Deu,
notice the context of Galatians
.
Galatians is an example of justification by grace, through faith. It was given to discount the wrongful teachings of those who thought that they must scrupulously keep the Jewish law to be saved. It should also be noted, that Galatians is imperative to the gospel of grace. The first two chapters (Gal.1&2) defended grace
. the next two(Gal.3&4) explained grace
.the last two (Gal. 5&6) applied grace.
This is the text that you quote, which you deem to be evidence that the Seventh day Sabbath as no longer relevant
Gal. 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
In context of the chapter and whole book of Galatians, this is not at all such evidence.
Notice, this is very similar in context with Col. 2, which we will go into later. But, dont miss what Paul is expressing in both areas
the weak and beggarly elements are not anything which God has put forth in His commands
it is those imposed by men, also called rudiments of the world (Col. 2:8,20). Did you know that these words elements and rudiments are the same thing (Strongs #4747)? Is Gods commands worldly or are they spiritual? The word observe is also a bit misleading
it is seemingly casual, but that is not the case. Instead it applies, especially considering the context of worldly elements keeping us in bondage, to a very careful and legalistic observance.
From Strongs:
#3906 paratereo
AV-watched 4, observe 1, watched + 2258 1; 6
1) to stand beside and watch, to watch assiduously, observe carefully
1a) to watch, attend to with the eyes
1a) of auguries, to see what he is going to do
1b) in a bad sense, to watch insidiously
1c) to watch ones self
1b) to observe, keep scrupulously
1b1) to neglect nothing requisite to the religious observance of
Man sought to impose his own weak and worldly ideas upon Gods precepts. They were meticulous in nature and left no room for liberty, as given by grace, led by the Spirit and exampled in Christ. They were not Gods laws or ideas
they were impossible to keep while retaining Gods spiritual intent and a burden which Christ removed. We see in Christ own examples that he publicly disobeyed mans laws, especially their laws in regards to the Sabbath.
Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
The Mishnah, (Jewish book of law written to explain their concepts of how Gods laws should be upheld), was never authorized by God. It was the laws found in this book that they accused Christ of breaking, not the Laws in the Torah. They had given equal significance with their words, with that of Gods. Christ consistently challenged their laws through his actions and words.
Ishmael and Isaac represent the two covenants, which Paul uses in this chapter to symbolically portray what he was trying to say.
Gal. 4:22-25 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free-woman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Paul employs Isaac and Ishmael, the sons of Abraham, as representing the Old and New Covenants. Thus, clearly showing that Hagar's son, Ishmael, symbolizes the Old Covenant, and Sarah's son, Isaac, is an example of the New Covenant.
Gal. 4:28-31 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. ... So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
The Lord promised Abraham a son from his wife Sarah, yet she was almost 90 yrs old, so neither of them thought it was possible. Knowing that her womb was barren and that she was to old to bear children, she suggested that her husband take Hagar, her handmaid, and have a child through her. They apparently believed it was the only way to save God from an impossible promise. After time, Abraham succumbed to the idea and conceived a child through Hagar.
This is a precise example of the Old Covenant thinking that Paul is condemning, Abraham tried to solve this with his flesh, according to his ideas and justification. His plan failed, just like the Old Covenant promises failed, because he had not relied on Gods power and instruction.And, of course the Lord never recognized Ishmael as the promised seed.
Heb. 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Yet, the miracle occurred and Isaac was born. The Lord actually created a new life out of a physically dead womb. The biological obstacles ceded to the divine, creative power of the Lord.Isaac thus typifies the foundation of the New Covenant relationship of regeneration, and the re-born experience of the believer. The natural, physical womb of Sarah was completely unable of bearing fruit. By the same manner, the natural, carnal body and mind cannot produce the fruit of obedience, such would be deemed, dead works.
Heb. 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb. 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Rom. 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Paul was simply trying to eradicate a behavior that had crept into the early church. This behavior had two sides, following the laws of man and the belief that works justified your faith, instead of the other way around. Both put faith in mans ability and instruction over that of Gods.
When God used His power to create a new life within Sarah, the impossible happened, and she produced a son. When God uses His power to create new life in the soul, the impossible happens again - a human being becomes spiritual and obedient.
Isaac was not "born after the flesh," but "after the Spirit." Gal. 4:29. Because man is carnal and "weak in the flesh," he has no power to attain to the righteousness of the law. He, too, must be born after the Spirit. Every attempt to obey on the Old-Covenant basis of human effort will produce only children of bondage. The law must be written into the heart by the Holy Spirit and fulfilled by "Christ in you."
This allegory of Hagar and Sarah clears up another very important point of truth. Those who are under the Old Covenant are the commandment breakers, and those under the New Covenant are the commandment keepers. It was only when Abraham disobeyed God by taking Hagar that he fulfilled the principle of the Old Covenant. When he trusted God to give him a son through Sarah, he was being obedient to God's will, and properly represents the New-Covenant Christians. Yet we often see modern interpretations get these facts confused. The truth is exactly the opposite. The law is not really kept until it is written on the heart of the transformed believer. Then it becomes the mark of identification - the love symbol - for those who are born of the Spirit. Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments.", John 14:15. John wrote, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.", 1John 5:3.
The context of this chapter does not relieve man of the Lord's command of Sabbath keeping. Quite the contrary, it enforces it. It does however dismiss any manner of mans choosing to keep it any way he sees fit. It also clearly informs us that the keeping of the Sabbath is to be performed out of faith and not obligation.
Your ideas on keeping the commands according to your views or those that are taught by men, are expressly forbidden by this chapters teaching. And, it has strengthened my position while totally making void yours.
) of your post. My intent wasn't that the Sabbath was the millenium in the STRICKTEST terms either. Mearly that 7 days and 7000 years match up pretty darn good + Sabbath means rest + Jesus=Sabbath(ceasing from our works).
