Split: Christian Freedom... (Gal. 5) - The Law & Sabbath

[fruitfull77]

 

Jesus reformed the Sabbath to its rightful place as designed in creation where the Sabbath is made for all mankind and not just for a select group.

 

Jesus was a Sabbath keeper. He set the example as to how we should keep it by doing good and not be burdened down by legalistic restrictions as mandated by Rabbinic halakhah. The freedom Jesus showed we could have was from the harsh rules inflicted by over regulating by man's rules. But the freedom did not include abolishing the observance of the Sabbath from its original design.

What does it mean when Jesus says " Think not that I am come to destroy the Law..."  If He told you not to think something, would you believe Him?

Or should we believe something were true when Jesus told you it was not?

 

 

If you are claiming that you keep the Sabbath, you are going to have to explain exactly how you keep it.

 

 

Well by not working -receiving pay.

By resting from your usual 6 day weekly routine-stop and enjoy the day.

Assemble with others if possible-fellowship.

Enrich your spiritual understanding by focusing on God and not yourself.

Do good.

But it's suppose to be a refreshing and gratifying time and should not be restricted by man made limits

[fruitfull77]

 

 

3. In Col 2- Paul's main point is that the Colossian deceivers had no authority to judge or determine how theColossians were to observe God's holydays.

3. I agree that those who were judging the Colossians had no right to judge them due to food, drink, festivals, or Sabbaths. I also don’t think the Gentiles had to observe the holydays that were observed by Jews in order to be Christ-followers. I think too that we should differentiate between moral and ceremonial laws.

 

Moral laws continued as Christ did not do away with them. Ceremonial laws (i.e. circumcision, festivals, Sabbaths, etc.) were for the Jews and were not to be applied to Gentiles. (See Acts 15:22-29 in the next post)

 

Examples of Ceremonial laws:

 

While as Believers we can we are called to take a day of rest (which I believe can be any day of the week or weekend) we’re called to focus on God EVERYDAY of the week.

 

Leviticus 23:3 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 the LORD in all your dwellings.

 

We are no longer bound to the Passover which was a Jewish tradition – Christ is now our Passover and we celebrate the Lord’s Supper (Communion) instead to celebrate our risen Savior.

 

Leviticus 23:4-5 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which you shall proclaim in their seasons. 5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S Passover.

 

We as Believers do not have to celebrate the feast of unleavened bread for example.

 

Leviticus 23:6-8 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days you must eat unleavened bread. 7 In the first day you shall have an holy convocation: you shall do no servile work therein. 8 But you shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: you shall do no servile work therein.

 

Your thoughts?

 

God bless,

GE

 

 

Does it matter which day of the week we celebrate as the day of rest? Is the first day ok or the fifth day?

God says no throughout the Bible.

He commands us to observe the seventh day of the week.

And that seventh day has not been lost in history.

The Sabbath is called a " perpetual covenant " between God and mankind.

The Sabbath was made for you and me.

 

The festival laws were given to Israel but were they for Israel only?

Prophecies of the future like in Zechariah and Revelation show that all nations will observe the feast days that we now say are abolished.

God's holy days like Passover and ULB are more meaningful  to the NT church that they were to Israel.

Paul says they are a shadow of things to come-connected with the events of God's redemptive work and God's overall plan for all mankind for the future.

[Leonard]

"My Father continues to work on this day, so I do too."---JESUS

[fruitfull77]

 

 

4. From vs 16-17 we see that Paul is countering a local heresy-he is actually confirming the value of God's holydays to Christians and explains that they foreshadow " things to come " He's talking about the future.

Succumbing to the heretics is what Paul is condemning, not the observance of Sabbaths and God's feast days.

 

4. I disagree. From verses 16 and 17 to me clearly indicate that food, drink, festivals, and/or Sabbaths are not what make one a Christ-follower.  Even the law pointed to the fact that what was really needed was heart change in Deut. 10:16. Further, outward displays of holiness means nothing if the heart is not circumcised – the Spirit circumcises our hearts! See Rom. 2:28-29

 

Deut. 10:16

¹⁶ Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer.

 

Rom. 2:28-29

²⁸ For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; ²⁹ but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

 

Following Chris is not about what we eat or what festivals we partake in. It’s about heart change.

 

Mark 20:17-20

¹⁷ When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. ¹⁸ So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, ¹⁹ because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” ²⁰ And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. ²¹ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, ²² thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

 

Also, it seemed good to the Apostles (in Acts 15:22-29) as they were led by the Holy Spirit to lay on the Gentiles no more burdens than necessary: to abstain from things offered to idols, from drinking blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. Notice there is no mention of Sabbaths, festivals, or new moons. I wonder why that is? Would the Holy Spirit change this direction? If so where is the passage that says the Holy Spirit said to follow the Sabbaths, festivals, and new moons for Believers?

 

Acts 15:22-29

The Jerusalem Decree

²² Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

 

²³ They wrote this letter by them:

 

The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,

 

To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:

Greetings.

 

²⁴ Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment— ²⁵ it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶ men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. ²⁸ For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: ²⁹ that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

 

Farewell.

 

 

The Colossian heretics were condemning the Colossians for the manner in which the Colossians were observing the Sabbath and holy days.The ascetics were attemting to submit the Colossians to their ascetic lifestyle which included the following decrees " Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch " Colossians 2:21.

In other words, the ascetics were condemning the Christians for eating and drinking and celebrating on the holy days and the Sabbath.

This alone confirms the early Christians (gentiles) were observing the festivals.

The reason the Sabbath was not in contention compared to the Jewish rite of circumcision is because there was no conflict with keeping God's festivals.

The animal sacrifices and other ceremonial laws were replaced by the redemptive work of Jesus and our participation in God's annual holy days reminds us that eternal life is possible only through Him.

[fruitfull77]

 

 

Jesus reformed the Sabbath to its rightful place as designed in creation where the Sabbath is made for all mankind and not just for a select group.

 

Jesus was a Sabbath keeper. He set the example as to how we should keep it by doing good and not be burdened down by legalistic restrictions as mandated by Rabbinic halakhah. The freedom Jesus showed we could have was from the harsh rules inflicted by over regulating by man's rules. But the freedom did not include abolishing the observance of the Sabbath from its original design.

What does it mean when Jesus says " Think not that I am come to destroy the Law..."  If He told you not to think something, would you believe Him?

Or should we believe something were true when Jesus told you it was not?

 

See previous posts. But the simple answer is the Sabbath is not something for the Gentile. Are you Jewish?

God bless,

GE

 

Not Jewish. Christian- Church of God

[fruitfull77]

 

Well by not working -receiving pay.

By resting from your usual 6 day weekly routine-stop and enjoy the day.

Assemble with others if possible-fellowship.

Enrich your spiritual understanding by focusing on God and not yourself.

Do good.

But it's suppose to be a refreshing and gratifying time and should not be restricted by man made limits

 

 

It would be "man-made limits," as you term it, when one goes about telling others they have to follow something that God commanded only the Israelites to do.

 

First off, if you are going to claim to "keep" the Sabbath, then you have to keep it exactly as God commands it to be kept, not how you think it should be kept or how your church tells you it should be kept.   God gives clear guidelines as to how the Sabbath is to be kept, and they are not negotiable.  The Sabbath is not a swapped church day from Sunday to Saturday as most Sabbath-keeping churches see it, and they basically do nothing more than that.  They worship on Saturday instead of Sunday.  They don't keep the Sabbath.  Keeping the Sabbath has been impossible since the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD.  No one can keep the Sabbath without a Temple in Jerusalem, a Levitical Priesthood and a daily sacrifice.  One who is "keeping" the sacrifice also has to offer 2 sacrifices on the Sabbath in addition to the regular daily sacrifices.  So without a sacrifical system in place, no one can "keep" the sacrifice.

 

Nowhere does Jesus or the Apostles command anyone to attempt to keep the Sabbath. 

 

 

Jesus said in Matthew 19:17 - if you want salvation, keep the commandments. The last time I checked, keeping the sabbath was one of the commandments.

Jesus replaced the Levitical priesthood which was a physical and mostly symbolic system of worship

Jesus by His sacrifice became our new High Priest under the New Covenant 

[GoldenEagle]

 

 

Well by not working -receiving pay.

By resting from your usual 6 day weekly routine-stop and enjoy the day.

Assemble with others if possible-fellowship.

Enrich your spiritual understanding by focusing on God and not yourself.

Do good.

But it's suppose to be a refreshing and gratifying time and should not be restricted by man made limits

 

 

It would be "man-made limits," as you term it, when one goes about telling others they have to follow something that God commanded only the Israelites to do.

 

First off, if you are going to claim to "keep" the Sabbath, then you have to keep it exactly as God commands it to be kept, not how you think it should be kept or how your church tells you it should be kept.   God gives clear guidelines as to how the Sabbath is to be kept, and they are not negotiable.  The Sabbath is not a swapped church day from Sunday to Saturday as most Sabbath-keeping churches see it, and they basically do nothing more than that.  They worship on Saturday instead of Sunday.  They don't keep the Sabbath.  

 

Keeping the Sabbath has been impossible since the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD.  No one can keep the Sabbath without a Temple in Jerusalem, a Levitical Priesthood and a daily sacrifice.  One who is "keeping" the sacrifice also has to offer 2 sacrifices on the Sabbath in addition to the regular daily sacrifices.  So without a sacrifical system in place, no one can "keep" the sacrifice.

 

Nowhere does Jesus or the Apostles command anyone to attempt to keep the Sabbath. 

 

 

Jesus said in Matthew 19:17 - if you want salvation, keep the commandments. The last time I checked, keeping the sabbath was one of the commandments.

Jesus replaced the Levitical priesthood which was a physical and mostly symbolic system of worship

Jesus by His sacrifice became our new High Priest under the New Covenant 

 

 

I think Cobalt brings up some very good points Fruitful. You say we must keep the commandments including keeping the Sabbath.

 

Then you say Jesus replaced the Levitical priesthood which was physical but mostly symbolic worship... Are you saying that the way God established the Sabbath is not to be taken literally? Interesting. Where is this found in Scripture?

 

How exactly do you celebrate the Sabbath? Or Bionically speaking how would you recommend a Christian celebrate the Sabbath?

 

God bless,

GE

[fruitfull77]

 

 

 

Well by not working -receiving pay.

By resting from your usual 6 day weekly routine-stop and enjoy the day.

Assemble with others if possible-fellowship.

Enrich your spiritual understanding by focusing on God and not yourself.

Do good.

But it's suppose to be a refreshing and gratifying time and should not be restricted by man made limits

 

 

It would be "man-made limits," as you term it, when one goes about telling others they have to follow something that God commanded only the Israelites to do.

 

First off, if you are going to claim to "keep" the Sabbath, then you have to keep it exactly as God commands it to be kept, not how you think it should be kept or how your church tells you it should be kept.   God gives clear guidelines as to how the Sabbath is to be kept, and they are not negotiable.  The Sabbath is not a swapped church day from Sunday to Saturday as most Sabbath-keeping churches see it, and they basically do nothing more than that.  They worship on Saturday instead of Sunday.  They don't keep the Sabbath.  

 

Keeping the Sabbath has been impossible since the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD.  No one can keep the Sabbath without a Temple in Jerusalem, a Levitical Priesthood and a daily sacrifice.  One who is "keeping" the sacrifice also has to offer 2 sacrifices on the Sabbath in addition to the regular daily sacrifices.  So without a sacrifical system in place, no one can "keep" the sacrifice.

 

Nowhere does Jesus or the Apostles command anyone to attempt to keep the Sabbath. 

 

 

Jesus said in Matthew 19:17 - if you want salvation, keep the commandments. The last time I checked, keeping the sabbath was one of the commandments.

Jesus replaced the Levitical priesthood which was a physical and mostly symbolic system of worship

Jesus by His sacrifice became our new High Priest under the New Covenant 

 

 

I think Cobalt brings up some very good points Fruitful. You say we must keep the commandments including keeping the Sabbath.

 

Then you say Jesus replaced the Levitical priesthood which was physical but mostly symbolic worship... Are you saying that the way God established the Sabbath is not to be taken literally? Interesting. Where is this found in Scripture?

 

How exactly do you celebrate the Sabbath? Or Bionically speaking how would you recommend a Christian celebrate the Sabbath?

 

God bless,

GE

 

 

Sorry for late reply-vacation and renovations put me off course.

 

But Hebrews 9:11-16 shows that Christ's divine office has superseded the Levitical priest hood which handled certain physical ordinances and washings associated with the temple liturgy. Jesus perfects us spiritually rather than physically.

 

The Sabbath was and should still be a memorial of creation.

It's the only weekday that God dignified with a name.

The Sabbath is still a sign between God and man forever-that has not changed.

It was made holy-sanctified by God.

Jesus showed the true purpose and intent of Sabbath keeping.

 

A sunday observance does not rest on God's authority but rather on the reasoning and tradition of man if you look at the history or origin of !st day worshiping practice.

Just re-iterating, the Colossians were being judged for how they observed the Sabbath, not whether they observed the Sabbath.

 

The 7th day Sabbath was a weekly reminder of Israel's deliverance into freedom from slavery.

The Sabbath today is an important reminder for Christians in our deliverance from spiritual slavery to sin and death.

Jesus applied the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law to the Sabbath.

 

Does it matter to God which day we decide to observe? The Bible says YES.

[Qnts2]

The Sabbath did not become a command to the children of Israel, until they left Egypt. It is a command in the Mosaic covenant.

 

Deut 4:2 You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

 

Deuteronomy is speaking about the Mosaic covenant, and says not to add or take away from it.

 

In the New Covenant, Jesus is the High Priest and believers are members of the priesthood, but in the Mosaic covenant, the priest had to be a descendent of Levi. If Jesus was intending to continue the Mosaic covenant, He broke the law by adding to and taking away. Jesus was not a Levite. He was a descendent of Judah so under the Mosaic covenant, He could not be a Priest, and neither can most believers. Since it is against Gods words to change in any way the Mosaic covenant, and Jesus made a change to the priesthood, Jesus could not be carrying forward the Mosaic covenant, but instead establishing a New Covenant.  

 

Hebrews 7:12

For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.

 

Since the 7th day Sabbath is part of the Mosaic covenant, given to the children of Isreal, it would not apply to those under the New Covenant, unless the 7th day Sabbath is commanded in the New Covenant. Or there is a prophesy that the 7th day will be a day of rest during the Messianic age when Jesus reigns on earth.

 

I have not found any indication that the 7th day Sabbath is a command. Nor have I found anywhere in scriptures that the Sabbath changes to the 1st day.

 

The Mosaic law specifies that the Sabbath is a day of rest. Having religious services is not a command of the Sabbath. So, for the common person under the Mosaic covenant, to obey the Sabbath law meant to rest, no work, and no lighting fires. Work could be making money but work was also creative work. Even if you had to put up a fence, and made no money from putting up a fence, making a fence is creative work. So, for the non-priesthood, to obey the Sabbath law, one was to stay home and rest.  

 

For the New Covenant, again, I find no Sabbath command, but imagining that one does exist, the law says to rest, except for priests. We are the priest in the New Covenant. In the Mosaic covenant, priests offered sacrifices on the Sabbath, which is intercession for the people. In the Mosaic covenant, the people did NOT travel to the Temple for services weekly.

[fruitfull77]

Please tell us how you believe we should "observe" the Sabbath?

 

Brother Paul

Hi- well by building a relationship with God by reading scripture

Jesus worshiped in the temple weekly and set the example for us to do good and fellowship.

We should spend time praying to rejuvenate ourselves from the pulls of the world from the previous 6 days.

The New Testament church observed the Sabbath weekly.

Usually people that believe the 10 Commandments have been fulfilled or abolished only have a problem with the 4 th Commandment  and it's requirement to keep and honor a special day.

To me it's a blessing and happiness but in this 21st century entrenched in Sunday worshiping and religious holidays not sanctioned by God make it very difficult to break away from that habit and understanding. It's up to the individual to prove that what they are doing is correct.

Edited July 19, 2013 by fruitfull77