Jesus Christ Our Rest...ten commandments pt

https://billrandles.wordpress.com/2020/03/14/jesus-christ-our-rest-ten-commandments-pt-6/ ^ | 03-14-20 | Bill Randles

[pastorbillrandles]

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: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. ( Collossians 2:16-17)

I told you last time, I would explain why I believe the command to observe the Sabbath, is the only one of the Ten Commandments not re-iterated in the New Testament. I do believe that the principle of the Commandment still stands; that we are to enter into the Rest of God, and to cease from our own labors, and even to take one day out of seven to cease from our labors and to worship God.

The difference is that according to Paul, in his letter to the Gentile believers in Collosse, the Sabbath observance is a shadow, but the fullness of Sabbath is found in Christ himself.

“Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden…I will give you rest…you will find rest for your souls…” (Matthew 11:27-28)

Our Sabbath is a person, the LORD Jesus Christ. He is the rest that remains un-entered into by the most of Israel, in spite of their Sabbath Keeping.

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 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. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 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. For if Jesus (Joshua) had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.( Hebrews 4:1-11)

The Point of this discussion is Rest. The Work of Creation was done by the time God created man. He began at rest. But now that rest has eluded us for the most part.

God promised Israel that they could enter into the rest, but Israel has not for the most part attained the rest. What has kept them from it? The sin of unbelief. In spite of scrupulous Sabbath keeping, and even being brought into the Land God had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, they never really attained Rest.

There remains yet a rest for the people of God. Whatever the Sabbath was, it pointed to something even more ultimate than itself, it pointed to Christ, who completed the work of salvation, and “Sat down” at the right hand of God.

Thus Christ is my Sabbath. He did it all for us, and there is nothing we can do to add to what He did, “By himself He purged our sins, and sat down at the right hand of the majesty on High.”( Hebrews 1:3).

I do believe that it is perfectly legitimate to observe the seventh day, or the First day, to put aside labor and commerce and just rest, and worship. Those who do not do this are impoverishing themslves and their families. But it is impossible to ever really enter into the rest God has for ourselves , other than through faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior,Redeemer and great High Priest.

It is illegitimate, as Colossians teaches, to put anyone in bondage over the observance of Holidays, Sabbaths or other ordinances of Old Testament law. There is no doubt that the Sabbath Law is a special covenant between God and Israel,

Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.'” ( Exodus 31:16-17)

Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.( Ezekiel 20:12)

But I am a Gentile believer. I may choose to keep the seventh day, or perhaps another day, but I am not to allow anyone to judge me on that basis. The principle of Sabbath is what I am to Keep, Resting in the finished Work of Christ by faith. The Substance of Sabbath is Christ himself.

It is true that Jesus told us that “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath”, and that word “man ” is “anthropos” meaning all men, What was Jesus telling the Scribes and Pharisees by saying this? He was talking to his fellow Jews. In the New Testament, we never see him or any of the Apostles call upon Gentiles to observe the seventh day.

In what sense was Jesus telling them that the Sabbath was made for man? He was saying that the blessing of Sabbath ought to bless all men. God has a rest for all men to come into. The witness of Israel’s Sabbath points to a universal Sabbath for the entire world. Indeed the Rest, purchased at the cross of Jesus, is for all , Gentile and Jew.

However the First day of the week featured prominently in the New Testament, as a day of meeting, worship, fellowship and communion. Jesus was raised from the dead on the first Day of the week, the Apostles and church met together on Pentecost, (the first day of the week, Jesus appeared to the disciples and showed them his hands on the first day of the week, and so forth.

“Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.”( Acts 20:7)

“On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper that there be no collections when I come.” (I Corinthians 16:2) Here is a list from CARM discussing the significance of the first day of the week in the New Testament;

1) Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week (Matt. 28:1-7; Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1).

2) Jesus appeared to the disciples on the first day of the week (John 20:19).

3) Jesus appeared inside the room to the eleven disciples eight days after the first day of the week. The Jewish way of measuring days meant that it was again Sunday (John 20:26).

4) The Holy Spirit came on Pentecost, the first day of the week (Lev. 23:16; Acts 2:1).

5)The first sermon was preached by Peter on the first day of the week (Acts 2:14).

6) Three thousand converts joined the church on the first day of the week (Acts 2:41).

7)The three thousand were baptized on the first day of the week (Acts 2:41).

8) The Christians assembled broke bread on the first day of the week.

9) The Christians also heard a message from Paul on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). Note: the reference is until midnight which is not the Jewish method of measuring days, but the Roman system.

10) Paul instructed the churches to put aside contributions on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:2).

11) Jesus gave the apostle John the vision of Revelation on the first day of the week (Rev. 1:10).

The Sabbath Law is still in force, only now, entry into the Sabbath centers on a person, the LORD Jesus Christ. Those who believe in Him do enter into their rest, and for those who do not believe on Him, there will be nor rest.

[pastorbillrandles]

I hope we can have a civil discussion on this topic, I assure you I am a sincere believer, simply trying to clarify things I have learned...(Flame on)

[easternsky]

Very Nicely done, much appreciated

[DouglasKC]

Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.( Ezekiel 20:12)
But I am a Gentile believer. I may choose to keep the seventh day, or perhaps another day, but I am not to allow anyone to judge me on that basis. The principle of Sabbath is what I am to Keep, Resting in the finished Work of Christ by faith. The Substance of Sabbath is Christ himself.

That view of Christianity and the new covenant is not supported by scripture.

For example scripture states clearly that the new covenant is ONLY for the house of Israel and the House of Judah:

Heb 8:8  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— 

Paul explains it quite neatly:

Rom 9:4  who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 

EVERYTHING is for Israel. Not gentiles.

He makes it even clearer that one becomes a member of the commonwealth of Israel through Christ:

Eph 2:11  Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 
Eph 2:12  that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 
Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 

Therefore your assertion that you have the "right" to ignore God's clear biblical instructions concerning the sabbath is questionable. You HAVE joined Israel. The 7th day sabbath is a sign between God and his people forever. Why do you not want to take that sign?

[BipolarBob]

But I am a Gentile believer. I may choose to keep the seventh day, or perhaps another day

You can keep any day you wish. It's called free will. You also have the right to take the mark of the beast. Nobody will stop you and many will applaud you. Again free will.
The most important question is what does God want and not what we want. He has made it clear He wants us to worship Him on the Sabbath and the idea there is a Jewish Sabbath or a Gentile Sabbath or different rules is nonsense.
Galatians 3:28 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.
God has said "Six days you should labor but the seventh day to worship Him." But we have free will and we can eat of that tree in the middle of the garden but it's fruit is death as are the wages of sin.

[pastorbillrandles]

Romans 14 tells me that the choice of which day to onor is mine. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

[BipolarBob]

Psalms 19:7
Proverbs 14:12
2 Peter 3:16

[pastorbillrandles]

Ok Bob, the Law of the LORD is perfect, we get that...You are right there is a way which seems right...and Peter was talking about twisting Paul’s words, I agree hat would be bad. But you have not answered to Collossians 2...

[DouglasKC]

Romans 14 tells me that the choice of which day to onor is mine. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Nowhere in those scriptures does it reference the sabbath any other of the Lord's holy days. There are greek words (sabbaton and heorte) that would be used if those were the "days" being referred to.

In addition the word translated "Regardth" has nothing to do with worship or sabbath keeping.

In context Romans 14 is clearly talking about eating practices and not worship practices. Modern Christianity often uses these verses out of context and in a way that Paul was not intending in order to justify disobeying the sabbath commandment.

[chuckles]

...."I assure you I am a sincere believer, simply trying to clarify things I have learned...(Flame on)".....

Not gonna happen with this Commandment! Jesus kept the 7th Day Sabbath. His Apostles kept the 7th Day Sabbath. The church kept the 7th Day Sabbath until Constantine took over the church in the 4th Century. The RCC changed the Sabbath to Sunday, "the Lords day. The reasons came from Romans forced to become Christians and they worshiped their Sun god on Sunday.

Somebody needs to explain how you can be forced to believe in Jesus and be a Christian.

Soon after that the Leviticus 23 Feasts Days of the Lord were outlawed and Easter and Christmas were introduced to keep following their pagan gods.

If you reject the 7th Day Sabbath, all the prophesies dealing with that will be lost to Christianity. I haven't done a count on the number of times God reminded His people to "keep the Sabbath Holy", but it is numerous. God was telling His people that the earth will last 6000 years and the 7th millennium will be our time of rest for 1000 years with Christ ruling the earth with an iron rod.

Read 2 Peter 3:8. What Peter was telling us is he was just describing scoffers in the Last Days and the Flood came when no one was looking. Noah knew! God is telling His people that He will return in the year 6000. It is now approximately 5780 on the Jewish calendar. It could be off a few years due to slavery and no temple for awhile to keep an accurate calendar.

The Whore of Babylon changed the calendar from the Biblical calendar to the Julian and Gregorian calendar. The pope said he had more power than Jesus and could do what he wanted. By not watching the Leviticus 23 days, Christians won't be "watching" for the Return of Jesus because they think they can't know. Confusing them further with eggs, rabbits, and fertility gods makes it worse. Passover and Easter NEVER occur on the same day. Read about Tammuz in Eze 8 for the abominations described there. "Easter" is just Astarte translated to English.

Modern Christian arguments about "It doesn't matter what day we set aside for worship" for get that it is a Commandment. Do we have only 9 Commandments? Are we able to freely commit adultery to lie and steal? For the ones that say the Apostles met on the first day of the week so that's church, I say they met often on all days of the week, but as Jewish Believers they kept the Sabbath holy also. For those that claim that Jesus rose on Sunday so that's the "new" holy day, that is why God told us to celebrate First Fruits.

The church of Babylon changed the day and there are several passages in Scripture about Babylon. It's a "whore" because it worships other gods. They worship people, like Mary and Peter. They worship statues and relics. There are no popes and cardinals and nuns in Scripture and they are all forbidden to marry.

1Ti 4:1 Now the Ruach clearly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, following deceitful spirits and teachings of demons

1Ti 4:2 through the hypocrisy of false speakers—whose own conscience has been seared.

1Ti 4:3 They forbid people to marry; they command people to abstain from foods that God created for the faithful to share with thanksgiving, having come to know the truth.

Paul teaches that this is a sign of "doctrines of demons".

Almost everything a Catholic believes is contradicted in Scripture. It is the church at Thyatira in Revelation.

Why would a devoted Christian change his Sabbath on the say so of a man? There is NOT ONE Scripture that abandons the 7th Day Sabbath. You are just following the dictates of a false prophet from the Babylon church.

Today's church would look more like the Messianic Jewish Church if you follow Scripture. Anything else is a sign of antisemitism. The Spirit of Antichrist has been on the earth since Jesus walked here.

3Jn 1:9 I wrote something to Messiah’s community, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t welcome us.

Here is Greek that won't allow John, the one Jesus loved, to speak in his church.

If you say you have been "adopted" or "grafted in", what have you been grafted into or adopted into? We have been adopted into God's Family, Israel! If you hate Jews, you hate your brothers! Israel was commanded by Moses to observe the Sabbath in the Wilderness.The Leviticus 23 Feast Days start with the command to observe the Sabbath. The 10 Commandments speak of the Sabbath. Joshua reminded them to observe the Sabbath in the New Land. There are literally dozens of reminders throughout Scriptures to keep the Sabbath. The Babylonian church started by Nimrod changed it to Sunday. I will follow God.

Everyone has to be convicted on what their belief system is. It took decades for me to be convicted, but after teaching home Bible Study for years, I kept running across Scripture telling me to keep the Sabbath holy. I finally figured out God was serious.

Now I want to speak about something I can't prove in Scripture. Reading all these verses on the Sabbath, one verse said Sabbath keepers would be a sign to God. I looked up the Strong's for "Sign" and one definition was "Marked." If The Antichrist will mark his people, can the mark of God be Sabbath keepers? I hope we know that the Jews will be marked for extermination in the Last Days when a 200 million man army lines up with Israel. Will Sunday worship mark the Babylon church? Babylon doesn't fare well against the wrath of God.

[sasportas]

Sound doctrine, Pastor Bill.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil, Matt. 5:17

Christ is all, and in all, Gal 3:11.

All things were created by him, and for him, Col. 1:16b

That in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell, Col. 1:18b, 19.

The centrality of Christ is everywhere in the New Testament. If he is “all, and in all,”
if creation was all about and “for him,”
if the Father predestined from the beginning that Christh ave the preeminence in all things,
and if he fulfilled the law (the sabbath is part of the law),
then...

he is our Passover lamb,
our unleavened bread,
our firstfruit of the resurrection,
our Pentecost,
our shepherd,
our high priest and sacrifice,
our one hope, etc.,
them surely his is our “rest,” or Sabbath.

Our all, and in all.

[BipolarBob]

I didn't realize there was a problem with Coll. 2. My bad.

There were questions regarding secondary issues and problems related to the Law of Ordinances and Ceremonies. This was addressed in Coll. 2. The law of O&C was nailed to the cross because its purpose was over. It concerned material things such as meats, drinks and washings. It also mentions sabbaths but you being a pastor probably knew there were two additional sabbaths added to Mosaic law already and those are now abolished. The Mosaic Law foretold the Messiah coming and it was of no use after He arrived.
The abolishment of the Law of O&C has no bearing on the eternal Ten Commandments. I can clarify the differences two distinct laws if are out of your depth here.

[DouglasKC]

Not gonna happen with this Commandment! Jesus kept the 7th Day Sabbath. His Apostles kept the 7th Day Sabbath. The church kept the 7th Day Sabbath until Constantine took over the church in the 4th Century. The RCC changed the Sabbath to Sunday, "the Lords day. The reasons came from Romans forced to become Christians and they worshiped their Sun god on Sunday.

More back story: The backdrop of the new testament is Judea's reluctance to be under Roman rule. This reluctance was already resulting in rebellion in biblical times. For example:

Mar_15:7  And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.

By 63 AD the Jews had enough and began first of a series of revolts against Rome. In 70 AD Rome destroyed the temple and much of Jerusalem. Over the years other revolts happened.

Jews became objects of hatred by Rome and Roman citizens. Kind of like how ISIS is view by Americans. And so anyone who appeared Jewish was targeted.

Of course early Christians, on the surface, appeared much like Jews. The kept the biblical holy days and the prohibitions against eating food that God banned. So they became targets of Roman hatred as well.

Some early Christians began to find reasons NOT to appear as Jews. Christianity "evolved" as they began worshipping differently in order to avoid persecution.

Modern Christianity is basically the result of heretics who abandoned biblical principles in order to save their own hides.

[pastorbillrandles]

Really? Is that why so many Christians willingly allowed themselves to be martyred rather than deny their faith?

[DouglasKC]

Really? Is that why so many Christians willingly allowed themselves to be martyred rather than deny their faith?

I don't understand your question. Can you be more specific of a Christian that was martyred and when?

[pastorbillrandles]

None of you have dealt with Collossians 2, and the New Testament repetitive emphasis on the first day of the week.

[pastorbillrandles]

He literally spoke of regarding a Day... it is not just about eating...

[BipolarBob]

None of you have dealt with Collossians 2

I did with post 12. Was there something unclear or that you did not understand?

[DouglasKC]

None of you have dealt with Collossians 2, and the New Testament repetitive emphasis on the first day of the week.

Sure, let's look at Colossians 2. What was the controversy centered around?

Col 2:8  Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 

Someone is trying to cheat the Colossians using philosophy, deceit, manmade traditions and principles of the world.

The sabbath is and was none of these. It is a biblical commandment of the Lord God and was in the only bible the Colossians knew...what we call the old testament.

What are some other things warned about in Colossians 2?

Col 2:18  Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 

False humility, angel worship and being "puffed" up. Nowhere in the bible does God associate the observance of his holy days with such base qualities. Nowhere does God command his people to worship angels.

So the issue being addressed are things that have nothing to do with God's holy days.

So why these verses:

Col 2:16  So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 
Col 2:17  which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 

Here is what is happening. The Colossae church was composed primarily of former gentiles. They WERE keeping the holy days and the sabbaths of the lord just as Paul taught them...just as Jesus did:

1Co 11:1  Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

However there was a sect of either Judaism or Christianity that was blending biblical beliefs with manmade ideas about angel worship and other things. These other things were centered around asceticism...or the belief that self denial would lead to more spirituality.

Paul highlights this later:

Col 2:20  Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 
Col 2:21  "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 
Col 2:22  which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 
Col 2:23  These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. 

So this sect that was trying to influence the Colossians Christians were philosophies and commandments of men that dealt with physical denial. Think of the classic example of an ascetic...the wiseman on the mountain:

The wiseman gets wise (supposedly) by denying himself all but the most basics of life.

Paul says that wrong. That kind of crap doesn't make you spiritual...only the spirit of God living in us can do that.

So the Colossians ARE observing the holy days BUT they are doing it like the bible says: feasting and rejoicing. This sect says to them...stop it. You're over indulging. You won't get wise that way.

Paul tells them this:

Col 2:16  So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 
Col 2:17  which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 

Don't let those clowns judge you. The holy days ARE a shadow of things to come. In other words, they are prophetic tools of God that have a purpose.

Interestingly the literal translation of the last part is "but the body of Christ."

Col 2:16  So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 
Col 2:17  which are a shadow of things to come, but the Body of Christ.

Paul wasn't saying the holy days were bad or done away with. He was telling these formerly gentile Christians to observe the holy days the way the bible says to and don't let these bozo's who are wrong tell you how you should be observing them.

[pastorbillrandles]

Paul wrote Collossians to a predominantly Gentile congregation. He did not specify the two extra Sabbaths, He simply said Dont let anyone judge you about Holy days or Sabbaths...I don’t think you dealt with that.