The Bible makes it plain that True Christians are to keep God�s commandments. The Apostle John wrote: "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked" (1 John 2:3�6).
But how can True Christians walk "just as He walked"? If Jesus Christ had to come and give His life because all have violated God�s law, how can anyone keep that law? Again, perhaps the most concise explanation was given by the Apostle Paul. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ LIVETH in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20, KJV).
A True Christian does not obey the law on his own, but through the power of Christ living in Him. Paul goes on to emphasize that law-keeping comes through the grace of God, and that law-keeping does NOT earn grace. "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain"(Galatians 2:21). With God�s grace, a converted Christian WILL keep the law; but without that grace, NO AMOUNT of effort will bring righteousness and salvation.
WHAT SHOULD A CHRISTIAN DO?
One can recognize a True Christian as someone striving, through Christ�s help, to live by every word of God (cf. Matthew 4:4)."Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect"(Matthew 5:48). By yielding to Jesus Christ, the fruits of the True Spirit will become more and more evident in a Christian�s life.
A True Christian is more than someone who "knows" the truth. The Gnostics believed that "knowledge" brought salvation, and some today would deny that one has to "do" anything as a True and faithful Christian. Yet Scripture gives a very different instruction: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22).
True Christians are to DO as Christ did. In the "Great Commission" He instructed His followers: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe ALL THINGS that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19�20). True Christians are to take His message to "all the nations" and teach "all things" that He COMMANDED! They were NOT to CHANGE or alter His message so much that it is today almost unrecognizable!
Jesus never broke the Sabbath Law. Jesus exposed the Pharisees for their wrong interpretation of it. The Jewish leadership had taken God's law of the Sabbath, given exclusively to ISRAEL might I add, and increased the strictness of it by their "Traditions" which went beyond what God had commanded. The below passage will give you some indication of how and why Jesus was exposing the "Traditions" of the Religious elite.
Mat 15:1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying,
2 "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."
3 He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
4 For God commanded, saying, 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER'; and, 'HE WHO CURSES FATHER OR MOTHER, LET HIM BE PUT TO DEATH.'
5 But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God"�
6 then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 'THESE PEOPLE DRAW NEAR TO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME.
***9 AND IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.' " NKJV***
8.) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. BINGO�!!!
GOD is GOD and Jesus is GOD in the Flesh and the Holy Spirit is Jesus with in us Born Again, then they All being 3 and 1 in the same, He/They Spoke these WORDS.
Anyone can Dispute Old versus New about anything�But I will not Dispute GOD�s Spoken WORD�!!!...""
WALTER: Yes this is true that God gave this as part of the "Mosaic Covenant", however this covenant was exclusively given to the Nation of Israel and not mankind as a whole. The scriptures make this very clear.
Exod 31:16-18
16 Wherefore THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
17 It is a sign BETWEEN ME AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.(KJV)
It is clear that God made that Covenant with Israel and Israel alone. To apply this to Gentiles is clearly wrong and violates the New Covenant of Grace. Paul was very upset and disappointed with the church in Galatia because they were being led astray by Judaisers who were trying to get not only converted Jews to ADD keeping the Law in addition to having Faith in Christ for salvation, but they were trying to get the Gentiles to keep "The Law/Mosaic Covenant" as well.
Jude, if we are obligated to keep the Mosaic Law then we are no longer under God's grace and we are then condemned in our sins. This is the point Paul was stressing. We cannot be under both Covenants especially since God replaced the Mosaic Covenant with the New Covenant as He promised Israel He would do in Jer 31:31 which Paul, in Hebrews quotes and applies it as a fulfilled Prophesy. Heb8:6-13. Paul even stated in verse 13 that the Mosaic Covenant was made "OBSOLETE" and ready to "VANISH AWAY". We as Gentiles converting to Christianity are then grafted into Christ through this New and "Better" Covenant along with "BELIEVING Israel". We then also inherit all the promises and blessings given to Israel.
Now let me say this and please I hope no one is offended but it needs to be said just as Paul would and did in Galatians. Those who are believing and teaching that we have to "Keep the Mosaic Laws" is saying that Christ Jesus' sacrifice was not sufficient for salvation. This is presenting "Another gospel" and it is Heresy! You may not realize this but this is in essence what is transpiring. Paul used strong words to make his point because he was fearful of their Salvation.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?
2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?�
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have you suffered so many things in vain�if indeed it was in vain?
5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Paul called the Galatians "Foolish" and that they had been..."BEWITCHED". Strong language here addressing this issue. Again Paul stressed that it is a matter of FAITH and not works of the LAW.
4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
Nothing could be more serious. Becoming estranged from Christ means you have abandoned Christ. APOSTASY! Forfeiture of salvation. That is also what it means to have "Fallen from Grace".
5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
I hope you see the seriousness in this. The real potential danger and why it is so important to have a firm foundation in the true Gospel so you will not be BEWITCHED into believing another Gospel that actually takes you away from Christ. This is of the Devil and you need to be on guard against it.
Rom 3:24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Hebrews 4:4 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.
Matthew 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give s uck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Luke 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
Isaiah 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
Those verses imply sabbath-keeping after Jesus's death. I believe that Jesus never really had to specifically state the day to worship on/keep holy(even though He did) because there was only ONE!!!! YOU have to show me specific evidence where He CHANGED it!!:laugh: I'm pretty sure it would have been specifically and loudly stated in the bible that part of God's moral law was gone. I'm really not interested in the "burden of proof" because all through the bible, everyone was worshiping on the seventh day and there are many verses that specifically state it. There are absolutely none that tell us we get to choose whatever day we want...and even if there was? Why would you choose any other day than the one that was good enough for God?
8 :stop:For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day?:stop: 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.
That verse tells us to rest like God rested, and God rested on the seventh day. Jesus rested on the seventh day. The apostles rested on the seventh day. Seems obvious to me. Doesn't matter what day you go to church on as long as you don't "forsake gathering together", but I believe it's a sin to work on seventh day.
How many times do I have to demonstrate that the Sabbath Law was given EXCLUSIVELY to the Nation of Israel?
Exod 31:16-18
16 Wherefore THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
17 It is a sign BETWEEN ME AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.(KJV)
To WHOM was this Covenant given....Jew or Gentile? This is a very easy question so let's not dance around it please. The Grammar makes it more than abundantly clear.
MARK: Luke 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
WALTER: I think you should not try and use a scripture about JEWS keeping the Sabbath right at Christ's burial as a support for your belief that it "implies" Christians are suppose to keep the Sabbath. It does not help your case.
Mark: Isaiah 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
WALTER: What occurs in the Kingdom is a different dispensation Mark and does not imply nor indicate that BEFORE the Millennial Kingdom we are suppose to keep the Sabbath. It is important to maintain proper context.
MARK: YOU have to show me specific evidence where He CHANGED it!! I'm pretty sure it would have been specifically and loudly stated in the bible that part of God's moral law was gone.
WALTER: How is the Sabbath part of God's "MORAL LAW"? Keeping a particular day is neither moral or immoral in the New Covenant. This is again where you continually overlook the simple fact that only JEWS were required to keep the Sabbath and that Gentiles NEVER were. Additionally you seem to continually ignore the scriptures where the Mosaic Covenant was made "OBSOLETE" and replaced by the NEW Covenant.
Heb 8:13 In that He says, "A NEW COVENANT," He has made the first OBSOLETE. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Paul said that the first Covenant, the Mosaic Covenant, has been made "obsolete" and that it was ready to "vanish away". Why is that? Because The New Covenant that was promised by God has now come into being. God fulfilled His promise to Israel that He made in Jeremiah 31:31. He was going to make a New Covenant and it was not going to based upon the Old Mosaic Covenant. It was going to be something entirely new.
Heb 10:8-10
8 Above when he said, "Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered BY THE LAW";
9 Then said he, "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God." HE TAKETH AWAY THE FIRST, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (KJV)
In verse 9 above we have clear language that demonstrates that God took away the Mosaic Covenant so that He may establish the Second Covenant.
Please tell me Mark as to what Paul means by this if not the Mosaic Covenant? "HE TAKETH AWAY THE FIRST, that he may establish the second." What did GOD take away and what did GOD establish?
MARK: I'm really not interested in the "burden of proof" because all through the bible, everyone was worshiping on the seventh day and there are many verses that specifically state it.
WALTER: Well gee Mark do you suppose that these people through the Old Testament were keeping the Sabbath because they were JEWS? Perhaps the people in the New Testament were keeping the Sabbath because they were JEWS as well. But you will not find any COMMANDMENT from Jesus or the Apostles that Christians have to keep the Sabbath. THAT my friend is YOUR burden of proof and unless you can show clear scriptures where Jesus specifically COMMANDED the Apostles to "keep the Sabbath" as part of the New Covenant then you have no valid basis for your argument.
MARK: There are absolutely none that tell us we get to choose whatever day we want...and even if there was? Why would you choose any other day than the one that was good enough for God?
WALTER: Rom 14:5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
Looks like a choice to me.
Col 2:14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. NKJV
Let's look at the KJV Col 2:14 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;
What does "blotting out mean"?
G1813 exaleiphō pronounced ex-al-i'-fo
From G1537 and G218; to smear out, that is, obliterate (erase tears, figuratively pardon sin): - blot out, wipe away.
Looks to me like he is talking about Christ having obliterated, blotted out, wiped away, the "handwriting of ordinances".
Ordinances is... G1378 dog'-mah
From the base of G1380; a law (civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical): - decree, ordinance.
So it looks like Christ wiped away ...."The Law". Harmonizes perfectly with Hebrews 10: 9 Then said he, "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God." He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
And then there is this one that also harmonizes perfectly with the others above.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 HAVING ABOLISHED in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
So let me sum this up.
1) God made an exclusive Covenant with Israel and only commanded Hebrews to keep the Sabbath, not Gentiles.
2) God promised Israel that He was going to make a NEW and BETTER Covenant built upon BETTER promises and it was not going to be based on the Mosaic Covenant. Jer 31:31
3) Paul quoted Jer31:31 and applied it as being fulfilled and said that the Old Mosaic Covenant was made OBSOLETE and was ready to VANISH AWAY.
4) Paul said that GOD took AWAY the Mosaic Covenant so the New...2nd Covenant could be established.
5) Paul also said that Jesus ABOLISHED in His flesh the LAW of Commandments.
6) Jesus NEVER commanded us to keep the Sabbath.
And you Mark want to keep holding on to the Mosaic Covenant that was done away with and replaced by a Better covenant of GRACE and you want to keep the Sabbath that was given only to HEBREWS under the Mosaic Covenant that was abolished?
Mark, it is heresy to tell people that they are required to keep the Sabbath. That is presenting another gospel and trying to place a yoke of bondage upon those who Christ set free.
Gal1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. NKJV
This is serious business Mark, perhaps more than you and others may realize.
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either stop being mistaken or cease to be honest.
15if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
When that Scripture was written there was only One Church...The Catholic Church.
If you believe Scripture...then you all should not be arguing this, but you should be going to The Pillar and Foundation of TRUTH...The Church for the answer. Instead you are depending on man's brain...on man's understanding...on Individual Interpretation.
God Knew that this would happen. That is why He established a Physical Church with a Real Vicker as the Last Court of Appeal for all Disputes. It was this way for over 1500 years. One Interpretation...the One Christ left with His Bride. There was no individual Authority...ONLy The Church's Authority.
By The Way...I believe what Jesus said and did. Saving Lives on The Sabbath is a GOOD Thing...just as Jesus Said.
Sorry Guys, But you are going to have to take a backseat to The Church...unless you want to start your Own church with what You believe to be the truth...wait a minute...that's already been done...actually 30,000 different times!
Never mind...go on showing you "Expertise" of Blessed Scripture.
T...you rock! Let's hope this "man of God" never needs a Christian to save his life on The Sabbath.
T, I believe it is lawful to do good on Sabbath. I do not believe it is good to work for your own gain, or to focus on serving yourself. It's a day of rest to remember God and His creation. I believe that if you see someone in need it is good to help them, no matter what day it is. So...rest, serving others, spending time with God...all good things to do.
Walter...I'm not just making stuff up. Read your bible. Are you trying to say that the law does not point out sin? Or just that 9 of the 10 point out sin? You can't have it both ways. It's either all gone or it all points out sin.
As far as your JEW thing goes...we are all spiritual Israel, grafted into the same vine as the Jews were.
As far as the "covenant" thing goes, I believe that the laws of Moses are gone(ceremonial laws/festivals/Sabbaths, and the laws governing israel) but I also believe that there has always been a moral law of God before this earth existed and that that moral law is the 10 commandments. The "Sabbath" was there in the garden of Eden before Jews, and before the mosaic covenant. I believe God wants us to follow His moral law that has always existed. Jesus pointed out 7 of the 10, and He and his apostles kept the fourth one. Whenever Paul talks about "days" we get to choose or the "law" we aren't under, he's always talking in the context of ceremonial Sabbaths, feasts, circumcision, and food laws that WERE given only to the JEWs. Jesus Himself never commanded us not to worship idols. He never said we shouldn't take God's name in vain. Are those ok now?
I would also like to point out that I usually say "I believe", meaning...it's my belief. I'm not saying anyone needs to follow my belief. I'm just sharing it. So please lay off the heresy comments unless you want me to call you a hypocrite, Mr. Iamrightyouarewrong:goofball:.
You said: "1 Timothy 3:15-16 (New International Version)
15if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
When that Scripture was written there was only One Church...The Catholic Church.
WALTER: It would be a very good thing my friend if you were to learn church history correctly instead of the lies regurgitated by the Vatican.
In the scriptures, The church located in Rome, is merely one local church. Ephesus was one local church, Philippi was one local church, Corinth was one local church, Colosse was one local church, Jerusalem was one local church, Galatia was one local church, Thessalonica was one local church, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicia, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira. These were all local churches with their own leadership established as Scripture demands and neither one was allowed to be head of another. It was never Christ's intention to have one man or "Body" of one church to have authority over all the churches. Christ is head of all Churches, not Rome!
Furthermore, there were only 12 Apostles that Jesus Christ appointed to establish the LOCAL churches. At no time did or could any Apostles of Jesus Christ pass along any succession to any one else to be an Apostle "OF" Jesus Christ. ONLY Jesus can do that and He didn't do it.
The burden of proof is upon the Roman Catholic Church to prove "Apostolic Succession" from the scriptures. But you know what? No such scripture(s) exist.
You know Steve, Jesus said that people would recognize His Disciples by their love for one another, their "fruit". Would you like me to go into the "fruit" of the evil of the Roman Catholic Church? Should we look at the many millions of Christians that the Popes had put to death all because they owned Bibles in their own language? How about putting Christians to death because they defied the Pope and refused to subject themselves to the authority of the Vatican? Please show me where in Christ's teachings are we suppose to MURDER people because they believe differently or because they own a bible in their own language?
Yes Steve perhaps it is time I change my focus for a while to expose the truth about the Roman Catholic Church, the "Harlot" of Revelation 17 and all the evil they have done and their Heretical teachings. It is time to compare the teachings of scripture to that of the Vatican and see if they line up with the truth.
