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The 4th Commandment is a SIGN Pointing to Jesus!
YES! I myself find ONLY NINE of the TEN COMMANDMENTS repeated in the NEW Testament. But that does NOT mean that the fourth commandment ITSELF was abolished and nailed to the cross.
But rather, it was only the ORDINANCES contained IN the fourth commandment that Jesus abolished and nailed to the cross, according to Ephesians 2:15 and Colossians 2:14-17. Please read the studies Dd-5.WHAT DOES CONTAINED IN ORDINANCES MEAN? and Dd-2. IS THE WEEKLY SABBATH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?
But for now, in this study we will take a close look at the passages of Scripture where all the moral commandments are repeated and we are taught to keep them in the New Testament under the New Covenant.
And as you will see, they are all MORAL laws or moral commandments of God and no CEREMONIAL commandments of keeping of DAYS of the week, month, or year.
You will NOT find any teaching in the New Testament to keep ANY of the CEREMONIAL commandments of keeping of DAYS, including the “ceremonial” fourth commandment of keeping the weekly Sabbath DAY.
But rather, under the New Covenant written in the New Testament we are to keep the SPIRIT of the law and NOT the LETTER of the law.
Please read Romans 7:6.
“But NOW, we are DELIVERED from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; THAT we should serve in NEWNESS of SPIRIT, and NOT in the OLDNESS of the LETTER.”
And that means that under the New Covenant we are to keep the TRUE meaning of the FOURTH commandment which points to Jesus as our TRUE Sabbath REST to enter into the New PERPETUAL COVENANT established in his shed blood.
Please read the study Dd-15. The WEEKLY SABBATH DAY is a SIGN!
Also read the study Dd-13. Jesus is OUR TRUE SABBATH REST!
So then, we are, indeed, commanded in the New Testament under the New Covenant to keep ALL of the SIX MORAL commandments found in the TEN Commandments.
However, concerning the keeping of the FOURTH commandment to keep the weekly Sabbath day, you will NOT find it repeated or taught anywhere in the NEW Testament.
YES, obviously, Jesus who was born UNDER the LAW kept ALL the law at that time BEFORE Jesus actually died for their sins and ours.
But during the FORTY days of Jesus showing himself alive there is no evidence of Jesus keeping the weekly Sabbath day.
And then, AFTER the church began at the day of Pentecost you do NOT find the early church keeping the Sabbath day.
YES, the Apostles went into the synagogues on the Sabbath day, but the REASON they did go into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day was to PREACH the GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We can read over and over where Paul DISPUTED and PERSUADED the JEWS in the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and in the market, and daily in the temple.
But in none of the verses are we clearly and plainly told that Paul was OBSERVING the SABBATH of the JEWS when he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day to PREACH the gospel.
Now, some may argue and say, what about Acts 1:12?
Acts 1:12.
“Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath day’s journey.”
This is simply saying that the place that Jesus ascended into heaven at Mount Olivet is about 2 miles, a Sabbath day’s journey from Jerusalem.
Keep in mind that Jesus ascended into heaven on a THURSDAY and NOT on the Sabbath day.
Jesus showed himself alive for 40 DAYS beginning of a SUNDAY, the FIRST day of the week.
Simply count FORTY days including the Sunday that Jesus began to show himself alive and that brings you to a Thursday on which Jesus ascended into heaven and the disciples returned to Jerusalem that was simply a Sabbath day’s JOURNEY.
We will talk more on the KEEPING of the weekly Sabbath DAY not being found anywhere in the New Testament later on in this study of God's word.
But for now, let us take a look at the passages of Scripture that do, indeed, REPEAT the other NINE commandments of God.
Please keep in mind that there are sometimes many more verses that may teach a particular commandment.
However, it is only needful to show two or three for us to understand that ONLY NINE commandments are repeated in the New Testament.
Also, we as Christians, are taught under the NEW Covenant to KEEP these the SIX MORAL commandments according to Jesus in Matthew 19:16-19.
Again, we will look more closely at the FOURTH commandment a little later in this study.
Commandment # 1 under the Old Covenant.
(Repeated in 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 & Acts 14:15)
Exodus 20:1-3.
“And God spoke all these words, saying,
Exodus 20:2. I am the LORD your God, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Exodus 20:3. You shall have no other gods before me.”
Now WHAT commandments are REPEATED for us as Christians in the NEW Testament under the NEW COVENANT? Is commandment #1 repeated in the New Testament? YES!
Commandment #1 under the NEW covenant.
1 Corinthians 8:4-6.
“As concerning, therefore, the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
1 Corinthians 8:5. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
1 Corinthians 8:6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”
Acts 14:15.
“And saying, Sirs, why do you these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that you should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:”
Commandment # 2 under the Old Covenant.
(Repeated in Galatians. 5:18-21, Romans. 1:22,23, & 1 John 5:21)
Exodus 20:4-6.
“You shall not make unto you any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exodus 20:5. You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exodus 20:6. And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”
Now WHAT commandments are REPEATED for us as Christians in the NEW Testament under the NEW COVENANT?
Is commandment #2 repeated in the New Testament? YES!
Commandment #2 under the NEW covenant.
Galatians 5:18-21.
“But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Galatians 5:19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Galatians 5:20. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, sedition, heresies,
Galatians 5:21. Envying, murders, drunkenness, revelings (Or partying with drunkenness and or partying with sexual intentions), and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Romans 1:21-23.
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Romans 1:22. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Romans 1:23. And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things.”
1 John 5:21.
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”
Commandment # 3 under the Old Covenant.
(Repeated in James 5:12)
Exodus 20:7.
“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain.”
Now WHAT commandments are REPEATED for us as Christians in the NEW Testament under the NEW COVENANT?
Is commandment #3 repeated in the New Testament? YES!
Commandment #3 under the NEW covenant.
James 5:12.
“But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest you fall into condemnation”
Commandment # 4 under the Old Covenant.
(NOT FOUND repeated or taught in anywhere in the NEW TESTAMENT under the New Covenant)
Exodus 20:8-11.
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exodus 20:9. Six days shall you labor, and do all your work.
Exodus 20:10. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD your God: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates:
Exodus 20:11. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and RESTED the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”
Now WHAT commandments are REPEATED for us as Christians in the NEW Testament under the NEW COVENANT?
Is commandment #4 repeated in the New Testament? No!
Now, WHY would God place the FOURTH commandment in the CENTER of the TEN Commandments and then NOT give any teaching or instruction the keep the weekly Sabbath DAY as a day of REST like He taught the children of Israel to REST on the seventh day in Exodus chapter 16 for the first time?
It is because the keeping of the weekly Sabbath DAY is a SIGN pointing to the New PERPETUAL COVENANT.
Again, please read the study Dd-15. The WEEKLY SABBATH DAY is a SIGN!
Also read the study Dd-13. Jesus is OUR TRUE SABBATH REST!
But for now, let us continue taking a close look at the rest of the TEN Commandment that ARE repeated in CLARITY in the New Testament under the New Covenant.
Commandment # 5 under the Old Covenant.
(Repeated in Ephesians 6:1-3)
Exodus 20:12.
“Honor your father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God gives you.”
Now WHAT commandments are REPEATED for us as Christians in the NEW Testament under the NEW COVENANT?
Is commandment #5 repeated in the New Testament? YES!
Commandment #5 under the NEW covenant.
Ephesians 6:1-3.
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Ephesians 6:2. Honor your father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
Ephesians 6:3. That it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.”
Commandment # 6 under the Old Covenant.
(Repeated in Romans 13:8-10)
Exodus 20:13.
“ You shall not kill.”
Now WHAT commandments are REPEATED for us as Christians in the NEW Testament under the NEW COVENANT?
Is commandment #6 repeated in the New Testament? YES!
Commandment #6 under the NEW covenant.
Romans 13:8-10.
“Owe no man any thing, but to LOVE one another: for he that LOVES another has FULFILLED the law.
Romans 13:9. For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be ANY OTHER commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself.
Romans 13:10. LOVE works no ill to his neighbor: therefore LOVE is the FULFILLING OF the law.”
Commandment # 7 under the Old Covenant.
(Repeated in Romans 13:8-10 and 1 Corinthians 6:9,10)
Exodus 20:14.
“You shall not commit adultery.”
Now WHAT commandments are REPEATED for us as Christians in the NEW Testament under the NEW COVENANT?
Is commandment #7 repeated in the New Testament? YES!
Commandment #7 under the NEW covenant.
Romans 13:8-10.
“Owe no man any thing, but to LOVE one another: for he that LOVES another has FULFILLED the law.
Romans 13:9. For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be ANY OTHER commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself.
Romans 13:10. LOVE works no ill to his neighbor: therefore LOVE is the FULFILLING of the law.”
1 Corinthians 6:9,10.
“Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1 Corinthians 6:10. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
Commandment # 8 under the Old Covenant.
(Repeated in Romans 13:8-10 and Ephesians 4:28)
Exodus 20:15.
“You shall not steal.”
Now WHAT commandments are REPEATED for us as Christians in the NEW Testament under the NEW COVENANT?
Is commandment #8 repeated in the New Testament? YES!
Commandment #8 under the NEW covenant.
Romans 13:8-10.
“Owe no man any thing, but to LOVE one another: for he that LOVES another has FULFILLED the law.
Romans 13:9. For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be ANY OTHER commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself.
Romans 13:10. LOVE works no ill to his neighbor: therefore LOVE is the FULFILLING OF the law.”
Ephesians 4:28.
“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs.”
Commandment # 9 under the Old Covenant.
(Repeated in Revelation 21:7,8, 22:15 and Colossians 3:9)
Exodus 20:16.
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
Now WHAT commandments are REPEATED for us as Christians in the NEW Testament under the NEW COVENANT?
Is commandment #9 repeated in the New Testament? YES!
Commandment #9 under the NEW covenant.
Revelation 21:7,8.
“He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Revelation 21:8. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whore mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now, it is one thing to NOT know that what a Christians is teaching is LIE, but it is a different thing to KNOW that a church doctrine is FALSE teaching and STILL keep on teaching it.
Revelation 22:14,15.
“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.
Revelation 22:15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whore mongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.”
Now, this can be interpreted as whosoever LOVES making a LIE. Or this can be interpreted as whosoever LOVES, as in, Christians who walk in LOVE to FULFILL ALL the law and who make a LIE that the as Christians MUST ALSO keep the weekly Sabbath DAY lest a Christian SINS.
Did not Paul say that if there is ANY OTHER commandment that it is FULFILLED by our LOVING one another?
Let us read what the New Testament teaches us is SIMPLICITY under the New Covenant again.
Romans 13:8-10.
“Owe no man any thing, but to LOVE one another: for he that LOVES another has FULFILLED the law.
Romans 13:9. For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be ANY OTHER commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself.
Romans 13:10. LOVE works no ill to his neighbor: therefore LOVE is the FULFILLING OF the law.”
Commandment # 10 under the Old Covenant.
(Repeated in Romans 13:8-10 and Ephesians 5:3)
Exodus 20:17.
“You shall not covet your neighbor's house, you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is your neighbor's.”
Now WHAT commandments are REPEATED for us as Christians in the NEW Testament under the NEW COVENANT?
Is commandment #10 repeated in the New Testament? YES!
Commandment #10 under the NEW covenant.
Romans 13:8-10.
“Owe no man any thing, but to LOVE one another: for he that LOVES another has FULFILLED the law.
Romans 13:9. For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be ANY OTHER commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself.
Romans 13:10. LOVE works no ill to his neighbor: therefore LOVE is the FULFILLING OF the law.”
Ephesians 5:1-7.
“Be you, therefore, followers of God, as dear children;
Ephesians 5:2. And walk in LOVE, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.
Ephesians 5:3. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes saints;
Ephesians 5:4. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Ephesians 5:5. For this you know, that no whore monger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Ephesians 5:6. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Ephesians 5:7. Be not you therefore partakers with them.”
So then, ALL SIX MORAL commandments in the TEN Commandment are REPEATED several times in the New Testament with the CLEAR teaching.
And the first three commandments are also repeated in the New Testament.
So you have to ask yourself WHY the FOURTH commandment is NOT repeated anywhere in the New Testament under the New Covenant?
Why is there not one single HINT of a teaching that we are to keep ANY DAYS under the New Covenant?
Let us take a CLOSER look at the FOURTH commandment to see WHY Christians are NOT to keep ANY DAYS of the week, month, or year under the new Covenant. But first, let us look at why the seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping Christians INTERPRET as the keeping of the weekly Sabbath DAY as being TAUGHT in the New Testament.
The English word “SABBATH” is found 60 times in the King James Version of the Bible in the NEW Testament. Of these 60 times, 50 of those times the word Sabbath is found in the four Gospels and the remaining 10 times are found 9 times in the book of Acts and 1 time in Colossians 2:16.
There is no point in looking at the times that Jesus kept the weekly Sabbath day because Jesus was BORN UNDER the law and the New Covenant had not yet been established in his shed blood on the cross.
So then, we will only be looking at the 9 times that the word “Sabbath” is found in the book of Acts and the 1 time that the word “Sabbaths” is found in Colossians 2:16.
Here is a list of the nine times the “WORD” Sabbath is found in the book of the ACTS of the Apostles.
Please read them checking the CONTEXT as well and judge for yourself as to whether or not these passages of Scripture CLEARLY and PLAINLY can be interpreted in such a way as to DOGMATICALLY teach that we as Christians are to KEEP this fourth commandment in the same manner as God's peoples Israel were commanded to OBSERVE it under the OLD Testament law of Moses.
We already covered Acts 1:12 and found that it was on a THURSDAY that Jesus ascended into heaven and the disciples returned to Jerusalem that was a Sabbath day’s JOURNEY back to the city of Jerusalem from Mount Olivet.
And thus, that mere MENTIONING of the word Sabbath is simply stating how FAR it is from Mount Olivet to the city of Jerusalem.
The disciples were traveling on a THURSDAY which has nothing to do with the weekly Sabbath Day’s restriction to only walk 2 miles on the Sabbath day and no further.
So then, that leaves 8 more times that the word Sabbath is found in the New Testament. And YES, once again, I fully understand that you will obviously see Paul going into the synagogue on the Sabbath day.
But you will also see that the REASON that he went INTO the synagogue on the Sabbath day was to PREACH the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ.
There is no teaching in the New Testament that states Paul RESTED on the Sabbath day. In fact, Paul taught AGAINST the keep of DAYS which we will look at shortly.
But for now, consider A NON Saturday seventh day of the week Sabbath keeping Christians going INTO a Saturday Sabbath keeping church to visit or to witness the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now, that does NOT mean that they are KEEPING Saturday, seventh day of the week as the Sabbath-keeping Christians.
Consider a Christian that may be seen going into a bar to share the gospel, or just to have a bite to eat with some non Christians friends.
But again, that does NOT PROVE beyond any shadow of a doubt to dogmatically say that they were going into that bar as others were to drink alcohol and get drunk.
And thus, the Apostle Paul going INTO the synagogue on the Sabbath day does not prove that Paul was keeping the weekly Sabbath DAY.
In fact, Paul taught AGAINST the keeping of ANY DAYS and the Judaizing Christians all through his letters and epistles. And again, we will cover those passages of Scripture further on in this study in God’s word.
But for now, I want you to read the 9 verses of Scripture in the book of Acts with the word Sabbath in them.
And as you read through these following passages of Scripture I ask that you keep an open mind and heart laying aside any preconceived teachings that you may have been taught and allow the Holy Spirit lead and guide you into all truth.
Acts 1:12.
“Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath day's journey.”
Again, to me, this is just a reference to the distance from Jerusalem to the mount of Olives.
Obviously, the Jews of that day understood what this meant because they had been taught the Law of Moses from a young age.
The question is does this passage of Scripture PROVE beyond any shadow of a doubt that Christians are to KEEP the Sabbath day?
You be the judge keeping in mind that it was on a THURSDAY that they traveled back to the city of Jerusalem from Mount Olivet.
Acts 13:14.
“But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down.”
Be sure to read the CONTEXT some of which are in the verses that follow.
All I ask is that you lay aside any previous teaching that you may have been taught and read these verses with your spiritual eyes open and judge for yourself with the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Ask yourself the question of WHY Paul and those with Paul went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down?
Acts 13:27.
“For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, (Or BECAUSE the Jews at Jerusalem did not know that the Scriptures testify of Jesus as being their Messiah is WHY the disciples of Jesus went INTO the synagogues) nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.”
Here in this passage of Scripture you can see Paul standing up AFTER the rulers of the synagogue read the Scriptures and asked Paul and his company if they had anything to say.
Paul then began to open up the eyes of their understanding explaining the Scriptures were pointing to Jesus the promised MESSIAH.
To me, this is the REASON WHY Paul and the believers that were with him went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down to wait for their opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to them.
If you wanted to talk to a lot of baseball fans where would you go? Obviously, you would go to a baseball game where baseball fans GATHER.
And in the same way, Paul's best audience of a lot of Jews gathered together was in the synagogue.
And thus, Paul and the other disciples were simply waiting for the Scriptures to be read as they knew was the custom so that they could EXPLAIN to the Jews that the Scriptures POINTED to Jesus.
In other words, the REASON they went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day was NOT to OBSERVE the Sabbath say as a day of REST as the Jews.
But rather, they went into a place where they knew that the JEWS would be assembled together so that they could PREACH the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ to the Jews first as the Lord had taught them.
Acts 13:42.
“And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.”
Here we see that the Gentiles who obviously overheard Paul preaching about a MESSIAH or a SAVIOR caused them to sit up and LISTEN.
To me, it is obvious that these Gentiles wanted to hear MORE about this Jesus, and they obviously knew that the Jews met every Saturday to talk about God.
So the Gentiles made an APPOINTMENT with Paul to meet back here at the same time and the same place to tell them MORE about Jesus.
It was NOT the custom of the GENTILES to keep the Sabbath day, but from other verses in the Bible, the women and the children as well as the GENTILES were outside the synagogue itself.
And, obviously, they could HEAR what was being said on the inside of the Synagogue.
This verse says that when the Jews had gone OUT of the synagogue, meaning that their custom of reading the Scriptures was over or had ended and the Jews were leaving because they were REJECTING what Paul was PREACHING inside of the Synagogue.
But the GENTILES having overheard Paul's PREACHING wanted to hear more so they asked Paul if they could hear more on the next DAY that he was going to PREACH, which happened to be on the Sabbath day because that was the DAY that the Jews gathered together in ONE PLACE.
Acts 13:44.
“And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.”
They did NOT come to keep the Sabbath DAY, But rather, it was the WORD of God that they came to HEAR speaking about Jesus being the Messiah, the LAW of Moses to KEEP the Law of Moses?
They came to hear the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ.
So WHAT was this GOSPEL all about that caused nearly the WHOLE city to come out to HEAR on this Sabbath day?
Was this PREACHING of Paul about the KEEPING of the LAW of Moses?
Or was Paul EXPLAINING that Moses and the Old Testament prophets are POINTING to Jesus as being the Savior?
Acts 15:21.
“For Moses of old time has in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day.”
The Apostle James is speaking here in regard to settling a DISPUTE between believers over whether or not they should continue in the Law of Moses to CIRCUMCISE the Gentile believers in the FLESH as the Law of God taught.
The Judaizing Christians were saying yes while the Christians taught by the Apostle Paul were saying no!
Please keep in mind that there was much heavy persecution against the church by the unsaved Jews.
And in most every city the unsaved Jews preached Moses by reading in the synagogues every Sabbath day.
It was Moses who they revered and followed and not the TRUE meaning FORESHADOWED in the Law of Moses that would lead them to Jesus.
Also, please keep in mind that the church was still yet receiving REVELATION KNOWLEDGE from the Holy Spirit.
Just a few chapters before it was yet UNKNOWN or not completely UNDERSTOOD that God has also cleansed the GENTILES by the blood of Jesus as well on the cross as he did for the JEWS.
But then God gave Peter a VISION in Acts chapter 10 REVEALING to Peter that some CHANGES in the OLD COVENANT were made at the cross of Jesus and now the TIME had come to take the GOSPEL to the GENTILES and obey the CHANGES made under the New Covenant.
Please read all the studies that I have written on this subject of whether or not we as Christians are to keep the weekly Sabbath DAY as a day of REST under the heading **Dd-0. WHAT is the TRUE SABBATH?**
But for now, let us finish taking a close look at the rest of the Scriptures in the book of Acts with the word Sabbath in them.
Acts 16:13.
“And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont (Or accustomed, or as was the custom of the women where prayer was) to be made; and we sat down, and spoke unto the women which resorted there.”
This verse makes it clear that the early church did not ALWAYS preach the gospel in the synagogue on the Sabbath day.
It may be that earlier that Sabbath day they went into the synagogue to preach the gospel as well. The Bible simply does not say.
But my point is that the NEW Testament does NOT teach us as Christians to keep the Sabbath day as a DAY of REST as the Jews were taught to keep the Sabbath day.
Again, please keep in mind that the early Church is still learning from the Holy Spirit as what to do, what not to do and what to teach.
The only thing that is obvious is that Peter still kept the dietary Law of Moses up to Acts chapter 10 and then after being TAUGHT by the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 10.
Peter no longer kept the dietary Law of Moses except for one other time when he was INTIMIDATED by his peers to not eat with the Gentiles.
And Paul rebuked Peter to his face for he was WRONG to keep the dietary Law of Moses.
Please read the study Dd-40. Acts 10 Peter’s VISION of God CLEANSING ALL Manners of MEAT!
But for now, we just have a few more verses in Acts with the word Sabbath in them.
Acts 17:2.
“And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures,”
Now, obviously, seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping Christians INTERPRET the words of Paul, “as was his MANNER” as being it was the CUSTOM of Paul to OBSERVE the Sabbath day.
But, to me, it is blatantly clear that these words “as his manner was” is DEFINITELY speaking of Paul's manner AFTER Paul became a Christian to go UNTO THEM, the Jews wherever they were to REASON with them the Scriptures pointing to Jesus as being the Messiah.
You see, the manner of Paul was to go into the synagogue UNTO THEM on the Sabbath to PREACH the GOSPEL of Jesus to the Jews.
And in the CONTEXT of this verse, we can clearly see that Paul is REASONING with the JEWS out of the Old Testament Scriptures about Jesus.
And thus to me, this is the ONLY REASON of WHY the early church went into the synagogues on the Sabbath day.
The calling of the church is to PREACH the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ.
CLEARLY, to me, this is what the church was doing when they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. You must judge for YOURSELF.
Acts 18:4.
“And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.”
Again, over and over we see that the REASON that Paul and the early church went into the synagogues on the Sabbath day was to PREACH the GOSPEL and PERSUADE the Jews and the Gentiles to BELIEVE in JESUS as the MESSIAH.
So then, in NONE of these passages of Scripture in the book of Acts do we find where we as Christians are SPECIFICALLY commanded, or even a HINT of teaching to keep the Sabbath DAY as a day of REST.
Again, yes the Apostles went into synagogue on the Sabbath day, but the REASON that they went into the synagogues was to PREACH the gospel to the Jews.
In Acts 16:13, we see the disciples going OUT of the city down by a river on the Sabbath day to preach the gospel to a group of women that were gathered together there, as was the custom of the women, to pray.
For a deeper understanding on whether or not we as Christians should keep the Sabbath, as in, worshiping God on SATURDAY as opposed to worshiping God on Sunday please read the studies called Dd-21. Saturday, Sunday, or NEITHER?
Also read Dd-40. Acts 10 Peter’s VISION of God CLEANSING ALL Manners of MEAT!
But for now, let us take a look at Colossians 2:16,17, which is that LAST time that the word “Sabbath” is found in the Bible.
And Colossians 2:16,17 CLEARLY teaches us that we are NOT to let others judge or condemn us for NOT keeping the Sabbath day, because all the ORDINANCES contained in the FOURTH commandment were abolished and nailed to the cross.
Again, it was NOT the fourth commandment ITSELF that was abolished and nailed to the cross by Jesus.
But rather, it was the ORDINANCES contained in the fourth commandment that Jesus abolished and nailed to the cross.
And Jesus did this so THAT we can NOW keep the fourth commandment is NEWNESS of SPIRIT and NOT on OLDNESS of the LETTER of the law CONTAINED in ORDINANCES.
Please read Colossians 2:14-17.
“Blotting out the handwriting of ORDINANCES that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it (The ORDINANCES) to his cross; ( And NOT the CEREMONIAL commandments themselves which Jesus FULFILLED the SHADOW or all the ceremonial commandments, INCLUDING the ceremonial FOURTH commandment)
Colossians 2:15. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Colossians 2:16. Let no man, THEREFORE, (Or for this very reason that Jesus BLOTTED out the handwriting of ORDINANCES and nailed them to the cross do NOT allow any man to) judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:
Colossians 2:17. Which are a SHADOW of things to come; BUT the BODY is of Christ.”
In other words, if you shine a flashlight at a small tree at night and look at the SHADOW then what does the SHADOW point to as the BODY of that SHADOW? Does that SHADOW of the tree look like the BODY of a FISH? No!
The SHADOW of a tree looks like the BODY of a TREE.
And in the SAME way, the SHADOW of the weekly Sabbath DAY of REST points to the REST we have in Jesus for HOLINESS or for RIGHTEOUSNESS.
And the weekly sabbath rest being on the seventh day points to the Seventh 1000-year long day of Yahweh’s Sabbath REST in the world to come.
And ONLY those who ENTER INTO the TRUE Sabbath REST in Jesus will be counted worthy to receive eternal life to ENTER INTO The Seventh 1000-year long day of Yahweh’s Sabbath REST in the world to come.
That is what Paul teaches us in Hebrew 4:8,9 about their REMAINING a REST on ANOTHER DAY for the people of God, the unsaved Jews.
Please read the study Dd-37b. Hebrews 4:1-11 PROVES the TRUE Sabbath is FUTURE!
But for now, here is a list of things Paul is teaching us as Christians to not let any man JUDGE us because Jesus blotted out and nailed to the cross the ORDINANCES contained the the law of commandments.
#1. Let no man judge you in MEAT referring to food as in what you eat.
#2. Let no man judge you in DRINK.
#3. Let no man judge you in respect of an HOLY DAY referring to a YEARLY high holy Sabbath day.
#4. Let no man judge you in respect of the NEW MOON speaking of the MONTHLY Sabbath days.
#5. Let no man judge you in respect of the SABBATH DAYS speaking of the WEEKLY SABBATH days.
I want you to read Colossians 2:16,17 from several other translations, which make it blatantly clear that we as Christians are NOT to let any man CONDEMN them for NOT observing the ANNUAL YEARLY feast days, for NOT keeping the MONTHLY new moon festivals and for NOT keeping the WEEKLY Sabbath DAYS.
Here is Col. 2:1,17 from the New International Version.
“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.
Colossians 2:17. These are a SHADOW of the things that were to come; the reality, (Or the TRUE) however, is found in Christ.”
Col. 2:16,17 from the Complete Jerusalem Bible.
“So don't let anyone PASS judgment on you in connection with eating and drinking, or in regard to a Jewish festival or Rosh-Hodesh or Shabbat.
Colossians 2:17. These are a SHADOW of things that are coming, but the body is of the MESSIAH.”
Col. 2:16,17,18 from the New Living Translation.
“So don't let anyone CONDEMN you for what you eat or drink, or for NOT celebrating certain holy days or new-moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.
Colossians 2:17. For these rules were only shadows of the REAL thing, Christ himself.
Colossians 2:18. Don't let anyone condemn you by INSISTING on self-denial. And don't let anyone say you must worship angels, even though they say they have had visions about this. (Such as Ellen G. White the revered prophetess of the Seventh Day Adventist Church) These people claim to be so humble, but their sinful minds have made them PROUD.”
Col.2:16,17 from the Message Bible.
“So don’t put up with anyone pressuring you in DETAILS of DIET, worship services, or holy days.
Colossians 2:17. All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is Christ.”
Col.2:16-23 from the New Century Version.
“So do NOT let anyone make RULES for you about eating and drinking or about a religious feast, (Referring to NOT keeping of the annual feast days) a New Moon Festival, (The MONTHLY celebrations) or a Sabbath day. (Speaking of NOT keeping the WEEKLY Sabbath day)
Colossians 2:17. These things were like a SHADOW of what was to come. But what is TRUE and real HAS COME and is found in Christ.
Colossians 2:18. Do not let anyone disqualify you by making you humiliate yourself and worship angels (Speaking of keeping the DOCTRINES of Devils) Such people enter into visions, which fill them with foolish pride because of their human way of thinking. (To me this sounds almost exactly like a PROPHECY of the FOUNDING of the Seventh Day Advent Church where the founder and leader had visions.
But those visions were NOT for God’s angels. But rather, the visions that Ellen G. White received were from Satan manifesting himself as an angel oof light.
How do we know this? Because the SDA Church doctrines CONTRADICT the Scriptures.
Thus, the SDA Church falsely teaches doctrines of devils by making rules for SDA Christians to abstain from eating meat.
Simply read 1 Timothy 4:1-6 which ALL seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping Christians do by their doctrine of devils teaching Christians NOT to eat pork, shrimp and other meats that God CLEANSED.
And this passage of Scripture here in Colossians 2:14-16 is WARNING the church of false teachers that would come into the church to try and Judanize believers to keep all the Law of Moses as the Jews.
And they ALL begin their deception with subverting weak Christians to keep the weekly Sabbath DAY)
Colossians 2:19. They do not hold tightly to Christ, the head. It is from him that all the parts of the body are cared for and held together. So it grows in the way God wants it to grow.
Colossians 2:20. Since you died with Christ and were made free from the ruling spirits of the world, WHY do you act as if you still belong to this world by following rules like these:
Colossians 2:21. “Don't eat this,” “Don't taste that,” “Don't even touch that thing”?
Colossians 2:22. These rules refer to earthly things that are gone as soon as they are used. They are only man-made commands and teachings.
Colossians 2:23. They seem to be wise, but they are only part of a man-made religion. They make people pretend not to be proud and make them punish their bodies, but they do not really control the evil desires of the sinful self.”
Col. 2:16,17 from God's Word Translation.
“Therefore, let no one judge you because of what you EAT or drink or about the observance of ANNUAL holy days, New Moon Festivals, (MONTHLY feasts) or WEEKLY worship days.
Colossians 2:17. These are a SHADOW of the things to come, but the body [that casts the shadow] belongs to Christ.”
You can continue to read from many more multiple translations and they all speak the SAME thing which is to now allow the Judaizing seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping Christians to JUDGE you for NOT keeping the DIETARY Law of Moses, for not keeping the YEARLY feast day Sabbaths, for NOT keeping the MONTHLY new moon festivals, AND for NOT keeping the WEEKLY Sabbath days.
Again. I encourage you to read the study called Dd-21. Saturday KEEPING, Sunday Keeping, or NEITHER?
That study will give you a deeper understanding that the early church assembled themselves together on SUNDAY, the LORD'S DAY to worship God.
And it is an OPTION, whether or not you choose to rest on Sunday or NOT to rest on Sunday.
In other words, a Christ is free to rest on ANY day of the rest or NOT to rest on ANY day of the week to work seven days a week if they so choose.
So, if your job requires you to work on Saturday and or on Sunday and you FEEL that you must rest one day a week, the rest on the day that you are not required to work.
The TRUTH of the matter is that Christians are NOT required by God to rest on ANY day of the week, month, or year.
So, you are FREE to work seven days a week 365 days a year.
Sorry, but I decided to cut this study short and cover WHY Christians are NOT required by God under the New Covenant to rest on ANY day and cover that question in the study called Dd-15. The WEEKLY SABBATH is a SIGN!
Also read the study called Dd-13. Jesus is OUR TRUE SABBATH REST!
If you would like to dig deeper into the Scriptures on this subject of whether or not the keeping of the weekly Sabbath DAY is binding on Christians please read all the studies under heading **Dd-0. WHAT IS THE TRUE SABBATH?**
In that subject heading I have links to all the studies related to the weekly Sabbath DAY, the FOURTH commandment, the Law of Moses, and EVERY verse of Scripture used to try and prove that the keeping of the weekly Sabbath DAY is binding on Christians under the New Covenant.
Also, you can read many quotes of the early Church writers who wrote AGAINST the keeping of the seventh day of the week as the Jews by clicking on this link Dd-20. Did the EARLY CHURCH KEEP the WEEKLY Sabbath DAY?
This study was just the TIP of the iceberg of exposing the ERRORS of interpretation made by the Saturday seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping churches, and the Sunday first day of the week Sabbath-keeping Christians.
All of the studies listed below can be sent to a brother or sister caught up in the Hebrew Roots Movement or a Sabbath-keeping church by sending them this one link **Dd-0. What Is the TRUE SABBATH?**
Also read Dd-20. Did the EARLY Church KEEP the WEEKLY Sabbath DAY?
Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
Once Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even atheists understand the REASON that Yahweh CREATED the Son of MAN, Jesus, was to have DOMINION over the work of Yahweh’s hands.
And after you understand that the REASON that Yahweh did that is to STILL His ENEMIES, Satan and the fallen angels.
Then you can understand that God made His human Son to become “a” Lord, “a” King, and “a” God, under and subject to his God and Father in order to JUDGE Satan and the fallen angels.
For a deeper understanding of this WAR that Lucifer and one third of the angels waged against the throne of Almighty God, please read the studies under the subject category called ** Q-0 Why Are We Here? Is God at WAR? **.
More studies are coming in this SHORTER Biblical Unitarian view of who Jesus is according to the WHOLE word of God.
If you have a PARTICULAR verse of Scripture that you would like to know the sound Biblical Unitarian meaning, then please email me at MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail.com and let me know.
For further and more in-depth studies on this subject of Jesus being created to STILL the enemies of Yahweh, please read the studies called D-25. A NEW LOOK at JOHN 1:1-In the BEGINNING, and D-28. The PRE-ADAMIC LUCIFERIAN FLOOD!
At the top of my homepage, there are subjects or categories which contain compiled lists of ** ALL Studies! ** I have written on that particular subject. So, if a link within a study is broken, then click on ** ALL Studies! ** to find the suggested study.
Or you can scroll down to the MORE dropdown menu list to find those studies as well.
Thanks again for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
And again, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading ** D-0 The BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of Jesus! **
And for the SUBJECT on the true foundation of the church, please click on the subject heading ** C-0 The TRUE FOUNDATION of the Church! **
This way you can just send ONE link to those who you want to share the TRUE sound Biblical FOUNDATIONAL teachings of the church that Jesus and his Apostles taught in the first century church.
Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Brother Mark.
My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century.
So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament.
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Always be faithful to share, to preach, and to teach the whole gospel of Jesus Christ!
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