Sabbath

[cavell]

It is often claimed that "God instituted the Sabbath in Eden" because of the connection between the Sabbath and creation in Exodus 20:11. 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 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 Word of God makes it quite clear that Sabbath observance was a special sign between God and Israel: "And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine'" (Exodus 19:3–5).

"Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed" (Exodus 31:16–17).

In Deuteronomy 5, Moses restates the ten commandments to the next generation of Israelites. Here, after commanding Sabbath observance in verses 12–14, Moses gives the reason the Sabbath was given to the nation Israel:
"And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day" (Deuteronomy 5:15).

Notice the word therefore. God's intent for giving the Sabbath to Israel was not that they would remember creation, but that they would remember their Egyptian slavery and the Lord's deliverance. Note the requirements for Sabbath-keeping:

A person placed under that Sabbath law could not leave his home on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:29), he could not build a fire (Exodus 35:3), and he could not cause anyone else to work (Deuteronomy 5:14).

A person breaking the Sabbath law was to be put to death (Exodus 31:15; Numbers 15:32–35).

An examination of New Testament passages shows us four important points:
1) Whenever Christ appears in His resurrected form and the day is mentioned, it is always the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1, 9, 10; Mark 16:9; Luke 24:1, 13, 15; John 20:19, 26).
2) The only time the Sabbath is mentioned from Acts through Revelation it is for evangelistic purposes to the Jews and the setting is usually in a synagogue (Acts chapters 13–18). Paul wrote, "to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews" (1 Corinthians 9:20). Paul did not go to the synagogue to fellowship with and edify the saints, but to convict and save the lost.
3) Once Paul states "from now on I will go to the Gentiles" (Acts 18:6), the Sabbath is never again mentioned.
And 4) instead of suggesting adherence to the Sabbath day, the remainder of the New Testament implies the opposite (including the one exception to point 3 above, found in Colossians 2:16).


Looking more closely at point 4 above will reveal that there is no obligation for the New Testament believer to keep the Sabbath, and will also show that the idea of a Sunday "Christian Sabbath" is also unscriptural. As discussed above, there is one time the Sabbath is mentioned after Paul began to focus on the Gentiles, "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ" (Colossians 2:16–17). The Jewish Sabbath was abolished at the cross where Christ "wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us" (Colossians 2:14).


This idea is repeated more than once in the New Testament: "One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it" (Romans 14:5–6a).

"But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years" (Galatians 4:9–10).

But some claim that a mandate by Constantine in A.D. 321 "changed" the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. On what day did the early church meet for worship? Scripture never mentions any Sabbath (Saturday) gatherings by believers for fellowship or worship.

However, there are clear passages that mention the first day of the week. For instance, Acts 20:7 states that "on the first day of the week the disciples came together to break bread." In 1 Corinthians 16:2 Paul urges the Corinthian believers "on the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper."

Since Paul designates this offering as "service" in 2 Corinthians 9:12, this collection must have been linked with the Sunday worship service of the Christian assembly. Historically Sunday, not Saturday, was the normal meeting day for Christians in the church, and its practice dates back to the first century.

The Sabbath was given to Israel, not the church. The Sabbath is still Saturday, not Sunday, and has never been changed. But the Sabbath is part of the Old Testament Law, and Christians are free from the bondage of the Law (Galatians 4:1-26; Romans 6:14). Sabbath keeping is not required of the Christian—be it Saturday or Sunday.

The first day of the week, Sunday, the Lord's Day (Revelation 1:10) celebrates the New Creation, with Christ as our resurrected Head. We are not obligated to follow the Mosaic Sabbath—resting, but are now free to follow the risen Christ—serving. The Apostle Paul said that each individual Christian should decide whether to observe a Sabbath rest, "One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind" (Romans 14:5). We are to worship God every day, not just on Saturday or Sunday.

 

[Keenan]

Wow this is a really well done article! I was just talking about Saturday being the original Sabath a few days ago. And I always refuse any work on Sunday so this was a very relevant post for me. No more excuses for me to be lazy I suppose..

 

[Hack]

This is taken from a site called Yahweh's Restoration Ministry. If you think we are no longer required to keep the Sabbath you really should read this because we are.

A booklet called Feast Days and Sabbaths-Are They Still Binding? published by Amazing Facts was sent to us for our review and comments. The following is the result of that review. The booklet will henceforth be referred to by the first part of its title, Feast Days and Sabbaths.
The writer’s central assumption is that the law of Yahweh or Ten Commandments is different from and longer lasting than the law of Moses. He claims “Moses’ law” included the Feast days and was only temporary and ceremonial - done away at the death of our Savior - while “Yahweh’s law” is the Ten Commandments, which still stand today.
‘Law of Moses’ Applies to All the Law
The simple fact is, references to the “law of Moses” and the Ten Commandments are interchangeable in Scripture. Moses was merely the messenger of Yahweh’s law and the appellation “Moses’ Law” became attached to him as a result. If a friend allows me to drive his car for a while people would refer to it as my car by simple association. Moses handled all the law as emissary of Yahweh to Israel, including the Ten Commandments, Exodus 32:15. In that respect you could call the Ten Commandments Moses’ law, too, as does the Bible.
Moses was the go-between for Yahweh and Israel, as we see in Exodus 19:3, 7-8. This is also clear in 1Kings 8:56, 58: “Blessed be Yahweh, that has given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there has not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.” Additional Scriptures are similar in scope and some include the commandments as well as the statutes and judgments as laws being transmitted by Moses:
∙Leviticus 26:46: “These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which Yahweh made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.”
∙Numbers 36:13: “These are the commandments and the judgments, which Yahweh commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.”
∙Judges 3:4: “And they were to prove Israel by them (nations), to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of Yahweh, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.”
∙1Kings 2:3: “And keep the charge of Yahweh your Elohim, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do, and whithersoever you turn yourself.”
∙2Chronicles 35:6: “So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of Yahweh by the hand of Moses.”
∙Nehemiah 9:13-14: “You came down also upon mount Sinai, and spake with them from heaven, and gave them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments. And made known unto them your holy sabbath, and commanded them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses your servant.” (Here we note that Moses made known the Fourth Commandment Sabbath day as well as the other laws. The booklet would have us believe that only Yahweh disseminated the Sabbath law, with no contact involving Moses.
Feasts and Ten Commandments Both Part of Yahweh’s Law
The Ten Commandments are listed in Deuteronomy chapter 5. They are called statutes and judgments in Deuteronomy 5:1. Notice who presented these Ten Commandments, statutes and judgments to the people: “These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab” (1:1).
Yahweh does not separate the Ten Commandments from the Feasts, as if He mandated the commandments while Moses was responsible for the Feasts. Yahweh is the lawgiver, not Moses. James 1:12 tells us clearly that there is only one Lawgiver. Isaiah 33:22 says Yahweh is that Lawgiver. Moses was merely the conduit.
The weekly Sabbath and annual Feasts are all combined in Leviticus 23, showing that the Sabbath is considered a Feast and that all are part of Yahweh’s commanded law. The first five verses read, “And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of Yahweh, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; you shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of Yahweh in all your dwellings. These are the feasts of Yahweh, even holy convocations, which you shall proclaim in their seasons. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is Yahweh’s passover…”
The writer of Feast Days and Sabbaths rests his argument on a couple of passages, one of which is 2Kings 21:8, claiming that because Yahweh mentions both His law and Moses’ law that there is a distinction between the two. In fact, it is ALL Yahweh’s law. Yahweh spoke it to Moses and Moses gave it to the people because the people feared dying if they faced Yahweh directly, Exodus 20:19. Rather than making a separation between two kinds of law in 2Kings 21:8, Yahweh refers to both His law and Moses’ law in the same breath in order to show their equivalence. They are the same law, as other verses show.
The writer makes this statement: “It is interesting to note that curses and judgments of this law spelled out penalties for transgression which were totally missing from the Ten Commandments,” p. 6. After the commandments are re-listed in the second giving found in Deuteronomy 5, we find the following in Deuteronomy 11:26-28: “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if you obey the commandments of Yahweh your Elohim, which I command you this day: And a curse, if you will not obey the commandments of Yahweh your Elohim, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which you have not known.” The curses for breaking the commandments as well as the statutes and judgments are detailed in Deuteronomy 28:15-68.
Commandments, statutes and judgments constitute what is known as the law, as shown in Deuteronomy 5:1 and 6:1. We are commanded in Deuteronomy 11:1 to “keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, always.” And the Feasts are called “feasts of Yahweh,” Leviticus 23:44.

‘Law of Moses’ A Command of Yahweh
The Scriptures talk of Moses’ law because he handed them down from Yahweh; in fact, the law originated with Yahweh and was mandated by Him for His people.
We read in 1Kings 2:3: “And keep the charge of Yahweh your Elohim, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses…” The “law of Moses” included the Ten Commandments.
Further in 2Kings 14:6 we find: “But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the law of Moses, wherein Yahweh commanded…”
Ezra 7:6 says: “This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Yahweh Elohim of Israel had given.”
Nehemiah 8:1 tells us: “And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring Feast Days and Sabbaths of the law of Moses, which Yahweh had commanded to Israel.”
In Acts 21:24 Paul proved he was a keeper of all the law, not just the Ten Commandments, when he followed James’s instructions to “take and purify yourself with them…that they may know…that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law.”

Feasts and Sacrifices Not One and the Same
Feast Days and Sabbaths makes a common, erroneous assumption that the Feasts rise and fall with ceremonial, animal sacrifices. According to this logic, if animal sacrifices have been put in abeyance in the New Covenant, so have the Feasts. If that were true then the Sabbath is also now done away because animal sacrifices were a key part of the weekly Sabbath observance as well, being double the normal daily sacrifices on the Sabbath, Numbers 28:9-10.

Contrary to popular view, the sacrificial shedding of blood has not been abrogated in the New Covenant. The shedding of Yahshua’s perfect, sacrificial blood is still what we rely on now for the remission of our sins, Hebrews 10:9-10. Therefore, the idea of sacrifice was never brought to an end in the New Testament. Neither is circumcision, which is now of the heart, Romans 2:29.

The only change in the law under the New Covenant occurred with a new priesthood (Yahshua) and a different sacrificial system (His own death), Hebrews 9:9-15. The Passover, one of the seven appointed times, is still commanded by direct command of Yahshua Himself in memorial of His death, Luke 22:19. Churchianity even admits to that fact by keeping an imitation of the Passover it calls holy communion.

The Truth About Colossians 2 and Ephesians 2
Feast Days and Sabbaths lumps together sacrifices, human priesthood and feast days all as part of the law that was only a type and shadow and was in fact “against us,” citing Colossians 2:14. Colossians 2:14 specifically says it was the handwriting of ordinances that was against us. “Ordinances” is from the Greek dogma and refers to man-made rules and decrees. The same word is used in Caesar’s tax decree (dogma) of Luke 2:1. It means a man-made rule. The author himself agrees, where on page 15 he says that ordinances is a term “applied to local legal codes which are very narrow and limited.”
Colossians itself in 2:21-22 defines what it means by this “handwriting of ordinances”: “(Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using after the commandments and doctrines of men.” The Jews of the day added a lot of ritual that served to separate themselves from the Gentile. By His death, Yahshua brought Jew and Gentile together and in doing so He obliterated these man-made dogmas meant to keep them apart.

The booklet also cites verse 16 of Colossians 2, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Messiah.” This passage is often used to say one may keep any observances one likes and no one should judge one for it. In fact, it says that Yahweh’s Feasts ARE a shadow of something to come (not WERE shadowy Sabbaths, as the author erroneously argues on page 17, as if they were done away) and that only the body is to judge as to how they should be observed, not an outsider (“is” has been added by translators).

Ephesians 2:15 is also cited in the book. It reads: “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.” Verse 14 explains that He broke down the separating wall and made peace between Jew and Gentile and made salvation possible by “one new man,” meaning Himself.

Neither of these passages has anything to do with Yahweh’s Feasts, which is what they are called in Leviticus 23:2, not man’s Feasts or man-made Feasts.

Sabbaths Refers to Feast Days, Which Have High Days
An attempt is made to say that “Sabbaths” in Leviticus 23:38 is distinct from the Feasts in verse 37. Does this mean the weekly Sabbath is a different class of law from the Feasts? As pointed out in the Companion Bible, “Sabbaths” in verse 38 is a reference to the sacrifices offered on the Sabbaths through a linguistic device known as metonymy. This is clearly the case because both the previous verse and the rest of verse 38 discuss meat and burnt offerings, drink offerings, gifts, vows and freewill offerings. To insert weekly Sabbath in a list of offerings would violate the context and not make any sense.

In a contradiction to many of his own attempts to make “Sabbaths” refer only to the weekly Sabbath, the author admits on page 16, “Were there ‘sabbaths’ other than the weekly Sabbaths? Yes, there were yearly Sabbaths…”

Ezekiel 20:24-25 is cited as meaning that Yahweh gave Israel the law of Moses that was not good. This interpretation is unbelievable. Why would Yahweh ever give man laws that aren’t good, and statutes that they were not to live by? Reading further in verse 26 we find the right understanding. This is actually speaking of Israel’s keeping pagan rituals, like burning their children to Moloch. And because of their rebellion Yahweh gave them over to these pagan observances that were not good. Bullinger’s Companion Bible explains that the words “I gave them also statutes” is a Hebrew idiom that means “I suffered others to give them statutes…the verb nathan, to give, is therefore rendered to suffer in this sense.”

Contined...

 

[Hack]

Commanded, Not Taken Away
Feast Days and Sabbaths ends its case against the Feasts by saying that Yahshua went up to Jerusalem in John 5:51 to keep a feast. It then says, “This is unquestionably one of the holy days that Paul spoke of as being abolished.” The question that immediately comes to mind is, why would our Savior implore us to follow in His footsteps and do what He did, which included keeping the annual Feasts (John 7:10, 14; 2:23, Mark 14:12) and then abolish those same Feasts as soon as He died? His command to keep the Passover in Luke 22:19 is unmistakable. How can we possibly follow this command if the Passover were done away at His death? Why do churches today still honor “Pentecost Sunday” if the Feasts are no longer in effect?
Why would Paul, whose ministry took place years after the death and resurrection of Yahshua, say, “I must by all means keep this Feast [Tabernacles] that comes to Jerusalem?” (Acts 18:21). Paul was obedient to Yahshua’s [and Yahweh’s] command by keeping the Passover in 1Corinthians 11:24-31, as well as other Feasts (Acts 20:6, 16; 27:9-even 30 years after the Savior’ resurrection). Paul said he was taught by the resurrected Savior Himself, Galatians 1:11-17. That being the case, why was he not told that the Feast days are no longer in effect? He said he declared all the counsel or teachings of Yahweh, Acts 20:27. Then why were the Feasts still part of his teachings if they were abolished by Yahshua’s death long before?
The fact is, not only were the Feast days not done away in the New Covenant, but also they will be kept in the coming millennial Kingdom. Read the revealing prophecies of future Feast observances in Zechariah 14:16-19; Isaiah 66:23; Ezekiel 44:24; 45:21-25; 46:3. The people of Yahweh as well as the whole earth will be observing all these days when Yahshua’s government is set up for a thousand years in Jerusalem. The question is, if they will be part of His government under His millennial reign, why would they be abolished for the True Worshiper today?

 

[holo]

Where do people get the idea that the entire law was abolished, except for the ten commandments? And where do people get the idea that the ten commandments or any other part of the law was ever given to gentiles?

 

[New_Wineskin]

Where do people get the idea that the entire law was abolished, except for the ten commandments? And where do people get the idea that the ten commandments or any other part of the law was ever given to gentiles?

So that they convince themselves that they can place laws on other people . It's a bully-thing . It is really pathetic to those that know that these people have no authority over them .

 

[Nadiine]

Where do people get the idea that the entire law was abolished, except for the ten commandments? And where do people get the idea that the ten commandments or any other part of the law was ever given to gentiles?

Easy, they aren't TAUGHT properly. I had to do a long in depth study on my own & gathering up lots of info, commentaries & articles about law & what was present prior to law.

I truly think part of the problem is pastors are "dumbing down" the congregations, as if we're too stupid to grasp in depth teachings.
People do want to learn - a good teacher will be able to get their congregation to understand law & grace & how they both mesh together.

& NewWineskin once again has just attacked Christians rather than deal with the real source of the problem. Chronic attacks aren't helpful, it's just plain being negative & judgmental imo.

 

[MaidforHim]

Looking more closely at point 4 above will reveal that there is no obligation for the New Testament believer to keep the Sabbath, and will also show that the idea of a Sunday "Christian Sabbath" is also unscriptural. As discussed above, there is one time the Sabbath is mentioned after Paul began to focus on the Gentiles, "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ" (Colossians 2:16–17). The Jewish Sabbath was abolished at the cross where Christ "wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us" (Colossians 2:14).

I find this topic extremly interesting and your post very good. Thank you for sharing it.

Although your post makes perfect sense I am a little fuzzy on this topic because of one concept....

I thought that the ten commandments were not part of the law, but rather instruction from God "commandments" not a covenant or contract, but a direct command ... explicit instruction.​

A "command" wouldn't be something requireing fullfilment like a contract or convenant would. Christ wouldn't need to fullfil something that isn't part of a contract, but is instead his instruction. This is where I get confused on whether we're required to keep the Sabbath or not.

Worse yet I also get confused in respect to the question "What exactly is the Sabbath?"

It seems to me that even if we were still required to observe the Sabbath it would be an individual thing. For example who's to say which day is the first and which is the seventh? In order for all of us to use the same day and be accurate about it wouldn't we have to know which day the first Sabbath occured on and count forward from there?

Or would it be an indivudual thing.... A barbers seventh day would be Monday since his work week starts on Tuesday.
I used to work 4-10's mon-thurs would I have 3 days to choose from or would Sunday be my seventh day?
Who's work week actually begins on Sunday thus making Saturday the "right" day for the Sabbath?

If anyone could shed some light on this for me I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[buck]

An on the seventh day he rested per his word.
I'm 59 and Sunday has been the day of worship.
Buck

 

[Psalms34]

Where do people get the idea that the entire law was abolished, except for the ten commandments? And where do people get the idea that the ten commandments or any other part of the law was ever given to gentiles?

As far as for the ten commandments, they weren’t, we were given two commandments which sums up the ten commandments. The ten commandments are still what was given, but we received understanding which empowers us to keep all the commandments by the two.

The law was not exactly abolished, not unless the heart was abolished. The law is written upon the heart since it was fulfilled by Christ. One can still live under the law if they choose, but it is apart form that which is written on the heart for it is still but written on stone. If God wanted new tires for his car I suppose he would have written it on Bridgestone tires, be he wants the heart so it seems.

 

[BustedFlat]

Where do people get the idea that the entire law was abolished, except for the ten commandments? And where do people get the idea that the ten commandments or any other part of the law was ever given to gentiles?

Faith_Warrior is right but I would go father.

Where do people get the idea any of the law was abolished?

Mat 5:17¶Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19Whosoever 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.


Not only were the commandments not abolished, neither was the law. They were exalted. All of the law. It was fulfilled in that the death therein proscribed was carried out on a Roman cross 2000 years ago. But when Paul says:
“Christ is the end of the law to those that believe" (Romans 10:4); He is not abolishing the law but stating that Jesus had paid with his life so that we do not have to. We are still commanded, by Jesus, to do and teach the law, just that the penalties proscribed were paid in full on that hillside so long ago.

Where do people get the idea gentiles were NOT given the law?

Rom 2:13(For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another):


Hope that clears up that question.





In Jesus


BustedFlat

 

[cavell]

Galatians 3:1 - 14

You foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you?.....Did you receive the Spirit by observing the Law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?

Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the Law or because you believe what you have heard?

Consider Abraham...................................all who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

All who rely on observing the Law are under a curse, for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the book of the Law" Duet.27. 26

Clearly no one is justified before God by the Law, because "The righteous will live by faith" Hab.2.4 The Law is not based on faith, on the contrary "The man who does these things will live by them" Lev.18.5

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree Duet.21.23

He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit

 

[MaidforHim]

Ok this has bugged me long enough and to the point that I asked my pastor for advice. He sent me this link to the page which I will post in stages.

This has helped my understanding immensely!!! What touched me most was Mathew 12:1-14 like the pastor says at the bottom.... read it carefully

http://www.exadventist.com/Home/Sabbath/tabid/53/Default.aspx
THE SABBATH & SUNDAY
by Pastor J. Mark Martin​

WHEN THE COUNSEL OF ACTS 15 CONVENED to determine what Gentile Christians must observe, SABBATH KEEPING IS CONSPICUOUSLY ABSENT. Peter exhorts the leadership of the Church not to place the Gentiles under the Law:
Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are." Acts 15:10-11.The final judgment of the Jerusalem Council contains no reference to Sabbath keeping. Circumcision was discussed and deemed unnecessary (vss. 5-6; 19-20). If Sabbath keeping were to be an essential part of the New Covenant relationship with God it would have been mentioned in the discussion because it would have been an unfamiliar practice to the Gentiles. Sabbath keeping was not even discussed because it is not a requirement for New Covenant believers:

"For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials; that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell." (Acts 15:28-29).
NOTICE that the Holy Spirit told them NOT to lay upon the Gentiles any greater burden than THOSE ESSENTIALS. OBVIOUSLY THE HOLY SPIRIT DID NOT THINK SABBATH KEEPING WAS AN ESSENTIAL THING ANYMORE!



The 7 post-resurrection appearances of Christ show that Jesus purposefully chose the first day of the week to meet with His disciples to encourage and exhort them. The evidence shows that five of these appearances occurred on a Sunday, the first day of the week. We do no have a record of what the actual day on which the other appearances (John 21 and Acts 1:6-10) occurred to His disciples. What we can say with accuracy is this, after Jesus' resurrection whenever He met with His disciples and the day is identified, it is NOT the Sabbath, it is the first day of the week!

1). To Mary, On the morning of the resurrection - Matthew 28:8-10; Mark 16:9; John 20:11-18​

2). To two disciples going to Emmaus - Luke 24:13-33; Mark 16:12-13​

3). To Simon (Peter) - Luke 24:31-35.​

4). To the eleven disciples on the evening of Resurrection Sunday - Mark 16:14-18; Luke 24:36-44; John 20:19-23​

5). To the Eleven disciples "Eight days later" - John 20:26-29

Pentecost happened on the first day of the week! The Church was born on the first day of the week! That doesn't make Sunday the Sabbath, it just tells you that after the resurrection of Jesus, the Sabbath is not emphasized. ​

When a day is mentioned in connection with the appearances of the risen Lord Jesus, it is always the first day of the week. Look at the extremely important events that occurred in the life of the first followers of Christ on the first day of the week.​

1). Jesus startled them by appearing to them on the first day (John 20:19).​

2). Jesus received worship from Thomas (John 20:27-28).​

3). Sunday evening Jesus took bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to His disciples evidently like He had in instituting the communion meal (Luke 22:19) and their "eyes were opened and they recognized Him" (Luke 24:31).​

4). Sunday evening Jesus blessed His disciples twice saying "Peace be with you" (John 20:20; 26).​

5). That same Sunday evening Jesus "...breathed on them and said, 'receive the Holy Spirit'" John 20:22.​

6). On Sunday evening Jesus gave His disciples the ecclesiastical authority to proclaim forgiveness to those who believe in Him through the Gospel (John 20:23).​

​

NOTE: Why did the Disciples meet on Sunday?

1). Because it now carried a special symbolic/anti-typical significance for them​

2). Even if it didn't and was by chance, --Jesus still chose to reveal Himself to them only on Sunday, when we know what day it is. That must also hold some kind of Divine significance.​

3). Jesus could have chosen to meet with His disciple on the Sabbath. This would have clearly set a New Covenant precedent. He did not chose to do this. The Sabbath was the sign of a fulfilled covenant (see Exodus 31:17 & Hebrews 8:13).​

THE NINE "MORAL" COMMANDS OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS ARE REITERATED in the New Testament:

1). To worship the Lord God only (1st commandment): no less than 50 times​

2). Idolatry (2nd commandment): condemned 12 times​

3). Profanity (3rd commandment): condemned 4 times​

4). Honoring parents (5th commandment) is taught 6 times​

5). Murder (6th commandment) condemned 6 times​

6). Adultery (7th commandment) condemned 12 times​

7). Theft (8th commandment) condemned 4 times​

8). False Witness (9th commandment) condemned 4 times​

9). Covetousness (10th commandment) condemned 9 times​

* see references here *​

Why is it that the duty to keep the Seventh day as Sabbath is not mentioned ONCE in the New Testament?​

WHEN THE NEW TESTAMENT LISTS SINS, SABBATH BREAKING IS CONSPICUOUSLY ABSENT:

In Mark 7:21-22 13 sins are listed. Jesus did not mention breaking the Sabbath.​

In Romans 1:29-32 20 sins are listed and not one of them is Sabbath breaking.​

In Galatians 5:19-21 a list of 15 sins are given, ​

In 2 Timothy 3:1-4 there's a list of 18 sins, but not once is Sabbath breaking mentioned! ​

WHY IS IT THAT NOWHERE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IS IT TAUGHT THAT THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT MUST BE OBSERVED?

-Why is it that nowhere in the New Testament is failure to keep the Sabbath day condemned as sin?​

-Why is the fourth commandment itself not repeated even ONCE in the New Testament?​

-If the Sabbath keeping is so important for a disciple of Christ, why was it not mentioned in His sermon on the Mount or in ANY of His teachings?​

-Why didn't Jesus command Sabbath keeping?​

-Why didn't any of the Apostles command Sabbath keeping?​

-Why didn't the Jerusalem counsel command Sabbath keeping or condemn Sabbath breaking? (Acts 15)

Some answer that the Jews already knew about the Sabbath so it was taken for granted that they would continue to keep it, but then why were the other nine commandments reiterated? Would they not be taken for granted as well? It would also seem that with so many Gentiles coming into the Church, that if keeping the Sabbath was so important there would be instruction in the New Testament Epistles somewhere concerning it. There are instructions for them concerning morality, ethics, worship, Church order and family lifestyle. Why would something as important as Sabbath keeping be ignored? Circumcision, which predates the Law and the Sabbath commandment was an issue in the New Testament Church and is addressed repeatedly in the New Testament Epistles and by the Jerusalem Counsel.​

​

Sabbath keepers argue that it is the example of Jesus that gives us the reason for keeping the Sabbath."He kept the Sabbath, so I must keep the Sabbath. Jesus is my example," they say. Well this kind of reasoning is flawed because it only chooses Jesus' Sabbath keeping and rejects the rest of His Jewish lifestyle. Jesus also kept Kosher laws. He kept the Passover, Sukkot, Hanukkah, and worshipped in the temple. Are we to follow everything He did?

Galatians 4:4-5 says that Jesus lived under the Law to redeem us from the Law. ​

"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons." (NIV)​

​

JESUS WAS ALSO ACCUSED OF SABBATH BREAKING. Why, if He wanted to be our "example" in Sabbath keeping didn't He make it clear that He was not breaking the Sabbath? Instead He clearly admits to it. He also admits that His disciples were breaking the Sabbath and He defends them. Read Matthew 12:1- 14 carefully. Jesus is clearly saying that His disciples are like the priests who may work in the temple every Sabbath and be innocent of breaking the Sabbath. When Jesus says that He is "Lord of the Sabbath" He is declaring that He is above the Sabbath. He may do what He wishes on the Sabbath and therefore His disciples may do whatever they wish as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Mathew 12:1-14​

1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. 3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? 6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. 7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. 9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: 10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. 13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. 14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held F25 a council against him, how they might destroy him.​

 

[MaidforHim]

Since we know that Jesus Christ was/is sinnless we must have had and in some cases still have a poor understanding of what is expected of us in regards to the Sabbath.

This is just too long to post here so I am reducing it and post this snip. Here is the link to the article again if anyone is interested. http://www.exadventist.com/Home/Sabbath/tabid/53/Default.aspx

>snip......

Apparently Jesus did break the Sabbath: "Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, "This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath."..." John 9:15.If Jesus did not want us to understand that He was breaking the Sabbath why did He not speak against these accusations. It's because Jesus had the right and the authority to break the Sabbath because He is Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath does not bind Him. Think about this, if it does not bind Him, are we not "in Christ"? Why would it be any more binding upon us. (Again Read Matthew 12:1-14 carefully).
One of the issues that needs to be honestly faced is the fact that Jesus never commanded anyone to keep the Sabbath and none of His apostles ever commanded anyone to keep it either. Not once in the New Testament are we told to keep the Sabbath. Those commands to the Church are conspicuously absent from the teachings of the New Testament.
EVERY MENTION OF THE SABBATH IN THE BOOK OF ACTS without a single exception is in connection with Jewish worship on that day and not Christian celebration. Paul's evangelistic strategy was to go to the Jews first in a community and share the Gospel with them. Sabbath is the day when he knew he would find the most Jews gathering for worship. He knew he would have his best opportunity of sharing the good news of the Messiah to the Jews on Sabbath. It was not because he was meeting with a group of believing Christians. He was meeting with non-Christian Jews.




IS THE TEN COMMANDMENT LAW ETERNAL?

No, the Law is not eternal. Galatians 3:19 gives the purpose of the Law. It says: "What, then, was the purpose of he law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come."​

The law was given 430 years after Abraham. "What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise." Galatians 3:17-18.​

The Law had a definite beginning time (430 years after Abraham) and a definite ending time, --When the promised Seed (Christ, vs. 16) came.​

Other Scriptures such as Romans 5:12-14 indicate that there can be sin in the world, even BEFORE the Law was given. "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned -- for until the Law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of Adam's offense, who is a type of Him who was to come."​

 

[MaidforHim]

After Mathew 12, this pretty much sealed the deal for me. God always sends a full message, he doesn't leave things out "by accident"....

Conclusion:
http://www.exadventist.com/Home/Sabbath/tabid/53/Default.aspx

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]References for the 9 "moral" commandments reiterated in the New Testament:[/FONT]



[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1st - Worship God - [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](53 times) Matthew 2:2; 2:8; 2:11; 4:9; 4:10; 14:33; 15:9; 28:9; 28:17, Mark 7:7, Luke 4:7; 4:8; 24:52, John 4:20,21,22(x2),23,24(x2); 9:38; 12:20, Acts 7:43; 8:27; 16:14; 17:23(x2); 18:7; 18:13; 19:27; 24:11, Romans 1:25; 12:1, 1 Corinthians 14:25, Philippians 3:3, Colossians 2:18, Hebrews 1:6; 9:1; 9:6; 10:2; 11:21, Revelation 4:10; 5:14; 7:11; 9:20; 11:1; 11:16; 14:7; 15:4; 19:4; 19:10; 22:8; 22:9[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2nd - No Idolatry - [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](20 times) Acts 15:20,29, Romans 1:25, 1 Corinthians 6:9; Chapter 8; 10:7,14; 12:2, 2 Corinthians 6:16, 1 Thessalonians 1:9, Galatians 5:20, Ephesians 5:5, Colossians 3:5, 1 Peter 4:3, 1 John 5:21, Revelation 2:14, 20; 9:20; 21:8; 22:15[/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]3rd - No Profanity - [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](4 times) Matthew 12:36, Ephesians 5:4, Romans 2:24, Revelation 16:9[/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]5th - Honor Parents - [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](6 times) Matthew 15:5, Matthew 19:19, Mark 7:10; 10:19, Luke 18:20, Ephesians 6:2[/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6th - Murder - [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](7 times) Matthew 5:21; 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, Romans 1:29; 13:9, James 2:11[/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]7th - Adultery - [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](12 times) Matthew 5:27,28,32; 19:9,18, Mark 10:11,19, Luke 16:18; 18:20, Romans 13:9, James 2:11, 2 Peter 2:14[/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]8th - Stealing - [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](6 times) Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, Romans 2:21; 13:9, Ephesians 4:28[/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]9th - Lying - [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](4 times) Matthew 15:9; 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20[/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]10th - Don't Covet - [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](9 times) Mark 7:22, Luke 12:15, Romans 1:29; 7:7; 13:9, Ephesians 5:3, Colossians 3:5, Hebrews 13:5, 2 Peter 2:14[/FONT]​

Absolutely NO reiteration of the Sabbath commandment. None! That seems to send a message loud and clear since the gentiles being taught would have needed to know what the Sabbath was and that they would need to keep it Holy if they were indeed required to observe it.

 

[buck]

Where Do Christian follow a thing called Yahweh’s Law I noticed alot of people are following the old
testament witch was Before Christ. After his dieing on the cross we live by the New Testament.
pLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT. iF YOU THINK i'M STUPIED ABOUT THIS STUFF
THEN I WILL LEAVE." KJV" IS FOR ME

 

[buck]

we are living in the new testement times. After christ died on the cross.The old Testement is history and we live under the new

 

[BustedFlat]

Where Do Christian follow a thing called Yahweh’s Law I noticed alot of people are following the old
testament witch was Before Christ. After his dieing on the cross we live by the New Testament.
pLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT. iF YOU THINK i'M STUPIED ABOUT THIS STUFF
THEN I WILL LEAVE." KJV" IS FOR ME

Matthew 5:17-20



In Jesus

BustedFlat

 

[- DRA -]

Matthew 5:17-20



In Jesus

BustedFlat

Hebrews teaches us that Jesus is a High Priest called after the order of Melchizedek i.e. 3:1; 4:14; 5:5,10. Then, the discussion of the significance of Melchizedek's priesthood occurs in chapter 7.

Note verse 12. An interesting conclusion is drawn. "For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law" (NKJV). The point? The Israelites were no longer under the law of Moses. God's law changed when Jesus became High Priest. He couldn't be a High Priest under the Levitical system -- He was from the wrong tribe (verses 12-14). Rather, He was declared to be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. NOTE the emphasis on the word forever. It is emphasized in Hebrews 7:15-17. It is contrasting the Levitical priesthood, which ended, with the priesthood of Melchizedek, which will continue forever in Christ.

Now, please harmonize your understanding of Matthew 5:17-20 with this passage in Hebrews i.e. Heb. 7:12.

 

[BustedFlat]

Hebrews teaches us that Jesus is a High Priest called after the order of Melchizedek i.e. 3:1; 4:14; 5:5,10. Then, the discussion of the significance of Melchizedek's priesthood occurs in chapter 7.

Note verse 12. An interesting conclusion is drawn. "For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law" (NKJV). The point? The Israelites were no longer under the law of Moses. God's law changed when Jesus became High Priest. He couldn't be a High Priest under the Levitical system -- He was from the wrong tribe (verses 12-14). Rather, He was declared to be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. NOTE the emphasis on the word forever. It is emphasized in Hebrews 7:15-17. It is contrasting the Levitical priesthood, which ended, with the priesthood of Melchizedek, which will continue forever in Christ.

Now, please harmonize your understanding of Matthew 5:17-20 with this passage in Hebrews i.e. Heb. 7:12.

God gave the law.

God says not one jot or one tittle of the law shall change until heaven and earth pass.

I see no wiggle room here. Jesus explains the law, as God laid it out.

One of His problems was 23 chapters (In the Mishnah, the commentaries on the law of Moses) on how to keep the Sabbath holy. God did not dictate 23 chapters, He said keep it holy.

Hebrews is discussing man's interpretation of that part of the law. God told us His interpretation in Psalms 110:

Psa 110:4The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.




FYI : I believe that Melchizedek is one of the appearances of Jesus in the old testament.




In Jesus


BustedFlat