SHOULD WE ASK GENTILE BELIEVERS TO OBSERVE THE SABBATH?
HI dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Please read carefully Acts 15:1-29 and tell me if we should ask Gentile believers to observe the Sabbah!
I know that Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
Matthew 5:18
But I also know that: “Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
Mark 2:27-28
I also know that:”There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:28
I also know that Paul said: “28A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.”
Romans 2:28-29
I also know that Paul said: “19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
Righteousness Through Faith
21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement,[a] through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. 28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. 29Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Romans 3:19-31
This is what we should ask gentile believers to do!!!
“8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:8-10
What Sabbath for GENTILE BELIEVERS? Jesus-Christ is our Sabbath. He is our rest, he is all for us. We Worship Him every day; from Saturday to Sunday (No particular day set apart for the worship!)
Please read carefully the testimony below, from a friend of mine and answer my question above!
"God bless you Brother,
There are 4 main views of the Sabbath circulating today. http://www.bible.ca/7-4-positions.htm I do not hold to the positions championed by this (or any site) in their entirety but these links I am giving you have some good info on this subject.
I used to be a Sabbath keeper until I discovered that many of the things that were taught to me as truth were in fact error.
7th Day Sabbatarians say that the Sabbath was instituted at creation and was made for all men. Contrary to Sabbatarian assertions, the Bible is completely silent upon the subject of the “Sabbath” until the time of the Exodus. In fact, the word “Sabbath” is not even mentioned in the Bible until 2,600 years after Creation week. Check your Bible Concordance and you will discover the Hebrew word for “rest” (“Shabbat”/Sabbath – in the sense of resting from one’s work) is not mentioned until the Exodus, 2,600 years after Creation!
In other words it was part of the law given to Moses and although some like to separate the 10 from the 613 laws (as I used to and even many Sunday keeping Churches do) they are not separated into categories by the Bible. There are many "moral" laws in the "ceremonial" sections, and there are ceremonies in the "moral" sections. Even Jesus blended the Ten Commandments with other laws when he gave his sermon on the mount, found in Matthew 5.
http://www.apostolic.net/biblicalstudies/law.htm#Anchor1
http://www.nonsda.org/study2.shtml
http://www.bible.ca/7-10=1stCoven.htm
Sabbath keepers tell everyone that Colossians 2:16-17 refers to the annual Sabbath days and not to the weekly Seventh-day Sabbath.
However, in the Bible, when an author wanted to draw attention to the entire set of ceremonial holy days, he would refer to the yearly, monthly and weekly events - to represent the entire system. The annual Sabbaths were already included in the verse as part of the annual "festivals", so it would make no sense to mention them again. Notice that the Week-Month-Year pattern is used in Colossians 2:16:
Therefore let no one pass judgement on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath. (Col. 2:16 RSV)
If we use the Bible to interpret the Bible, the overwhelming evidence points to Colossians 2:16 as referring to the weekly Sabbath. I can show 10 other places where this pattern shows the entire Week-Month-Year but there are none where this pattern fits the weekly Sabbath. See the chart on this at the link below.
http://www.nonsda.org/study1.shtml
They twist the Greek when it suits them as in Acts 20:7 & 1 Cor 16:1 http://www.bible.ca/7-sabbath-greek.htm
I like the New Covenant theology that is emerging. It solves many of the theological dilemmas imposed by traditional covenant and dispensation theology. http://www.biblicalstudies.com/bstudy/hermenutics/nct.htm
Under the New Covenant, Christians have a freedom in Christ which Sabbatarians (Sunday or Saturday) completely miss. The Sabbath had a prophetic function in its anticipation of the gospel rest enjoyed by all who are in Christ, both now and in eternity (eg., Heb.4). NCT would argue that the 7th day Sabbath marks the Old Covenant (eg., Exodus 31; Col. 2:16-17) and emphasize rather the position of Luther and Calvin that the Sabbath now finds its fulfilment in Christ under the New Covenant (Col. 2:17). (Resting in Jesus).
The Sabbatarian focus is wrong, for they focus on the Old Covenant instead of upon Christ’s New Covenant. Throughout the New Testament, the Apostles warned Christians to be continually on their guard when they came into contact with Sabbatarians (see Acts 15:1-2, 5, 10-11; Titus 1:10-14; Galatians 3:10, 23-25; et cetera).
There is a place you can go where there is a large archive of files on this subject. The World Wide Church of God used to be Seventh Day Sabbath keepers, but renounced that position. The theological arguments that erupted over this issue are recorded and available to all. They knew all the proof texts to support Seventh Day Sabbath keeping and in fact taught them for decades, but one by one they were compelled to admit their errors, in light of Bible truth.
http://www.wcg.org/lit/law/default.htm
Also, there are a whole host of sites run by ex- Seventh Day Adventists who have a wealth of material on this. I used to write then off as heretics and “bitter” individuals until I started to seriously investigate their claims and try to refute them honestly. Then I discovered that it was I who was in error and that I had been misled. Now I feel sorry for Sabbath keepers, whether they be Saturday or Sunday keepers. I have entered the true rest – in Jesus.
http://www.exadventist.com/Home/Sabbath/tabid/53/Default.aspx
www.ellenwhite.org
What Seventh-day Adventists Need to Know
www.ratzlaf.com
www.truthorfables.com
www.sabbaths.org
www.AdventistTruth.org
Proclamation! Magazine
Former Adventist Fellowship
Hope this helps,
Ken"
Blessings,
Bro. Germain
www.myspace.com/wawesan
www.tagworld.com/srobouay
Please read carefully Acts 15:1-29 and tell me if we should ask Gentile believers to observe the Sabbah!
I know that Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
Matthew 5:18
But I also know that: “Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
Mark 2:27-28
I also know that:”There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:28
I also know that Paul said: “28A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.”
Romans 2:28-29
I also know that Paul said: “19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
Righteousness Through Faith
21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement,[a] through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. 28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. 29Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Romans 3:19-31
This is what we should ask gentile believers to do!!!
“8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:8-10
What Sabbath for GENTILE BELIEVERS? Jesus-Christ is our Sabbath. He is our rest, he is all for us. We Worship Him every day; from Saturday to Sunday (No particular day set apart for the worship!)
Please read carefully the testimony below, from a friend of mine and answer my question above!
"God bless you Brother,
There are 4 main views of the Sabbath circulating today. http://www.bible.ca/7-4-positions.htm I do not hold to the positions championed by this (or any site) in their entirety but these links I am giving you have some good info on this subject.
I used to be a Sabbath keeper until I discovered that many of the things that were taught to me as truth were in fact error.
7th Day Sabbatarians say that the Sabbath was instituted at creation and was made for all men. Contrary to Sabbatarian assertions, the Bible is completely silent upon the subject of the “Sabbath” until the time of the Exodus. In fact, the word “Sabbath” is not even mentioned in the Bible until 2,600 years after Creation week. Check your Bible Concordance and you will discover the Hebrew word for “rest” (“Shabbat”/Sabbath – in the sense of resting from one’s work) is not mentioned until the Exodus, 2,600 years after Creation!
In other words it was part of the law given to Moses and although some like to separate the 10 from the 613 laws (as I used to and even many Sunday keeping Churches do) they are not separated into categories by the Bible. There are many "moral" laws in the "ceremonial" sections, and there are ceremonies in the "moral" sections. Even Jesus blended the Ten Commandments with other laws when he gave his sermon on the mount, found in Matthew 5.
http://www.apostolic.net/biblicalstudies/law.htm#Anchor1
http://www.nonsda.org/study2.shtml
http://www.bible.ca/7-10=1stCoven.htm
Sabbath keepers tell everyone that Colossians 2:16-17 refers to the annual Sabbath days and not to the weekly Seventh-day Sabbath.
However, in the Bible, when an author wanted to draw attention to the entire set of ceremonial holy days, he would refer to the yearly, monthly and weekly events - to represent the entire system. The annual Sabbaths were already included in the verse as part of the annual "festivals", so it would make no sense to mention them again. Notice that the Week-Month-Year pattern is used in Colossians 2:16:
Therefore let no one pass judgement on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath. (Col. 2:16 RSV)
If we use the Bible to interpret the Bible, the overwhelming evidence points to Colossians 2:16 as referring to the weekly Sabbath. I can show 10 other places where this pattern shows the entire Week-Month-Year but there are none where this pattern fits the weekly Sabbath. See the chart on this at the link below.
http://www.nonsda.org/study1.shtml
They twist the Greek when it suits them as in Acts 20:7 & 1 Cor 16:1 http://www.bible.ca/7-sabbath-greek.htm
I like the New Covenant theology that is emerging. It solves many of the theological dilemmas imposed by traditional covenant and dispensation theology. http://www.biblicalstudies.com/bstudy/hermenutics/nct.htm
Under the New Covenant, Christians have a freedom in Christ which Sabbatarians (Sunday or Saturday) completely miss. The Sabbath had a prophetic function in its anticipation of the gospel rest enjoyed by all who are in Christ, both now and in eternity (eg., Heb.4). NCT would argue that the 7th day Sabbath marks the Old Covenant (eg., Exodus 31; Col. 2:16-17) and emphasize rather the position of Luther and Calvin that the Sabbath now finds its fulfilment in Christ under the New Covenant (Col. 2:17). (Resting in Jesus).
The Sabbatarian focus is wrong, for they focus on the Old Covenant instead of upon Christ’s New Covenant. Throughout the New Testament, the Apostles warned Christians to be continually on their guard when they came into contact with Sabbatarians (see Acts 15:1-2, 5, 10-11; Titus 1:10-14; Galatians 3:10, 23-25; et cetera).
There is a place you can go where there is a large archive of files on this subject. The World Wide Church of God used to be Seventh Day Sabbath keepers, but renounced that position. The theological arguments that erupted over this issue are recorded and available to all. They knew all the proof texts to support Seventh Day Sabbath keeping and in fact taught them for decades, but one by one they were compelled to admit their errors, in light of Bible truth.
http://www.wcg.org/lit/law/default.htm
Also, there are a whole host of sites run by ex- Seventh Day Adventists who have a wealth of material on this. I used to write then off as heretics and “bitter” individuals until I started to seriously investigate their claims and try to refute them honestly. Then I discovered that it was I who was in error and that I had been misled. Now I feel sorry for Sabbath keepers, whether they be Saturday or Sunday keepers. I have entered the true rest – in Jesus.
http://www.exadventist.com/Home/Sabbath/tabid/53/Default.aspx
www.ellenwhite.org
What Seventh-day Adventists Need to Know
www.ratzlaf.com
www.truthorfables.com
www.sabbaths.org
www.AdventistTruth.org
Proclamation! Magazine
Former Adventist Fellowship
Hope this helps,
Ken"
Blessings,
Bro. Germain
www.myspace.com/wawesan
www.tagworld.com/srobouay
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by N'ZI Amani Germain on
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Hi dear Sister Anna !
Please humble yourself and the truth will be revealed to you (Matthew 11: 25).
The answers of your questions can be found within the four articles above. You need to humble yourself.
Indeed, you asked: ‘what are the Laws of the Kingdom*** of God, based on the text of Isaiah and Micah in: Isaiah. 2, & Micah 4?”
You’ve quoted Isaiah and Micah, but even one verse from the New Testament has not been quoted to support your view point.
As for me, my view point is much broader than a simple quotation of the Old Testament’s books.
Do you believe in the New Testament? I wonder!
Let me tell you that the Holy Bible must be taken as a whole. The Old Testament and the New Testament are linked.
So, according to you, what are the Laws of the Kingdom of God, based on the texts of both the Old Testament and the New Testament?
Indeed, in Romans 10:4, Brother Paul said: “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes”.
Moreover, in Galatians 6:2 he said: “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ”.
The Bible states that there’s one Lord, one faith, one Kingdom, one King, namely Jesus-Christ.
According to you, how many kind of laws can we find in the single Kingdom of the Lord Jesus-Christ, except the Law of Christ?
May Jesus-Christ enlighten you. First, you need to humble yourself!
Please do not harden your hearts!
Blessings,
Bro. Germain
www.tagworld.com/srobouay
www.myspace.com/wawesan
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Permalink Reply by Rev. Kelvin "Besodeiah" Broadus on
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I post not to debate, but to make a comment of observation. It is clear that each person making comments is fully convinced in his/her own mind that the way he/she understands this is without flaw. That is not a bad thing, for your foundation in Christ must be firm.
Yet, where is the example of Christ when we begin to throw insults because another cannot see it "our way?" Where is the Christlike maturity in personal ATTACKS, ARROGANCE, and RUDENESS among brethren.
Neither of you are going to convince the other to take your view, especially with insults. Likewise, no one can grow if they are so full of their own "interpretation" to the point of completely closing their minds to the idea that "I may just be wrong and maybe they may not be as stupid as I think they are."
It is excellent and wonderful that everyone is so well studied, and may the deep study continue throughout life. Yet, humility and love are essential in order to help build and strengthen self and the body as a whole.
Peace to you family,
Kelvin
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Permalink Reply by James Pierce on
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The earliest Christians, during the time of the Apostles, kept the Sabbath. They did not cease from keeping it. We in the 21st century should walk in the same steps as theirs. The law was included in the new covenant(Jeremiah 31 & Hebrews 8)
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Dear brother Moreh!
Please, take your Bible or your Torah and read Hebrews 4 : 1-11 again.
"A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God”
“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.[a] 3Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
"So I declared on oath in my anger,
'They shall never enter my rest.' "[b] And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. 4For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work."[c] 5And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest."
6It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. 7Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before:
"Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts."[d] 8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience ».
Now, would you be so kind as to explain me the verses 8 and 9?
“For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God”.
What does the phrase “ANOTHER DAY” stand for?
"ANOTHER" "DAY"
Please answer me!
It’s time you stop your false teachings and your false intimidation on the Black Preaching Network.
Today, Jesus-Christ is the Sabbath-Rest for the People of God. Amen!
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you REST”.
Matthew 11:28
Blessings,
Bro. Germain
www.myspace.com/wawesan
www.tagworld.com/srobouay
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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
HERE ARE FIVE (5) QUOTATIONS TAKEN FROM MOREH’S PREVIOUS MESSAGES CONCERNING HEBREWS CHAPTER 4
1- “…Notice he speaks of the SEVENTH DAY…NOT A PERSON) You cannot simply suggest that the writer is speaking of Messiah when no place thus far has he mentioned the messiah BUT he has mentioned the SEVENTH DAY!!...”
2- “…Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that (“That” denotes the same as before. the seventh day) rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience”.
3- “Hebrews is not speaking of a day of rest as in the 7th day Sabbath nor is it speaking of Yahshua as the “REST” but in the end Yahshua will BRING REST”.
4- ”…This scripture brother is speaking of the final day when Yahshua comes back and gives a final rest to His people from the ills of society…”
5- “…It is in no way telling us that the 7th day Sabbath is no more…it speaks of ANOTHER DAY IN THE FUTURE WHEN WE WILL ALL REST AND STUDY WAR NO MORE...”
QUESTION
- Hebrews 4 speaks about the Sabbath day, the same day as before.
- Hebrews 4 speaks of the final day when Yahshua comes back (in the future) and gives a final rest to His people from the ills of society.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, please tell me, where is the truth?
The truth is within the Holy Bible and not in the contradictions and mistranslations of Moreh.
Jesus Christ has come and He said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you REST”.
Matthew 11:28
HEBREWS 4 states that: « …Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today…” «… TODAY, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…”.
“TODAY”, not tomorrow, not in the future, not at the second coming of Jesus-Christ, but TODAY.
HEBREWS 4 says: « …Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest…”
We should make an effort TODAY to enter that REST.
“TODAY”, not tomorrow, not in the future, not at the second coming of Jesus-Christ, but TODAY.
The appeal of our Lord Jesus is still in force: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you REST”
In other words, come to me TODAY, do not harden your hearts, but make every effort to enter that rest, the Sabbath-rest that remains for the people of God. Amen!!!
One doesn’t come to Jesus-Christ TODAY in order to enter the REST in the future.
Jesus relieves, saves, heals, brings peace, joy, and REST to those who come to Him TODAY.
He has set me free. Yes I’m free thanks to Jesus Christ!
Verily, there is no other Sabbath rest besides Jesus. He alone satisfies the requirements of the
Law, and He alone provides the sacrifice that atones for sin. He is God’s plan for us to cease from the labor of our own works. Amen!
Blessings,
Bro. Germain
www.myspace.com/wawesan
www.tagworld.com/srobouay
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Brother Moreh!
My English is not excellent enough, but I'm pretty sure that you clearly understand whatever I tell you though!
You said:
"The very people who wrote the letters in the NT continued to keep that day as holy"
Who are they?
You seem to have forgotten the issue we have been debating: The theme of our discussion is as follows:
SHOULD WE ASK GENTILE BELIEVERS TO OBSERVE THE SABBATH?
Please, show me some biblical passages attesting that Gentiles believers should continue to keep that day as holy.
Indeed, in the early chapters of the Book of Acts, the first Christians were predominantly Jews. When Gentiles began to receive the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, the Jewish Christians had a dilemma. What aspects of the Mosaic Law and Jewish tradition should Gentile Christians be instructed to obey? The apostles met and discussed the issue in the Jerusalem council (Acts chapter 15). The decision was, “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood” (Acts 15:19-20).
Sabbath-keeping was not one of the commands the apostles felt was necessary to enforce on Gentile believers. It is inconceivable that the apostles would neglect to include Sabbath-keeping if it was still God’s command for Christians to observe the Sabbath day.
You said again:
“This is what the writer said when he wrote in Hebrews 4:11: Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience”.
Then you asked a trivial question:
Who’s example are we not to follow?
The answer is simple: Disobedience is. We should not be disobedient!
For more details, let me show you also another statement of the same writer in Hebrews 10: 28-29:
“Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?”
In the passage above, the Hebrews’ writer doesn’t deal with the rejection of the Sabbath keeping or the Law of Moses, but he puts the stress on the rejection of the Son of God: JESUS CHRIST. Amen!
Here, he shows that the rejection of the Son of God is an example of disobedience worse than the disobedience of the Mosaic Law.
Do you understand the Holy Scriptures?
“Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.”
Today, the gentile believers should make an effort to enter the REST, namely JESUS CHRIST, the Sabbath-rest for the people of God, for fear of falling by following the example of disobedience of the Israelites who broke the Mosaic Law formerly.
Here again, the Hebrews’ writer doesn’t put the emphasis on the Law of Moses or the Sabbath keeping according to Moses' Law.
The stress is put on Jesus-Christ: “How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?
The rejection of Jesus Christ, the Grace, the Rest, our Sabbath is the example of disobedience the Hebrews’ writer compares to the former disobedience of the
Israelites (Hebrews 10:28-29).
He was not putting the stress on the Sabbath keeping according to the Law of Moses.
He was rather putting the stress on Jesus, the REST.
This is the reason why, he urges us to make every effort to enter that rest today. If you
reject Him, then you are disobedient.
Christ, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). He is our REST, He is our SABBATH, better He is all for us.
Today, He is the Sabbath-Rest for the People of God. Amen!
In this capacity, He could say: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you REST”.
Matthew 11:28
There’s no other Sabbath besides Him!!!!!
Please, bear this in your mind, once for all !!!!
Blessings,
Bro. Germain
www.myspace.com/wawesan
www.tagworld.com/srobouay
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Permalink Reply by Emma on
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Mr G and others:
I submit to you a translation of the Bible from the Aramaic Bible which has not been totally corrupeted by the Catholic monks and bible editors, that the original wording of Hebrews gave witness to the duty of believers to keep the Sabbath:
rHebrews 4:9-10 (Go to this verse :: Verse pop-up)
The Lamsa translation of the Bible from the Aramaic renders Hebrews 4:9-10 as:
"It is therefore the duty of the people of God to keep the sabbath. For he that has entered into his rest also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his."
Along with the examples of Christ, His apostles, and the early church, this scripture indeed shows us we have a responsibility in keeping the Sabbath. It is on the Sabbath day that we have the best opportunity each week to learn and grow toward entering God's rest, His Kingdom.
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Germain,
You stated............ Indeed, in the early chapters of the Book of Acts, the first Christians were predominantly Jews. When Gentiles began to receive the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, the Jewish Christians had a dilemma. What aspects of the Mosaic Law and Jewish tradition should Gentile Christians be instructed to obey? The apostles met and discussed the issue in the Jerusalem council (Acts chapter 15). The decision was, “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood” (Acts 15:19-20).
Sabbath-keeping was not one of the commands the apostles felt was necessary to enforce on Gentile believers. It is inconceivable that the apostles would neglect to include Sabbath-keeping if it was still God’s command for Christians to observe the Sabbath day.
Acts 15 is commonly twisted by Christians. Its twisted because since they believe they don't have to keep the law, they assume that James, and the Apostles concluded that Gentiles do not have to obey the law. But, is that what Acts 15 is really saying? Is that what Acts 15 mean?
First, we must look at the first two verses of the chapter. Verses 1-2,"But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unle ss you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question."
This was the #1 thing that they came together to discuss, which is to be circumsized(become Jewish) to be saved. There is so much packed into that belief, that the job to decipher the meaning of what those men said is neccessary. It is imperative that we understand their phrase.
First, It was believed during 1st century, that by being Jewish, and keeping the law, would guarentee you paradise. Second, by becoming Jewish, the Gentile was required to leave his paganistic practices, and adhere to the law of God. This is what James was referring to when he gave the 4 laws to Gentiles. Gentiles were not trusted, and therefore not accepted into the Jewish community.
James wanted to give them those 4 laws thats recorded in the law so that the Jews can see that the new Gentiles are adhering to the law, and can be accepted. Peter already told them that one does not have to be Jewish to be saved, rather, faith in Jesus saves. The 4 laws James gives were not the only laws that Gentiles will ever have to follow. Those 4 laws were there to get them accepted into the Jewish community.
Verse 21,"For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues."
This scripture shows us that Gentiles who come to Christ will learn the law of their new faith every Sabbath. Germain, its imperative that you truly study the historical context of Acts 15, because it will shed some light on the words spoken here.
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See you tomorrow!
I'll reply to the studies above !
Bro. Germain
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Brother Moreh!
May God enlighten you and reveal His word to you!
Indeed, let’s begin with the last sentence of your statement above:
You said:
“…do you read or do you just pick different chapters to change the direction of the conversation…He mentioned David and He mentioned Joshua and implied the disobedience of Yisrael…We need to look at their mistakes and not make the same”
No, I didn’t just pick different chapters to change the direction of the conversation.
I’ve quoted Hebrews 10:28-29 in which the writer shows that the rejection of Jesus Christ is an example of disobedience. Then the Hebrews’ writer compares that disobedience to the former disobedience of the Israelites toward the Law of Moses.
In this passage the writer asserts that the Israelites disobeyed the Law of Moses.
Do you want me to put in connection the example of disobedience highlighted in Hebrew 4 with the disobedience of the Israelites in the days of Joshua?
Isn’t the Law of Moses that the writer talks about in Hebrews 10:28-29 the same as the law of Joshua that the Israelites had violated in the time of Joshua?
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LAW of Moses and THAT OF JOSHUA?
Is the disobedience of the Law of Moses different from the disobedience of the Law or Joshua?
Let us read Joshua 1:6-9 and see:
"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
In the passage our Lord told Joshua to obey all the law His servant Moses gave him; and not to turn from it to the right or to the left, that he may be successful wherever he goes.
consequently, my illustration is not out of the line since the disobedience we are not to follow, namely the example in the book of Joshua is identical to the disobedience stated in the Law of Moses which is compared to the rejection of Jesus-Christ by the same writer in Hebrews 10: 28-29.
Don’t you see the link between Hebrews 4 and Hebrews 10?
The Law of Moses = The Law of Joshua
Besides, I asked you to show me some biblical passages attesting that Gentiles believers should continue to keep that day as holy.
You provided two biblical passages. There are Acts 13:42 and Acts 18:4.
Before analyzing your statement, let’s first define the phrase “to observe the Sabbath day” or “to keep that day as holy”.
In this intention, Let us refer to the model (pattern) prescribed by God Himself in the Old Testament.
According to Exodus 20:8-11, the Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, on which we are to rest, in remembrance that God created the universe in six days and then “rested” on the seventh day:
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy”.
As we see, the Bible nowhere commands that the Sabbath be the day of worship. In Exodus 20:8-11, “keeping the Sabbath holy” is defined as NOT WORKING ON THE SABBATH.
Nowhere in this passage is the Sabbath described as a day especially set aside for worship. Similarly, other Scriptures command against working on the Sabbath, but say nothing of the Sabbath being the ordained day for worship( Exodus 16:23-29; 31:12-18; 35:2-3; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Nehemiah 13:15-22; Jeremiah 17:21-27)
“For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.( Exodus 31:15-17).
Let us notice that the Sabbath was A SIGN BETWEEN GOD AND THE ISRAELITES.
Yes, A SIGN BETWEEN GOD AND THE ISRAELITES:
“Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day”
Deuteronomy 5:15
THE SABBATH IS A SIGN BETWEEN GOD AND THE ISRAELITES.
Not only they should observe it in remembrance that God created the universe in six days and then “rested” on the seventh day, but also in remembrance that they were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD their God brought them out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Amen!
Nowhere in the Bible is the Sabbath described as a day especially set aside for worship.
But why is the concept of the “day of worship” far more emphasized than the “day of rest.”? I wonder!
It's true that the New Testament records Jews and converts to Judaism meeting in the synagogues on the Sabbath (Mark 6:2; Luke 4:31; Luke 13:10-16; Acts 13:14,27,42-44; 15:21; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4).
Obviously, with no work being done on the Sabbath day, that would make the Sabbath day the ideal day to have organized worship services.
However, again, the Bible does not command that the Sabbath day be the day of worship. The Bible describes worship on the Sabbath, but does not prescribe organized corporate worship on the Sabbath.
You said:
“…How come Shaul did not have two different “services” one for the Hebrews and one for the Gentiles? Because he was also teaching them to observe the Sabbath day…This was not a Yoke it was the natural order of obedience’’… What did you think they read anyway, there was not NT then….they read from the Torah so what else would they learn?...”
Was Brother Paul Holding a Sabbath service?
Brother, let me tell you that the idea that the Sabbath day is the God-ordained day of corporate worship is not biblical.
The Sabbath day is a “day of rest.”
“keeping the Sabbath holy” is defined as NOT WORKING ON THE SABBATH. Amen!
Was Brother Paul teaching People to observe the Sabbath day?
What does the SABBATH SERVICE or THE SABBATH TEACHING look like?
Let’s see the teaching of Brother Paul to which you referred in the book of Acts!
"Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: " 'Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you. As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath.
Acts 13:38-42
Brother Paul was speaking about JESUS CHRIST. He said that through him everyone who believes is justified from everything she/he could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
Brother Paul was not teaching gentiles to observe the Sabbath day. But he was persuading them to believe in Jesus Christ! Amen!
Brother, I’m teaching the same to you today: You can not be justified by the law of Moses.
Indeed, Brother Paul said:
"We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.”
Galatians 2:15-16
This was the teaching of Brother Paul and Barnabas in the synagogue (Acts 13: 38- 42). The
The Jews and the Gentiles invited them to speak further about the same things on the next Sabbath.
It was all about JESUS CHRIST. Nothing but JESUS CHRIST! Nothing more, nothing less!
You said:
“…This is false because we just read earlier not to long after the first outpouring that the Gentiles/Greeks were also being taught ON THE SABBATH.”
Then you quoted : Act 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks”.
Please tell me, what did Brother Paul persuade Jews and Greeks to do?
Let’s see it:
“Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."
Acts 18:4-6
According to the passage above, Brother Paul was persuading Jews and Greeks to recognize that JESUS WAS THE CHRIST.
This was the Teaching of Paul. It was all about JESUS. Nothing but JESUS CHRIST! Nothing more, nothing less!
If Brother Paul were persuading Gentiles to observe the Sabbath, then, why does this passage states that Jews opposed Paul and became abusive ?
Wy did Brother Paul shake out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads?
Why did he say “From now on I will go to the Gentiles”?
Did Brother Paul went to the Gentiles to enforce the Sabbath observance on them?
Brother Moreh, it’s time to stop your false teachings on the Black Preaching Network. Time is up!
Do not lead the people of God astray anymore. One day You will account for that before God you claim to know/serve.
Brother Moreh Yaakov said:
“…This scripture (Acts 15) shows us that Gentiles who come to Christ will learn the law of their new faith every Sabbath…”
What is the law of the new faith of the Gentiles who come to Christ?
The law of their new faith is the law of Christ.
And that law states that man is not justified by observing the law of Moses, but by faith in Jesus Christ. This was the preaching of Brother Paul every Sabbath in the synagogue.
However, Brother Paul was censored because of that.
Besides, Jesus Christ of whom he was making his testimony had been also censured before him in the Sabbath day (Mark 2: 23-28; 31: 1-7).
Can you tell me why Jesus - Christ and His Apostle Paul were censored in the Sabbath day?
The real problem in this issue is that people do not believe that He who instituted the Sabbath in the Old Testament (YAHWEH) is the same one Who came in the New Testament and said: “So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." (Mark 2:28).
JESUS - CHRIST IS THE ALMIGHTY GOD, THE LORD OF THE SABBATH.
Amen!
He came not to abolish the law, but to improve/perfect it!
Verily, the Sabbath symbolized the coming of the Messiah, who would provide a permanent rest for His people. Once again the example of resting from our labors comes into play. With the establishment of the Old Testament Law, the Jews were constantly “laboring” to make themselves acceptable to God. Their labors included trying to obey a myriad of do’s and don’ts of the ceremonial law, the Temple law, the civil law, etc. Of course they couldn’t possibly keep all those laws, so God provided an array of sin offerings and sacrifices so they could come to Him for forgiveness and restore fellowship with Him, but only temporarily. Just as they began their physical labors after a one-day rest, so, too, did they have to continue to offer sacrifices. Hebrews 10:1 tells us that the law “can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.” But these sacrifices were offered in anticipation of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross, who ”after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right of God” (Hebrews 10:12). Just as He rested after performing the ultimate sacrifice, He sat down and rested—ceased from His labor of atonement because there was nothing more to be done, ever. Because of what He did, we no longer have to “labor” in law-keeping in order to be justified in the sight of God. Jesus was sent so that we might rest in God and in what He has provided.
Another element of the Sabbath day rest which God instituted as a foreshadowing of our complete rest in Christ is that He blessed it, sanctified it, and made it holy. Here again we see the symbol of Christ as our Sabbath rest—the holy, perfect Son of God who sanctifies and makes holy all who believe in Him. God sanctified Christ, just as He sanctified the Sabbath day, and sent Him into the world (John 10:36) to be our sacrifice for sin. In Him we find complete rest from the labors of our self-effort, because He alone is holy and righteous. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). We can now cease from our spiritual labors and rest in Him, not just one day a week, but always.
Jesus can be our Sabbath rest in part because He is “Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8). As God incarnate, He decides the true meaning of the Sabbath because He created it, and He is our Sabbath rest in the flesh. When the Pharisees criticized Him for healing on the Sabbath, Jesus reminded them that even they, sinful as they were, would not hesitate to pull a sheep out of a pit on the Sabbath. Because He came to seek and save His sheep who would hear His voice (John 10:3,27) and enter into the Sabbath rest He provided by paying for their sins, He could break the Sabbath rules. He told the Pharisees that people are more important than sheep and the salvation He provided was more important than rules. By saying, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27), Jesus was restating the principle that the Sabbath rest was instituted to relieve man of his labors, just as He came to relieve us of our attempting to achieve salvation by our works. We no longer rest for only one day, but forever cease our laboring to attain God’s favor. Jesus is our rest from works now, just as He is the door to heaven, where we will rest in Him forever.
HEBREWS 4 is the definitive passage regarding Jesus as our Sabbath rest. The writer to the Hebrews exhorts his readers to “enter in” to the Sabbath rest provided by Christ. After three chapters of telling them that Jesus is superior to the angels and that He is our Apostle and High Priest, he pleads with them to not harden their hearts against Him, as their fathers hardened their hearts against Jehovah in the wilderness. Because of their unbelief, God denied that generation access to the holy land, saying, “They shall not enter into My rest” (Hebrews 3:11). In the same way, the writer to the Hebrews begs them—and us—not to make the same mistake by rejecting God’s Sabbath rest in Jesus Christ. “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:9-11).
There is no other Sabbath rest besides Jesus. He alone satisfies the requirements of the Law, and He alone provides the sacrifice that atones for sin. He is God’s plan for us to cease from the labor of our own works. We dare not reject this one-and-only Way of salvation (John 14:6). God’s reaction to those who choose to reject His plan is seen in Numbers 15. A man was found gathering sticks on the Sabbath day, in spite of God’s plain commandment to cease from all labor on the Sabbath. This transgression was a known and willful sin, done with unblushing boldness in broad daylight, in open defiance of the divine authority. “And Jehovah said to Moses, ‘The man shall surely be put to death’” (v. 35). So it will be to all who reject God’s provision for our Sabbath rest in Christ. “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3).
In conclusion, let us notice that the fact the gentiles believers enter a synagogue to attend church in the Sabbath day, does not mean that it is to observe the Sabbath.
The fact that Paul or Jesus Christ enters a synagogue to teach in the Sabbath day, does not mean that it is to preach the Sabbath or observe the Sabbath.
Obviously, with no work being done on the Sabbath day, that would make the Sabbath day the ideal day to teach the Gospel.
Jesus Christ used to seize every opportunity to preach the good News: during a feast (John 10:22-24), a wedding (John 2) or the Sabbath day and so on.
Brother Paul never entered a synagogue to preach a Sabbath doctrine or to observe the Sabbath.
He used to attend the church during the Sabbath day, in the synagogue with a view to preach Christ crucified.
Indeed, he said:
“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
1 Corinthians 2:2
He said:
“ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God”.
Corinthians 1:23-24
This was the preaching of Brother Paul: “Christ crucified”.
“We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.”
Galatians 2:15-16
He who has an ear, let him listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!
Blessings,
Bro. Germain
www.myspace.com/wawesan
www.tagworld.com/srobouay
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Mr G:
Since you claim that the Sabbath is only given to the Jews/Israel, in like manner the NEW COVENANT is only given to the House of Judah and the House of Israel.
The Lord never wrote about making a covenant with the Gentiles now did He?
Heb 8:
vs 8) Look! The days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will establish a *NEW COVENANT*
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.
This is repeated from Jeremiah 31.
So you have no claim as a Gentile to the New Covenant either.
But their is a Jewish Messiah, who you can enter through, and His gospel includes and exemplified "Keeping the Sabbath Holy"
If He is not your example for your faith and practice, who is?
Give us the name of the man in the New Testament texts who breaks the Sabbath?
Yahshua said HE IS THE DOOR, you cannot get into the kingdom any other way except through imitating the Jewish Messiah......who died to give us, forgiveness of sins and salvation, not to get rid of His Father's law, which in the New Covenant is to be written in the hearts of believers.
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Mr. G:
Check out my blog which provides the earlier translation of Acts 20:7, as it appeared in the early 1500, when Tyndale was doing his translations. The day of the disciples meeting was on SABBATH:
Acts 20:7
On a{And on the morrow after the} Sabbath day|Upon one [or first] of the Sabbaths| the disciples came together{to gedger} for to break bread, and Paul preached unto them (ready|willing| to depart on the morrow) and continued the preaching unto midnight.
The words within the brackets (placed there by Tyndale) were "textual variants" and not considered part of the original text.
Well, the textual corruptors, by the time of the KJV, preferred to use the "variants" instead. That is why this text reads today, "upon the first day of the week" instead of "On a Sabbath Day"
Here you can check out the web site from which this was taken:
http://faithofgod.net/TyNT/ac.htm#20:1
The same textual corruption exists for 1 Cor. 16:1, the original day there was also SABBATH. I'll be posting that later today.
P.S.: THESE CORINTHIANS ARE GENTILES KEEPING THE SABBATH,
ALONG WITH PAUL. That is what Messiah commanded, for the JEWISH disciples to teach the NATIONS/GENTILES, EVERYTHING THAT HE COMMANDED THEM THE JEWS. There are no "step kids" in the family of God. All are subject to the same commandments of God, that is if you want to be a "saint" and enter into the Holy City:
Rev. 22:14:
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Rev. 14:12:
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
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