We don't have access to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, we are keeping that by default. Circumcision is good, most Americans do it for health reasons anyway, might as well acknowledge God told us to do it, it was instituted long before Sinai in Genesis 17:10. There is no temple, by not doing sacrifices we are keeping the commandment of Deuteronomy 12:11, 16:5 of only sacrificing at the place God chooses. I don't eat pig anymore, God didn't design them to be food, and he will judge people for doing so in the future (Isaiah 66:17). Sabbath is good, God blessed the day in Genesis 2:1-3, and Jesus said it was made for man in Mark 2:27, and Hebrews 4:1-11 encourages us to enter the rest. Love your neighbor is found in the law (Leviticus 19:18), the gospels (Mark 12:31), and the epistles (Romans 13:9).
Circumcision as a religious ritual does not do anything spiritually beneficial for a Christian. If a Christian believes that circumcision is necessary in order to be saved, he has fallen away from the faith.
Galatians 5:3-5
I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that he is bound to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait for the hope of righteousness. rsv
Jesus Christ's sacrificial death on the cross is the only blood sacrifice that saves us. The blood of animals do not save us.
Hebrews 13:20-21
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. rsv
The Sabbath and its laws was commanded for the Israelites and the Jews. The Sabbath and its laws was never commanded for the non-Israelites and the non-Jews. The Christians celebrate their weekly rest day on Sunday which is the day that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and defeated death.
Acts 20:7
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and he prolonged his speech until midnight. rsv
1 Corinthians 16:1-3
Now concerning the contribution for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that contributions need not be made when I come. 3 And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. rsv
God showed Peter that all foods could be eaten by both the Jewish Christian and the non-Jewish Christian and this includes swine. No food is spiritually unclean for the Christian.
Acts 10:9-16
The next day, as they were on their journey and coming near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 And he became hungry and desired something to eat; but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heaven opened, and something descending, like a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. rsv
Mark 7:18-20
And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters, not his heart but his stomach, and so passes on?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, “What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. rsv
Hebrews 4:1-11 is referring to the
rest that all faithful Christians will receive after Jesus comes again at His second coming.
Revelation 14:13
And I heard a voice from · heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes indeed!” says the Spirit, “so they can rest from · their labors, · because their deeds will follow them!” rsv
To love God with your whole being and to love your neighbor as yourself is the essence of the law/command of the OT Law. This is universal law. This law existed before Moses received the OT Law from God, and this law will remain forever.
