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Very often we have debate and differences on the Sabbath and LAW -- but now and then some Bible details surface that are so incredibly obvious - that scholarship on BOTH sides freely admit to them.
That will be our focus in this thread - so this could be pretty easy for all to find some level of agreement.
Some are interested in this teaching in the Bible about the 7th day Sabbath of the Ten Commandments being for all mankind. (as opposed to the Sabbath of the TEN Commandments being temporary or merely ceremonial).
1. When stating that the Bible Sabbath of the Ten Commandments is part of the moral law of God and is applicable to all mankind I am stating a Bible detail so obvious that all major Christian denominations agree - the TEN are part of the moral law of God written on the heart (see the "Baptist Confession of Faith" sectn 19 and the "Westminster Confession of Faith" section 19 and the Catholic Catechism on the TEN Commandments... etc)
2. Isaiah 56:6-8 specifically singles out gentiles for Sabbath keeping.
3. In the NT we see gentiles keeping Sabbath in Acts 13, 17 and 18
4. in Isaiah 66:23 for all eternity in the New Heavens and New Earth "from Sabbath to Sabbath shall ALL MANKIND come before Me to worship".
If anyone feels this is not a valid thread topic or content for "Sabbath and the Law forum" - please contact me.
==============================
Now lets review Bible details
Ex 20
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Genesis 2
Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
No wonder then that God says that for all eternity in the New Earth "from Sabbath to Sabbath shall ALL mankind come before Me to worship" Is 66:23
-- cyclic time -- from Sabbath to Sabbath (one type of cycle) AND "from new moon to new moon" two different cycles.. so then most certainly not "daily"
In fact there is no text in all of scripture where "from Sabbath to Sabbath" means "every day" and we all know it
"From year to year" does not mean 'every day of the year' -- in any text in all of scripture
And "from Sabbath to Sabbath" does not mean every day of the year or every day of the week.
As we all know.
Example - feast of unleavened bread
Exodus 13:10
You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.
Judges 21:19
19 So they said, “Behold, there is a feast of the Lord from year to year in Shiloh, which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south side of Lebonah.
1 Sam 2:19
19 And his mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him from year to year when she would come up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
did not mean "every day of the year" as we all know.
That will be our focus in this thread - so this could be pretty easy for all to find some level of agreement.
Some are interested in this teaching in the Bible about the 7th day Sabbath of the Ten Commandments being for all mankind. (as opposed to the Sabbath of the TEN Commandments being temporary or merely ceremonial).
1. When stating that the Bible Sabbath of the Ten Commandments is part of the moral law of God and is applicable to all mankind I am stating a Bible detail so obvious that all major Christian denominations agree - the TEN are part of the moral law of God written on the heart (see the "Baptist Confession of Faith" sectn 19 and the "Westminster Confession of Faith" section 19 and the Catholic Catechism on the TEN Commandments... etc)
2. Isaiah 56:6-8 specifically singles out gentiles for Sabbath keeping.
3. In the NT we see gentiles keeping Sabbath in Acts 13, 17 and 18
4. in Isaiah 66:23 for all eternity in the New Heavens and New Earth "from Sabbath to Sabbath shall ALL MANKIND come before Me to worship".
If anyone feels this is not a valid thread topic or content for "Sabbath and the Law forum" - please contact me.
==============================
Now lets review Bible details
Ex 20
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Genesis 2
Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
No wonder then that God says that for all eternity in the New Earth "from Sabbath to Sabbath shall ALL mankind come before Me to worship" Is 66:23
-- cyclic time -- from Sabbath to Sabbath (one type of cycle) AND "from new moon to new moon" two different cycles.. so then most certainly not "daily"
In fact there is no text in all of scripture where "from Sabbath to Sabbath" means "every day" and we all know it
"From year to year" does not mean 'every day of the year' -- in any text in all of scripture
And "from Sabbath to Sabbath" does not mean every day of the year or every day of the week.
As we all know.
Example - feast of unleavened bread
Exodus 13:10
You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.
Judges 21:19
19 So they said, “Behold, there is a feast of the Lord from year to year in Shiloh, which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south side of Lebonah.
1 Sam 2:19
19 And his mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him from year to year when she would come up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
did not mean "every day of the year" as we all know.
Since I keep referring to these documents in my signature line.... a thread to look at the topic.
section 19 of the "Baptist Confession of Faith".
Also section 19 of the "Westminster Confession of Faith".
They both affirm that the "TEN Commandments" are included in the "moral law of God" AND are included in that law written on the heart under the NEW Covenant. All TEN.
See the paragraph below from the Baptist Confession,
The Baptist Confession of Faith (1689)
Section 19
19. The Law of God
=================================
- God gave to Adam a law of universal obedience which was written in his heart, and He gave him very specific instruction about not eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. By this Adam and all his descendants were bound to personal, total, exact, and perpetual obedience, being promised life upon the fulfilling of the law, and threatened with death upon the breach of it. At the same time Adam was endued with power and ability to keep it.
- The same law that was first written in the heart of man continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness after the Fall, and was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai in the Ten Commandments, and written in two tables, the first four containing our duty towards God, and the other six, our duty to man.
- Besides this law, commonly called the moral law, God was pleased do give the people of Israel ceremonial laws containing several typical ordinances. These ordinances were partly about their worship, and in them Christ was prefigured along with His attributes and qualities, His actions, His sufferings and His benefits. These ordinances also gave instructions about different moral duties. All of these ceremonial laws were appointed only until the time of reformation, when Jesus Christ the true Messiah and the only lawgiver, Who was furnished with power from the Father for this end, cancelled them and took them away.
- To the people of Israel He also gave sundry judicial laws which expired when they ceased to be a nation. These are not binding on anyone now by virtue of their being part of the laws of that nation, but their general equity continue to be applicable in modern times.
- The moral law ever binds to obedience everyone, justified people as well as others, and not only out of regard for the matter contained in it, but also out of respect for the authority of God the Creator, Who gave the law. Nor does Christ in the Gospel dissolve this law in any way, but He considerably strengthens our obligation to obey it.
- Although true believers are not under the law as a covenant of works, to be justified or condemned by it, yet it is of great use to them as well as to others, because as a rule of life it informs them of the will of God and their duty and directs and binds them to walk accordingly. It also reveals and exposes the sinful pollutions of their natures, hearts and lives, and using it for self-examination they may come to greater conviction of sin, greater humility and greater hatred of their sin. They will also gain a clearer sight of their need of Christ and the perfection of His own obedience. It is of further use to regenerate people to restrain their corruptions, because of the way in which it forbids sin. The threatenings of the law serve to show what their sins actually deserve, and what troubles may be expected in this life because of these sins even by regenerate people who are freed from the curse and undiminished rigours of the law. The promises connected with the law also show believers God's approval of obedience, and what blessings they may expect when the law is kept and obeyed, though blessing will not come to them because they have satisfied the law as a covenant of works. If a man does good and refrains from evil simply because the law encourages to the good and deters him from the evil, that is no evidence that he is under the law rather than under grace.
- The aforementioned uses of the law are not contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but they sweetly comply with it, as the Spirit of Christ subdues and enables the will of man to do freely and cheerfully those things which the will of God, which is revealed in the law, requires to be done.
..
Notice the "details" in the "Baptist Confession of Faith" that you speak of --
1. TEN Commandments included in the LAW of God given to mankind in Eden.
2. SAME law given at Sinai as the MORAL Law of God.
3. That law binds all mankind after the cross and before it.
4. It is perfectly consistent with grace and therefore the Gospel
5. Laws OTHER than the TEN commandments were given to Israel and those other laws included the ceremonial laws - which are no longer in place after the cross.
The Westminster Confession of Faith - section 19 makes the SAME 5 points.
===============
Is it any wonder then that my signature line includes this --
I am glad these Sunday sources all affirm all ten of the Ten Commandments for Christians written on the heart and mind under the New Covenant of Jer 31:31-33.
The Baptist Confession of Faith,
the Westminster Confession of Faith ,
D.L. Moody,
R.C Sproul,
Matthew Henry,
Thomas Watson
Eastern Orthodox Catechism
The Catholic Catechism.
Westminster Confession of Faith
Westminster Confession of Faith
Chapter XIX
Of the Law of God
I. God gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works, by which he bound him and all his posterity, to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience, promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it.
II. This law, after his fall, continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness; and, as such, was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in Ten Commandments, and written in two tables: the first four commandments containing our duty towards God; and the other six, our duty to man.
III. Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel, as a church under age, ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits; and partly, holding forth divers instructions of moral duties. All which ceremonial laws are now abrogated, under the New Testament.
IV. To them also, as a body politic, he gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the State of that people; not obliging under any now, further than the general equity thereof may require.
V. The moral law does forever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof; and that, not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator, who gave it. Neither does Christ, in the Gospel, any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.
VI. Although true believers be not under the law, as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified, or condemned; yet is it of great use to them, as well as to others; in that, as a rule of life informing them of the will of God, and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly; discovering also the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts and lives; so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against sin, together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of his obedience. It is likewise of use to the regenerate, to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin: and the threatenings of it serve to show what even their sins deserve; and what afflictions, in this life, they may expect for them, although freed from the curse thereof threatened in the law. The promises of it, in like manner, show them God's approbation of obedience,and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof: although not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works. So as, a man's doing good, and refraining from evil, because the law encourages to the one and deters from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law: and not under grace.
VII. Neither are the forementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it; the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely, and cheerfully, which the will of God, revealed in the law, requires to be done.
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