Replies

We're strict on the Sabbath day (no buying or selling, no television), but that does not count as a work before God. Sunday is the Sabbath, and it is lamentable that the English translation of the Greek is not as clear as it might be in Matt. 28:1.

No, it's not picking and choosing. Anything in the OT that is not explicitly sanctioned in the NT is finished (loftyheights, a Lutheran, may disagree on this). You do not see NT believers sacrificing animals and avoiding certain foods. Paul was very harsh in Galatians with his treatment of the Judaizers. One example of the Levitical Law being fulfulled is in Galatians 2:11-16, on Paul confronting Peter on the latter's refusal to eat with the Gentiles in the presence of newly arrived Jews. v. 16: "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

There are other Scriptural references (e.g. where Paul says, all things are lawful but not all are profitable, in Romans). I cannot think of one specific scripture that says, "The ten commandments are all that is binding after the coming of Jesus"; rather it's evident, and God is one, Who does not change (Scriptura Scripturae, Scripture interprets Scripture). Interestingly, the word "Trinity" does not appear in the Bible either. And, as we already saw, the Scripture for the Sunday Sabbath is poorly translated. There are other examples that I cannot think of right now.

We're strict on the Sabbath day (no buying or selling, no television), but that does not count as a work before God. Sunday is the Sabbath

Of course you know that there is no Scriptural authority for that? Poor translation? I suppose you know that the Catholic church was pretty harsh with Luther over this - saying that it was proof that Luther did not TRULY adhere to Sola Scriptura, since it was WELL KNOWN that "Sunday Sabbath" came from decrees of the "Church" in the 3rd and 4th Century. Read Eusebius - or read the Laodicean or Nicean decrees yourself.

Paul was very harsh in Galatians with his treatment of the Judaizers

Do you think "Judaizer" a Scriptural term? I know it is printed in man-made headings in portions of certain Bibles - but that is a term coined by the heretic Marcion in the 2nd Century, so don't put yourself in his camp.

Anything in the OT that is not explicitly sanctioned in the NT is finished

The commands against beastiality? Against Necromancy? You know of course, that again, there is no Scriptural authority for the "not repeated" cut-off point - this is a "theological position" that must be systematically introduced to explain difficulties with why modern Christians don't look and act like the 1st Century believers in Y'shua living in Judea. Did Jesus ever say such a thing? Saying, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law" is certainly a LONG way from saying that, "Anything in the OT that is not explicitly sanctioned in the NT is finished."

Do this: Do a search for the word "commandments" in the New Testament. You may be surprised. Now do a search for "Eternal Life" and again, there are some surprises. Jews did not, nor do they even now believe that keeping the "Law" "saves". It is simply God's standard. God's standards of righteous living do not change - if so, what makes you think He won't change them again... without telling you... AGAIN.

You do not see NT believers sacrificing animals and avoiding certain foods.

Do you eat blood? Acts 15 repeats the Levitical command not to. Why? That is not some "ancient" command - but a "New Testament" one. Why?

As for sacrifices - Have you read Acts 21:26:

"Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them."

. If you read Acts 21, (NT believers ZEALOUS for "the Law"), you will find that these men had made a Nazarite vow and Paul was paying their way (something one did between First Fruits and Pentecost - no cutting of hair etc.). Numbers 6:10 describes what Paul and these men were doing:

"And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering."

Now, I am unable to completely explain this, but I know that this is not an isolated case of "sacrifices" after the Cross where we know that atonement was made once and for all. Maybe this is just a "memorial" type thing, but one thing is for sure... some Christians may be shocked to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles in the Millenial reign of King Jesus... to participate in SACRIFICES:

"And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west... and the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be "The Lord is one," And His name one...And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles [from Leviticus 23]...In that day 'HOLINESS TO THE LORD' shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The pots in the Lord’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the Lord of hosts. Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 14:4a, 9, 16, 20-21

I don't have the answers, but I read Scripture literally. There is more too... Read Ezekiel 40-48 (all the Leviticus 23 feasts - and Sabbath - and the Temple described has NEVER been built - the dimensions won't even fit on the Temple Mount), Read Isaiah 60-66. Isaiah 66:17 is clearly a time yet future and yet He talks about the abomination of "Eating swine’s flesh". How about Isaiah 66:22-24, which says,

"'For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,' says the Lord, 'So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me' says the Lord."

Oops. Reads like Revelation 19-22 - but the "New Moon" and "Sabbath" thing sure blows the common misinterpretation of Colossians 2:16-17 and Hebrews 10:26. I don't have the answers for some of these questions, but my mind is not closed off simply because an arbitrary philosophy of "what is not repeated in the New Testament is over" thing.

Think about it.

Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because Law-lessness [anomia] will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. Matthew 24:11-13

"For the mystery of Law-lessness [anomia]is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the Law-less [anomos] one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming." 2 Thess 2:7-8)

If you have access to Greek tools, do a search for the Greek word anomia. Nomos is the word for "Law" in the Septuagint and the Greek "New Testament". a-nomia is rendered different ways into English - but it is simply to be against or a trasgressor of the Law.

"God's Law" is good. It always will be.