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Jesus Taught
us to keep the Sabbath,
His Way.
First some questions.
1. God really held the nation of Israel's feet to the fire over their
disobedience to the 4th. commandment. Has he recently changed his mind?
2. The vast majority of all past revivalists and great Christian leaders
held to keeping one out of every seven days as a day of rest and a Sabbath.
Have the preachers, teachers and theologians of the last 75 years came
across some new revelation, concerning the 4th Commandment, that was hid from
past generations?
3. Christ taught in Matthew the fifth chapter that he did not come to do
away with the law, but to fulfill it. Then we see him defending his actions as
he healed on the Sabbath. Is there any historical event that has changed the
people in this world into some super moral beings who no longer need to have any
laws or restrictions put on their behavior?
4. Jesus declared that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the
Sabbath. Did his death annual this declaration? Have we now evolved into some
alien form of life and so are now something quite different then human?
5. If the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ removed believers from any
obligation to moral law then why did the Apostles teach that we are to obey
Christ's commandments?
6. Is it possible to disobey any of the Ten Commandments on a routine basis
and still be obeying Christ's Commandment to love others as you love your self?
7. Do we have some reason to think we do not have to obey the following
scriptures?
Matt 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."" (NIV)
Would this injunction to obey everything included all of the moral law he
had given from Moses on down through the beatitudes and to the instructions he
had given those who had asked him what they were to do to inherit eternal life?
Note:Matt. 5, 6 & 7.
8. Did the laws of Moses come to the nation of Israel through the grace of
God?
9. Or did they, instead, earn and so deserved such favor?
10. There are still some communities in this nation that have Blue Laws on
the books.
Is it true that those Christians who voted for these laws were out of order
and befuddled in their understanding of what was right and wrong?
(The Blue Laws made it against the law for non-essential commercial activity
on Sunday. They only allowed for emergencies. In many cities across our nation
routine retail transactions on Sunday were not allowed.
When I was a child it seemed as if they rolled up the streets late Saturday
night. You had to hunt to find any kind of a store or gas station open on
Sunday. Very few people locked their doors or took the keys out of their cars
ignition, even while they were shopping down town during the week. Very seldom
did you hear any man cuss. No women cussed.)
The Dead Sea Scrolls have given us some insight into Paul's treatment of the
law. here are some comments made by a Jew concerning the way Christians have
misinterpreted Paul's teaching's.
Posted ON LINE, on Prodigy, by a Jew.
"Paul, the self-proclaimed apostle to the
Gentiles, sought a way only to bring Gentiles into the covenant G*d concluded
with the Jews.
He has almost succeeded in eliminating Jews,
something he may or may not have intended. But his concern was with false
obedience to "works of the Law", a phrase unknown in Jewish writings
until the discovery in 1947 of the Dead Sea Scrolls. No one knew what Paul was
talking about, although the Church, contrary to what Jesus actually taught,
decided Paul meant all of the Torah.
It turns out "Works of the Law"
("Ma'seh Mikveh vtorah") was the Qumran Society's overly rigid and excessively
strict interpretation of Jewish law.
In warning against adherence to excessive
"works of the Law" Paul is in line with other Pharisees of his day
who clearly rejected the Qumran excessive legalism and banished them to
extinction in the desert.
Like a pathetic game of telephone, this clear
teaching from Paul, to avoid "works of the Law" was entirely
misinterpreted by the later Pagan/Gentile/Hellenistic Church who were far
removed from the Judaism's of first century Israel. You will not get this
knowledge from posts here on Prodigy, but what I write is known and believed
to be true to most Christian and Jewish Bible scholars writing today.
/peace"
I want to comment on what Arthur said.
Many in the early Church, all the way up to the 15th century, knew this.
They may not have had the phrase, but they discerned this readily from the
scriptures. Paul was dealing with extremists who were into the law just as those
who Jesus dealt with. Unfortunately, this truth has been ignored and Paul's
position has been scrambled.
Legalism AND THE SABBATH
In these following verses we have Paul dealing with people who were
concerned about the violation of the law. If you will take note of the words
used in this text, you will find that they had a narrow watching spirit, or a
critical spirit, and their own advantage was their primary goal. Not the love of
God.
Galatians 4:8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service
unto them which by nature are no gods.
Service = a slave. You were slaves to them -
9. But now, after that ye have known God, or, rather are known of God, how
turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to
be in bondage? 10. Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Observe = to observe closely, or narrowly. You are religiously concerned
over these observances, to the point of being a slave to them. You are a
stickler for perfection, in keeping these observances, - to the point of being
wickedly consumed over them; fanatical. (3906 paratereo (par-at-ay-reh'-o); from
3844 and 5083; to inspect alongside, i.e. note insidiously or scrupulously: KJV--
observe, watch.)
These terms have a moral significance; they have to do with motive.
For some reason the importance of properly discerning the meaning and usage
of this Greek word has escaped many people.
It is because people have not checked the usage of this word here and in
other passages, that they have created a contradiction in principle. The
morality of keeping the Sabbath has been brought into question through the
improper interpretation of this very passage.
This word "observe" is translated in Mark 3:2 into the word
"watched." Speaking of Jesus it says -
"and they watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath
day;"
These people were watching with the wrong moral motive; in the hope of
catching Jesus doing wrong.
Luke 6:7, "And the scribes and pharisees watched him, whether
he would...
In Luke 14:1 the wrong motive is not as strongly implied.
Luke 20:19 & 20 They perceived that he had spoken this parable against
them. And they watched him and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves
just men, that they might take hold of his words.
Again this word is used in a negative moral sense. - With the wrong motive.-
In Acts 9:24, We have people watching the gates day and night so they could
kill Paul.
In Romans, we have the same word used. There it is translated into the word
"regardeth."
14:6 "He that regardeth the day regardeth it unto the
Lord."
In this last case we have a positive moral watching of a day and as unto the
Lord. This is the proper way of observing something. In moral contrast - to -
Galatians 4: 10. - Paul is warning them of a negative narrow watching, or an
observance which is based on the wrong motives. They are trying to use these
deeds as leverage, as an act of earning salvation, by using self effort,
separate and apart from faith in and love toward God. This is contextual
interpretation, this is using the Bible to interpret the Bible.
It is peculiar though that in several passages where this word is used, they
tell of how Jesus was being watched to see
if he was breaking the Sabbath. This word used in its various renderings is
always bound to a moral aspect or motive.
It is never used in a neutral sense, such as it would be if you observed or
watched something in a casual manner.
Sabbath Watchers
It appeared to the biased mind of the legalist that Jesus was breaking the
law of the Sabbath. Today's, unknowing, legalist does the same thing; for, now
we have those who read the book of Galatians who agree with those Pharisees.
They too contend that Jesus did break the Sabbath. Then again they would
disagree with the Pharisees on another point; for, today's true legalists
contend that there is no morality involved in the observance of that day. Today
most feel that we, who are concerned over the neglect of the Sabbath, are
sinning and are the legalist. For, we try to urge people to set that day apart,
consistently for worship.
Can you see the confusion that can be created by not properly interpreting
the Bible? Here they are, mistaken, even to the point of completely reversing
right principles? Look at Colossians 2: 16 & 17,
"Let no man 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;"
The term "Sabbath days" (plural) in this text, is not speaking of
"the" "Sabbath", "day" (singular.)
The nation of Israel observed Sabbath days other then just the seventh day
Sabbath. Anniversary days of historical importance were observed as a Sabbath,
or what is now called a holiday. If this text was to refer to both the seventh
day Sabbath and all other Sabbaths, it would have to differentiate, by using the
word "Sabbath," (singular) along with the terms "Sabbath
days." (plural).
Today, if we were to speak of no longer having Sunday as a day of worship,
and were to say at the same time, that we were no longer going to observe
Washington's birthday, it would be obvious that we were speaking of two
different days. This is because the names of the days are different. In this
age, anniversary days may fall on a Sunday, just as many other specific, or
special, Sabbath days in that age, could fall on any of the week days.
However, they may have purposely excluded those other days from falling on
the seventh day Sabbath.
The Sabbath day rest is both looking back and forward in celebration of both
the seventh day of creation and the resurrection of Christ. The other Sabbaths
are said to be a shadow of things to come. Note; a shadow of things yet in the
future.
Just what did Jesus say about the Sabbath?
Mark 2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his
disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The
Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the
Sabbath?" 25 He answered, "Have you never read what David did
when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar
the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread,
which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his
companions." 27 Then he said to them, "The
Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is
Lord even of the Sabbath." (NIV)
In this setting we find Jesus defending his disciples for eating raw corn
off the cob. They must have been hungry for he referred to those who had ate of
consecrated bread when they were in need of something to eat.
Mark 3:1 Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a
shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse
Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the
Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in
front of everyone." 4 Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the
Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they
remained silent. 5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at
their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He
stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees
went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. (NIV)
Luke 6:9 Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the
Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?" 10 He
looked around at them all, and then said to the man, "Stretch out your
hand." He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But they were furious and began to discuss with one another
what they might do to Jesus. (NIV)
John 7:21 Jesus said to them, "I did one miracle, and you are all
astonished. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it
did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a child on
the Sabbath. 23 Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the
law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with
me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere
appearances, and make a right judgment." (NIV)
Luke 13:10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11
and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.
She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her,
he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your
infirmity." 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she
straightened up and praised God. 14 Indignant because
Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the
people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those
days, not on the Sabbath." 15 The Lord answered him, "You
hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it
water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan
has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from
what bound her?" 17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated,
but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. (NIV)
Matt 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the
Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you
the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the
least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until
everything is accomplished. (= perfected or fulfilled, or completed.) 19 Anyone
who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the
same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and
teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I
tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not
enter the kingdom of heaven. (NIV)
I can still remember some of what I heard from my Grandmother. She had been
a pastors wife. It seems there was a long period of time when most Christians
observed the Sabbath as a day to be set apart. Some 1800 plus years. Yet not in
the same sense the Pharisees had in the time Jesus was here in the flesh.
Our forefathers would do what needed to be done on that day to protect and
preserve life. However, they would not take part in any form of commerce or do
any work for pay on that day. They planned ahead for a day of rest.
I can remember when there were no stores, restaurants or gas stations open
on Sunday. In some of the bigger towns there were arrangements made to keep a
restaurant open for the sick and elderly. In other places they also had one
grocery store open. If you needed gas you had to hunt all over town to get it.
Many people kept a five gallon can full just in case. In some situations you
would have to call someone to open up a store for you. My other Grandmother had
a grocery store and she was closed on Sunday. Still in an emergency she would go
unlock it and get what some one needed.
This tradition can be traced among God fearing people all the way back to
the time of Moses. This tradition is a witness, or circumstantial evidence, that
can be used to prove that we need to keep one day out of every seven as a day of
rest.
I. When was the Sabbath given?
Or - Abraham, Moses and the Sabbath.
44 This is the law Moses set before the Israelites. 45 These are the
stipulations, decrees and laws Moses gave them when they came out of Egypt (NIV)
This 45th verse sets this law in a time frame in an absolute sense. This
points to Mount Sinai.
1. The Sabbath was instituted by God at the end of the creation week. He
rested and was refreshed.
2. Godly men universally observed a week made up of seven days before the
time of Moses.
The Bible refers to a seven day week before Moses was even born. This is not
proof of one day out of every seven days being a day of rest. However, it is
admissible as circumstantial evidence.
3. Moses was commanded by God to have the people refrain from gathering
manna on the seventh day while they were still wandering around in the desert.
4. Then of course later we have this law inscribed by the finger of God on a
stone tablet.
\\ (Note God wrote it down in stone with his
finger.) //
5. All of the above intimate that this law was being observed before the Ten
Commandments were given.
You may ask why so? If it was hinted about ahead of time and may have been
observed before it was codified, it seems as if the evidence points to it being
a natural law of morality.
II. To whom was it given?
Exodus 31:13
Exod 31:12 Then the LORD said to Moses, 13 "Say to the Israelites,
'You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the
generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.
14 "'Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who
desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be
cut off from his people. 15 For six days, work
is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest,
holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must
be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it
for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It
will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six
days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.'" (NIV)
God told the Children of Israel that they were given the Sabbath to keep as
a sign between them and God for all of their generations. A memorial. The NT
Refers to the true Israel and attaches this to the Church.
The following is Strong's numbers and definition of the word sign.
226 'owth (oth); probably from 225 (in the sense of appearing); a signal
(literally or figuratively), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy,
evidence, etc.:
KJV-- mark, miracle, (en-) sign, token.
It was to be something that would remind them of what God had done for them.
Still, they were to use other things in this same way. They were to tie the word
to their bodies and to meditate on it. They built stone monuments. However, in
any one of these cases, those same methods can be used by others and still not
be violating any moral principle. This is not something that was limited to only
one culture or only imposed on the Israelites and never to be observed by all
other God fearing people.
Again, Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the
Sabbath.
His statement includes all of mankind.
Yes, when he said this he was defending the actions of his disciples, and he
also gave good reasons for doing other good things on the Sabbath. None of which
had to do with catering to carnal convenience. He referred back to other like
circumstances that were recorded in the Bible, things that happened under the
law. It just so happened that when David did his thing the law had not been so
perverted by the Pharisees. He needed food and he took of things that were
reserved for the priests alone. He even lied so as to get it.
Again - We know that in some sense God observed it and we know that the
Israelites observed it before it was codified into the Ten Commandments and we
know there were seven day weeks from the earliest periods of time. So it must
have been given to more then just the Jew. Unfortunately the Jews had taken the
law of the Sabbath and turned it into a form of barbarism. It became a cruel
bondage, that was completely contrary to its original purpose. It was to be for
a joyful rest, but they made it into hateful torture.
It was to be used for praise to God, they turned it into a reason to hate
God.
III. Where was it given?
Nehemiah 9:14
Neh 9:13 "You came down on Mount Sinai; you spoke to them from
heaven. You gave them regulations and laws that are just and
right, and decrees and commands that are good.
14 You made known to them your holy Sabbath and gave them commands,
decrees and laws through your servant Moses. (NIV)
(Note - good laws.)
Of Israel. This is on the Mountain.
Do not forget, there are other historical references to the seventh day
being used for religious observances by other cultures.
IIII Why was it given?
1. It was given for a sign. As is noted above.
2. It was given as a moral law to promote the welfare of everyone.
Deut 5:11"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the
LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
Is this a moral law? Do not take his name in Vain? Yes.
12 "Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God
has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do
all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your
God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter,
nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your
animals, nor the alien within your gates, \\ so
that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. //
Why was it given? Only as a sign?
What about being merciful to those who work for you. Give your animals a
rest and also the waitress.
15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your
God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to
observe the Sabbath day. 16 "Honor your father and your
mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and
that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
17 "You shall not murder.
18 "You shall not commit adultery.
19 "You shall not steal. (NIV)
This Law of the Sabbath was codified along with eight
other moral laws. There are three listed ahead of it and six listed after it. It
is in the bunch. To violate it is to bring a curse. It is as sure as any other
law. The only difference is that the neglect of the Sabbath does not
produce an immediate problem. Some times the curse takes years to come about.
In a society where it is not observed it becomes a rest day for the rich.
Everyone else has to work. We are to loose people from their bondage.
Those who have to miss church on Sunday are in bondage and we have helped to
put them there. People in general have become dumbed down due to a lack of Bible
study. They put everything else ahead of their rest and meditation on the word.
Their children are then raised in moral ignorance. Eventually these people drift
back under a dictatorial form of government. This usually shows up in the
leadership of their churches first. Remember the Pope.
Jesus sums up the law
Matt 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do
to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (NIV)
Matt 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the
kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my
Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord,
Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and
perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you.
Away from me, you evildoers!'
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into
practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came
down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it
did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put
them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on
sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat
against that house, and it fell with a great crash." 28 When Jesus had
finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29
because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the
law. (NIV)
A peculiar reference concerning the Sabbath day.
Matt 24:19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and
nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be
great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now-- and
never to be equaled again. (NIV)
The following verses are redundant, for they are basic to the principles
of God's Moral Government. Unfortunately, because of the attack on the Moral
Government of God by the erroneous doctrines coming from the Calvinistic and
Dispensational positions I must include them here.
Rom 2:6 God "will give to each person according to what he has
done." 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek
glory, honor and immortality, (moral purity), he
will give eternal life.
God gives eternal life to those who seek him and his righteousness.
8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow
evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for
every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10
but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then
for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. 12 All who sin apart
from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the
law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are
righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be
declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by
nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though
they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law
are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their
thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) 16 This will take place on
the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel
declares. (NIV)
Rom 2:17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and
brag about your relationship to God; 18 if you know his will and approve of
what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are
convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the
dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have
in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth-- 21 you, then, who teach
others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do
you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do
you rob temples? 23 You who brag about the law, do
you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written:
"God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." 25
Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you
have become as though you had not been circumcised. 26 If those who are not
circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though
they were circumcised? 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet
obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and
circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
The one who keeps the essence or spirit of the law is a spiritual Jew. He
keeps it's requirements.
28 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision
merely outward and physical.
29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is
circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a
man's praise is not from men, but from God. (NIV)
Rom 3:1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is
there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, they have been
entrusted with the very words of God. 3 What if some did not have faith? Will
their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true,
and every man a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right
when you speak and prevail when you judge." 5 But if our unrighteousness
brings out God's righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is
unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6 Certainly
not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7 Someone might argue,
"If my falsehood enhances God's truthfulness and so increases his glory,
why am I still condemned as a sinner?" 8 Why not say-- as we are being
slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say--" Let us
do evil that good may result"? Their condemnation is deserved. 9 What
shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made
the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10 As it is
written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who
understands, no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together
become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." 13
"Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit."
"The poison of vipers is on their lips." 14 "Their mouths are
full of cursing and bitterness." 15 "Their feet are swift to shed
blood; 16 ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not
know." 18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes." 19 Now
we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so
that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the
law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. 21 But now a
righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law
and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith
in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his
grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him
as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to
demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins
committed beforehand unpunished-- 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at
the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have
faith in Jesus. 27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what
principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. 28 For we
maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
Apart from observing the extremist's version of the
Law. Christ annulled the slavery to the letter that the extremists had
concocted. He pointed them back to the true intent of the law. Which was to love
God and others.
29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of
Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised
by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then,
nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we
uphold the law. (NIV)
Rom 6:13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of
wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought
from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of
righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under
law, but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law
but under grace? By no means! 16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves
to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--
whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or
to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be
to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed
the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 You have been set free
from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 19 I put this in human terms
because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the
parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness,
so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you
were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What
benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of?
Those things result in death! 22 But now that you
have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is
eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God
is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)
Rom 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set
me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do
in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son
in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in
sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be
fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful
nature but according to the Spirit.
Sin had perverted the law, but Christ had come to perfect it and point us
back to loving the Father and each other. He did what the law was unable to do.
He washed away our sins and empowered us to live above the standard of the Law.
This removes us from it's curse.
5 Those who live according to the sinful nature
have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in
accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind
controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to
God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature
but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone
does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. (NIV)
(Note - the term sinful nature is an erroneous
interpretation. Carnal or fleshly nature is more correct. Our nature is not
sinful, but it does tend toward sinfulness. Sin is an act, it is not a nature.
We can tend to do many things, but the tendency is not sinful, but the act may
well be.)
Rom 8:12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-- but it is not to the
sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the
sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the
misdeeds of the body, you will live, (NIV)
Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and
deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic
principles of this world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the
fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given
fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him
you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the
sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but
with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in
baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised
him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the
uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He
forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its
regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it
away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and
authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the
cross. 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or
with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
17 These are a shadow of the things, (that were), to come; the reality,
however, is found in Christ. (NIV)
Gen 2:2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so
on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3
And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from
all the work of creating that he had done. (NIV)
Exod 20:8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days
you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to
the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work,
neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant,
nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD
made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD
blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (NIV)
Exod 23:12 "Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not
work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the
alien as well, may be refreshed. (NIV)
Deut 5:13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the
seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any
work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or
maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien
within your gates, so that your manservant and
maidservant may rest, as you do. (NIV)
Neh 9:13 "You came down on Mount Sinai; you spoke to them from
heaven. You gave them regulations and laws that are just
and right, and decrees and commands that are good. 14 You made known to
them your holy Sabbath and gave them commands, decrees and laws through your
servant Moses. (NIV)
Isaiah 58:5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man
to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying
on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the
LORD? 6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I
have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to
share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with
shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from
your own flesh and blood?
When we hire a waitress and a cook to serve us on the Sabbath we are keeping
them in bondage.
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will
quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of
the LORD will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the LORD will
answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves in
behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light
will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. 11 The
LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a
spring whose waters never fail. 12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of
Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. 13 "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing
as you please on my holy day, if you call the
Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day
honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you
please or speaking idle words, 14 then you
will find your joy in the LORD, and
I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the
inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Ezek 20:11 I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, for the
man who obeys them will live by them. 12 Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a
sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy. 13
"'Yet the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert. They did
not follow my decrees but rejected my laws-- although the man who obeys them
will live by them-- and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would
pour out my wrath on them and destroy them in the desert. 14 But for the sake
of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the
nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
I Jn 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we
have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--
this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have
seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was
with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen
and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is
with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our
joy complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you:
God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If
we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do
not live by the truth.
I Jn 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so
that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks
to the Father in our defense-- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the
atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of
the whole world. 3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his
commands. 4 The man who says, "I know
him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in
him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly
made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever
claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 7 Dear friends, I am not writing
you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This
old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new
command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and
the true light is already shining. 9 Anyone who claims
to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10
Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to
make him stumble. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and
walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the
darkness has blinded him.
I Jn 3:2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has
not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like
him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him
purifies himself, just as he is pure. 4 Everyone who
sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that
he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues
to sin has either seen him or known him. 7 Dear children, do not let
anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is
righteous. 8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has
been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to
destroy the devil's work. 9 No one who is born of God
will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on
sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how we know who
the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God;
nor is anyone who does not love his brother. 11 This is the message you
heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
I Jn 3:16- This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his
life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone
has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him,
how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let
us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
I Jn 3:21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have
confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey
his commands and do what pleases him.
I Jn 4:20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother,
he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen,
cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
I Jn 5:2 This is how we know that we love the
children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This
is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are
not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the
victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that
overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
I Jn 5:16 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to
death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin
does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying
that he should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin
that does not lead to death.
18 We know that no one who is born of God sins;
but He who was born of God keeps him and the evil one does not touch him.
(NAS)
II Jn 1:5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one
we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.
As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so
deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word
but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he
looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives
freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing
it-- he will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone considers himself
religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives
himself and his religion is worthless. 27 Religion that
God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans
and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the
world.
James 2:3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes
and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man,
"You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4 have
you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of
the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who
love him? 6 But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are
exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are
they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love
your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 9 But if you show
favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For
whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of
breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery,"
also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do
commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who are
going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without
mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over
judgment! 14 What good is it, my brothers, if a
man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of
you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but
does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way,
faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone
will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without
deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is
one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-- and shudder. 20 You foolish man,
do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our
ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son
Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his
actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and
it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.
24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for
what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a
different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith
without deeds is dead. (NIV)
"Numbers In
Scripture" (She gave also gave me this link to check out relative
to the Seventh and Eighth days.) "Seven
means, as we have seen, according to its etymology, that which is spiritually
complete or satisfying; while eight denotes that which is superabundant
or satiating. Hence we often find these two numbers associated with these
distinctions."
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