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When it comes to God's Laws, there are "moral"
laws which were in effect BEFORE Mt. Sinai, and haven't been done
away with; "judicial" laws, which Jesus "amplified", and gave
a broader meaning to; and "ceremonial" laws, which Jesus fulfilled
AND abolished. The period of time during the earthly
ministry, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus
Christ was a very unique period of time in human history. It
was at the close of day for "ceremonial"
law, and the dawning of a new day ... the ushering in of
the amplified "judicial" law ... or the law of the Spirit.
A couple examples of what I mean about ceremonial laws
being fulfilled and abolished is this: 1) animal sacrifices
will no longer atone for sins; and 2) we no longer need
an earthly priest to bring our petitions before the Lord, and
intercede on our behalf.
The Sabbath ... or "rest" ... of the Lord is not
limited to just one day a week any more. But, before I get ahead of
myself, let me explain what I just said. BEFORE
Messiah came, a person would not be guilty of breaking the
7th Commandment unless they actually committed the act of
adultery. Not true any more! Also, a person would not be guilty of
breaking the 6th Commandment unless they actually committed the act of
shedding innocent blood ... murder. Not true any more! So, I hope
this very significant point is undisputed AND well
established.
The Incarnate Christ was in deed God manifested in the flesh
(1 Timothy 3:16) AND He was unquestionably the promised (and
prophesied) Messiah. He frequented the synagogues, as did the
Apostle Paul. Jesus amazed and confounded some with His wisdom and
knowledge. He reproved and rebuked others because of their
hypocrisy. As a matter of fact, He made a whip and drove some
out of the temple. Likewise, the Apostles Paul met with Jews in
the synagogue on the Sabbath. With some, he reasoned and discussed
the Scriptures, and with others he disputed and contended.
So, there shouldn't be any surprise that either one of them
went to the synagogues on the Jewish Sabbath. After all, that's
the time you would expect to find Jewish (religious)
people ... in the synagogue on their Sabbath Day.
Here's some things we know about Paul's Jewish background ...
Acts 22:3 I am verily a man
which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in
this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect
manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all
are this day.
Philippians 3
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in
the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not
grievous, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil
workers, beware of the concision.
3 For we are the circumcision, which
worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no
confidence in the flesh.
4 Though I might also have confidence
in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might
trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the
stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as
touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the
church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me,
those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all
things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my
Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count
them but dung, that I may win Christ,
AFTER his conversion, we see a tremendous
change in Paul. The reason one of the first things he
did was to go to the synagogue, when he came to a city, was to
reason with the Jews concerning who Jesus "really" is. The best
time to catch them in the synagogue, of course, was when they were
there ... on the Sabbath. A careful study into this subject will,
I believe, reveal that Paul did NOT require the converts to
Christianity ... especially Gentile converts ... to observe the
ceremonial laws of Moses, which included circumcision AND the
observance of the Jewish Sabbath.
Much the same concerning Jesus' trips to the
synagogues. Granted, He went to the synagogues, but it wasn't
to select His disciples or hob knob with the religious crowd of
that day. It was more often to reprove, rebuke and testify
against them for their unbridled hypocrisy. He even turned over tables
and drove some out of the temple because they were desecrating
the House of God. Which, sort of makes me wonder what He
would do today if He walked into some of our modern day edifices
of worship. At any rate, I don't recall Jesus ever
mandating strict compliance of the "ceremonial"
laws OR observance of the Jewish Sabbath Day. **IF** there is
a place that I am unaware of, and someone calls it to my attention, I
will stand corrected.
From the very beginning, the "7th day" was
spoken of as having to do with "rest". And I seriously doubt
that it was due to God being tired after the Creation, and
needed to rest. However, many people today interpret
everything literally, and do not understand there were things in
the Old Testament which were physical or material "types"
and "shadows" of things of a Spiritual nature that
was coming in the future. Anyway, the "7th day"
became known, later on, as the "Sabbath", when it was first
mentioned as such, and mandated in Exodus 16:23. But,
again the "7th Day of rest" after the Creation AND the Old
Testament Sabbath of "rest" had much more to do with what was
coming in the future ... and a person's relationship with (and
obedience to) God ... than it had to do with anything
concerning God needing to get some rest. There are many things
which God either instituted or inspired to be written in the Old
Testament which were "types" and "shadows" of things to
come. And, the "7th Day rest" after the Creation AND the
Old Testament Sabbath Day of "rest" were precisely that, as was
physical circumcision. It could be said that we are living in the
midnight hour of the 6th day right now, in the year 2009, and the
dawning of the 7th Day is almost here (assigning each day 1years ... as
the Bible says, a 1,000 years is as a day and a day as a 1,000 years
with the Lord). At any rate, **IF** a person is going to observe the
Jewish ,000 Sabbath of "rest", according to the Bible (the Old
Testament {Mosaic} Law, they need to understand, and be aware, that
correct observance of the Sabbath of "much more than just setting
aside the seventh day of each week (Saturday) as their Holy
Day or to assemble, rest, and worship God. Also, there were
rest" covers " Sabbaths which did NOT fall on the 7th day of
the week. And, not only that, there were Sabbath years, which
covered an entire year ... NOT just a day. special" Most
anybody could take off on Saturdays, and observe it as
an Holy Day, but not too many could take off the entire
year every seventh year. Again, as best I can tellwhole
Sabbath thing has to do with "rest" ... a relationship with God and the
future ... and NOT the observance of the day itself (except as mandated
under , the Mosaic Law ... and Christians haven't been under
the Mosaic Law since it was nailed to the cross ... {Colossians
2:14} ... the same day the Levitical Priests got their pink slips
{Matthew 27:51 & Hebrews 10:20}).
This "rest" had to do with ceasing from one's
labor. When a person is born again "the Bible way" that is
precisely what happens. We enter into a very close and personal
relationship with our Lord, and cease from "our" works. He becomes
the Lord of our life. And we totally consecrate our life to
Him 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 1/4 days a year
... NOT just one day each week. That's what Jesus meant in Matthew
11:28 when He said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you
rest." Well, I'm sort of getting ahead of
myself a bit.
I know people who will not do any kind of work
(except when their ox is in the ditch) or conduct any business ...
or even answer a telephone on Saturday. They are extremely
good people and I love them dearly. I, also, respect their
conviction concerning observing the Jewish Sabbath (although,
they're not Jewish), and would not knowingly do anything to cast a
stumbling block before them concerning it. However, I also know
some who feel the same way about Sunday. But, again, as best
I can tell from the Scriptures, this all has to do with "rest", and not
the sanctity of any one day of the week over the other.
The New Covenant brought about
some changes. Many people think everything that was mandated
in the Old Testament is still mandated in the New Testament.
However, the best I have been able to determine from all of my
study and research, the New Testament does NOT mandate NOR condemn a number
of things that are made pretty big issues by some folks today,
including ....
1) assembling to worship God on
Saturday OR Sunday ... or any other day of the week for that
matter
2) a congregation having a full time pastor ... who doesn't
do any outside work
3) ministers,
ministries and/or churches owning property 4) being
physically circumcised
5) worshipping God with
musical instruments
6) eating only
certain foods and meats
7) women
involved in the ministry
Now, someone may correct me ... and I hope
they do if I'm wrong ... but, to my knowledge, there's not any New
Testament Scriptural mandate NOR condemnation of any of the
above. That said, when I become aware of someone's
else's beliefs or convictions, I always try to be mindful of
that, and show some respect to them in that regard. By the way, that
does NOT mean that I'll worship a stump and howl at the moon
because someone else does. But, life is too short, and there are
too many more important things to attend to, than to get bogged down
majoring on the minors, as far as I'm concerned.
At any rate, what is this "rest" I was talking
about? The Old Testament "type" was a prelude to the infilling of
the Holy Ghost. Being born again "the Bible way" and ceasing from
one's own labor. Furthermore, this cessation from one's own labor
is a 24/7 situation ... not a part-time (one day a week) thing.
Here's a few Scriptures which deal with the Jewish Sabbath of "rest" ...
Leviticus 23:3 Six days shall work be done: but
the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall
do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
Leviticus 25:4 But in the seventh year shall be a
sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt
neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.
Exodus 35:2 Six days shall work be done, but on
the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to
the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.
Also, further study will reveal that the Jews got
pretty sloppy in their Sabbath keeping, which provoked the wrath
of God ...
Lamentations 2:6 And he hath violently taken away
his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyed his places
of the assembly: the LORD hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to
be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger
the king and the priest.
Ezekiel 20
1 And it came to pass in the seventh
year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of
the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.
2 Then came the word of the LORD unto
me, saying,
3 Son of man, speak unto the elders
of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to
enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of
by you.
4 Wilt thou judge them, son of man,
wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their
fathers:
5 And say unto them, Thus saith the
Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto
the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the
land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the
LORD your God;
6 In the day that I lifted up mine
hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land
that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the
glory of all lands:
7 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away
every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with
the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
8 But they rebelled against me, and
would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the
abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of
Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my
anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
9 But I wrought for my name's sake,
that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they
were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them
forth out of the land of Egypt.
10 Wherefore I caused them to go
forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.
11 And I gave them my statutes, and
shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.
12 Moreover also I gave them my
sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I
am the LORD that sanctify them.
13 But the house of Israel rebelled
against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they
despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them;
and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my
fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
14 But I wrought for my name's sake,
that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I
brought them out.
15 Yet also I lifted up my hand unto
them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which
I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of
all lands;
16 Because they despised my
judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for
their heart went after their idols.
17 Nevertheless mine eye spared them
from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the
wilderness.
18 But I said unto their children in
the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither
observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:
19 I am the LORD your God; walk in my
statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;
20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they
shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD
your God.
21 Notwithstanding the children
rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my
judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them;
they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon
them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
22 Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand,
and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the
sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.
23 I lifted up mine hand unto them
also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen,
and disperse them through the countries;
24 Because they had not executed my
judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths,
and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.
25 Wherefore I gave them also
statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;
26 And I polluted them in their own
gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth
the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might
know that I am the LORD.
27 Therefore, son of man, speak unto
the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in
this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a
trespass against me.
28 For when I had brought them into
the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then
they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered
there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of
their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out
there their drink offerings.
29 Then I said unto them, What is the
high place whereunto ye go? And the name whereof is called Bamah unto
this day.
30 Wherefore say unto the house of
Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of
your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?
31 For when ye offer your gifts, when
ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with
all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you,
O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be
enquired of by you.
32 And that which cometh into your
mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as
the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.
33 As I live, saith the Lord GOD,
surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury
poured out, will I rule over you:
34 And I will bring you out from the
people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are
scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with
fury poured out.
35 And I will bring you into the
wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.
36 Like as I pleaded with your
fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with
you, saith the Lord GOD.
37 And I will cause you to pass under
the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:
38 And I will purge out from among
you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them
forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter
into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
39 As for you, O house of Israel,
thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and
hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy
name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
40 For in mine holy mountain, in the
mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all
the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I
accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the
firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.
41 I will accept you with your sweet
savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the
countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in
you before the heathen.
42 And ye shall know that I am the
LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country
for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.
43 And there shall ye remember your
ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall
lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have
committed.
44 And ye shall know that I am the
LORD when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to
your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of
Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
45 Moreover the word of the LORD came
unto me, saying,
46 Son of man, set thy face toward
the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the
forest of the south field;
47 And say to the forest of the
south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I
will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in
thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and
all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
48 And all flesh shall see that I the
LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
49 Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say
of me, Doth he not speak parables?
Ezekiel 22:8 Thou hast despised mine holy things,
and hast profaned my sabbaths.
Ezekiel 22:26 Her priests have violated my
law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference
between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference
between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my
sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
Ezekiel 23:38 Moreover this they have done
unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have
profaned my sabbaths.
Nehemiah 13:17 Then I contended with
the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that
ye do, and profane the sabbath day?
Hosea 9:7 The days of visitation are come, the
days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a
fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity,
and the great hatred.
Isaiah 10:3 And what will ye do in the day of
visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom
will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?
Jeremiah 50:27 Slay all her bullocks; let them go
down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time
of their visitation.
Micah 7:4 The best of them is as a brier: the most
upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy
visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.
As I said, the New Covenant brought about
change. So much so, many of the outwardly religious, who had
become steeped in the doctrines and traditions of man did not
see it coming, and did not accept it when it came. After all,
there had been about 400 years of silence, when there had been no
prophets of the Lord in the land, between the time of the end of
the Old Testament and the beginning of the New, when John the
Baptist came on the scene, proclaiming the coming Messiah.
God wants a relationship with people. Having
people yoked up with sanctifying a particular day does NOT do
anything for God. That's NOT what He really wants. Some
just think that's what He wants.
Isaiah 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my
throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build
unto me? and where is the place of my rest? Regardless of the day of the week, and, whether it is in the
finest building around or underneath a pine tree, God wants to have an
intimate relationship with people who love Him. The Bible says He
inhabits the praises of His people ... AND that He is worthy of
being praised by everything that breathes.
Here's some more Scriptures having to do
with the "rest" of God, which, by the way is still
rejected by multitudes of religious people to this very
day ...
Isaiah Chapter 28
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and
whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from
the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be upon precept,
precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little,
and there a little:
11 For with stammering lips and
another tongue will he speak to this people.
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause
the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Acts Chapter 3
12 And when Peter saw it, he answered
unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look
ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had
made this man to walk?
13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac,
and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus;
whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he
was determined to let him go.
14 But ye denied the Holy One and the
Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
15 And killed the Prince of life,
whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
16 And his name through faith in his
name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith
which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence
of you all.
17 And now, brethren, I wot that
through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things, which God before
had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer,
he hath so fulfilled.
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may
be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the
presence of the Lord.
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached
unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until
the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the
mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
22 For Moses truly said unto the
fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your
brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he
shall say unto you.
23 And it shall come to pass, that
every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from
among the people.
Hebrews 4
1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of
entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel
preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit
them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall
enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the
foundation of the world.
4 For he spake in a certain place of
the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all
his works.
5 And in this place again, If they
shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter
therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because
of unbelief:
7 Again, he limiteth a certain day,
saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if
ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not
afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased
from his own works, as God did from his.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any
man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12 For the word of God is quick, and
powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the
dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and
is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that
is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto
the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
14 Seeing then that we have a great
high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let
us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in
all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto
the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help
in time of need.
As I said earlier, many of the religious people of
Jesus' day were so steeped in their doctrines of man and traditions
that they did not see it coming, nor accept it when it got here.
Many, today, are just as adamantly opposed to the "rest" of God ...
which is being born again "the Bible way". They apparently believe they
can skip that base and still make it to home plate where there
remaineth an eternal "rest" for the people of God. However,
many will be in for a rude awakening the morning. Here's some
more passages of Scripture that you may find some information in, that
will be helpful as you evaluate this matter ...
John 9:16 Therefore said some of the
Pharisees, This man [Jesus] is not of God, because he
keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a
sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
Luke 19:4 And shall lay thee even with the ground,
and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one
stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among
the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they
may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day
of visitation.
Romans 14
1 Him that is weak in the faith
receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
2 For one believeth that he may eat
all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him
that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that
eateth: for God hath received him.
4 Who art thou that judgest another
man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall
be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth
every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6 He that regardeth the day,
regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the
Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he
giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not,
and giveth God thanks.
7 For none of us liveth to himself,
and no man dieth to himself.
8 For whether we live, we live unto
the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live
therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
9 For to this end Christ both died,
and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and
living.
10 But why dost thou judge thy
brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all
stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live,
saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall
confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give
account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one
another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a
stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
14 I know, and am persuaded by the
Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that
esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 But if thy brother be grieved with
thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy
meat, for whom Christ died.
16 Let not then your good be evil
spoken of:
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat
and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
18 For he that in these things
serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19 Let us therefore follow after the
things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
20 For meat destroy not the work of
God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth
with offence.
21 It is good neither to eat flesh,
nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is
offended, or is made weak.
22 Hast thou faith? have it to
thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that
thing which he alloweth.
23 And he that doubteth is damned if
he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith
is sin.
Hebrews 3
1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers
of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our
profession, Christ Jesus;
2 Who was faithful to him that
appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
3 For this man was counted worthy of
more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath
more honour than the house.
4 For every house is builded by some
man; but he that built all things is God.
5 And Moses verily was faithful in
all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were
to be spoken after;
6 But Christ as a son over his own
house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the
rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith,
To day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the
provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me,
proved me, and saw my works forty years.
10 Wherefore I was grieved with that
generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have
not known my ways.
11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall
not enter into my rest.)
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be
in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living
God.
13 But exhort one another daily,
while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of
Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the
end;
15 While it is said, To day if ye
will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
16 For some, when they had heard, did
provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
17 But with whom was he grieved forty
years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the
wilderness?
18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his
rest, but to them that believed not?
19 So we see that they could not
enter in because of unbelief.
The objection raised by many Jewish Sabbath
observers concerning Sunday worship has to do with what they perceive
as paganism. My contention is, if a person is that concerned
about paganism, they'd better not be embracing the concept of a
plurality of "persons" of God (which very definitely has pagan roots)
AND they had better be using the Jewish calendar. I
mean, why would they use pagan names to refer the months of
the calendar many of us use, and use pagan names to refer to
the days of the week that the Jews referred
to as the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and
Seventh (later referred to as ... the Sabbath Day). By the
way, pagans used to worship cats (and some may still do), so neither
should they own a cat. Do you see how bizarre things can get, once
a person starts down the legalistic trail. I guess what
I am trying to say here, is if a person is not careful, they
will strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. Now, don't
misunderstand me. Nobody should go against their own conscience
concerning a matter PROVIDED it harmonizes with the PREPONDERANCE of
Scriptural evidence found written verbatim upon the pages of the King
James Version of the Holy Bible. With that in mind, I have
absolutely nothing against assembling to worship God any day of the
week, including Saturday ... and have done so many times, and will
continue to do so. However, I try not do condemn people at
all, but especially not based upon the day(s) of the week they worship
God.
The first day of the week was NOT something the
Christians came up with to replace the Jewish Sabbath. However,
the first day of the week was of extreme importance. Jesus
rose from the grace on the First Day of the Week. The First Day of the
week marks a "New Beginning" for the "New" Covenant ... and gives
added meaning to "the first shall be last and the last shall be
first." Also, the birth of the "New" Testament Church
happened when the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the 120
obedient followers of Jesus (including Mary, the mother of Jesus) on
the day of Pentecost (the 50th day from Passover ... a very holy day on
the "First" Day of the week).
Here's some things to consider about the first day
of the week:
The early Christians were admonished to not fail
to assemble together (Hebrews 10:24-25). And, it is
documented that preaching, worship and offerings took place on the
first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1). Also, they
came together to break bread (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:18 "when ye
come together in the church";. Jesus' resurrection was on
the First Day of the week (Mark 16:1-9; Luke 24:1-9). AND, the
birth of the New Testament Church was on the First Day of the week
(Acts 2:1-4). Our Lord is the First AND the Last (Isaiah 41:4;
Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 48:12; Revelation 1:11 & 17; Revelation 2:8;
Revelation 22:13 ). AND, the first shall be last and the
last shall be first (Matthew 19:30; 20:16). And, the last to be
more than the first (Revelation 2:19).
The First Day of the week has special
significance to a Christian, as does the cross ... not that either one
is an object of worship, though. But, to cast dispersions on
Christians who worship on the First Day of the week ... based on the
day, itself ..., is just like accusing those who own cats of being
pagans. Think about that. At any
rate, the first day of the week is significant for BOTH the
resurrection ... bringing an end to the ceremonial laws of
Moses ... as well the birth of the New Testament church ... when
it was ushered in about 47 days later.
In conclusion, Paul pretty much
sums it up this matter here ...
Colossians Chapter 2
8 Beware lest any man
spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of
men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness
of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which
is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised
with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of
the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism,
wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation
of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins
and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with
him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of
ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it
out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities
and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 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:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of
Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility
and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath
not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints
and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth
with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the
world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to
ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the
commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship,
and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the
satisfying of the flesh.
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