Is This A Lie?

That's what I believe.

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Colossians 2:16-17 (ESV)

And study carefully Romans chapter 14. It's all right there. You are free in Christ!

Acts 15 says non-Jewish believers do not inherit the entire OT law, as does the entire book of Galatians, as well as Colossians 2:6-22. If you are not a Jew, go shopping on Saturday, and eat pork any day.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

RaymondG said:

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

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Don't stop there, brother, read the next verse-

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 (KJV)

Are you fulfilling that verse? Or do you need svior?

Gregorikos said:

Don't stop there, brother, read the next verse-

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 (KJV)

Are you fulfilling that verse? Or do you need svior?

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I can, of my own self, do nothing. The father within me, He doeth the work.

Yes, the Christian tradition generally does not accept much of the OT Law. The first Christians were Jews. However as Gentiles became interested in being Christians, the Church had to face the question of whether they should first become Jews and accept the Jewish law.

Acts 15 reports a meeting where representatives of both positions met and came to a compromise. The compromise is based on Jewish tradition. Many Jews at the time felt that the OT Law only applied to Jews. It was, after all, part of the covenant between God and the Jewish people, established (traditionally) by Moses. Godly Gentiles had a much smaller set of rules. Many rabbis based that list on an interpretation of the Noah story, with the covenant made when he got off the boat. Noah was, of course, a Gentile. The list of laws that Acts 15 says Gentile Christians need to obey may have been based on that rabbinic tradition, though there's some dispute.

Paul came to a similar answer though by different means. He believed that the Law was temporary, given for guidance until Christ came. It's a bit unclear whether he felt that the Law as no longer binding on anyone, or just on non-Jews, but he certainly didn't think it was binding on non-Jews.

Jesus' position is hard to be sure of, because of course the people around him were all Jews. Mat 5:18 probably implies that he accepted the Law as still valid for Jews, there the traditional Lutheran reading would dispute that. However he interpreted it rather loosely. E.g. in Mark 7:19, the author things that Jesus abolished the kosher laws. In Mat 5 and elsewhere, he replaces the laws with a focus on their intent. "You have heard it said but I say" in Mat 5 is a really strong statement. The things he's referring to are most of the 10 commandments, so he is claiming to replace the 10 commandments.

It's pretty standard for Christians to say that some of the OT laws reflect moral principles that continue for us. But since the laws aren't labelled as to which are eternal morals and which aren't, the safest approach is to see what is taught in the NT.

※※♡Rose○Gold○Macaron♡※※ said:

I read an article that the ceremonial laws are not in effect. This includes the Sabbath. Is this true? Can I eat pork and go shopping on Saturday? Were some of the laws only for Jews at a specific amount of time? What does God think about this whole situation? I think I'm coming out of the fog of confusion.

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The 7th day Sabbath is not a ceremonial law. It is the 4th commandment within the ten.

The 7th day is Gods special day He created for man.

Genesis 2:3
Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified (*made Holy) it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished.

Exodus 20:8
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

holy - to set aside (ie ... to set aside from all other days)

Mark 2:27

27Then Jesus told them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

28Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”…

The ceremonial laws are those that had to do with the OT sanctuary system (commonly referred to as Moses' law). The OT sanctuary system was done away with ... because it was no longer needed. The OT sanctuary systems purpose was pointing to Christ and the way to salvation. Earthly priests no longer needed.

Jesus is our high priest and ministers from the REAL sanctuary that is in heaven.

There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle which the Lord set up and not man. In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross.

Hebrews 8
New Living Translation
There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.

※※♡Rose○Gold○Macaron♡※※ said:

I read an article that the ceremonial laws are not in effect. This includes the Sabbath. Is this true? Can I eat pork and go shopping on Saturday? Were some of the laws only for Jews at a specific amount of time? What does God think about this whole situation? I think I'm coming out of the fog of confusion.

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No, this is not true. This is called lawlessness, and carries a special condemnation for those who teach it and pushes it. The Sabbath is the perfect example. It's so important that the Father even placed it in the top 10. We should learn to obey Him and His commandments, the same way that Jesus did.

※※♡Rose○Gold○Macaron♡※※ said:

I read an article that the ceremonial laws are not in effect. This includes the Sabbath. Is this true? Can I eat pork and go shopping on Saturday? Were some of the laws only for Jews at a specific amount of time? What does God think about this whole situation? I think I'm coming out of the fog of confusion.

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The Levitical Laws were never intended for the Gentiles.

I should have answered the OP more specifically. The term "ceremonial laws" is based on the idea that most OT laws no longer apply but some are moral principles and do apply. Ceremonial laws are laws creating holidays and describing just how to sacrifice in the temple. Generally Christians don't consider those as applying to Christians. First, they aren't in the list in Acts 15, nor do Jesus or Paul repeat them.

The Sabbath is more difficult. It's not in Acts 15 either, but Christians in the NT did worship weekly. It's also one of the 10 commandments, but remember that Jesus seems to have replaced those in Mat 5. Most Christians will tell you that the specific day, Saturday, is part of the OT Law and not applicable to Christians, but that worshipping regularly is still mandated. It is for us free worship, not legally commanded. Col 2:16 implies that this was debated in the early church, and Paul said you aren't required to celebrate any particular festivals or sabbaths. A few people have funny interpretations, but this seems like a pretty clear answer on the ceremonial law as a whole.

Incidentally, there's a debate among Christians about Sunday. Some believe that it is a Christian Sabbath. Supposedly Christians redefined the Sabbath as Sunday to commemorate Jesus' resurrection. It does appear in Acts that Christians worshipped in the Jewish Temple on Saturday and have Christian worship on Sunday, referred to as the Lord's Day. Personally, I see no justification for changing the Sabbath. I would say, rather, that Christians are not required to worship on the Sabbath, or indeed any specific day. Our worship is free and not legally mandated. But traditionally we celebrate the Lord's Day, which is Sunday. However many Christians feel strongly that Sunday is the Christian Sabbath, and some of them think we are required to worship then.

Note by the way that in the OT the Sabbath is a day of rest, and not specifically a day of worship.

※※♡Rose○Gold○Macaron♡※※ said:

I read an article that the ceremonial laws are not in effect. This includes the Sabbath. Is this true? Can I eat pork and go shopping on Saturday? Were some of the laws only for Jews at a specific amount of time? What does God think about this whole situation? I think I'm coming out of the fog of confusion.

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The ceremonial laws that were done away with at the cross are those that point to Jesus as the ceremonial Lamb, which only makes sense. The 10 commandments were never a part of those. The 10 commandments were written by the finger of God Himself and only He can do away with them. They were placed inside the ark in the sanctuary, the ceremonial (Levitical) laws were dictated by God, and written by Moses, they were placed outside the ark. The difference between the 2 laws was made by God, not man.
The word sabbath is applied to all the Jewish festivals, but only the 7th day Sabbath is referred to by "The" Sabbath." And is, throughout the bible, called the Lord's Day and was not for Jews only---it was set up at creation, He claimed it as His day then and it was crated for man, not for Jews. None of the 10 were created for Jews only and makes no sense at all to think so. And it was always God's plan for the Jews to be a light to the whole world. Her never intended for only the Jews to be saved, they became exclusive instead of inclusive. It says right in the 4th commandment that it includes all who are in the home. Not one of the 10 have been done away with and breaking one and not repenting, will keep you out of heaven and all you need do is read Rev.
God has written the law in our hearts now. The new covenant was needed, not because the law of God was not needed, but because the Jews were not keeping them and they are the ones that broke the covenant with God, not God who broke it. Any covenant, also known as a will, must be kept as written, after the death of the one that wrote it. It was Jesus that wrote the ten, it is He who who is all over the OT. And He alone would have had to make any changes to this covenant before His death, for no will can be changed after the death of the writer. Therefore, the 10, including the 4th, stand as written.

※※♡Rose○Gold○Macaron♡※※ said:

Can I eat pork and go shopping on Saturday?

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Yes.

eleos1954 said:

The 7th day Sabbath is not a ceremonial law. It is the 4th commandment within the ten.

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Christians, however, have Sunday as their holy day.

Radagast said:

Christians, however, have Sunday as their holy day.

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And how is it these christians can change what God created?

eleos1954 said:

And how is it these christians can change what God created?

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This is not the place for a debate on that. However, worship on Sunday is one of the things that all Christians share.

Radagast said:

This is not the place for a debate on that. However, worship on Sunday is one of the things that all Christians share.

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Not all. There are several denominations, such as the 7th day Baptists who do not share it.

RaymondG said:

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

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...and His audience were OT Jews.

Radagast said:

Christians, however, have Sunday as their holy day.

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To Christians, everyday is the Lord's day.

Phil W said:

...and His audience were OT Jews.

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Who became NT Christians.