The True Sabbath

[Alesaggio]

Hebrews 8:7-11 is the setting for this study.

What does the word Sabbath mean? It means, “Rest.”
• In Bible usage what is the word “rest” contrasted with? --Work
• This is how the Bible starts out, God working – creating the physical order
• For six days God worked then He rested and hallowed the seventh day
• What did this rest signify? Did God need a rest; was He worn out from all His work?
• No! All of creation including man was in perfect harmony with God, there was peace on earth
• So in Eden we see God’s ideal relationship with man. Adam and Eve enjoyed an intimate friendship with God
• There were no rituals, ceremonies – just a simple loving relationship between God and the people he created
• They walked daily in the garden with God. He was with them in a face to face relationship
• The world was truly at rest and peace with God
• So what we have established is that “rest” in God’s terminology means “to be in intimate, loving relationship with his creation”
How long did this rest last? Don’t know, but have to assume it lasted more than one day
• So this “hallowed” period of rest continued on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, etc until this rest was interrupted
• What interrupted this rest? --Sin
• So what did God have to start doing again? --Working
• Why? To restore his relationship with mankind
• Salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ
• John 4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
• What exactly is that work to achieve?
• John 6:28-29 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
• John 17:4 “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
• And what was Jesus’ final statement at the cross –“ It is finished”(John 19:30) The “work” of Calvary (and the burial and resurrection) of Jesus Christ was done to make a “rest” possible for mankind. (Acts 2:38 is realization of that “work” of God for mankind)
• So the second thing we establish is that “work” in God’s terminology is about His work in restoring relationship with His creation
• So we have established two important principles in understanding the Sabbath question
• First, “rest” in God’s terminology means “to be in intimate, loving relationship with his creation”
• Second, “work” in God’s terminology is about His work in restoring relationship with His creation

Adam and Eve
• clothed with animal skins, Cain and Abel bringing their offerings, both signifying blood had to be spilt to accomplish “rest” again

Time of Noah
• we read about clean and unclean animals
• This is an interesting one. Is this speaking about a health issue or is it speaking about a higher plan God has in store for mankind?
• When you think of the NT what story is associated with clean/unclean animals? Peter’s dream about the sheet full of unclean animals
• What did those unclean animals represent? Gentiles
• So who do you think clean animals represent? Israelites
• Not surprising then at Sinai the Israelites were told to eat only clean foods
• So I would suggest it is not a health issue as that would be a contradiction of Gen 9:3 where God the Creator clearly spells out to his creation that every moving thing shall be meat for you
• Genesis 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
• So Clean and Unclean in this sense is an indication of God’s plan to save (Salvation in the Ark) both clean and unclean, both Jews and Gentiles
• That’s why the Bible is divided into two halves, The times of the Israelites, (OT, Mosaic Covenant—blood of animals) and the Times of the Gentiles (NT, New Covenant—precious blood of Jesus Christ)

Tower of Babel
• God uses Tongues at this time to divide people, but on the Day of Pentecost tongues are used to signify the start of the Times of the Gentiles and to be used as a gift to bring people together to salvation
• Galatians 3:26-29 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
• Peter in his famous sermon in Acts 2:17 quotes the prophet Joel, ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Peter concludes this with the ONLY NT plan of salvation—Acts 2:38 (The only promise of redemption from sin)
• And of course it was only a short time later that Peter had his dream about the unclean animals in the sheet, and the getiles are converted by the same message—Acts 2:38

Abraham
• Time of Abraham God institutes a covenant of “faith” with Abraham (Gen 15:6, Gal 3:6-9) foreshadowing the covenant of faith through Jesus Christ
• we also have mention of him paying tithes to Melchizedek, signifying as Hebrews 7 tells us that ultimately salvation is through Melchizedek not through the Levitical priesthood and by extension the Mosaic covenant

Let me ask you this question
• When God clothed Adam and Eve, an animal had to be slain – who did that foreshadow?
• When Cain and Able brought sacrifices – who did that foreshadow?
• When Noah went onto the Ark (Salvation) with clean and unclean animals, what did this foreshadow?
• When the nations were confused at Babel, what did it foreshadow?
• When God made a covenant of faith with Abraham, what did it foreshadow?
• When Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, what did it foreshadow?
• So all these things pointed to a period in the whole history of the world of God’s saving work (notice that word) to be preformed through Jesus Christ
• They were all shadows of things to come

Now we come to the time of Moses
• God’s work is now expanded from individuals to a nation, Israel
• But salvation is not offered through “faith” but through the “law”
• And not surprisingly we now find some of same things mentioned to the patriarchs mentioned in the Mosaic Covenant
• Sacrifices, food laws, plus days, priesthood, rituals, ceremonies
• But also God gives moral guidelines so his people can be a Holy people
• But we have to admit it was a very rudimentary level of God’s higher law of love, Jesus himself says so in Matt 5, “But I say to you” – not what Moses said, but what I say to you
• That’s why He came to fulfill them

He came to fulfill them in two senses
• First to raise the bar. The 10 commandments are an elementary expression of God’s law of love
o they mostly only address behavior - not attitudes like pride, lust, hatred
o they are limited – beat the stuffing out of someone as long as you don’t kill him
o They are stated in the negative – “thou shalt not”. “What about thou shalt!”
o Thou shalt “give” instead of “steal”; thou shalt honour your wife rather than cheat on her; thou shalt pray for your enemies rather than kill them
• It is not until the time of the NC that we see these issues addressed
• The full manifestation or expression of God’s law is expressed in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ
• So the 10 commandments are just the opening expression of the full manifestation of the Law of God
• So we have to recognize they are not the final word. If all you and I are doing is fulfilling the ten commandments, then we won’t be very good Christians
• You and I are called to imitate Jesus, that’s why we are called Christians not Mosians
• Second Jesus came to fulfill the law in the sense they pointed to Him
• Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
• Colossians 2:16-17 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.

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[Alesaggio]

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Why was the Law of Moses introduced?
• Paul tells us in Rom 7
• Romans 7:7-13 then, am I suggesting that the law of God is evil? Of course not! The law is not sinful, but it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” 8 But sin took advantage of this law and aroused all kinds of forbidden desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power.9 I felt fine when I did not understand what the law demanded. But when I learned the truth, I realized I had broken the law and was a sinner, doomed to die. 10 So the good law, which was supposed to show me the way of life, instead gave me the death penalty. 11 Sin took advantage of the law and fooled me; it took the good law and used it to make me guilty of death. 12 But still, the law itself is holy and right and good. 13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my doom? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commandment for its own evil purposes.
• Here Paul identifies two reasons why the law was introduced
o First, to show mankind the gravity of his sin, v.7 The law is not sinful, but it was the law that showed me my sin
o Second, to show the way of life as it says here in v.10, which was supposed to show me the way of life,
• Galatians 3:19-25 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
• Now we see a third reason for the Law – to lead us to Jesus Christ 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
• How does the law lead us to Jesus?
• The law shows us we are sinners, we are unable to measure up to the law no matter how hard we “Work” (there’s that word again), so the only way we can obtain salvation is through “faith” and “obedience” to the saving “work” of Jesus Christ which is outlined in Acts 2:38.
• Was the Mosaic Law good? Paul just told us it was
• Even though it was good, was it successful in bringing salvation to the Israelites? Did it bring the Israelites “rest” in the sense God uses the term – reconciliation and intimate relationship with His people? No
• As we just read, the law can never bring about salvation or “rest”
• 21……. For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
• The problem was not with the law, it was with the people
• Hebrews 8:7-9 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.8 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—9 “not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord.
• So we clearly see that the Mosaic Covenant could not save due to the failure of the people (not the Law) – they simply did not have a heart in them (nor the ability) that wanted to please God and be in relationship with Him – “rest”

Everlasting Covenant
• This also is the reason the Moses’ covenant was not an “everlasting” covenant
• For an agreement or a contract to be binding, both sides need to honor it. The Israelites defaulted on their part of the bargain – so the covenant failed
• V.9…..because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord.
• So the Israelites showed by their actions they did not want to enjoy God’s “rest”
• Hebrews 4:8-11 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. 11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
• What rest is this speaking about?
• It can’t be the Sabbath day as Joshua had that! It has to be speaking about another rest, the ultimate rest offered by Jesus Christ—THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST (This is the rest and the refreshing) as promised in Acts 2:38!

THEREFORE THE TRUE SABBATH IS THAT “REST” WHICH RESTORES MAN BACK INTO THE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD—This can only be accomplished by the “Work” of God and that work was the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ of which man joins himself to by obedience to Acts 2:38, the death, burial and resurrection of salvation—there is NO other way!

Consider the following:
• With Jesus’ sacrifice was there a need to continue offering physical sacrifices? No
• What message do you think it would send God if we did start sacrifices again? Christ’s sacrifice was not good enough (Heb 7:26-28, Heb 10:8-10)
• With Jesus offering up himself as the Lamb of God, was there a need to sacrifice the Passover lamb? No
• With Jesus becoming the Spiritual temple, is there a need for a physical temple
o John 2:19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
• With Jesus becoming our spiritual High Priest is there any further need for a physical priesthood to intervene on our behalf any more
o “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Heb 7:11-19
o That’s why in the NC we only see words like evangelists, pastors, etc used to describe our spiritual leaders
o The age of the OC priests is passé, Jesus put them out of business with His sacrifice and His role as our advocate in approaching the father (Heb 4:15-16)
• So again we see the spiritual dimension replacing the physical

Now let’s apply the same reasoning to the Sabbath
• Once we have met and experienced the spiritual reality of the “Lord of the Sabbath” do we still need the physical “rest” ?
• Do we need an external “rest” when He is living right inside us
• With the coming of Jesus worship experienced profound change
• In all of these things, what is the focus of our worship? Jesus Christ. He is the spiritual object of our worship
• Do we now understand why our emphasis is on Jesus Christ? He is THE spiritual reality to whom all these physical things point
• No wonder Jesus said, “Remember Me!” or “Do this in remembrance of me!” (not the physical Sabbath)
• Is it any wonder Jesus said, Luke 5:37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins;
• And Paul to the Colossians in Colossians 2:16-17 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.
• As in all these things, the Sacrifices, the Passover Lamb, the Temple, the High Priest, the Lord of the Sabbath - Jesus is the focus, not a day
• Jesus is the final Sacrifice, Jesus is the final Passover Lamb, Jesus in the final temple, Jesus is the final High Priest, and Jesus is the final Sabbath
• That’s why he said on the cross, “It is finished” or “it is finalized”
• He says, “Come to Me and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11: 28)
• Notice it says come to “me” – it’s a personal invitation to know Him and to love Him personally—Acts 2:38
• Its not an invitation to come to Him through a man offered sacrifice, or a lamb, or a physical temple, or through a physical high priest, or through a day – its to Him personally
• I am the sacrifice, I am the lamb, I am the temple, I am the High Priest, I am the Lord of the Sabbath (Spiritual Rest)
• Why do you need to go elsewhere?
• Romans 14:17-18 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.
• As Jesus said to the woman of Samaria, John 4:24 “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

So we have come full circle.
• As in Eden there are no rituals, no ceremonies, – nothing to interfere with a face to face relationship between Divinity and humanity
• This is the relationship Jesus death has made possible today – His saving work has restored what man’s sin interrupted in Eden and we find that restoration in obedience to Acts 2:38.
• God is Spirit and He wants to relate to us on a spiritual level, that’s why as part of the new covenant He has given us His Spirit so we can relate to Him
• More than anything else, Christianity is about an intimate relationship with the living God, to be in communion with Him
• How much do we desire that relationship? How much do we desire to know Jesus? After all we are supposed to imitate Him
• He wants us to enjoy the spiritual rest He has made possible
• Heb 4:10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. 11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

OBEY ACTS 2:38 AND ENTER INTO HIS “REST!”

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[Alesaggio]

Addendum to “The True Sabbath”

THE TERM SABBATH
The Hebrew word shabbat implies "ceasing, coming to an end of activity or resting." The Greek equivalents to shabbat are sabbaton meaning "rest" and katapausis also meaning rest or repose. The term shabbat never means "the seventh day," but always focuses on "rest" or "cessation of labor."

THE LAW OF THE SABBATHS
The old covenant sets forth three Sabbaths: 1) The weekly; 2) The imposed; 3) The yearly. These take the Sabbath beyond the Sabbath-keepers seventh day focus.

THE WEEKLY SABBATH
Exod 20
Exod 31
Exod 35
Exod 16

The major emphasis in the term "Sabbath" and in the preceding references is that of "rest" or cessation of labor. In Exodus 20 and 31, the Sabbath is linked to a finished creation. In Deuteronomy 5:12-15, the Sabbath is linked to Israel's deliverance from Egypt. Their deliverance from bondage brought to them the ability to enter His rest. Thus, the weekly Sabbath was a constant reminder of the rest that is God’s provision for His people.

THE IMPOSED SABBATH
These were special days designated as Sabbaths which came on various days of the week. The fact that these Sabbath days could occur on any day of the week is further evidence that the term Sabbath deals with something more than the seventh day of the week.

THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS
(Lev 23:23-25 ) Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, {24} "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. {25} 'You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.'"

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
(Lev 23:39 ) 'Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the LORD for seven days; on the first day there shall be a Sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a Sabbath-rest."

THE DAY OF ATONEMENT
(Lev 23:27-28 ) "Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. {28} "And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God.
(Lev 23:32 ) "It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your Sabbath."

THE YEARLY SABBATH
(Lev 25:1-7 ) And the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, {2} "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a Sabbath to the LORD. {3} 'Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its fruit; {4} 'but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the LORD. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard. {5} 'What grows of its own accord of your harvest you shall not reap, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine, for it is a year of rest for the land. {6} 'And the Sabbath produce of the land shall be food for you: for you, your male and female servants, your hired man, and the stranger who dwells with you, {7} 'for your livestock and the beasts that are in your land; all its produce shall be for food."

Violation of the Sabbaths consisted of working instead of resting. Again, the emphasis is on cessation of labor, not the seventh day. It is not the “day” but the “Daysman” that is important in the true Sabbath.

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[His_Servant]

Once again, another person confused with the Law of Liberty that defined sin from the beginning and the Law of Moses that was added because of Transgressions.
Revelations says:

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.

The weekly Sabbath was created for man according to Jesus. It predated the Law of Moses and was not a shadow of things to come, although in Hebrews it is used for a Spiritual Analogy... but then so is marraige in many places, do we then no longer marry because it is all "Spiritual" now.... God forbid.

[Brother Price]

His Servant,
So, Jesus Christ is not sufficient to be our Sabbath, our rest? Sorry, but the Sabbath now abides in Jesus Christ, and not in a specific day. We are no longer to be judged by any day, but by Jesus Christ. He is our rest, our Sabbath.

[His_Servant]

Sure, the sabbath abides in Jesus Christ, He is the Word of God, and Lord of the Sabbath as He said himself. He is our Spiritual rest. The author of Hebrews draws a clear parallel. However, that said, it is still a long way to go from that to saying that the sabbath day, which was itself created in the beginning for man as Jesus said, is no longer to be kept. Sure, under the law of Moses that was added because of transgressions, as Paul says in Galations, there were sabbaths and holy days etc. that were merely figures of the true and were discarded along with the old covenant. The seventh day sabbath was not a part of that, but from creation. If the sabbath day were discarded or fulfilled in the sense the old covenant was, we would have no seventh day because the very purpose of it's creation would no longer be valid.
Like all of the Ten Commandments, we could only keep them outwardly before Christ, now we are to keep them inwardly too. We are to not kill, but also not hate our brother. Likewise we are to rest spiritually, as we do naturally. Prevailing society notwithstanding.

[Brother Price]

The Law is now but a schoolmaster. It is not something that should be commanded to be kept. Jesus taught us that all the commandments are to be summed up in two, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Let me ask you this. Will me, not keeping the Sabbath, keep me from Heaven?

[His_Servant]

At the risk of being repititious, there are two laws. This is why the apostles alternately seem to be talking about how the law is done away with and how great the law is. One is the school-master, the other is not. One was added as Paul say's (if it was aded, there had to be something it was added to), the other was before. Until the difference between the two laws is understood, the issue of the Ten Commandments cannot be understood.

[Brother Price]

His Servant,
I am asking one question. Will me, who does not keep the Sabbath physically, make it to Heaven being born again through Acts 2:38? Do I have to keep the Sabbath to be saved?

[His_Servant]

"• So what we have established is that “rest” in God’s terminology means “to be in intimate, loving relationship with his creation”"

The above is not logical based on the premises. Observe:

Argument: #1 God is at rest.
#2 God is in loving relationship with man.
>>Therefore God's rest is a loving relationship with man.
With variables: Given: A and B : A = B << Not valid

Expample:

Argument: #1 Fred is combing his hair.
#2 Fred is in a loving relationship with his wife
>> Therefore Fred's combing his hair is his loving relationship with his wife.
Given: A and B : A = B ^Certainly not valid

I'm am not trying to be humoruos or make fun. Sure God was/is in a loving relationship with man, and sure sin does get in the way of that. But God rested from His creation and sanctified the 7th day for man, as Jesus said in Mark Ch. 2.

Brother Price, I do not want to offend you. That is not my intent, nor is it my place to tell people whether or not they are going to Heaven. God alone will judge all of us. But the Word does say to search out our own salvation. I merely think that the sabbath day that was created in the beginning is not a part of the old covenant... since it predated it, and by Alesaggio's own creation account above... sin itself.

[Brother Price]

OK, is it a salvation issue, yes or no. Please, no descriptions or disussions as to why. I just need a clear yes or no answer, please.

[His_Servant]

Jesus said to keep His commandments if you love Him. All throughout the old and new testaments, the Bible stresses keeping God's commandments. If we are to say that one particular commandment is no longer to be kept, we had better have strong Bible evidence to back it up. I do not believe we find this in regards to the original weekly sabbath. Although it clearly states that the added law of Moses, including all of its sabbaths, was only a temporary figure of things to come, I do not see that the Bible ever says that we no longer have to keep any of the Ten Commandments. Rather I see now that we are able to keep them fully, only by the Holy Ghost.

Let be clear. I'm not trying to just be argumentative. I am disatisfied with the arguments that I have seen thus far for not keeping the weekly sabbath. Sure, on its surface it might seem ritualistic, but then so do other things like not wearing certain clothing, or even baptism. But those are things we do and believe in. So let us think not from the standpoint of how to defend what we believe, but what can we prove in the word of God. If this is done first, we can defend what we believe without an unhealthy bias. God Bless!

[ufmek]

OK, is it a salvation issue, yes or no. Please, no descriptions or disussions as to why. I just need a clear yes or no answer, please.

Bro. Price the word of God will judge you not me or anyone else! Do you think it is a salvational issue? Rather you do or don't the fact is that the Sabbath was sanctified by God and remains Holy!:bow:

[Brother Price]

ufmek,
So, you consider sabbath keeping as part of salvation, I see. Acts 2:38 is no longer enough? Hmmm, seems to go against Paul:
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 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: 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. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 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; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
(Colossians 2:10-17)

[ufmek]

ufmek,
So, you consider sabbath keeping as part of salvation, I see. Acts 2:38 is no longer enough? Hmmm, seems to go against Paul:

Bro. Price show me where I said that! Hmmm, seems you are adding to my post!

"The Acts of the Apostle Paul"

He circumcised a man who had not yet been:


Acts 16:1-3 - Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.



He took a Torah vow:



Acts 18:18 - And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.



He continued to follow the Levitical feast day of Unleavened Bread:



Acts 20:6 - And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.





He kept and encouraged others to keep Passover: Cor. 5:8 - Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. He continued to follow the Levitical feast day of Shavuot (Pentecost):


Acts 20:16 - For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.


1 Corinthians 16:8 - But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.


He kept Yom Kippur (this is the fast mentioned in the following verse):



Acts 27:9 - Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,



He proved he did not teach against Torah by taking a vow:



Acts 21 -And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.


He cited his continued Torah observance in his defense before a Roman governor:

Acts 24:14-17 - But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men. Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.



And again to another Roman governor:



Acts 24:14-17 - While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.





And to a Jewish audience: Acts 28:17 - And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

[apostle]

Col 2:16 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:
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

[His_Servant]

That is a classic argument. But it assumes that Paul is speaking generally and ignores the context of the entire chapter. After all, we can pull all sorts of very context specific scriptures out of the Bible, generalize them, and justify almost anything. Observe:

Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

The Baptists and others use this scripture to say all we have to do is believe and confess and we are saved. But we know that the plan of salvation is in Acts 2:38 and that without baptism in Jesus name and the infilling of the Holy Ghost, we cannot be saved.

Likewise, to say Col 2:16-17 say's we no longer have to keep the sabbath is to take it out of context. Notice that Paul doesn't say the sabbath day. He says the sabbath "days" and then clarifies it by saying that these were a shadow of things to come. He is talking about the sabbath days that were a part of the old covenant, written ordinances, written down by Moses and being a figure of the true. Since the sabbath day itself is not a part of the old covenant which was a shadow of things to come (it pre-dated it), Paul cannot be talking about the 7th day sabbath.

Also, in the 14th verse Paul makes it clear he is discussing ordinances written against us that were nailed to the cross. Jesus said though that the sabbath was created for man. If the sabbath is "for" man, how can it be "against" man.

Besides, if we generalize Paul's words, we schould not judge people who drink alcohol. Judge not in drink either. So let's not take this out of context. To do so is to err.

[Brother Price]

His Servant,
Both remarks are made by Paul to believers, and both have meanings. One is clear in that the keeping of the Sabbath is no longer required, and the other shows how we, as believers saved according to Acts 2:38, will continue being in deliverance.
The Sabbath is not needed as in a physical continuance. Please, do not compare a keeping of the Law with holiness. One saves, and one keeps in bondage.

[Flyboy]

Please, do not compare a keeping of the Law with holiness. One saves, and one keeps in bondage.

Which one does what?

[Brother Price]

Holiness saves, while the Law keeps us in bondage.

[Flyboy]

Holiness saves, while the Law keeps us in bondage.

Holiness saves? That's an interesting idea.

[Brother Price]

Not really, when you look at it in light of scripture:
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
(Hebrews 12:14-16)
I mean, holiness is part of our salvation, because it is what we are transformed into, and it is what becomes evident in our lives. Hey, I used to live any which way but loose, but now that i have found holiness, man, I would not trade it for anything in the world!
Hallelujah!

[Flyboy]

Holiness does not 'save'. The blood of Christ and what Jesus did on the Cross saves, bro.


And holiness is far from what is has been touted as over the past few generations.


Yes, true holiness is something God requires and expects of us, but it does not save us... He does.

[Brother Price]

But, holiness is part of salvation. I do hold to this. Holiness...
OK, let me re-phrase this,
Holiness is what keeps us saved. You are right. It does not save, but it does keep us saved.

[Ferd]

oh how unfortunate

[His_Servant]

Keeping the commandments of God also keeps us saved.

Does law always equal bondage? Observe:

James 1:25
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

If law is always bondage, what is James talking about, this perfect law of liberty? Jesus said the sabbath was made for us. It was and is a benefit.

I'm sorry, but to generalize Paul's statement in Col 2:16-17 and take it out of context
is just as bad as taking the verse in Romans out of context. Paul was talking to believers, who knew he was discussing the old covenent sabbaths. Besides... if he had said to not keep the sabbath, he would be contradicting other scripture. But Paul was not setting forth a contradiction, he stated what he was talking about, and the church of that time understood it.

[ufmek]

Holiness saves, while the Law keeps us in bondage.

If the law kept one in bondage than why was Paul still keeping it many years after his conversion. Why trying giving answers to my qoute called "The Acts of Paul"... in which no one ever does.:o

[ufmek]

Col 2:16 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:
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Amen, so don't judge me on my Torah observant lifestyle.:beammeup:

[ufmek]

Holiness saves, while the Law keeps us in bondage.

Bro. Price,

Holiness is defined in the Torah. Plus you are telling me that Almighty God took Isreal out of bondage to Egypt to bring them back into bondage!

[Brother Price]

Bro. Mike,
The Law is called a bondage by Paul. Those who keep one part of the Law is required to keep the whole. But, in so doing, those who keep the Law trample underfoot the blood of Jesus Christ, being found of their own holiness, and not the holiness of Jesus Christ.

[His_Servant]

Once again, remember that scripture I just posted about the "Perfect Law of Liberty?"

Is the law of liberty also the law of bondage? Doesn't that all seem strange? Also, does God not have any law now? Remeber, without law there is no such thing a sin, as Paul said.

So... the only conclusion is that one law is of bondage... and another is of liberty. That is the ONLY explanation of what would otherwise be contradictory. Remember... Paul said the bondage law was added because of trasgressions.

Do you understand that the law that defines right and wrong that was from the beginning is different from the law of Moses? Do you understand that?

Until you do, you cannot understand the either law or much of the Bible for that matter.

Holiness is found along with much of the old law and fso are many moral commandments. This is because the scripture is comprehensive at that point. The rest of the Bible makes it pretty clear which is which.

[Brother Price]

His Servant,
The Law was but a schoolmaster, a type and shadow of what we have now in Christ. The Law simply teaches us what sin is. It is not binding.

[His_Servant]

Which law? You're not listening are you?

[ufmek]

Bro. Mike,
The Law is called a bondage by Paul. Those who keep one part of the Law is required to keep the whole. But, in so doing, those who keep the Law trample underfoot the blood of Jesus Christ, being found of their own holiness, and not the holiness of Jesus Christ.

Bro. Price what is called bondage by Paul are those who keep the "works of the law" as a method for salvation. As if they don't need Messiah any longer but can recieve salvation own their own. Which is a bondage and curse to anyone who thinks such a thing! If it is true what you are saying than you are saying that God is a cruel God which took out a chosen nation for himself from bondage to bring them back into bondage. How cruel if I may say so myself! Not the kind of God I would want to serve! Plus I see that you refuse to answer the post about "The acts of Paul"(Post#15) which clearly shows Paul keeping the law as commanded in the Torah. So since Paul kept the law I guess that he trampled underfoot the blood of Christ! You have severly tooking the scriptures in Hebrews out of context! Brother sad to say that you don't believe in murder, committing adultery, having no other gods before the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; don't believe in homosexuality, and the list goes on which are all part of the Torah! So what does that say for you! Are you trampling underfoot the blood of Messiah? :spin:

[SisEdith]

Holiness saves? That's an interesting idea.

Yes holiness saves. The whole council of God saves. The WHOLE BOOK!!! Sin is the transgression of God's WORD!

After Acts 2: 38 you are not saved yet! We do not teach eternal security.