JOHN 14:15 "If you love me, keep my COMMANDMENTS."
MATTHEW 19:16,17 "If you would enter into life, obey my COMMANDMENTS."
ROMANS 2:12-13 "For not the hearers of the LAW are justified, but the doers of the LAW shall be justified."
I JOHN 2:4 "The man who says ?I know Him, but does not keep His COMMANDMENTS is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
LUKE 16:17 "It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the LAW to fail."
MATTHEW 19:17 "...If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."
MATTHEW 7:23 "Depart from me you who practice lawlessness!"
JOHN 15:10 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Fathers commandments, and abide in His love."
ROMANS 7:12 "The LAW is holy and the Commandment is holy, just, and good."
ROMANS 7:14 "The LAW is spiritual." "I agree with the LAW that it is good" (Rom. 7:16).
ROMANS 7:22 "In my inner being I delight in Gods LAW."
Is God of the Old Testament different in the New Testament so he changes his law and does away with the commandments:
EPHESIANS 2:15 Paul says that the "law contained in ordinances" was "abolished."
ROMANS 3:31 Paul also says "Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law."

reddogs · Aug 27, 2017

Now let look at the ordinances, and see what happened. The Ceremonial Law has passed away. This law pointed forward to Christ, "the Lamb of God." When the symbol was replaced by the reality. The symbol became obsolete, so we do not sacrifice lambs anymore. This is what was fulfilled by Jesus so it has become obsolete.

We come near to God, not through sacrifices, not through earthly priests, not through an ancient Temple service, not through keeping ancient symbolic holy days, but "by a new and living way, which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His Flesh" (Hebrews 10:19:20).

We have a High Priest, Jesus Christ the Son of God, who has entered "the Presence behind the veil." This He did when He sat down at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 6:19-20, 7:20-27, 8:1-2).
HEBREWS 9:9-10 "It (the Temple) was symbolic for the present time ... concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation."

COLOSSIANS 2:16-17 "Therefore (because your sins are forgiven) let no man judge you in regard to meat or drink (ceremonial offerings), a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ."

[Do not let anyone judge you because you no longer offer animal sacrifices, or grain, or drink offerings in the Temple. Do not let them judge you in the way you choose to keep the festival days, without offering animal sacrifices.]

HEBREWS 13:11-13 "For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach."

[Paul tells the Jews to leave the old ways of the Temple and the ceremonial system, to come "outside the camp," as it were, as Christ the one the symbols pointed to had come, and died for us.]

ROMANS 10:4 "Christ is the end of law for righteousness sake."

[Christ's death marked the end of keeping the ceremonial law in order to be called righteous in the sight of God.]

gadar perets · Aug 27, 2017

reddogs said:
COLOSSIANS 2:16-17 "Therefore (because your sins are forgiven) let no man judge you in regard to meat or drink (ceremonial offerings), a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ."

The Greek word "soma" does NOT mean "substance". It means "body" and refers to the Body of Messiah (the church). See post #s 11 & 13.

ROMANS 10:4

Click to expand...

"Christ is the end of law for righteousness sake."

Click to expand...

[Christ's death marked the end of keeping the ceremonial law in order to be called righteous in the sight of God.]

Romans 10:4 refers to the entire Law, not just the supposed "ceremonial law" which is a man made concept. There is no such designation in Scripture. The kind of righteousness YHWH is looking for does not come from keeping any law (including the Ten Commandments). It can only be imputed from YHWH through His Son Yeshua. That does not mean the law is done away with. It simply means we don't try to attain righteousness through keeping the law as the Jews were trying to do in Paul's day.

gadar perets · Aug 27, 2017

Concerning the law, I would also add that any person who claims to be spiritually minded WILL subject himself/herself to the law.

Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

If one refuses to be subject to the law, he/she is carnally minded. Why would a NT believer need to be subject to the law? Because the law is firmly established through faith.

Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

In other words, our faith makes the law to "stand" which is what the Greek word translated "establish" means. Faith does not make the law void or abolished. As we subject ourselves to the law, we must use it lawfully (1 Timothy 1:8). To seek to be justified/made righteous through the law or to seek to be saved by keeping the law are two ways of using the law unlawfully. Justification and salvation can only come by grace through faith.

Hank77 · Aug 27, 2017

gadar perets said:
One can celebrate the Passover as a remembrance of what YHWH did for us in Egypt without eating a Lamb. This is especially true for us today who have Yeshua as our Passover Lamb. Not only do we rejoice in the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage, but we celebrate our own deliverance from the bondage of sin through Yeshua's sacrifice.

Are you saying that there is a different law for today then Torah, the Law of Moses?

gadar perets said:
Were the people who were born in the wilderness, but were not circumcised members of the nation Of Israel? Of course they were. Verse 6 calls them, "the children of Israel".

Was Joshua talking about those born into the nation or proselytes to the nation?

gadar perets said:
The command in Leviticus 12 is quite clear:

And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
There is no command to circumcise Gentiles who missed the deadline.

And so is this one.

Exo 12:48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to Yehovah, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: but no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

It's not as if the Jews didn't have a leg to stand on when they said that the Gentiles converts to this new Messianic Jewish faith should be circumcised. They were merely following what Torah commands.

It appears to me that you are saying that a Gentile does not need to be circumcised, even though Torah says they must, but at the same time you are saying they need to follow other laws of Torah. Why is that?

Hank77 · Aug 27, 2017

gadar perets said:
The "Torah" (translated "law") is to be written on hearts and minds of all under the New Covenant.

I agree that God's law, the law of Christ, is written on the heart and mind.

gadar perets said:
A better way to administer the law is one of several blessings of the New Covenant along with a better Priest, a better Priesthood, a better Tabernacle, a better sacrifice and a better Mediator.

Heb 7:11 Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it hath the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron?
Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Heb 7:13 For he of whom these things are said belongeth to another tribe, from which no man hath given attendance at the altar.
...
Heb 7:22 by so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant.
Heb 7:23 And they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing:
Heb 7:24 but he, because he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchangeable.

gadar perets said:
As I understand it, all believers are part of the "Israel of God" through Messiah Yeshua. Therefore, we are to only marry other Israelites/believers.

I agree.

gadar perets · Aug 27, 2017

Hank77 said:
Are you saying that there is a different law for today then Torah, the Law of Moses?

No. Torah (YHWH's instructions given in the Pentateuch) includes the Law of Moses. That is the law that believers are to keep and which should be written on our hearts and minds.

Was Joshua talking about those born into the nation or proselytes to the nation?

Neither natural born Israelites nor proselytes were circumcised in the wilderness.

And so is this one.

Exo 12:48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to Yehovah, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: but no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

It's not as if the Jews didn't have a leg to stand on when they said that the Gentiles converts to this new Messianic Jewish faith should be circumcised. They were merely following what Torah commands.

It appears to me that you are saying that a Gentile does not need to be circumcised, even though Torah says they must, but at the same time you are saying they need to follow other laws of Torah. Why is that?

Several things to consider:

1) Exodus 12:48 concerns getting circumcised in order to eat the Passover lamb, not simply getting circumcised to celebrate the exodus. Nor was it a general command for all Gentiles.
2) The Jews were wanting Gentile converts to be circumcised AFTER Yeshua died as the true Passover Lamb at which time believers no longer needed to sacrifice Passover lambs. The reality had come, therefore the shadow ceased.
3) The Jews wanted them to get circumcised in order to be saved and justified. That was the main issue against circumcision at that time and why Paul was adamantly against it.
4) Gentiles who missed their eighth day circumcision still received circumcised hearts through faith.

gadar perets · Aug 27, 2017

Hank77 said:
Heb 7:11 Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it hath the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron?
Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Heb 7:13 For he of whom these things are said belongeth to another tribe, from which no man hath given attendance at the altar.
...
Heb 7:22 by so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant.
Heb 7:23 And they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing:
Heb 7:24 but he, because he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchangeable.

This change of the law ONLY concerns which tribe the high priest was to come from. Since Yeshua was not from Levi, a change needed to be made. However, this change was made via a promise (Psalm 110:4) before Yeshua was even born.

Yeshua made it clear that there would be no change in the law until heaven and earth passed away or until all things were fulfilled. Neither has happened yet.

Hank77 · Aug 27, 2017

gadar perets said:
Neither natural born Israelites nor proselytes were circumcised in the wilderness.

The question is who was Joshua referring to as being the 'the children of Israel'?
And was there a particular reason that they had not been circumcised?

gadar perets said:
1) Exodus 12:48 concerns getting circumcised in order to eat the Passover lamb, not simply getting circumcised to celebrate the exodus. Nor was it a general command for all Gentiles.

The Passover lamb was the beginning of all law keeping for the proselyte. Here is the next verse.

Exo 12:49 One law shall be to him that is home-born, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

gadar perets said:
2) The Jews were wanting Gentile converts to be circumcised AFTER Yeshua died as the true Passover Lamb at which time believers no longer needed to sacrifice Passover lambs. The reality had come, therefore the shadow ceased.

As you can see from the Torah verse Ex.12:49, it was not just about the Passover Lamb.

gadar perets said:
3) The Jews wanted them to get circumcised in order to be saved and justified. That was the main issue against circumcision at that time and why Paul was adamantly against it.

Why? Because they must be member of the nation of Israel, to be God's peculiar people, and under the old covenant, the Law of Moses, if one was not circumcised they could be a member of that nation unless they were circumcised. Only God's people will be Redeemed.

gadar perets said:
4) Gentiles who missed their eighth day circumcision still received circumcised hearts through faith.

And yet you say that Gentile babies must be circumcised on the 8th day? If they must be circumcised to be one of God's peculiar people than so must adults. That is Torah.

gadar perets said:
This change of the law ONLY concerns which tribe the high priest was to come from. Since Yeshua was not from Levi, a change needed to be made. However, this change was made via a promise (Psalm 110:4) before Yeshua was even born.

Yes, it was and took effect when? What is the change in the law, if it is not the new covenant rather than the old covenant?

gadar perets said:
Yeshua made it clear that there would be no change in the law until heaven and earth passed away or until all things were fulfilled. Neither has happened yet.

All things in the law and the prophets that are about the Messiah.
Did He fulfilled all the ceremonial laws that were a shadow of things to come?
Did He fulfill all these things the prophets said about Him in His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection?
And did He put his moral laws and precepts in our hearts? Two commandments.
Rom 3:31 Law then do we make useless through the faith? let it not be! yea, we do establish law.

gadar perets · Aug 27, 2017

Hank77 said:
The question is who was Joshua referring to as being the 'the children of Israel'?
And was there a particular reason that they had not been circumcised?

He was referring to everyone born in the wilderness. This would include natural born Israelites and any children born of strangers who were circumcised. We are not told why they did not get circumcised. We can surmise that journeying from one place to another without knowing how soon they would travel again had something to do with neglecting it.

The Passover lamb was the beginning of all law keeping for the proselyte. Here is the next verse.

Exo 12:49 One law shall be to him that is home-born, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

As you can see from the Torah verse Ex.12:49, it was not just about the Passover Lamb.

Keeping Passover may have been the beginning of all law keeping for the proselyte when they first came out of Egypt, but the greatest commandment would have been the beginning for all who joined later. Verses 45 & 48 makes it clear that circumcision was done so they could eat the Passover.

Why? Because they must be member of the nation of Israel, to be God's peculiar people, and under the old covenant, the Law of Moses, if one was not circumcised they could be a member of that nation unless they were circumcised. Only God's people will be Redeemed.

You sound like you are trying to promote adult circumcision. Are you saying that a person cannot be one of God's people unless he is circumcised physically even today?

And yet you say that Gentile babies must be circumcised on the 8th day? If they must be circumcised to be one of God's peculiar people than so must adults. That is Torah.

I am not saying Gentile babies must be circumcised to become one of God's people. What someone else does to us without our knowledge or consent does not make us anything. I am saying their parents must obey Torah which includes circumcision of their sons on the 8th day. To become one of God's people today, one must receive Yeshua.

Yes, it was and took effect when? What is the change in the law, if it is not the new covenant rather than the old covenant?

The change in the law was the allowance of a high priest from a tribe other than Levi. The law of the New Covenant is the same law of the Old Covenant except it is administered differently. The old's law was external, the new's law is the old's law internalized.

All things in the law and the prophets that are about the Messiah.
Did He fulfilled all the ceremonial laws that were a shadow of things to come?

No.

Did He fulfill all these things the prophets said about Him in His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection?

Yes, but he did not fulfill the prophecies about his second coming.

And did He put his moral laws and precepts in our hearts? Two commandments.

In some, yes. Others refuse to allow Him to write them there. Keep in mind that to fulfill the two fulfills them all, but if we continue to steal, for example, then we haven't fulfilled the two.

reddogs · Aug 28, 2017

So does the New Testament fight against Gods law:

ROMANS 4:15 "Where there is no law, there is no violation."
ROMANS 5:13 "For sin is the transgression of the law" ( 1 John 3:4).

Certainly, Lucifer sinned, when he rebelled against God in heaven. That means there was a LAW in heaven.

HOSEA 6:7, JOB 31:33 Adam sinned.
GENESIS 6:5 The people of Noahs day sinned.
GENESIS 18:20 Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for their lawlessness (sin).

These people lived long before Mt. Sinai.

GENESIS 26:5 Abraham kept Gods "commandments," and His "laws."
EXODUS 16:25 To the children of Israel, before Mt. Sinai, God said "How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?"

So what about the statements by Paul:

PAUL SAYS, "WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE" ROMANS 6:14.
"But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law." (Gal. 5:18).

What does he mean?To be "under the law" means to be condemned by the law for having violated one or more precepts of its precepts.

When we sin (when we transgress the law) we are condemned to die the "second death" (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 4:15; Rom. 5:13; James 1:15). We are under condemnation of the law. "All have sinned" (Rom. 3:23), therefore all are under condemnation (Rom. 5:12).

Without the power of God dwelling in us, we are "slaves of sin" (Rom. 6:6). We cannot keep the law of God even when we want to. "You do not do the things that you wish", Paul said (Gal 5:16). The law cannot save us; it can only condemn. If we depend upon keeping the law for our salvation, then we will be lost. We must depend upon Christ. It is only by His grace, by His imparted power that we can "keep the law."

When we accept Jesus as our Saviour, and we are "born again," Christ Himself by His Spirit comes to dwell in each one of us (John 17:23,26; Col 1:27; 1Cor. 15:45). Through the power which His presence imparts we begin to live a new life of righteousness (Rom. 6:4). We no longer "fulfill the lusts of the flesh" (Rom. 6:12, Gal.5:16). The law of love is "written in our hearts" (Rom. 2:15; 2 Cor. 3:3). The righteous requirement of the law "is fulfilled in us" (Rom. 8:4).

Far from doing away with Gods Law embodied in the Commandments, Gods Grace enables us to keep them more perfectly so the requirements of the Law may be fullfiled in us. The Commandments Of GOD
has never been abolished. It stands unchanged to this day.

reddogs · Aug 28, 2017

So what was done away by Christ in the New Testament?

Some have supposed that Galatians 4: 10, 11, and Colossians 2:16 repudiate Sabbath keeping. It reads, You observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain.

Does Paul mean to reprove those Galatians for observing the Sabbath? Let us see. This letter was written not later than 58 AD., or six years after the Jerusalem council. Right after this council we find Paul making his second missionary tour, delivering in every place the decrees which set the Gentiles free from ceremonial bondage, and at the same time setting an example of Sabbath observance. It was on this trip that he passed through Galatia and raised up the churches to whom he is writing in this text.

Among other things he reproved them for departing from the teaching he had brought them at the time of his first visit, and adds, But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Gal. 1:8. Thus it is evident that Paul had not changed his doctrine or his practices.

James and the church at Jerusalem never gave up Sabbath keeping so long as Jerusalem stood. When Paul was there at least two years after he wrote the epistle to the Galatians, he proceeded to show that he was in accord with his brethren in Jerusalem, as is recorded in Acts 21:20-24. Even after that, when he was at Rome, he said, I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers. Acts 28:17.

Therefore, Paul was not condemning the Galatians for doing the same as did he. About what, then, was he warning the Galatians? It was not that it was wrong to observe the Sabbath, for he was doing that himself. It was not that it was wrong to perform the act of circumcision, for after the Jerusalem council he had Timothy circumcised. Acts 16:1 What was it then? In this same letter he said, In Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision.- Gal. 5:6. It made no difference whether a man went through the form as such, or not. But it did make a
difference if a man did that for salvation.

What had they been taught? Certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren and said, Except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved. Acts 15:1. That was the contention-whether it was necessary for salvation. Paul wrote and warned them about keeping days and months and times and years, and being circumcised as a means of salvation. He told them that if they could be saved by that means, they did not need Christ or a savior. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.... Christ is become
of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace. Gal. 5:2-4. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Gal. 2:16.

The reference in Colossians reads: ---Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days.--- Col. 2:16. What does he mean? How can a man keep another from judging him? Does Paul mean that they were to keep all those feasts so well that no one would be able to judge them, or to find fault with the way they did it? If he meant judging in the ordinary sense, we would have to draw this conclusion.

In his letter to the Colossians Paul is not warning them simply about the danger of depending upon ritual for salvation, as in the Galatian letter, but against a strange set of doctrines that tended to overthrow the teaching of the gospel. This sixteenth verse is the conclusion of an argument which Paul had used to show that Jesus had paid the price of man's salvation, and had completely obliterated every trace of the document of debt, and had set him free. Then he adds, And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words: . . . beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Col. 2:4-8.

Clearly this was a warning against a philosophy that tended to lead away from Christ. Those who were doing that in the first century were Gnostics who held to the ritual of the Jews, but denied the divinity of Christ, and claimed to be Christians. This seems to be the people to whom Paul refers here. He says, Let no man judge [krineto] you. This word is translated in 1 Corinthians 7:37 as decree. If we should translate it that way here, it would read, Let no man make decrees for you to follow concerning meat and drink, etc.

It was a warning to the Colossians about false teachers who were making decrees for men to follow which were leading them away from Christ. He says, Let no man beguile you of your reward. . . . Why as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances . . . after the commandments and doctrines of men? Col. 2:18-22. This was a warning against men who were denying the merits of Christ in the salvation of man. These men were relying upon ritual rather than upon Christ.

reddogs · Aug 28, 2017

The New Testament teaches that Jesus Christ died for our sins so that we may inherit eternal life through Him.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:15

What scriptures was Paul referring to when he said that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures? He was referring to the Old Testament, which predicted that Jesus would die for the sins of mankind. Isaiah spells out the affliction and suffering that the Messiah would have to go through to atone for our sins:

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:3-6

What is sin, and why did it cost the life of the Son of God? The Bible has only one definition of sin, and we find this in 1 John 3:

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Sin is the transgression of the law of God. Moreover, sin carries a penalty, and that penalty is death, but in Christ the penalty is paid and we can have eternal life.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

Sin separates us from God and being separated from God means being separated from the source of life because God is the author and maintainer of life.

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:2

Since all mankind has transgressed the law of God, all mankind is in need of salvation.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

If salvation is a gift, then it follows that salvation is by grace and that my own works cannot save me.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. Romans 11:6

Wonderful news - we are saved by the grace of God through faith in the Son of God. Does this free us from obedience to Gods law or belittle God's law?

Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Romans 3:31

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:14-16

Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Romans 7:12

Simply then, sin (the transgression of Gods law) leads to death (and here we are not talking about physical death but eternal death), and grace leads to life (eternal life). But grace does not remove the obligation to keep Gods law, but rather establishes the law. The law cannot save me, but it can warn me by telling me what sin is.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20

It is by grace that we are saved, delivered from sin, justified, restored and sanctified. Grace sets right the relationship with God, but the law tells us what sin is so that we may avoid it by the grace of God. A true conversion will fill the heart with gratitude and the restored person will once again want to live in harmony with the law of God. Jesus said:

If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Fathers commandments, and abide in his love. John 15:10

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5:3

In John 8, we read the account of Mary Magdalene when she was caught in adultery and brought before Jesus. She stood before Him condemned to death by the law.

And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? John 8: 3-5

The Law could not save her, but Jesus could. Not one of the accusers was without sin and all fell short of the glory of God. Having convicted them of their own sinfulness, they left one by one and left the trembling, guilty, repentant Mary behind. Jesus turned to her and said:

When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. John 8:10-11

The condemned sinner was forgiven and placed under grace: Neither do I condemn thee, but then she was obligated to henceforth keep the law go, and sin no more. To be saved by grace does therefore not relieve anyone from the duty of obedience to Gods law. Grace takes away the condemnation of the law, but it does not do away with the law.

reddogs · Aug 28, 2017

So is it important to keep the true Sabbath?
Yes it is. In God's final warning messages to the world we find a call to worship the Creator. "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven... Saying with a loud voice Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." Revelation 14:6-7

The call to worship in Revelation 14:7 brings us back to the Sabbath Commandment which God set aside specifically for holy purposes: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." Exodus 20:8-11
Throughout the scriptures we can see an emphasis on the recognition of the Creator. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:11 "For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens." Psalms 96:4-5
"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." Psalms 121:2
By keeping the Sabbath holy, as He commanded us, we show our love for Him and give recognition of His authority in our life. "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:1

So does it matter how we worship God?
Yes it does. In John 4, the woman at the well asked Jesus the same question. Jesus responded: "the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." John 4:23-24

reddogs · Aug 28, 2017

God issues a strong warning in Revelation 14:7 clarifiying that we should "worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." This strong warning is needed because the devil has deceived almost the entire world into accepting his substitute day and thus multitudes worship or obey him rather than the Creator.

So who is it that is doing this false worship and has followed the dragons or the devils deception? "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" Revelation 13:3-4

This beast persecutes God’s faithful church. The dragon is Satan working through pagan religions, the occult and spiritualism, while the beast symbolizes Satan working in disguise, using the corrupted Christian church to do his work. It makes “war with the saints,” persecuting Christ’s true followers who struggled to maintain the truth of God’s Word. This beast is none other than the Papal church system.

13 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.Revelation 13:1

It arose as predicted among the populated nations of Europe, symbolized by “the sea” and the “ten horns.”..

salt-n-light · Sep 13, 2017

A_Thinker said:
Most (American) Protestants REST (from their labor) on the Sabbath day (Saturday).

Most (American) Protestants gather together for WORSHIP on Sunday, a tradition which was begun in the post-ascension church.

Acts 20:7 "Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight."

Paul taught flexibility in observances and worship settings ... and to let no man judge on these matters ...

Colossians 2

16 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. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

I really want to shake your hand!

gadar perets · Sep 13, 2017

Mskriskris said:
I really want to shake your hand!

I guess you missed post #11.

salt-n-light · Sep 13, 2017

gadar perets said:
I guess you missed post #11.

Just read it...I'm still on post #10 side.

Don't get me wrong, whoever say that Sunday is a Sabbath is wrong, for the meaning of Sabbath is contingent upon the 7th day. But Sabbath isn't the only day required to keep Holy. You should be doing that every day.And keeping it Holy isn't by works alone but through faith, for anyone can rest on the sense of refraining from any work, and still be evil in their heart. Not one man can say they are perfectly Holy on a Sabbath on their own merit.

Often times, the debate of Sabbath are based off of the works, and not questioning the heart of a person during Sabbath.

gadar perets · Sep 13, 2017

Mskriskris said:
But Sabbath isn't the only day required to keep Holy. You should be doing that every day.

Where are we told to keep every day holy?

And keeping it Holy isn't by works alone but through faith, for anyone can rest on the sense of refraining from any work, and still be evil in their heart. Not one man can say they are perfectly Holy on a Sabbath on their own merit.

Often times, the debate of Sabbath are based off of the works, and not questioning the heart of a person during Sabbath.

Our heart needs to be right, but it cannot be right if we disobey our Creator. If He says not to work on the 7th day, but we disobey, it is sin and sin is never right no matter how good your heart is.

salt-n-light · Sep 13, 2017

gadar perets said:
Where are we told to keep every day holy?

Our heart needs to be right, but it cannot be right if we disobey our Creator. If He says not to work on the 7th day, but we disobey, it is sin and sin is never right no matter how good your heart is.

How do you keep a day Holy, personally?

Why Protestant churches dont keep the Sabbath.

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