Correct.
The new covenant is not simply the 10 commandments from the old covenant of law repackaged.
The 4th commandment that was a sign between God and the Israelites (Exodus 31:17) is not included. (Colossians 2:16-17) Now of course Jesus was keeping the sabbath day. He was born under the law (Galatians 4:4) and the Jewish disciples were also still under the law during Jesus ministry. There was a transition from law to grace in the New Testament and the new covenant was not instantly fully established in the beginning of the New Testament.
In regards to Acts 18:4, we read - And he (Paul) reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.
Paul's work here was evangelism. These Jews and Greeks (proselytes) were not yet Christians before Paul preached to them. They believed in the Jewish system, but the Bible says in Acts 14:1, that they BECAME believers
proving Paul's work there was evangelism and not sabbath worship.
The Greeks were Jewish converts to Judaism known as proselytes. They practiced the law of Moses and kept the sabbath. The only Greeks that were in the synagogue would be these proselytes. These Greeks were not yet Christians.
Acts 14:1 - In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that
a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks.
Acts 17:4 - And
some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.
Jesus said the sabbath was made for man and we see throughout scripture it was specifically commanded for the
children of Israel (who are of man) to keep. (Exodus 20:2; 31:16-17; Deuteronomy 5:15) Although God's rest on the seventh day (Genesis 2:3) did foreshadow a future sabbath law, there is no Biblical record of the sabbath day being observed before the children of Israel left the land of Egypt. *Nowhere in scripture is there any hint that sabbath keeping was practiced from Adam to Moses.*
The 10 commandments were under the
old covenant of law with Israel. Under the new covenant, the old covenant of law is not binding on the body of Christ and has been made obsolete. (2 Corinthians 3:6-9; Hebrews 8:13)
References for the moral aspect of 9 of the 10 commandments are reiterated under the new covenant, yet the command to keep the sabbath day is
not binding on Christians under the new covenant. (
Colossians 2:16-17)
1. You shall have no other gods before Me. - Acts 14:15
2. You shall make no idols. -
1 John 5:21
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. -
1 Timothy 6:1;
James 2:7;
James 5:12
4. Keep the sabbath day holy. - Not binding on the Church -
Colossians 2:16-17
5. Honor your father and your mother. -
Ephesians 6:1-2
6. You shall not murder. -
Romans 13:9-10;
1 John 3:15
7. You shall not commit adultery. -
Romans 13:9-10;
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
8. You shall not steal. -
Romans 13:9-10;
Ephesians 4:28
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. -
Romans 13:9-10;
Colossians 3:9-10
10. You shall not covet. -
Romans 13:9-10;
Ephesians 5:3
1 John 3:21 - Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23
And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
Colossians 2:16 certainly does include the sabbath commandment.
An unbiased reading of Colossians 2:16 will show that this is not just talking about "ceremonial sabbaths." The words "ton sabbaton" or "sabbath days"; are the same words translated "sabbath day" in Exodus 20:8 in the Septuagint (the Jewish translation of the Old Testament into Greek).
Paul's reasoning is clear, "Let no one judge you regarding a,
festival - yearly sabbaths,
a new moon - monthly sabbaths,
or a sabbath day - weekly sabbaths (or if you wish sabbath days)"
CHRIST, he goes on to say is the "Substance", these things were shadows.
Jesus will certainly straighten things out when He returns.
Adventist end-time theology all boils down to this: Those who keep Sabbath go to heaven, and the rest get burned in hell fire. This is a species of legalism. It makes the Sabbath, instead of grace or salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, the most important end-time issue. It takes the focus off of Jesus and puts the focus on works. Seventh-day Adventists even teach the ludicrous doctrine that near the end of time the "mark of the best" of Revelation 14 will be placed upon those who worship on Sunday instead of Saturday.
Mark of the Beast