Tag Archives: 10 commandments

JESUS AND THE SABBATH CONNECTION

March 13, 2023 Eddie Leave a comment

The Pharisees and other religious leaders were constantly looking for reasons to condemn Jesus even though Jesus said His mission was the opposite:

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:17

Self-righteous judgment and condemnation work this way not only for the Pharisees of Jesus’ day but also for modern church members and leaders who don’t know Jesus. Jesus cut across the traditions of men and religious rules that, ironically, paved the way for additional condemnations from religious people.

A good example is the story of the disciples in the grain field on the Sabbath day.

Jesus’ disciples got caught breaking a tradition (not supported by Scripture) regarding the Sabbath. The condemnation by the Pharisees was picky and petty.

A Misunderstanding About the Sabbath

Here was their crime: The disciples were walking through a grainfield and plucked some of the heads of grain because they were hungry. They were condemned by the church leaders for breaking a Sabbath law; then they made sure Jesus knew it! Of course, this was a man-made law regarding the fourth commandment. Jesus attempted to clarify the Sabbath to these religious leaders.

At that time, Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”

Matthew 12: 1-2

Was this stealing, or was it something else that was unlawful to do on the Sabbath? The instruction given to Moses by God in Deuteronomy 23:25 allowed the disciples to take some of the heads of grain to satisfy their hunger.

“When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor’s standing grain.

Deuteronomy 23: 25

During this time period, It was lawful to satisfy your hunger but not harvest it (use of a sickle)—the issue the priests had with the disciples related to their laws about activities allowed on the Lord’s Sabbath. The Pharisees considered their activities with the grain as work (gathering and threshing), which was prohibited by the melakhah, which describes at least 39 CATEGORIES of prohibitions on Shabbat (Sabbath). Again, these were man-made laws and not laws/prohibitions that God made. In fact, God says very little about prohibitions on the Sabbath. The most obvious is ceasing from labor, but after that,, God says very little about how to keep it holy or things that can’t be done on the Sabbath. Of all the commandments, only the fourth and fifth commandments do not start with a “Thou Shalt Not,” but rather an invitation by God to remember, rest, and honor. This is something that is positive for the mind of mankind.

Son Of Man-And Lord

The Pharisees carefully watched the movements of the man of Galilee, who claimed to be “The Son of Man.” A title that Jesus liked to use. It had a nice ring of connecting Himself with mankind. He was one of us! But, He was also God…Immanual (God with us). Paul would later explain it this way:

For both, He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren…Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same.

Hebrews 2: 11,14

Jesus said something about the Sabbath that is very revealing about Himself and the Sabbath:

Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Mark 2:28

Here is the Sabbath connection with Jesus. He is one of us, but He is also Lord, even of the Sabbath!

Apparently, the Pharisees didn’t appear to catch what He was saying. First of all, He is proclaiming Himself to be Lord, a title given to God the Messiah! He is God, even of the Sabbath!

Some have mistakenly tried to say that Jesus was indicating that the Sabbath didn’t matter or that Jesus “broke the Sabbath” to make a point. That is far from the truth.

Jesus said,

I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

John 15:10b

But Jesus did not keep the commandments according to additions and traditions to the law by the religious leaders.

Additions and Traditions

Using the context of this event, the point Jesus made was about additions and traditions by the priests that had made the Sabbath a burden and were not in the spirit of God’s intention of the Sabbath. The religious people had robbed its joy and turned it into a list of do’s and don’t’s.

But Jesus was also proclaiming His Lordship. Jesus was not breaking His own words given at Creation. He is our Lord, even of the Sabbath. If anyone should know what is good or bad on the Sabbath, it would be its Creator.

Jesus made it clear. The Sabbath was made (just like everything else at creation) for the benefit of mankind. Before He proclaimed His Lordship over the Sabbath, He reminded the religious leaders and anyone who had ears to hear:

“The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

Mark 2:28

By the multitude of non-Scriptural rules, the Sabbath became their master. It became a do-nothing day for fear of breaking a rule. The Sabbath was hallowed at creation, as recorded by Moses in the first and second chapters of Genesis. It was after God had spent six literal days (evenings and mornings) that God said these words:

Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. Genesis 1:31

Even in the Ten Commandments law, written by the finger of God in stone (Exodus 31:18), is the acknowledgment that God is Lord of the Sabbath.

“…the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God…”

Exodus 20:10

The Sabbath From The Beginning

It had been an unwritten gift from the time of Adam and Eve. A gift of rest because God rested after His work. This was long before there was a Jew. Therefore, it was an invitation to all mankind to work six days, then rest in Him.

Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

Genesis 2:3

He finished His work of Creation and did not add anything else. It was all very good. But it was finished. The Sabbath stands as a memorial in time, repeated every week to teach us to Remember His creative work. What He has blessed cannot be reversed.

Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.

Numbers 23:20

Jesus Created The Sabbath

Here is another connection between Jesus and the Sabbath. He made it and blessed it! Both John and Paul tell us that Jesus is God and worked with God the Father to create everything we see, including the Sabbath;

In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. John 1:1-3

In this passage, John uses another name for Jesus, “the Word” He leaves no doubt as to the identity of “the Word” in the proceeding verses, especially verse 14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. john 1:14

Who else but Jesus fits this description of “the Word“? It would be very fair to read John 1: 1-3 this way:

In the beginning, was Jesus, and Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God.

The same (Jesus) was at the beginning with God.

All things were made by Jesus, and without Jesus was not anything made that was made.

John 1:1-3

This one passage eliminates all those who would claim that Jesus was just another prophet or that He was not a member of the preexistent Godhead. Paul agrees with John:

He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him ( Jesus) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him (Jesus) and for Him (Jesus). And He (Jesus) is before all things, and in Him (Jesus) all things consist. And He (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Hebrews 1: 15-18

The writer of Hebrews adds this:

…in these last days spoken unto us by his Son (Jesus), whom He hath appointed Heir of all things, by whom also He (Jesus) made the worlds;

Hebrews 1:2

Jesus Himself proclaimed His Divinity by taking the name given to Moses at the burning bush when Moses asked what name he should use when he talked to the children of Israel about their pending release from Egyptian bondage:

God told Moses:

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

Exodus 3:14

Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” John 8:58

Jesus’ Connection with the Sabbath-Summary:

1.) He is the Creator or Co-Creator, at the least.

2.) He created everything we see or don’t see. and blessed the Sabbath after finishing the work of creation.

3.) He told us He made the Sabbath for us and not us for the Sabbath. The Sabbath is not meant to be a burden but rather a delight and a joy (See Isaiah 58: 13-14)

4.) He is Lord of the Seventh-day Sabbath. There is no other Lord’s Day described so well in Scripture. The Lord’s day in these exact words only appears once in Revelation 1:10, but it does not specify which day of the week. But using the plethora of verses connecting the seventh day with the Lord’s Day. It is, therefore, very likely the Sabbath (the seventh day) that John was “in the Spirit.” The only other explanation is that John was “in the Spirit” to describe the events of the coming of Jesus.

Religious People and the Sabbath

The religious people of Jesus day and even some of those who remember the Sabbath today want to put burdens on the Sabbath to make it a day of useless time just sitting around. But this rest is also mental and spiritual rest. Jesus proclaimed the following when He invited us with all our burdens to Him.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11: 28

So the Sabbath is more about coming to Jesus for relief from the mental, physical, and spiritual burdens accumulated during the six days of labor. It was never meant to be a day of does and don’ts or a way to please God.

It encourages time to visit the sick and other acts of mercy. God desires mercy and not sacrifice.

At the end of Jesus’ discourse with the Pharisees, He said,

But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. Matthew 12:7

Worship and the Sabbath

Oddly, nowhere in the fourth commandment does it mention it as a day of worship. In fact, formal corporate worship is not limited to any day of the week, as shown throughout the Bible.

But only the Sabbath was proclaimed “holy” and “sanctified” by Jesus Himself. Jesus’ custom, along with Paul and the disciples, was to be present in the synagogue on the Sabbath (Luke 4:16, Acts 16:13, Acts 17:2). So worship on the Sabbath fits with God’s will by both Jesus’ example and reasons for worship (His Creatorship). Those who worship on Sunday should not be condemned, nor those who worship on Saturday. Either way, it does not take away the sanctity of God nor His word to “Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy…”

While formal worship is not described in the fourth commandment, the main reason for worship is there. He is our Creator! He completed His workweek and ended it. He took time, not because He was tired, but because He desired to look at what was “very good.” He invites the same for us today. A day of worship to Jesus and looking to Jesus who is “very good.“

The call to worship Him as Creator becomes a call from a powerful angel (messenger) in Revelation 14 at the end of time. This messenger is one of three angels:

Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

Revelation 14:6-7

This message of Revelation 14 is pointing back to the fourth Commandment and is connected to the two other powerful messages to the earth, Babylon is fallen and warnings against the beast and its mark. (See Revelation 14: 8-9)

Jesus’ Connection With You

So what do you do with Jesus and the Sabbath? Do you accept both as a gift of love from Jesus the Creator? Do you make the Sabbath a way to please God and make yourself more religious by adding on more additions and traditions? Do you ignore it and claim it was stricken from the table of the Ten Commandments? Or do you embrace God’s command as something to enhance your relationship with Jesus?

Jesus said His law was valid forever.

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5: 17-19

Jesus’ demonstration of mercy, forgiveness, and love extends from the Garden of Eden to the end of time and beyond. The Sabbath is not just another rule but an invitation to be with God in Spirit on His holy day. It is only legalistic if a person puts additional rules on it and thinks that it is a way to gain favor with God or another rule to keep for salvation. It becomes a joy when it is connected with Jesus, and we follow His commandments because of our love and respect for Him…not for just pretentious religious purposes.

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.
John 14:15

Worshipping Jesus on the Sabbath will not stop when He creates a new heaven and a new earth for the redeemed.

“For as the new heavens and the new earth
Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord, And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord.

Isaiah 6; 22, 23

Faith

IS OBEDIENCE ONLY FOR THE LEGALISTIC? PART 2

February 17, 2021 Eddie Leave a comment

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Mathew 5:17-19

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Part 1 Summary

In the earlier blog, we looked to the word of God to answer the question about legalism and the role of God’s law in the heart of the believer.

Briefly, we saw that there are many laws in the Bible. Some were temporary (Ceremonial and Sacrificial). These laws or ordinances were like a school master that taught God’s people about sin, salvation, and the coming Messiah.

These had their purpose and their end came when type (e.g. spotless lamb) met anti-type (i.e. Jesus). When Jesus came, we no longer needed the School Master to teach us. We now had Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection as our teacher and hope.

But, the law that is eternal is the moral law contained in the 10 commandments. Jesus did not come to abolish it or to destroy it. On the contrary, His life magnified the law and made it honorable. Example: Jesus told us men that looking upon a woman with lust was the same as committing adultery

“But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Mathew 5:28

Here we see Jesus “magnifying” the law. He makes it bigger so we can clearly see or understand to scope of the law. It also demonstrates that man is sinful to the core. It tells us we need a Savior not only from eternal death but from the power of sin.

Sin is defined in one place as the breaking or transgressing of the law.

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

1 John 3:4

John goes on to tell us something very important for the believer.

Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

1 John 3:6

Is it not clear that if someone sins, they don’t know Him? But if the believer “abides” in Him, that person will not sin. Now be careful here. It is not saying you are perfect and never sin. It means you do not practice sin as clarified in the the next verse:

He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

1 John 3:7

Before John ever gets into this discussion, he sets the boundaries of the discussion by saying this:

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

1 John 2:1

God’s desire is that we do not sin. We have Jesus as our advocate in heaven (another topic for another time) to cover us should we sin. But this advocate is not an excuse to practice sin. That the true follower will not do. The thief will not continue his life of stealing. The adulterer will stop sleeping around. The person with other gods will give them up. Is this a fair statement?

Here is what we must remember: We are born with a sinful nature. When we are born again, we are given a spiritual nature. These two natures will compete against each other and it is our choice and God’s action as to which one will win the war between flesh and spirit. Keep in mind that battles may be lost due to the carnal nature, but this does not mean the war is over and a victor crowned. Paul describes this battle in Romans 8 (Another study for another time).

One of my favorite writers wrote something that I think is very appropriate here and supported by the grace of our great loving God:

“There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who really desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I would say, Do not draw back in despair. We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. No; Christ is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Said the beloved John,

“These things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1.

Steps to Christ, P. 64

The law, specifically the 10 commandments, point out to sinful man what is sin. To know about the law and sin is to know more about the God who gave it and more about ourselves. It points out how really sinful we are and that we need a savior because we cannot “enter into the womb a second time” and be reborn. We cannot give ourselves a new spirit. The law enhances the reality of grace and His power, but God’s grace does not eliminate the law otherwise he could have simply eliminated the definition of sin instead of having his Son pay the penalty for sin i.e., death. This would be a divine loophole of sorts. I don’t see where God provides loopholes, but He does supply grace and power.

The law, like God, is eternal and it is given the same description as God Himself. The law expresses His character which is holy, just, and good.

For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.

Romans 7:11, 12

We can not take the 10 commandments off the wall and wash our face with it, the law points out the smudge on our face, which tells us we need to be cleansed. To try to wash our face with the law would be the definition of legalism. Instead, the law indicates God’s will for us and that we need a Savior not only for breaking it, but for the power to obey it as will be shown in the following discussion.

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When talking about the law of God, we must discuss the topic of new covenant versus old covenant. Here many make a deadly mistake, thinking the old covenant was about keeping the law for salvation, but the new covenant is freedom from keeping the law and living under grace. This implies disobedience. As we shall see both covenants include obedience to God’s law. The new covenant does not diminish the requirements of the law, but there is a twist that should give encouragement to us and help us avoid legalism.

Jesus is the “Mediator of the new covenant.”

And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Hebrews 9:15

By the sacrificial death of Jesus upon the cross, He redeemed everyone, including those under the first covenant. This redemption for them and for all “who are called may receive the promise of eternal life.”

So again, we see that the cross is the central point for both those in the old testament and the new testament. It is here where all, on both sides of the cross, look by faith to Jesus for eternal life. Those in the old testament looked forward in faith and were instructed by the School Master or the sacrificial and ceremonial laws given by God through Moses to teach them about Jesus. They were not saved by works and obedience, but by faith in the spotless lamb of God (Jesus).

Those of us on this side, look to Jesus’ death on the cross by faith for eternal life and we have the life of Jesus and the testimony of His followers to teach us. Also, we have the experience of those before the cross to teach us as well. In fact, those before the cross and the writings of the old testament can instruct us in righteousness.

Paul wrote to Timothy and reminded him of this fact. Paul wrote it before the writings of the other new testament writers were known and brought together. So Paul’s message to Timothy is referring to the writings of the old testament when he said,

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16

Those books in the old testament will reproof, correct and even instruct the new testament believer in righteousness. Further, it will make us complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

We should never say or believe things like, “That is in the old testament, I am a new testament believer.” Rather, we should say, we are a believer of “All Scripture.”

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The experience of God’s people before the cross serve as examples of how we should both live and respond to God.

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

Romans 15:4

Their lives and experiences become examples of how to live or not to live. Their experiences will give us hope!

Jesus is also found in type all through the old testament. To bypass these books is to miss Christ.

“Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them.”

1 Corinthians 10: 1-7

So as we look at the new covenant or the new testament, we must not forget the value of the old covenant and the old testament. It still provides us help in our Jesus journey. It is even provides information that should be obeyed and understood by the Christian who appreciates the value of the new covenant.

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To understand the new covenant, we must understand the old covenant. Is that a fair statement? Why two covenants? Did God make a mistake and create a new covenant because it was impossible or too difficult to live under? Many think this because of somethings Paul states.

Generally, a covenant is defined as an agreement between two parties, but it can be simply a promise by the Lord. For example, the Lord made a promise to the people of earth to not destroy it by water ever again. This was a covenant or promise from the great Creator.

“I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth… and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.”

Genesis 9:13,15

The Lord did the same type of “one-sided covenant” with Abraham when he promised him land and descendants:

“On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: ‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—’ “

Genesis 15:18

“And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.”

Genesis 17: 2-7

However, these covenants (promises) of God are not the covenants distinguished as old by Paul.

There was a point where the people of God tried to make a covenant or agreement with God and they became “old.”

“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.”

Exodus 19:5-7

In the next Chapter of Exodus (20) we see these words:

And God spoke all these words, saying:

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”

Exodus 20: 1-2

Then the Lord spoke the 10 Commandments Himself as shown in Exodus 20: 3-17

Here was the covenant the people made. It seemed to be the response God wanted, but noticed they agreed to obey God based on fear and their own efforts. They state, “all that the Lord has said we will do.” They attempted to obey God under their grit and determination. Obedience was not from the heart but rather from duty and fear. After a while their promises faded away and became old.

They were afraid of God and this formed their their response.

Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”

Exodus 20:19

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Citing the fear and poor promises of the people, the writer of Hebrews cites the need for a new covenant:

“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.”

Hebrews 8:6

What better promises? Did God make a promise that was inferior or had a fault? No! The problem or fault was found with the people who made the covenant with God as shown in the verse that follows:

“For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them. He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord.”

Hebrews 8: 7-9

The fault was with the people who made a promise they could not keep.

Have you ever made a promise to God while under fear? “God if you will just get me out of this situation, I will serve you until I die.” But, after you are delivered, you forget your promise and go back to serving only yourself. In this situations, you are doing exactly what the children of Israel did. They made a promise they could not keep. Why? Because they were attempting something without a changed heart. They did not realize their own weakness. God desired them to obey out of love and through His power.

Continuing in Hebrews 8, we see the better promise, but it still contains God’s law and obedience.

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

Hebrew 8:10

So the new covenant is one where God provides the promise and the people respond to His love in obedience because they have a new heart (rebirth). But notice that the new covenant still involves the law of God and obedience. The law is never destroyed or eliminated, it is a new attitude about it where the obedience comes from the new heart. If it is on the heart, do you think you will obey the letter? The spirit and the letter of the law go together. Let me explain:

If a born again Christian says to his wife, I obey the law concerning adultery in the spirit, but not by the letter. What has he just told his wife? Would the wife be comfortable about the separation of spirit and letter? Could the husband sleep with her sister (letter) but keep the “spirit.” NO! If He is living in the spirit of the law, he won’t even allow himself to look at a woman with lust! Especially, he will not tempt himself with pornography! Men, if you are looking at porn, you need Jesus to both forgive you and to help you overcome it. It is sin!

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“But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.”

Romans 7:6

Paul is explaining how we often get the cart before the horse. Many try to serve only in the letter. These are the legalistic.

In a very difficult part of Paul’s writing, he continues to explain that the law is spiritual and we are carnal. There are the two natures that live and fight within us until Jesus returns. The purpose of the law is to tell us what God considers as transgression and how sinful we are:

I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” Romans 7: 7

“…by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

Romans 3:20

Here Paul understands that desiring the possessions of another person is sin, but he goes further:

“I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.”

Romans 7: 9

Paul was “foot loose and fancy free” as we say in the South. But, when he became aware of the words of the law, he came under great conviction and he saw his way of life meant death, for he had said earlier in the chapter,

“the wages of sin is death.”

Romans 6:23

The law points out what God calls sin regardless of what the world might think. When we come to accept the fact that we are sinners, we seek God and find forgiveness and the power to live a life in Christ. We don’t want to continue in an unsatisfying life of sin and disobedience. God begins to write His laws in our hearts so that our obedience comes from a new heart powered by God himself. The law does not go away. In fact, it becomes a writing inscribed in our way of thinking so that the thief stops stealing, the liar stops lying, etc. If, in our brand new way of thinking, we do slip; we have an advocate with the father.

I have heard someone say, I obey the law with my spirit and not by letter. I am under grace. How does that work?

Paul cautioned again such thinking when he said,

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

Romans 6:15

Being “under grace” does not mean one can disobey God’s law. We are not “under” the law because we are not under the penalty, because Jesus paid the penalty for our transgression of the law. His death shows the permanence of the law.

The followers of God are shown to be true followers by obedience to it. To claim we follow Jesus and willfully disobey is to not be a follower, for He said,

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”

Luke 6:46″

It is like saying I am a follower of Robert Atkins,but I don’t obey the diet plan. I obey it in my spirit, but not the letter. How much weight do you think that person would lose?

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It is no wonder that Satan himself is upset with the last day people who wish to testify of Jesus Christ through an experience of obedience to His words that include the 10 commandments. This identifies them as true followers and not religious pretenders.

“And the dragon (Satan) was enraged with the woman (church), and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Revelation 12:17

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Conclusion

God’s 10 Commandment law has never been destroyed. It is still a sin to have other god’s, to build statues of gods and fall down before them. It is still a sin to disrespect God’s name and character. It is still a sin to forget the Sabbath of the Lord and dishonor his creation and the time He blessed. It is still a sin to dishonor your parents, to murder, to commit adultery, to steal, to lie, and to covet your neighbors possessions.

All 10 of these commandments line up under the two great commandments. The first being to

“love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.” The second is like it, “to love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22: 37-39

The first 4 commandments hang (summarized) under the first principle and the last six under the second principle.

But notice the order. If one fails to love God completely, they will not be able love their neighbor with a Christ like love. They will in effect become legalistic (if connected to religion) and a worthless noisy show-off of a cymbal if God’s love is not the basis for their obedience:

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”

1 Corinthians 13:1

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No. Obedience is not for the legalistic although there are many who obey to somehow impress God or attempt to make themselves worthy of blessings and salvation.

Obedience is for those who have been born again, where love for their Creator and a testimony to the true God can be expressed through obeying his word.

To obey God is to have true freedom. Just ask the man in prison who murdered someone or the person whose life is run by lying.

To say that we love Him and not obey Him makes us a liar.

“He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

1 John 2:4

Obedience comes from a new heart supplied by the Redeemer. It is not religious, but it is real. Obedience is the walk with the One you love, not the requirement for walk. The walk, like a child, will be shaky at first, but as you hold the Father’s hand, you will get stronger to do his will, but unlike the earthly example, our hand must be in the hand of our Creator constantly, because if it isn’t, we have the possibility of returning to the mud from which we were cleansed (See 2 Peter 2: 18-22)

I close with the inspiring words from Steps to Christ, p. 60, 61

“But notice here that obedience is not a mere outward compliance, but the service of love. The law of God is an expression of His very nature; it is an embodiment of the great principle of love, and hence is the foundation of His government in heaven and earth. If our hearts are renewed in the likeness of God, if the divine love is implanted in the soul, will not the law of God be carried out in the life? When the principle of love is implanted in the heart, when man is renewed after the image of Him that created him, the new-covenant promise is fulfilled, “I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.” Hebrews 10:16. And if the law is written in the heart, will it not shape the life? Obedience–the service and allegiance of love–is the true sign of discipleship. Thus the scripture says, “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.” “He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 5:3; 2:4. Instead of releasing man from obedience, it is faith, and faith only, that makes us partakers of the grace of Christ, which enables us to render obedience.”

Reformation 500

Reformation 500 Years-Impending Conflict

October 29, 2017 Eddie Leave a comment

The reformation started when God’s word was discovered and read. It was the express purpose of the Roman Catholic church’s leadership to keep the Bible out of the hands and minds of the people and to keep them in darkness and ignorance…hence the term “Dark Ages.”. As we have seen they persecuted and killed those who taught against the tradition and power of the apostate church. The persecution of those who proclaim Sola Scriptura will continue on past the 500-year anniversary this October 31, 2017.

The final conflict in the great controversy between Christ and Satan will be over the law of God. This is easily understood from God’s word as John saw our future from the Isle of Patmos. Satan’s wrath turns directly to those who follow Jesus as shown by their obedience and testimony of Him. Notice the two parties involved in the conflict.

And the dragon (Satan) was wroth with the woman (the church or body of believers) and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 12:17

Here in the final events of the last day, Satan is angry at those who uphold all of God’s commandments and follow the will of God by obeying….Not in order to be saved, but because they are born again and follow (obey) the Lamb.

There is a general misconception that Moses wrote the ten commandments but listen closely to the word of God. God wrote them with his own finger and delivered them in stone to Moses.

And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.

Exodus 31:18

Another wrong idea about the law of God is that the 10 commandments are no longer “binding” on anyone especially Christians who proclaim they are saved by grace through faith, therefore the 10 commandments are made void. They claim He changed the law

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5: 17-19

Does this include the 4th commandment? it is the most misunderstood and ignored commandment of the 10. God in his wisdom knew that we would get so busy, that we would need rest and time to remember the Creator and His work. Those who would seek to benefit from the blessing of rest in God are sometimes ridiculed. The modern protestant church’s fall into the lie of the Roman Catholic church that this blessed day was changed from Saturday to Sunday. History has demonstrated it was not the disciples who changed the solemnity from the 7th day of the week to the first day of the….it was the papacy…(See *end note:)

Is it not clear that Jesus’ fulfilling of the law does not do away with it? Heaven and earth have not passed away. Not one jot or title (the smallest of letters or markings) of the 10 commandments will ever change. Christ fulfilled the ceremonial and sacrificial laws as the lamb slain for the sins of the world. But, this does not mean that the moral law is somehow void or changed. Nor does a life of faith void God’s letter of the law:

Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

Romans 3:31

No wonder Satan is mad at those who would keep the commandments of God! They express the will of God.

The protestors of the 16th century knew the importance of the law of God and the scripture. It pointed out the errors of the Roman Catholic church and do so even today. Are their any reformers today willing to stand up and say Sola Scriptura?

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From the Great Controversy starting on page 582

From the very beginning of the great controversy in heaven, it has been Satan’s purpose to overthrow the law of God. It was to accomplish this that he entered upon his rebellion against the Creator, and though he was cast out of heaven he has continued the same warfare upon the earth. To deceive men, and thus lead them to transgress God’s law, is the object which he has steadfastly pursued. Whether this be accomplished by casting aside the law altogether, or by rejecting one of its precepts, the result will be ultimately the same. He that offends “in one point,” manifests contempt for the whole law; his influence and example are on the side of transgression; he becomes “guilty of all.” James 2:10.

In seeking to cast contempt upon the divine statutes, Satan has perverted the doctrines of the Bible, and errors have thus become incorporated into the faith of thousands who profess to believe the Scriptures. The last great conflict between truth and error is but the final struggle of the long-standing controversy concerning the law of God. Upon this battle we are now entering–a battle between the laws of men and the precepts of Jehovah, between the religion of the Bible and the religion of fable and tradition.

The agencies which will unite against truth and righteousness in this contest are now actively at work. God’s holy word, which has been handed down to us at such a cost of suffering and blood, is but little valued. The Bible is within the reach of all, but there are few who really accept it as the guide of life. Infidelity prevails to an alarming extent, not in the world merely, but in the church. Many have come to deny doctrines which are the very pillars of the Christian faith. The great facts of creation as presented by the inspired writers, the fall of man, the atonement, and the perpetuity of the law of God, are practically rejected, either wholly or in part, by a large share of the professedly Christian world. Thousands who pride themselves upon their wisdom and independence regard it as an evidence of weakness to place implicit confidence in the Bible; they think it a proof of superior talent and learning to cavil at the Scriptures and to spiritualize and explain away their most important truths. Many ministers are teaching their people, and many professors and teachers are instructing their students, that the law of God has been changed or abrogated; and those who regard its requirements as still valid, to be literally obeyed, are thought to be deserving only of ridicule or contempt.

In rejecting the truth, men reject its Author. In trampling upon the law of God, they deny the authority of the Law-giver. It is as easy to make an idol of false doctrines and theories as to fashion an idol of wood or stone. By misrepresenting the attributes of God, Satan leads men to conceive of Him in a false character. With many, a philosophical idol is enthroned in the place of Jehovah; while the living God, as He is revealed in His word, in Christ, and in the works of creation, is worshiped by but few. Thousands deify nature while they deny the God of nature. Though in a different form, idolatry exists in the Christian world today as verily as it existed among ancient Israel in the days of Elijah. The god of many professedly wise men, of philosophers, poets, politicians, journalists–the god of polished fashionable circles, of many colleges and universities, even of some theological institutions–is little better than Baal, the sun-god of Phoenicia.No error accepted by the Christian world strikes more boldly against the authority of Heaven, none is more directly opposed to the dictates of reason, none is more pernicious in its results, than the modern doctrine, so rapidly gaining ground, that God’s law is no longer binding upon men. Every nation has its laws, which command respect and obedience; no government could exist without them; and can it be conceived that the Creator of the heavens and the earth has no law to govern the beings He has made? Suppose that prominent ministers were publicly to teach that the statutes which govern their land and protect the rights of its citizens were not obligatory–that they restricted the liberties of the people, and therefore ought not to be obeyed; how long would such men be tolerated in the pulpit? But is it a graver offense to disregard the laws of states and nations than to trample upon those divine precepts which are the foundation of all government?

It would be far more consistent for nations to abolish their statutes, and permit the people to do as they please, than for the Ruler of the universe to annul His law, and leave the world without a standard to condemn the guilty or justify the obedient. Would we know the result of making void the law of God? The experiment has been tried. Terrible were the scenes enacted in France when atheism became the controlling power. It was then demonstrated to the world that to throw off the restraints which God has imposed is to accept the rule of the cruelest of tyrants. When the standard of righteousness is set aside, the way is open for the prince of evil to establish his power in the earth.

Wherever the divine precepts are rejected, sin ceases to appear sinful or righteousness desirable. Those who refuse to submit to the government of God are wholly unfitted to govern themselves. Through their pernicious teachings the spirit of insubordination is implanted in the hearts of children and youth, who are naturally impatient of control; and a lawless, licentious state of society results. While scoffing at the credulity of those who obey the requirements of God, the multitudes eagerly accept the delusions of Satan. They give the rein to lust and practice the sins which have called down judgments upon the heathen.

Those who teach the people to regard lightly the commandments of God sow disobedience to reap disobedience. Let the restraint imposed by the divine law be wholly cast aside, and human laws would soon be disregarded. Because God forbids dishonest practices, coveting, lying, and defrauding, men are ready to trample upon His statutes as a hindrance to their worldly prosperity; but the results of banishing these precepts would be such as they do not anticipate. If the law were not binding, why should any fear to transgress? Property would no longer be safe. Men would obtain their neighbor’s possessions by violence, and the strongest would become richest. Life itself would not be respected. The marriage vow would no longer stand as a sacred bulwark to protect the family. He who had the power, would, if he desired, take his neighbor’s wife by violence. The fifth commandment would be set aside with the fourth. Children would not shrink from taking the life of their parents if by so doing they could obtain the desire of their corrupt hearts. The civilized world would become a horde of robbers and assassins; and peace, rest, and happiness would be banished from the earth.

Already the doctrine that men are released from obedience to God’s requirements has weakened the force of moral obligation and opened the floodgates of iniquity upon the world. Lawlessness, dissipation, and corruption are sweeping in upon us like an overwhelming tide. In the family, Satan is at work. His banner waves, even in professedly Christian households. There is envy, evil surmising, hypocrisy, estrangement, emulation, strife, betrayal of sacred trusts, indulgence of lust. The whole system of religious principles and doctrines, which should form the foundation and framework of social life, seems to be a tottering mass, ready to fall to ruin. The vilest of criminals, when thrown into prison for their offenses, are often made the recipients of gifts and attentions as if they had attained an enviable distinction. Great publicity is given to their character and crimes. The press publishes the revolting details of vice, thus initiating others into the practice of fraud, robbery, and murder; and Satan exults in the success of his hellish schemes. The infatuation of vice, the wanton taking of life, the terrible increase of intemperance and iniquity of every order and degree, should arouse all who fear God, to inquire what can be done to stay the tide of evil.

Courts of justice are corrupt. Rulers are actuated by desire for gain and love of sensual pleasure. Intemperance has beclouded the faculties of many so that Satan has almost complete control of them. Jurists are perverted, bribed, deluded. Drunkenness and revelry, passion, envy, dishonesty of every sort, are represented among those who administer the laws. “Justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.” Isaiah 59:14.

The iniquity and spiritual darkness that prevailed under the supremacy of Rome were the inevitable result of her suppression of the Scriptures;…

The line of distinction between professed Christians and the ungodly is now hardly distinguishable. Church members love what the world loves and are ready to join with them, and Satan determines to unite them in one body and thus strengthen his cause by sweeping all into the ranks of spiritualism. Papists, who boast of miracles as a certain sign of the true church, will be readily deceived by this wonder-working power; and Protestants, having cast away the shield of truth, will also be deluded. Papists, Protestants, and worldlings will alike accept the form of godliness without the power, and they will see in this union a grand movement for the conversion of the world and the ushering in of the long-expected millennium.

Through spiritualism, Satan appears as a benefactor of the race, healing the diseases of the people, and professing to present a new and more exalted system of religious faith; but at the same time he works as a destroyer. His temptations are leading multitudes to ruin. Intemperance dethrones reason; sensual indulgence, strife, and bloodshed follow. Satan delights in war, for it excites the worst passions of the soul and then sweeps into eternity its victims steeped in vice and blood. It is his object to incite the nations to war against one another, for he can thus divert the minds of the people from the work of preparation to stand in the day of God…

Satan’s policy in this final conflict with God’s people is the same that he employed in the opening of the great controversy in heaven. He professed to be seeking to promote the stability of the divine government, while secretly bending every effort to secure its overthrow. And the very work which he was thus endeavoring to accomplish he charged upon the loyal angels. The same policy of deception has marked the history of the Roman Church. It has professed to act as the vicegerent of Heaven, while seeking to exalt itself above God and to change His law. Under the rule of Rome, those who suffered death for their fidelity to the gospel were denounced as evildoers; they were declared to be in league with Satan; and every possible means was employed to cover them with reproach, to cause them to appear in the eyes of the people and even to themselves as the vilest of criminals. So it will be now. While Satan seeks to destroy those who honor God’s law, he will cause them to be accused as lawbreakers, as men who are dishonoring God and bringing judgments upon the world.

God never forces the will or the conscience; but Satan’s constant resort–to gain control of those whom he cannot otherwise seduce–is compulsion by cruelty. Through fear or force he endeavors to rule the conscience and to secure homage to himself. To accomplish this, he works through both religious and secular authorities, moving them to the enforcement of human laws in defiance of the law of God.

Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth. Their conscientious scruples will be pronounced obstinacy, stubbornness, and contempt of authority. They will be accused of disaffection toward the government. Ministers who deny the obligation of the divine law will present from the pulpit the duty of yielding obedience to the civil authorities as ordained of God. In legislative halls and courts of justice, commandment keepers will be misrepresented and condemned. A false coloring will be given to their words; the worst construction will be put upon their motives.

As the Protestant churches reject the clear, Scriptural arguments in defense of God’s law, they will long to silence those whose faith they cannot overthrow by the Bible. Though they blind their own eyes to the fact, they are now adopting a course which will lead to the persecution of those who conscientiously refuse to do what the rest of the Christian world are doing, and acknowledge the claims of the papal sabbath.

The dignitaries of church and state will unite to bribe, persuade, or compel all classes to honor the Sunday. The lack of divine authority will be supplied by oppressive enactments. Political corruption is destroying love of justice and regard for truth; and even in free America, rulers and legislators, in order to secure public favor, will yield to the popular demand for a law enforcing Sunday observance. Liberty of conscience, which has cost so great a sacrifice, will no longer be respected. In the soon-coming conflict we shall see exemplified the prophet’s words: “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17.

*End note:

Papacy’s claim of changing the day of worship from Sabbath to Sunday:

In the Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, we read:

Q. Which is the Sabbath day?
A. Saturday is the Sabbath day.
Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea, (AD 336) transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday….
Q. Why did the Catholic Church substitute Sunday for Saturday?
A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday, because Christ rose from the dead on a Sunday, and the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles on a Sunday.
Q. By what authority did the Church substitute Sunday for Saturday?
A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday by the plenitude of that divine power which Jesus Christ bestowed upon her!
—Rev. Peter Geiermann, C.SS.R., (1946), p. 50.

God's Will For Us

Is Obedience Only for The Legalistic? Part 3

March 17, 2017 Eddie

He (Jesus) answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?

For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’

But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”—

then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.

Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.

And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

Matthew 15:3-9

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Jesus and His disciples were watched by the religious leaders very closely to see if they would obey “the law.” Jesus was often tested by them on this subject. But “the law” of the Scribes and Pharisees was at odds with God’s law in a profound way as Jesus points out in the verses above.

Their law was their own interpretation of the unchangeable law of the Creator. Their law contained additions without any blessing, direction, or endorsement from the Creator and Giver of the law.

As pointed out in the condemnation by Jesus to those mutilators of God’s law in Matthew 15, they had attempted to create a loop-hole in God’s 5th commandment to make it a little less harsh and easier to “keep.” God’s law clearly and simply states:

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”

Exodus 20:12

But, the leaders said this law could be voided through the offer of a gift as a substitute for giving honor and respect to those who bore and raised them. It was like they were paying their way out of an obligation that was not to their liking. So they changed it! There is not scriptural authority for doing so.

Jesus didn’t like their addition and proclaimed their man-made tradition would make God’s “commandment of no effect.” Jesus desired them to obey this commandment from the heart, but because they didn’t and tried to come up with ways to make their changes legal, Jesus viewed this as legalism and worthless . As a result of their changes and their traditions their worship was “in vain.” It disclosed their hypocrisy of lip service vs heart service.

A couple of other things to notice about this commandment and Jesus’ response:

1.) God does not put a condition on whether to honor your mother and father or not. It doesn’t say to honor them if they are worthy of the honor and respect or if they were perfect parents. Most parents, including myself, are no where near perfect, but we do have a God-given love for our offspring that most children do not understand. Many times we fail, but that does not make a loop-hole for the breaking of this commandment.

2.) Jesus doesn’t do away with this commandment or indicate obedience to this commandment would be legalistic. As we discussed in a previous article, the new covenant is based on the laws written on the heart.

3.) Jesus does not give them a list or tell them how to honor their parents. Lists encourage tasks or works. While the ten commandments could be considered a list, they are 10 principles. disclosing God’s character and will. We see in these commandments a God that desires love and respect for both himself and our neighbors. They are not a list to “work on” to deserve salvation or love from God.

The law of God is not minimized or changed by the new covenant. Even the giver of the law (Jesus) will not change even the smallest part to accommodate mankind. Some are surprised to discover that Jesus, before He came to the world as an infant, gave the 10 Commandments to Moses. That is a different study for a different time.

Those who have been born again and have a new heart will obey from a love basis rather than a basis to be saved (legalism). The new covenant people obey the Lord because they ARE saved, not in order to BE saved.

These born-again followers will understand that to honor their mother or father is the will of God Himself and it will be a natural response from a heart transformed by the power of God to love and respect them. To try and circumvent, excuse, rationalize, or change it is hypocrisy and attempting to put our own thoughts and reasoning above God’s.

This commandment, like the others, should be read carefully and simply. Nothing should be added nor taken away, not even one letter or stroke of the pen. How can anything that is perfect be changed anyway? It is a transcript of how God wants us to live, not a checklist for finding favor or salvation from the Lord. Those who will endeavor to obey for the right reasons will be blessed.

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 21:14

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Jesus made it clear to the Scribes and Pharisees that he did not come to change the law and that anyone who taught others to break even the smallest detail was outside of God’s will. Any attempt to modify the law affected the truthfulness of the worship experience. This is a pretty serious situation. Listen to his exact words:

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

Matthew 5:17

It is here where some will say, “since Jesus fulfilled the law (10 Commandments) it is no longer viable.” The next verse clears that up.

“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

Matthew 5:18

We still have a heaven and an earth, so the law remains. Also, it has been almost 2,000 years since Jesus fulfilled it, and he still wants us to teach that the law should not be broken. It is so immovable that Jesus makes reference to “jot” and “tittle” (smallest letter or stroke of the pen) will not be modified or eliminated.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:19

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be the one who teaches that even one thing can be changed in God’s “perfect law of liberty” James 1:25. How about you?

Jesus perfect obedience to this law (fulfillment) is the basis for His perfect sacrifice (No sin found in Him) and for the forgiveness for our breaking the law which is sin.

Sin is the transgression of the law

1 John 3:4

All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23.

But sin is much more. We are born sinners with a nature to sin. Anything not of faith is sin. There are a 1,000 ways we can sin, but in the end, all can be summarized by the 10 commandments.

When we are born again, we are given a heart of flesh with God’s law written upon it (New Covenant) and we obey out of sense of love and respect rather than a method of salvation (legalism). Our very nature is changed. The thief stops stealing,;the liar stops lying; the adulterer stops sleeping with women who are not his wife…..

If you love me, keep my commandments

John 14:15

Of course they are not perfect. When we do sin, we have an advocate:

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

1 John 2:1

Oh! The mercy and forgiveness of our great God!

How can we claim to be followers if we disobey or re-write the law to suit us as did the religious leaders of Jesus’ time?

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In Luke, Jesus confirmed as He did in Matthew 5 that the law would never change. Further, He used the passing of heaven and earth to drive home the point:

“But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one stroke of a letter in the law to be dropped.”

Luke 16:17

Other writers agree with Jesus on the eternal existence of the law and His word:

“All His precepts are sure. They are upheld forever and ever”

Psalm 111:8

“The sum of your word is truth;
and every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.”

Psalm 119:160

“The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.”

Isaiah 40:8

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Jesus was tested another time on a different commandment. But, the same principles apply.

“At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”

But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Matthew 12: 1-8

The Scribes and Pharisees were particularly zealous for this law. They added their own rules that is in the thousands. However, like the 5th commandment, the law is presented by the Lawgiver in a simple manner. However, the religious leaders made it very legalistic and burdensome. In the process, this law intended to bless man became another checklist of things to do or not to do.

In this incident, Jesus and his disciples were hungry and began to shuck corn in a field and eat it as they walked along. This violated one of the Sabbath “rules” created by the very legalistic religious leaders, but Jesus said they were “guiltless.” Here is an important question: Is there anywhere in scripture where God forbid such action by the disciples? No! It is another example of man’s tradition or adding to the law that makes the law a burden and makes their worship vain.

To make his point (That He and the disciples had not broken the 4th commandment), He asks the supposed scriptural authorities the question: “Have you not read….” This question (referring to 1 Samuel 21: 1-6) puts them back on their heels. They obviously had read it, but they had missed the application from their reading about the priority of man’s needs above a ritual of the law. Jesus begins to connect the hunger of David’s men and the hunger of Jesus and His disciples. Very simply, the value of men and their hunger needs outweigh any man-made religious ceremony (i.e., Hot warm bread used in the sanctuary service and the need to eat on the Sabbath when nothing else is available). Again, there is no law written or intended by the Lawgiver for anyone having to subscribe to such a strict interpretation of a simple law and go hungry on a day the Lord has blessed and made holy. Further, Jesus clearly states the priority of mercy over sacrifice and ceremonial religious laws.

The 4th Commandment is very simple and plain in its delivery by the Creator, much like the 5th commandment. The Great Lawgiver and Creator states the commandment simply and provides the reason as to why a professed follower should obey it. (Not to be saved, but because they are saved)

The command:

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

The Reason:

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.

Exodus 20: 8-11

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As with the 5th Commandment, Jesus made it clear that His Law should not be modified or added to in any way. The same observations for the 5th Commandment can be made for the 4th Commandment:

1.) God does not put a condition on whether to honor the Sabbath or not or that He had plans to modify or change it. He says, “Remember” and to “Keep it Holy” since the reason for the commandment has to do with the fact that he is the Creator (and Redeemer-See Deuteronomy’s version-Chapter 5: 12-15)

3.) Jesus does not give them a list or tell them how to keep the Sabbath holy, other than refraining from work on that day. The reason? We are to respect our Creator and “rest” as He did. It is not only a physical rest, but a rest of relationship with the Creator and His Creation. It is about relationships and not a religious list of things to trip us up so that we sin.

When the Lord stopped working after His work of Creation, it was not that He was tired, but that He wanted the time to be immortalized as proof of his Creatorship. Further, Adam and Eve began their first full day with the Lord on the Sabbath. This must have been a very special Sabbath as they began to see and understand life and a relationship with the Creator.

Have you ever wondered about the heavenly bodies that tell us about time? Even scientist will admit we measure time by the sun and the moon. Our year is based on the orbit of the earth around the sun. Our month is based on the orbit or phases of the moon around the earth. But there is nothing in nature to base our 7 day weekly cycle.

A 7 day weekly cycle exists only because it was instituted by our Creator (Jesus) in the beginning. Why not a 6 day cycle or a 5 day cycle? The 7 day cycle and the Sabbath screams: God created us!

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Jesus Conclusion:

The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath:

Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.

Mark 2: 27, 28

Jesus told the religious leaders that He made the Sabbath to be a blessing for man not a list of do’s and don’t’s so that man is made a slave to the Sabbath. Notice it is made for “man” or mankind not just the Jews. The commandment was given long before there was a nation of Jews. That reasoning would also indicate that all the other commandments are only for the Jews and not for us.

The Scribes and Pharisees had effectively made the Sabbath a burden and God’s original intention was lost through their adding and modifying a simple commandment meant to be a lasting memorial to our Creator and an opportunity to “come unto (Jesus) and rest.”

Jesus knew how it should be remembered because He is Lord of the Sabbath! This is the real Lord’s day! It was created by God and it belongs to Him

“But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.”

Exodus, 20:10

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In conclusion:

We can learn from these two incidents regarding honoring parents and honoring the day God blessed. It tells us that the law of God is immutable and has a relationship/heart purpose. They are not part of a list of do’s and don’ts to follow so one can be saved. God forbid! it is a law of liberty (James 2:12). It can not be modified to meet our own convenience, thinking, or tradition.

Jesus gave the Law and He knows better than anyone how to follow the spirit of the law which does not negate the letter.

I am sure your spouse would want you to keep the letter of the law regarding adultery, but even more the spirit (i.e., you are faithful because you love her/him.)

The same goes for your neighbor. You don’t steal, lie, cheat, or covet his wife, or kick his cat (the letter of the law). Not because you have to, but because you respect him as a child of God and because of the born-again heart given you by the Lord (Spirit of the Law).

Have you asked yourself how can you “Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy?” The key word here is holy (a.k.a sanctified). How do you make it about a love relationship with God and His creation rather than a list of do’s and don’t’s? How do you make it a delight or a blessing and not a burden?

The Sabbath was made for man, to be a blessing to him by calling his mind from secular labor to contemplate the goodness and glory of God

Of all the commandments, the 4th one is the most misunderstood and the one where legalism can quickly smother the spiritual blessing God has prepared for us each week. It is not just about when should church attendance be conducted. This is no doubt a “holy” activity for the Sabbath. It was Jesus’ and Paul’s custom to go to meet with God’s people each Sabbath. I would say they are good examples to follow. Wouldn’t you?

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In our next study, we will see how the enemy has attacked the law of God and the family unit (the 4th and 5th commandments) to serve his purpose of confusing and leading people away from a knowledge of the Lord which is salvation.

He has a special anger towards those who teach and obey the will of God and testify of Jesus Christ:

And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 12:17

God's Will For Us

Is Obedience Only for the Legalistic, Part 2

March 11, 2017 Eddie Leave a comment

Mathew 5:17-19

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Part 1 Summary

In the earlier blog, we looked to the word of God to answer the question about legalism and the role of God’s law in the heart of the believer.

“But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Mathew 5:28

Sin is defined in one place as the breaking or transgressing of the law.

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

1 John 3:4

John goes on to tell us something very important for the believer.

Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

1 John 3:6

He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

1 John 3:7

Before John ever gets into this discussion, he sets the boundaries of the discussion by saying this:

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

1 John 2:1

One of my favorite writers wrote something that I think is very appropriate here and supported by the grace of our great loving God:

“These things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1.

Steps to Christ, P. 64

The law, like God, is eternal and it is given the same description as God Himself. The law expresses His character which is holy, just, and good.

For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.

Romans 7:11, 12

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Jesus is the “Mediator of the new covenant.”

Hebrews 9:15

2 Timothy 3:16

Those books in the old testament will reproof, correct and even instruct the new testament believer in righteousness. Further, it will make us complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

We should never say or believe things like, “That is in the old testament, I am a new testament believer.” Rather, we should say, we are a believer of “All Scripture.”

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The experience of God’s people before the cross serve as examples of how we should both live and respond to God.

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

Romans 15:4

Their lives and experiences become examples of how to live or not to live. Their experiences will give us hope!

Jesus is also found in type all through the old testament. To bypass these books is to miss Christ.

Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them.”

1 Corinthians 10: 1-7

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Genesis 9:13,15

The Lord did the same type of “one-sided covenant” with Abraham when he promised him land and descendants:

“On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: ‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—’ ”

Genesis 15:18

Genesis 17: 2-7

However, these covenants (promises) of God are not the covenants distinguished as old by Paul.

There was a point where the people of God tried to make a covenant or agreement with God and they became “old.”

Exodus 19:5-7

In the next Chapter of Exodus (20) we see these words:

And God spoke all these words, saying:

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”

Exodus 20: 1-2

Then the Lord spoke the 10 Commandments Himself as shown in Exodus 20: 3-17

They were afraid of God and this formed their their response.

Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”

Exodus 20:19

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Citing the fear and poor promises of the people, the writer of Hebrews cites the need for a new covenant:

“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.”

Hebrews 8:6

What better promises? Did God make a promise that was inferior or had a fault? No! The problem or fault was found with the people who made the covenant with God as shown in the verse that follows:

Hebrews 8: 7-9

The fault was with the people who made a promise they could not keep.

Continuing in Hebrews 8, we see the better promise, but it still contains God’s law and obedience.

Hebrew 8:10

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“But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.“

Romans 7:6

Paul is explaining how we often get the cart before the horse. Many try to serve only in the letter. These are the legalistic.

I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” Romans 7: 7

“…by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

Romans 3:20

Here Paul understands that desiring the possessions of another person is sin, but he goes further:

“I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.”

Romans 7: 9

“the wages of sin is death.”

Romans 6:23

I have heard someone say, I obey the law with my spirit and not by letter. I am under grace. How does that work?

Paul cautioned again such thinking when he said,

Romans 6:15

The followers of God are shown to be true followers by obedience to it. To claim we follow Jesus and willfully disobey is to not be a follower, for He said,

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”

Luke 6:46″

It is like saying I am a follower of Robert Atkins, but I don’t obey the diet plan. I obey it in my spirit, but not the letter. How much weight do you think that person would lose?

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“And the dragon (Satan) was enraged with the woman (church), and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.“

Revelation 12:17

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Conclusion

All 10 of these commandments line up under the two great commandments. The first being to

The first 4 commandments hang (summarized) under the first principle and the last six under the second principle.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”

1 Corinthians 13:1

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No. Obedience is not for the legalistic although there are many who obey to somehow impress God or attempt to make themselves worthy of blessings and salvation.

Obedience is for those who have been born again, where love for their Creator and a testimony to the true God can be expressed through obeying his word.

To obey God is to have true freedom. Just ask the man in prison who murdered someone or the person whose life is run by lying.

To say that we love Him and not obey Him makes us a liar.

“He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

1 John 2:4

I close with the inspiring words from Steps to Christ, p. 60, 61

God's Will For Us

Is Obedience Only for the Legalistic? Part 1

March 6, 2017 Eddie Leave a comment

Recently, I heard a radio preacher say, “The Old Testament was about obedience, but the New Testament is about grace.” I don’t want to read too much into this or interpret his statement incorrectly, but I hear this same idea said in different ways. In almost all cases the implication is there are two methods of salvation:

1.) Obedience for those before the cross and

2.) Grace and faith after the cross.

Obedience (Old Covenant) Grace/Faith (New Covenant)

Only a few days later, I heard another speaker talk about Galatians in such a way that it lead me to believe that talking about obedience was “another gospel.” The preacher stated: “nothing can be added to the work of Jesus. To add anything else is “another gospel.” Without a doubt, no one can add to what Jesus has done for sinful man. and we cannot do enough good works to merit salvation. including obedience. Here is the proof:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:9, 10

“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.“

Galatians 5:18

“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”

Romans 3:21-23

All three of the verses above were from Paul. Paul was a highly educated and dedicated Hebrew. Before his conversion, he considered himself “blameless” concerning the righteousness that comes by the law. but then he discovered Jesus and his eyes were opened.

Paul, seemed to be concerned where people would take verses like those above. He abruptly asks a question at the end of Romans 3 and again at the beginning of Romans 6 to clarify:

Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

Romans 3:31

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Romans 6:1

The established law has a place in the Jesus Journey of the believer, but what is it?

Despite Romans 3:31 and other “obedience” verses we shall see, people continue to quote verses that would seem to say, we can pretty much ignore the 10 commandment law. Here are a few:

We are not “….under the law, but under grace.”

Romans 6:14

“The law was done away with.”

Colossians 2:14?

“The law has been nailed to the cross.”

Colossians 2:14?

Obedience is “another gospel.”

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel”

Galatians 1:6

Incorrect application of these passage may make it sound like God does not want us to obey and if I want to obey God, I have reverted back to the Old Testament way of salvation and have become legalistic, perhaps even lost. By choosing to seek to live in obedience, I have left the gospel of grace and faith. So is obedience only for the legalistic?

I have tried to boil this down to 5 important thought questions:

1.) Has obedience ever been a method of salvation? Was Moses, the prophets, the people of Israel saved by the works of the law? Has anyone ever been able to save themselves through obedience?

2.) What is the relationship between obedience and grace? Are they mutually exclusive of each other?

3.) What does Salvation mean and what is the purpose of the law?

4.) Does God expect me to live a life in disobedience to his commandments? What happens if I start to try to obey?

5.) Does Obedience have anything to do with the new covenant?

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Now I am certain, I don’t need to get up get dressed and head to the local temple and sacrifice a lamb for the sins I have committed. This was definitely part of the instructions God gave Moses to give to God’s people. I also know that being circumcised is not a prerequisite to being a part of God’s people. But, how do I relate to God’s law? What is the danger if I ignore it or if I obey it?

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What is God’s law?

Is it just the 10 commandments?

Is it the old sacrificial system given by God to Moses?

Is it some spiritual thing that I keep in my spirit but am careful to not obey the letter?

Here is what I know from God’s word;

The word “law” appears 529 times in the entire Bible. If you throw in “statute” and “ordinance” we can add another 219 times. So that brings us to 748 verses.

Do they all mean the same thing? This is where many people get confused.

The three main categories for these 748 verses are used primarily in 1 of 3 main ways:

A.) God’s Ten Commandments written with His own finger.

“And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.”

Exodus 31:18

B.) The laws given by God to Moses concerning the sanctuary services, sacrifices, feast days. The ceremonial laws contained in ordnances. Written by Moses and placed in a pouch in the side of the Ark of the Covenant.

“Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.”

Deuteronomy 31:26

These ordinances and laws were ceremonial and gave identity and teaching to the chosen people before the cross. After the cross, God made the Jew and Gentile one.

“And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.”

Exodus 18:20

“….having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.”

Ephesians 2:15

C.) The word of God contained in the “books of the law” a.k.a Torah (First Five books of the Bible)

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Joshua 1:8

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psalm 1: 2, 3

So it is always important to understand which law God is referring to before making any decisions as to what God would have you do.

One last question before we start, Does the freedom given me by the grace of God give me license to disobey?

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In this post, we will start with questions #1 and #2

1.) Has obedience ever been a method of salvation? Was Moses, the prophets, the people of Israel saved by the works of the law? Has anyone ever been able to save themselves through obedience?

The answer is NO! The Jews of old were saved just like those of the New Testament: By the grace of God through faith and not of any works. Listen to Paul:

“I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

Galatians 2:21

There would have been no need for Jesus to die on the cross for our sins or the sins of those in the Old Testament time if “righteousness” could come through the law.

Through the ceremonial feast of Passover (Exodus 12), the Jews under those laws were taught that the unblemished innocent male sheep had to die for their sins. They had to believe this in faith. Merely following the directions of God through Moses was not the point of their forgiveness but led them to understand about the coming Messiah who was the “true lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.” John 1:29

So by faith, the Jews looked forward to the Cross for their salvation not in obeying the law. But the law was good in that it came from God himself through Moses and it taught (through an object lesson) the cost of sin, the price that had to be paid, and the transference of their sin onto the unblemished Son of God.

When Jesus came, type met anti-type. There was no longer a need to have ceremonies and laws that pointed forward to Jesus. Now they had the life and teachings of Jesus and that teacher (using types) ended.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Galatians 3:24, 25

All those ceremonial laws pointed forward to Jesus and His death on the cross that they might have faith in Him. Today, we look back at Jesus and the cross that we might have faith. Both of us are saved by faith, not by the works of the law of ceremonies.

Those laws had fulfilled their purpose of pointing the OT people to Jesus. When He died on the cross they ended and we were no longer “under” those sets of laws.

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Galatians 3: 23

This faith spoken of by Paul is another word for Jesus. The faith that is revealed is Jesus. It is clear from Hebrews 11 (Faith Chapter) that those of the OT lived their lives by faith as we do:

The term “By faith” or “through faith” appears at least 19 times in Hebrews 11! They are all references to the OT people of faith!

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off…And these all, having obtained a good report through faith.”

Hebrews 11: 13, 39

Please keep in mind, faith is not a thing….a religious thing….It is “trust” in God. It is made evident by a response. A person can say they have faith in God, but their works will show it. Faith is not based on nothing. It has substance and evidence. This substance and evidence comes through trusting in God’s word.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

James 2:18

Paul shows the method of salvation i.e., grace through faith not of works. James tells us that the works (obedience) produced from a believer is the evidence of their faith. The two go together.

James goes on to say,

If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

James 2: 8-12

James uses the term “law of liberty” twice. Here is the hint that obeying the law gives liberty. Just ask the murder in prison or the person who is trapped in a web of lies. There is a blessing in obedience to God’s 10 commandments. Wouldn’t you agree? We are not talking about the method of salvation, but rather the results of salvation.

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it,and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:25

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2.) What is the relationship between obedience and grace? Are they mutually exclusive of each other?

How can anyone claim to be a follower of the only true God and not obey?

“He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

1 John 2:4

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

Luke 6:46

“Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.”

Luke 6: 47-48

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Romans 6:1

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5: 17-19

Heaven and earth remains and so do the 10 commandments. Anyone who teaches to break the least of the commandments is not doing the will of God. I don’t want to be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. Do you? The best way here is to teach to obey the law of God.

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Conclusion:

The 10 commandments remain as does heaven and earth. The ceremonial laws taught about Jesus and salvation, but they ended at the cross where type met anti-type.

Obedience does not save you, but a saved person will be obedient. The thief will stop stealing. The liar will stop lying. All of this happens because of the new birth….the new heart God gives the person saved.

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people”

Hebrews 8:10

If you are thinking the new covenant spoken of here is for Jews only. Remember there is neither Jew nor Greek and that if we belong to Christ we are “Abraham’s seed” (Father of Jews) and “heirs according to the promise.”

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.“

Galatians 3:28

“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Galatians 3:29

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“A woman is driving way over the speed limit. Suddenly, she sees in her rear view mirror the flashing red and blue lights of a police car and hears the familiar wail of the siren. She pulls over, grabs her purse, and takes out her driver’s license. The policeman approaches, takes her license, and returns to his car.

She wonders how much the ticket is going to be (she was way over the limit); she also worries about how she will be able to pay it. A few minutes later the policeman comes back and says, OK, Miss, what we are going to do, so that you don’t have to face the penalty of the law again, is abolish the law. You no longer have to worry about the speed limit.

As ludicrous as that story is, it’s no more so than the theology that teaches that after Jesus died, the law, the Ten Commandments, was abolished.” Dr. Keith A. Burton,

“Wages of sin is death.”

Romans 6:23

“Sin is the transgression of the law.”

1 John 3:

The definition of sin has never changed.

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“There are two errors against which the children of God–particularly those who have just come to trust in His grace–especially need to guard. The first, already dwelt upon, is that of looking to their own works, trusting to anything they can do, to bring themselves into harmony with God. He who is trying to become holy by his own works in keeping the law, is attempting an impossibility. All that man can do without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin. It is the grace of Christ alone, through faith, that can make us holy.

The opposite and no less dangerous error is that belief in Christ releases men from keeping the law of God; that since by faith alone we become partakers of the grace of Christ, our works have nothing to do with our redemption.

But notice here that obedience is not a mere outward compliance, but the service of love.”

Steps To Christ, page 59, 60

God's Will For Us

Only 9 Commandments? A Day Forgotten

May 30, 2016 Eddie

“Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:19

In previous posts, we have seen that the law of God is immutable. It cannot be changed, not even one jot or tittle. The law is like God himself. He does not change and his word or law does not change.

“For I am the Lord, I do not change;

Malachi 3:6

We also learned there was a School Master whose job was finished when Jesus died on the cross. This was the laws contained in ordinances i.e., the ceremonial and sacrificial laws that pointed forward to Jesus in types and shadows.

In the series “Is Obedience only for the Legalistic?” it was demonstrated that obedience is not legalistic as long as you do not try to obtain salvation or favor from God through it.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9

This verse does not make void the law. The same writer (Paul) asked the following question and then quickly answered it just to make sure no one came to the wrong conclusion regarding faith and the law:

“Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”

Romans 3:31

James asks the believers a similar question to make sure we don’t miss the point of faith either. The point is, true faith will have works including obedience.

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? “

James 2:14

The answer is this:

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

James 2:18

No obedience and no good deeds = No evidence of faith. This is an example of legalism. Trying to save yourself on your own terms without trust in God or His word.

Faith in Jesus = Obedience and good deeds (Trusts and Obeys). We obey because we are saved and born-again. We do not obey in order to be saved. This is impossible.

Obedience is part of the Christian experience. James says it plainly:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

James 1:22

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Obedience to the law is a natural response from a transformed heart. The born-again follower desires to live by the principal of the law which is summarized by the two tables of the law: Love God and Love man. The 10 Commandments fit under one of these two headings. But obedience is more than the letter. It begins in the heart but expresses itself in the letter. Example: Jesus taught us that adultery begins in the heart, but that does not mean that the act (the letter) is not sin because it is. The act demonstrates how uncontrollable the un-redeemed heart can be.

In a look at the new covenant we found that the law is not changed or eliminated rather God writes it on the heart. This is where obedience starts just as does sin.

Without this “born-again” experience, obedience becomes burdensome and religiously legalistic because it attempts to do something it is not equipped by God to do. Any good deeds from the human unredeemed heart is for self glory and is not a love response to God and His glory.

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Despite the immutability of the law, there have been attempts to change it. The most blatant and obvious are from the Roman Catholic church leadership. They eliminated the 2nd commandment. Split the last one into two commandments and then changed the interpretation of a very plain 4th commandment. Most of the world has accepted these changes and gone about their business.

But followers of Jesus follow His word and those inspired by God who were writers of the Bible.

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Below, are the typical reasons given for modifying the 4th commandment are discussed. Today, the 4th commandment is believed to read as follows:

Remember the 1st Day of the week and go to church because Jesus was resurrected on the 1st Day of the week and the Disciples kept the 1st day of the week. Do not work on Sunday from the time you get up in the morning until after church or about 1:00 PM.

Here are God’s exact words:

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Exodus 20: 8-11

The differences are obvious:

God	Man & Tradition
7^th Day Holy (Saturday)	7^th Day is not holy-Jesus and disciples changed the day of worship to the 1^st day of the week. (Sunday)
Should not work for 24 hours	Should not work until after church
Reason for commandment: God is Creator	Reason for change: Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week
The Lord blessed the day	Jesus and Disciples example make it holy.

The reasons for the variance are typically expressed as follows:

1.) We worship on Sunday because this is the day Jesus arose.

2.) We worship on Sunday because the disciples worshiped on Sunday after the resurrection.

3.) There is no evidence the disciples worshiped or honored the Sabbath after Jesus was resurrected. The 4th commandment is not repeated in the New Testament.

4.) The disciples broke bread and took up an offering on the 1st Day of the week-This proves they were worshiping on the 1st day of the week.

5.) The Sabbath is for the Jews only.

6.) If you honor the Sabbath, you are legalistic and are trying to save yourself.

7) The calendar was changed. We don’t know which day is the 7th Day.

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Let’s take these one by one and see if there is biblical evidence to support any of these statements;

1.) We worship on Sunday because this is the day Jesus arose.

Reread the 4th commandment and you will see that there is nothing in the commandment about which day to worship. It does not say to Remember the 7th Day to worship……Worship can occur on any day. It is not limited to only one day a week.

The commandment is to “keep it holy” or set apart from the other days. You honor it by refraining from your normal activities of work. Of course worship is a good thing to do on the Sabbath.

We honor it because it signifies that God is the Creator.

It is true that Jesus arose on the first day of the week. But there is no evidence from Jesus that he commanded his disciples or anyone to re-write the 4th commandment. As our opening verse states, we are not to think that Jesus can to change the law. Not even the smallest letter of the law can be changed. Anyone who teaches otherwise is not in God’s will.

Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.

1 John 2:7

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2.) We worship on Sunday because the disciples worshiped on Sunday after the resurrection.

Let’s start with the first Sunday after the resurrection. Were the disciples gathered together to worship because Jesus arose? No! They were together (except for Thomas), but it was because they were afraid of what the Jews might do to them. Also, they did not believe that Jesus had arose until the evening. Thomas didn’t believe Jesus had arose until 8 days later:

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled,for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

John 20: 19

This was not a worship service. It was a fear service. Notice it was at night not an 11:00 AM worship service.

And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

John 20: 26-28

After 8 days. This would have been on what we call a Monday, the disciples were again inside. But this time they were believers. They told Thomas that they had seen the Lord! John 20:24. It was not until Thomas could see and touch the Lord himself that he would believe. When he did, he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”

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3.) There is no evidence the disciples worshiped or honored the Sabbath after Jesus was resurrected. The 4th commandment is not repeated in the New Testament.

“But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.”

Acts 13:14

Paul and his party went to the synagogue and was asked to speak. In verse 16, Paul stood up and gave a quick sermon to both the “men of Israel” (Jews) and “those who fear God” (Gentile converts). The sermon was about how God had led his people and how the prophets wrote about Jesus, but the Jews who read the prophets every Sabbath crucified him (Verse 27, 28)

Many think that Paul only went to the synagogues on the Sabbath because this is where the Jews were and He could reach more of them. But remember, Paul considered, at least, a part of his calling was to be a teacher to gentiles:

“to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”

2 Timothy 1:11

Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first (Jews); but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

Acts 13:46

When the service was over (As described above in Acts 13), the Gentiles wanted to hear more (Verse 42). In fact, they begged to hear more. It would have been very appropriate had the disciples been meeting on the 1st day of the week to simply ask them to meet with them the very next day. A response from a Sunday observing Paul would have went like this, “We now meet on the 1st day of the week in honor of the resurrection of Jesus. We are meeting tomorrow. Come to our worship service and we will talk and worship more then.”

That never happened. In fact, Here is what happened:

“Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.”

Acts 13: 43-44

Paul persuaded this “on-fire” group of non-Jewish (Gentile) audience to wait until the next Sabbath instead of the next day! This was written a long time after the resurrection of Jesus (Between 30 to 40 years). This was plenty of time for the disciples to set up a new day to honor in place of the Sabbath, but there is no indication at this point that a change had been instituted. Paul was still honoring the 4th commandment.

In another place we see Paul seeking a quite spot to pray on the Sabbath. He met with some of the women who were also meeting for prayer by the river. This is more inline with the purpose of the Sabbath i.e., to rest and seek God through prayer.

“And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.”

It was the habit of these women to meet at the river for prayer on the Sabbath. There is no indication Paul promoted a new day of worship or honor. In fact, he participated in the blessing of the Sabbath by seeking a quite spot to commune with God and pray with other believers.

Paul met Lydia who “worshiped God” and she received what Paul had to say about Jesus and was baptized. Again, no indication that Paul said the new day of worship and prayer was the 1st Day of the week.

Acts 16:13

Paul ministered to both Jews and Greeks on the Sabbath in the Synagogues:

It is important to know that both Jews and Gentiles who worshiped God also attended the synagogue on the Sabbath.

“And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.”

Acts 18: 4

There is no indication from the 9 verses mentioned in Acts that Paul or any of the disciples either worshiped on Sunday or encouraged new Christians to do so.

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4.) The disciples broke bread and took up an offering on the 1st Day of the week-This proves they were worshiping on the 1st day of the week

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

Acts 20:7

In this passage we find the only verse in Acts using the term “first day of the week.” It appears to be a worship service where the Lord’s supper is being taken.

But, let’s look closely at the purpose of this meeting and why it occurred on the first day of the week. Also, let’s examine the breaking of the bread.

Paul had a long journey to Miletus. The first part of the trip was a walk to where the ship would depart. He would leave, therefore, when the sun was up. Paul spoke until midnight.

Notice that they met at night

“There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together.”

Acts 20: 8

Since there were many lights in the upper room, we can deduct it was night time. Was it Sunday (1st-Day) night or Saturday night (7th Day)? It was the dark part of the First Day of the Week (Sunday), but it is what we would call Saturday night today.

Some versions of the Bible understand this and call it a Saturday night service so the reader will translate the time to how we understand the changing of the day:

On Saturday evening we gathered together for the fellowship meal. Paul spoke to the people and kept on speaking until midnight, since he was going to leave the next day.

Acts 20:7 (Good News Translation)

A young man sitting in the window fell asleep and fell out of the window and died! But, Paul went down and brought him back to life fully healed. They then went back upstairs and ate and talked until day break.

At day break, he began his travels by foot (verse 11). If Sunday morning was the time the Christians set apart for worship, Paul must have skipped church.

Instead, Paul rested the entire Sabbath and then he talked with the disciples for a long time knowing it would be some time before they saw each other again. He left when the sun came up on a Sunday morning for his trip.

Was the breaking of the bread the Lord’s supper? There is no indication that it is. The breaking of bread can simply mean eating together:

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,

Acts 2:46

There are no directions from example or teaching that the Lord’s Supper was to be done only on the 1st Day of the Week. It can be taken any time as indicated by Paul’s statement:

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”

1 Corinthians 11:26

In conclusion, this was not a Sunday morning worship service with the Lord’s supper. It was simply the disciples getting together on what we call Saturday night (after the Sabbath had ended and they had rested) before Paul took his journey.

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Often, people will use the following verse to attempt to show that the disciples took up an offering at a church service on the first day of the week, therefore they are worshiping and honoring the 1st day of the week. Let’s read it carefully.

“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.”

1 Corinthians 16: 1-4

“This collection for the saints” was for those who were experiencing tough times in Jerusalem. Paul’s “orders” were simple. If you were a believer at that time and wanted to follow Paul’s instructions, you would do the following:

1.) Determine how God had prospered you and decided what you were going to give to the saints.

2.) Once you have determined what you are going to give i.e., clothes, food, sheep, etc. you would “lay it aside” and “store it.” Where were you to store it? It was to be “by him” or at the home.

3.) The reason to determine what, how much, and then set it aside was for the purpose of efficiency so that there would not be running around to gather the offerings that would create confusion when Paul came to take it back with him (or send it by someone else)….“that there be no gatherings when I come.”

So, this was not a passing around of the offering plate in a Sunday worship service. In fact, there is no hint of a worship service at all in this verse.

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5.) The Sabbath is for the Jews only.

Abraham is the father of the Jews. He was born many generations after creation. It was at creation (long before there was ever a Jew) when God instituted the Sabbath. Adam and Eve (non-Jews) were blessed to spend their first full day with God enjoying communion with Him and admiring the works of His hands.

This is a wonderful way to honor God’s 4th commandment. Cease from the usual activities and spend it with God at church and in communion with Him. Also, admiring the works of his hands in nature with other people who worship the great Creator.

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”

Genesis 2: 1-3

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Jesus created the Sabbath and proclaims himself to be Lord of the Sabbath. He made it for man (not just the Jews)

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

John 1:3

“And he said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath”

Mark 2:27

The Sabbath was designed to bless man and help him recover from the work of the previous 6 days. The religious leaders of Jesus day had turned the Sabbath into a burden. Jesus tells them that they are not servants to the man-made laws about the Sabbath. It is a day He made to bless man.

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.’”

Luke 6:5

This is the “Lord’s Day” a term often used for Sunday. But if Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, which day is the Lord’s day? The Sabbath! How can it be read any other way?

This blessing of the Lord’s Day continues for a full day, not just a few hours at church.

“…from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath.

Leviticus 23:32

We know that the Sabbath begins at the going down of the sun from this verse, but also from the account of creation where we hear this term over and over as God goes about of his work of creation:

“”And the evening and the morning were the…” first day, second day, third day, etc. (See Genesis 1 : 5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31)

The setting of the sun for the evening comes first. Then the sun comes up and the day continues until the sun sets and then the daily cycle begins again.

The women who were going to prepare the body of Jesus for burial “rested according to the commandment” after observing his body late on the “Preparation Day” (Friday). As the sun was going down, they rested (because the new day of the Sabbath was about to begin). They intended to come back the next day (Sunday or 1st day) when they could see, which would be early on Sunday morning

It was Preparation Day (Friday), and the Sabbath (Saturday) was about to begin.

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Luke 23: 54-56

Jesus died “the ninth hour” or about 3:00 PM on Friday. So he disciples had only a few hours to take his body down from the cross and prepare spices and perfumes before the Sabbath began at sunset. They then rested “on the Sabbath n obedience to the commandment.”

The Sabbath was meant to be a time to bless man, but we have ignored it and went our own way ignoring the commandment rather than “remembering” the Sabbath.

I have honored the Sabbath and received of God’s promised blessing on this day for almost 38 years. My wife and children look forward to this time as a blessed opportunity to focus less on the world and more on community worship, reading of the Bible, and listening to music that soothes the soul. Try it sometime.

When the sun sets on Friday, turn off the TVs and turn on some soft music. Take time to rest the mind, body, and soul. You will find you have time to read the Bible and talk with your family without the interference of TV and other devices. Spend time out doors admiring the creation of God. It will change you. You relationship with God will grow! At first you might find it difficult and feel like you are wasting time, but as you make it a routine of worship, you will find you and your family drawing closer to your Creator and it will revive you physically and emotionally. You will feel better. Remember, it was made for you!

“If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the Lord honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,
Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord;
And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,
And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Isaiah 58: 13-14

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6.) If you honor the Sabbath, you are legalistic and are trying to save yourself.

As I mentioned above, I hope the series “Is Obedience Only for the Legalistic?” demonstrated that honoring the Sabbath is legalistic only if you make it so. However, the Sabbath was made to be a blessing, not a listing of things to do or not-to-do. The Scribes and The Pharisees turned it into such and made it a burden rather than a blessing. A person is not saved by honoring the Sabbath. It is done out a born-again heart of love for their Creator.

The Sabbath is like an appointed time or “date” with the Lord each week. An unconverted heart will make this time unbearable and legalistic. Of course, unbelievers will completely ignore it. But if a person who loves the Lord, they will find it to be “a delight.”

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7) The calendar was changed. We don’t know which day is the 7th Day.

The “lost day” argument is usually the the last attempt to destroy the 4th commandment.

True, the calendar has been changed, but the 7 day cycle has never been changed. The 1st day has always preceded the 2nd day and the 2nd day has always preceded the 3rd day, etc.

When the Julian calendar was changed to the Gregorian calender the number of the month was changed, but not the order or name of the week.

Wednesday, September the 2nd was followed by Thursday, September the 14th, then came Friday, September the 15th and so on.

This was done to get the calendar in sync with the the rotation timing of the earth around the sun. But the Sabbath has always been the 7th day.

In many languages the Sabbath is identified as such rather than its Pagan counter-part named after Saturn’s day i.e.,Saturday. Here are just a few:

Arabic: Sabet

Armenian: Shabat

Bosnian: Subota

Bulgarian: Sabota

Italian: Sabato

Latin: Sabbatum

Spanish: Sabado

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Just as God promises a blessing for faith tithing, he promises a blessing for honoring the day he blessed after the creation of the world. He has given you life and desires to give you good gifts even as a father would want to do so.

If you are going to church on Sunday, there is nothing wrong with that. A person can worship and go to church any time they desire. Worship is not limited to a particular day.

But, if you want to experience the blessing God has placed on His day….The Lord’s day….try honoring his commandment which is not just a commandment from God, but an invitation to be blessed. This makes this commandment so different than the others.

When the Lord makes a new heaven and a new earth, Sabbath will continue to be honored:

“…as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.

And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.“

Isaiah 66:22-23

If you want to learn more about how to honor the Sabbath, click here.

God's Will For Us

The Least of the Commandments

September 7, 2015 Eddie

It is hoped that the previous posts called “Is Obedience Only for the Legalistic? (Parts 1-3),” demonstrated from scripture that the law of God (10 Commandment law) is immutable. Immutable is defined simply as: “ not capable of or susceptible to change,” Merriam-Webster Dictionary

We looked at many passages and examples that demonstrated transgression of God’s moral law (10 Commandments) is the fundamental definition of sin. It is sin which brought death upon all men and is the reason for the death of Jesus i.e., payment for the penalty of sin.

If God’s 10 commandment law could simply be changed, there would be no reason for Jesus to die on a cross for our sins against God described in the 1st 4 commandments and sins against our neighbors (Last 6 commandments). These laws are grouped under two great principles:

“love God with all your soul and mind” and “love your neighbor as yourself”

On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22: 39,40

The most compelling argument for the immutability of God’s 10 Commandment law comes from Jesus Himself when He said,

Matthew 5:17-19

Jesus fulfilled them by obeying them and set the example for us to do the same. It is obvious we still have heaven and earth, so we still have God’s law and it is outside God’s will to teach or break even the least of the commandments.

James, the brother of Jesus confirms this years after Jesus had ascended to heaven when he said,

“For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”

James 2:10

James goes on to encourage us to be obedient to God’s 10 commandments because we will be judged on “the perfect law of liberty” James 2:12

Strangely, obedience is not a popular topic with many modern ministers because the topic insinuates salvation by works if not properly understood. But, the writers of the Bible, including Jesus, conclude that grace and faith do not exclude obedience. Paul, the major proponent of God’s grace asks a powerful conclusive rhetorical question just to make sure no one thinks the law is minimized or voided by grace and faith:

“Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”

Romans 3:31

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Many fail to connect the dots between grace, faith, and obedience to the established law . But, the connection is made simple by this statement:

We do not obey to be saved, we obey because we are saved and because God creates a new heart in us. This is the born again experience. All things have become new in Christ and it includes a change of heart regarding the will of God.

Under the new covenant, the law is not diminished but written by God on the mind and heart (Hebrews 8;10). If it is written on the mind and heart, do you think obedience will be for the right reasons?

With your new heart, you will automatically want to avoid sin and obey God’s 10 commandment law that demonstrates God’s will in your life. Both to God and your neighbor. You will find the power to obey through Christ. To attempt to obey without his power is both legalistic and futile. Obedience comes through the power of God:

“…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

Philippians 2:13

We have all seen the work of God’s spirit on a person when Jesus writes the law their heart. The thief stops stealing, the liar stops his lying. The unfaithful spouse becomes faithful. The things the sinner once loved they now hate and vice-versa. A born again person wants to obey his Lord.

To say you love God and do not obey means you are not a follower, but are going through some hypocritical religious motion for reasons other than serving God and neighbor:

He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

1 John 2:4

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Also, in the previous posts, we saw there were some laws that God gave Moses for the Children of Israel that had a purpose and those laws ended when Jesus died on the cross. These were the ceremonial and sacrificial laws. We no longer need to sacrifice a spotless lamb on the altar when we go to church.

Their purpose was to provide graphic teachings to those looking forward to the Messiah on the power of sin and upon the innocent. Those laws, contained in ordinances, demonstrated the grace of God and His willingness to make a way out of the death penalty by sending his only begotten son. Once Jesus died, the School Master was no longer needed. We had the life, death, resurrection, mediator work of Jesus to clearly and simply demonstrate the plan of salvation:

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”

Galatians 3: 24, 25

Thankfully we are no longer under the penalty of the 10 Commandment law (i.e., death) or the burdensome requirements of the sacrificial and ceremonial laws. It is by the grace of our Lord and the faith He gives us to become free of eternal death and may have right to the tree of life. Those who obey demonstrate they have been redeemed and are free from the penalty of the law.

“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.”

Revelations 22:14

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Let’s shift gears here and talk about “the least of the commandments.” Take a look at the 10 commandments (Exodus 20) and try to determine which one is the least.

We would all agree our relationship with God would be in jeopardy if we had other gods, made idols patterned after things on the earth or in heaven and then bowed ourselves before them. We would also be kidding ourselves to say we have love for God and have salvation, but use his name in a disrespectful manner often and regularly.

Also, how can someone claim salvation when they practice adultery, lie, murder, disrespect their parents and their neighbors?

So which one can we take out and change? Has any of them been demonstrated by Jesus that they were anything other than immutable?

Can we think to change the 10 Commandment Law of God to only 9 or 8 Commandments because a couple doesn’t fit with our life style or the rest of the world’s philosophy? Is there one jot, one tittle that we can change or modify so we are more comfortable with it?

Interesting enough the enemy of God does this very thing. The little horn power of Daniel 7 that can be shown to be the Anti-Christ attempts to change God’s law and make war with God’s saints:

“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: …”

Daniel 7:25

As shown before, the enemy a.k.a. Satan and the devil is particularly angry at a group of people in the last days that are obedient and have a testimony regarding Jesus:

“And the dragon (Satan) was wroth (angry) with the woman (church), and went to make war with the remnant of her seed (those left over from the original), which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Revelation 12:17

It is obvious that there is an attack and war on the law of God by the enemy to confuse and lead people away from the perfect will of God as expressed in these 10 great principles of love towards God and neighbor.

To demonstrate this, I have listed the 10 commandments (in summary) as described in the Catechism. This is the official book of the Catholics to teach new converts:

I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not kill.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

Now, compare the 10 commandments as found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5:

You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.

A careful comparative review will show that the Roman Catholic church leaders eliminated the 2nd commandment completely. Why?

That leaves 9 commandments. So to make it 10 commandments, the last commandment is split into two parts.

In addition, the Roman Catholic Church leaders changed the fourth commandment regarding the Sabbath. They changed the holiness God proclaimed for the Sabbath (7th day) to Sunday (1st Day). There is no scriptural authority for this change and no examples of the early church to warrant a change in God’s immutable law.

From the Convert’s Catechism, page 50:

Q. Which is the Sabbath day?
A. Saturday is the Sabbath day.
Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea, (AD 336) transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday….
Q. Why did the Catholic Church substitute Sunday for Saturday?
A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday, because Christ rose from the dead on a Sunday, and the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles on a Sunday.
Q. By what authority did the Church substitute Sunday for Saturday?
A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday by the plenitude of that divine power which Jesus Christ bestowed upon her!

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This mutilation of God’s immutable law by the Roman Catholic leadership flies in the face of Jesus’ clear statement:

“I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5: 17-19

Is there any doubt that the Roman Catholic leadership teaches its converts to ignore the 2nd and 4th commandments? Does it not demonstrate that tradition (according to them) is more powerful than God’s own written word?

He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

Mark 7:9

“Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture make up a single sacred deposit of the Word of God . . .” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 97.

It is clear from God’s word that religious tradition is not equal to God’s word. God’s word always trumps church tradition.

He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?

Matthew 15:3

As prophesied by God through His servant Daniel, the attempt to change the law of God would occur by the opponent and enemy of God. The one who places himself in the place of Christ as the vicar of Christ. Vicar is a Latin word meaning “instead of” Vicar of God is the title of the Pope.

“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”

Daniel 7:25

Who thought that the deception in the last day would be easily identified? Those who study and live by the word of God can see the “angel of light” working to lead people away from the simple and plain words of God and towards false security in numbers, display, and tradition.

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So, which commandment is the least? Even if it is the least, it cannot be changed according to Christ.

If all the Protestant denominations were sitting around the table discussing the 10 commandments, we could all agree that it is God’s will to live by the 10 commandments (not to be saved, but because we are saved). We would all agree it would be outside God’s will to change even the smallest letter of God’s law. However, all agreement would stop when the 4th commandment would come up. While it is plain and simple, confusion and argument would ensue. The arguments against a Sabbath rest (7th Day) would be:

The law was eliminated.

The Sabbath was changed to Sunday when Christ arose

The disciples met on the first day of the week

Nobody knows which day is the 7th Day

It is legalistic to obey the law

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No doubt, there is a temptation and a propensity by many who want to follow God to become legalistic in their approach to the 4th commandment, but there is a blessing God has promised those who “Remember” it. It is unlike any other commandment. Here God invites us once a week on a day he blessed (7th Day-a.k.a. Saturday) to rest and enjoy the hours of the Sabbath with other worshipers and family.

It is not so much about which day one goes to church, but rather which day is honored because God instructed us. Can we make any other day holy? Only God Himself can make something holy. The blessings promised Abraham are ours according to the word of God:

“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Galatians 3:29

Here is a promise we can claim as an heir:

“If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the Lord honorable,
And shall honor Him,…Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord;
And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth”

Isaiah 58: 13 and 14

This promise is not about legalism; it is about a blessing promised for following God.

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Next time, we will explore more about the 4th commandment and dispel error being taught regarding its unlawful change. Did the disciples change it? We will look at the objections to the 4th commandment and how to obey it without becoming legalistic. Until then, blessings to you and your family.

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“The Sabbath … is God’s time, not ours; when we trespass upon it we are stealing from God… God has given us the whole of six days in which to do our work and has reserved only one to Himself. This should be a day of blessing to us—a day when we should lay aside all our secular matters and center our thoughts upon God and heaven.” In Heavenly Places, P. 152

Prophecies for Our Time

Prophecies for Our Time-The Judgment

October 20, 2014 Eddie Leave a comment

“I watched till thrones were put in place,
And the Ancient of Days was seated;
His garment was white as snow,
And the hair of His head was like pure wool.
His throne was a fiery flame,
Its wheels a burning fire;
A fiery stream issued
And came forth from before Him.
A thousand thousands ministered to Him;
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
The court was seated,
And the books were opened.

I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.

Daniel 7: 9 – 11

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Over the last few weeks, we have been studying the prophecies of Daniel 2, 7, 8, &9. Daniel watched in his visions a period spanning long periods of time. We saw a 70-year period that was “cut off” or a given to Israel to come to place in their experience, where they became the light to the world and welcomed in their Messiah. But Israel rejected their Messiah, The Just One who was foretold in the scripture.

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In 34 AD Stephen gave a powerful sermon found In Acts 7. This is an important date, for it ended the period of 490 years (70 weeks) for the nation of Israel as a whole. (Please see previous posts that brings us up to this point.)

Stephen described the history of God’s people (the Israelites) who constantly rejected God, His law, and His prophets who were sent to encourage them to turn from their evil ways. Now they were continuing that tradition by rejecting the truth from Stephen.

He spoke of their father Abraham and Moses and described how they rejected the prophets. He then begin to talk about Jesus. He quoted from Deuteronomy:

The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.

Deuteronomy 18:15

As Stephen began to describe the temple, the tone of his sermon changes abruptly and he quickly proclaimed,

You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?

Acts 7:51, 52

Their problem is clearly identified here. They resisted the work of the Holy Spirit just like their ancestors. The prophets whom God had sent were rejected and persecuted. They ignored the law given to them and now they had gone so far as to encourage the killing of the son of God of the Just One who was foretold in scripture:

And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.

Acts 7: 52, 53

Here their fate was sealed. The 70-week prophecy or 490 years came to an end. This was 34 AD. 490 years after the commandment went forth to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem.” Just as Daniel was shown in vision hundreds of years earlier.

A few years later, Paul and Barnabas would allude to this prophecy when they said,

Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

Acts 13: 46

Because of the truth, Stephen was stoned; sealing the rejection of Jesus whom Stephen saw standing at the right hand of God.

This 490 period given to the Jews in a special way was part of the of the 2,300 years that stretched to 1844, when the sanctuary was to be cleansed.

From 34 AD until now, there is not longer Greek or Jew, Male or Female. In fact, if we are in Jesus, we have become the new Israel and heirs of the promises given to Abraham:

And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:29

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But, Daniel saw even further as described in today’s opening verses. Daniel saw until the 4th beast with the little horn was destroyed in the flames, when the earth is destroyed when Jesus returns.

“I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.”

Daniel 7: 11

As we will see in the coming weeks, this little horn power is also the Anti-Christ (The one who stands in the place of Christ). As mentioned, this beast is destroyed when Jesus returns:

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2 Thessalonians 2: 8, 9

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So in summary, Daniel watched and saw:

1.) Kingdoms rise and fall (Babylon, Medio-Persian, Greece, Rome)

2.) The rise of a cruel and deceptive power we now know to be the Roman Catholic church and their system of Popes (Fathers) and priests that stand in the place of Christ

3.) The judgement scene (1844)

4.) The return of Christ

5.) The end of the little horn power at the return of Christ

6.) Judgment given to the Saints

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We have not talked about the judgement scene much. As described at the start of this study and repeated here. Daniel sees the “Ancient of Days” take His seat as thousands minister to him and the books are opened.

“I watched till thrones were put in place,
And the Ancient of Days was seated;…The court was seated, And the books were opened.

Daniel 7: 9, 10

John describes the same scene in Revelation 20

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Revelation 20: 12

Let’s notice something here. Everyone who has ever lived and died stand before God and are judged out of the Book of Life. Let’s also notice that this is taking place where God’s throne is located, the heavenly sanctuary. There is an investigation and decisions are being made based on what is being described in the books.

There is more than one book. The scripture describes at least two other books that are used in the judgement. Besides the Book of Life, there is the Book of Remembrance.

Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

Malachi 3:16

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There is much confusion and error about judgement. The typical view of judgement by many is that it occurs when you die and it is a passage of moving either to heaven or to hell. Once judged, you either pass through the pearly gates or are assigned a spot in hell. Of course, there is confusion about hell. For more information, see the post entitled

Of course, there is also confusion about hell. For more information, see the post entitled Did Jesus talk more about Hell than Heaven?. Also, see the post that follow it.

But, judgement is not that way at all. For next few moments, let’s explore some important verses and concepts about judgement.

1.) The final message of judgement to mankind is found in Revelation:

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Revelation 14: 6-7

This angel’s message (1 of 3 messages) is the everlasting gospel or the good news about Jesus. The angel (or messenger) gives a message that judgment is come. The judgement has started and worship of the Creator is contrasted with a world that does not believe in creation nor a Creator. Does that sound familiar to you? Yes, we live in that world where evolution is considered the source of life and order.

Yes, we live in that world where evolution is considered the source of life and order. The judgement has started and worship of the Creator is contrasted with a world that does not believe in creation nor a Creator.

There is a commandment that points to the great Creator. It is the 4th Commandment:

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

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.

Revelation 20: 11

Regarding the Sabbath, one author has said,

“Had the Sabbath been universally kept, man’s thoughts and affections would have been led to the Creator as the object of reverence and worship, and there would never have been an idolater, an atheist, or an infidel.”

Great Controversy, Page 438

So in the last day, the angel is urging the people of the earth to return to honoring the Lord of the Sabbath and the Great Creator-Jesus. Along with this encouragement comes the proclamation that judgment has come or it has started.

2.) The standard of judgment is the 10 commandments:

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,”also said,“Do not murder.”Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

James 2: 10 – 12

3.) Our name can be blotted out of the book of life if we fail to be overcomers, but if we are converted our sins will be blotted out instead:

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Revelation 3:5

Please keep in mind, that overcoming sins in our lives is the work of God in our life by faith. We can never be victorious without faith in the one who also redeems us! If we yield to the conviction and power of God, he will make us overcomers. Do not make the mistake that you have to focus on being good. Focus on Jesus only. In the end our sins will be blotted out and not our name.

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Acts 3:19

4.) We are not condemned if we are “in Jesus” and our lifestyle is to follow the urging of the Spirit.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:1

5.) Since Jesus is our mediator, He can save us completely. This means not only salvation from eternal death, but salvation from the power of sins in our lives now.

But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:24 – 25

If you have sin that pulls you down, have you turned to your high priest in heaven and asked for intercession? If not, maybe you are trying to overcome on your own carnal strength. This is an impossibility, for Jesus said,

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

Just like a branch gets its nourishment from the tree, we can our strength to overcome through the main tree-Jesus. How? By trusting in Him and remaining or abiding in Him! Abiding does not mean a casual once a week experience, but an ongoing one. The branch doesn’t detach itself and then reattach every weekend. It remains in Christ throughout the week!

6.) The work of Judgment by the Ancient of Days is complete before Jesus returns, because when He comes, He brings His reward with Him.

And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.

Revelation 22:12

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The judgment scene is described both in Daniel 7 and Revelation 20. It is a period just before Jesus returns. The Ancient of Days sits and thousands of angels attend Him. The books are open, not for God’s sake, but for the sake of those in attendance. These records are to demonstrate that God is just.

Again, here is the companion verse to Daniel as found in Revelation:

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books

Revelation 20: 12

Notice the dead are judged. Your spirit or body does not stand in front of the judge as the picture in this post suggests. It is those who are dead now.

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but afterthis

Hebrews 9:12

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There is also a period where we will be provided opportunity to see that God was just. The scripture tells us this about judgment:

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

1 Corinthians 6:2

It is during the 1,000 years after Jesus returns that the saints (us) will be able to understand fully that our God is just and fair. For more information on the Thousand Years, click see the post called Part 4-Second Coming-1,000 Years

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.

Revelation 20:4

This is not a decision about who gets to have eternal life or not because the Ancient of Days or God has already made those decisions before Jesus returns. It is a determination about the mercy and grace of God. It will demonstrate that those who are lost were given every opportunity to repent and turn to God.

Our God is a just and fair God. His judgments are right and true. May you be blessed as you consider the things of God’s word.

Next time, we will begin to study another form of judgment. It is a judgment upon the wicked and evil of the earth. We will see that Revelation is only understood in the light of Daniel’s visions. We will discover more about the beast and his image.

Until then, may the Lord bless you and your family. – Eddie

Prophecies for Our Time

Prophecies for Our Time – 2,300 days

October 8, 2014 Eddie 1 Comment

Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

And he said unto me, “Unto Two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”

Daniel 8: 13 – 14

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A Quick Review:

To properly understand Daniel 9, the question in Daniel 8: 13 and the response in verse 14 must be kept in mind. Because all of the prophecy in Daniel 8 is explained except for verse 14.

The metals and the beasts previously described represented countries and powers that would arise and fall. History has proven these visions (almost 500 years before the birth of Christ) to be true.

But there was a beast “different from the rest.” It continued to fight against God in direct and cruel ways. It also used more subtle and deceptive methods. Daniel demonstrated much interest in this Little Horn power and its power. Even one of the angels wanted to know more about how long it would be against God’s people to “trod(den) them under foot.” This means to persecute them.; to lower their message.

This beast would also take away “the daily sacrifice.” As we will see, it is not just the temple sacrifice, but the unblocked direct availability of the Lord without the need for an earthly mediator. The desolations (no one present) are created by taking away that access or the sanctuary (both the earthly and the heavenly.)

This beast was different because it was against God and His followers, where the other powers were mostly secular and their wars were about land and power.

And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.

And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.

Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down. the place of the sanctuary was cast down.

And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered

Daniel 8: 9 -12

It practiced and prospered because of its opposition to the truth of God as found in His word and the work of the Holy Spirit.

It is because of work of this little horn that an attending angel asked another angel about the length of time the little horn would have power to:

1. be great to the host of heaven

2. cast down some of the host and stars to the ground and stomp on them

3. magnify himself (attempt to make himself more important than God)

4. take away the daily sacrifice

5. cast down the place of the sanctuary

6. cast down the truth to the ground

7. practice and prosper

The answer from the angel came:

“Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.“

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We saw in the last study, the 70 weeks of Bible prophecy was “cut-off” for the nation of Israel. We clearly saw that the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem went forth in 457 BC. From that point until the time of Jesus was 69 weeks or 483 years. This brought us to the fall of 27 AD when Jesus was baptized. Then he began a ministry to the nation of Israel for 3 1/2 years. He confirmed the covenant with the nation of Israel for 1 week or 7 years. During half of that time (3 1/2 years), the appeal went almost exclusively to the “house of Israel.”

“But he answered and said, I (Jesus) am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Matthew 15:24

To his disciples Jesus said,

“Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Matthew 10: 5:6

The disciples obeyed until the covenant was fulfilled 3 1/2 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. The one week (7 years) was complete through Jesus himself and the appeal of the disciples.

In the midst of the week (3 1/2 years after Jesus began his ministry) the sacrifices and oblations ceased. It was at this time that the vail or curtain between the holy place was torn in two signifying that not only was the system of sacrifices and earthly priests were finished, but also that we now had direct access to the Father through Jesus himself.

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom

Matthew 27: 50 – 51

For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Ephesians 2:18

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession….Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4: 14, 16

in 34 AD. Paul confirmed the covenant had ended with the house of Israel and the way was open to the entire world and the gentiles to be partakers of the covenant.

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Acts 13:46

And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Galatians 3:29

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So, 70 weeks (490 years) of the 2,300 days (2,300 years) was used up or “cut off” from the long timeline of 2,300 years. That left 1810 years. Moving forward 1810 from 34 AD brings us to 1844. (See chart below:

What was to happen at that time? The attending angel clearly states that the sanctuary would be “cleansed.”

We can not assume what this means, we must let the Bible tells us what the cleansing of the sanctuary meant. In 1844, there was no earthly sanctuary, but there was (and has been) a sanctuary in heaven. In fact, the pattern for the earthly sanctuary God instructed Moses came from that place in heaven.

And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain.

Exodus 26:30

For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things,the copy and shadow of the heavenly things,

Hebrews 8:4

“We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.”

Hebrews 9:1

But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.

Hebrews 9:11

Notice that the heavenly sanctuary has a high priest called Christ and it was not made with hands. God created it himself.

This begs the questions:

“Why do we need a high priest in heaven? “ “What can the pattern of priestly services teach us about the lives and events of 21st century Christians?” “What is going on in this heavenly sanctuary now?” “What happen in 1844 regarding the cleansing of this heavenly sanctuary?

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To properly understand the book of Hebrews, the student of the Bible must understand the sanctuary services instituted by the Lord and explained to Moses. At the highest level, I think all would agree that this system given to those before the cross became a “school master” to teach the God’s people of promise the seriousness of sin (death of an innocent animal) and the solution for the sin: the perfect life and sacrifice of Christ.

When Jesus died on the cross, type met anti-type and the schoolmaster of the sacrifices ceased. Its job of teaching of the coming of Christ through actual practice was over. We no longer need to practice it, but we can learn much about the plan of salvation through it.

We now understand the seriousness and solution to sin looking back at the cross. We also learn about the great love and active work of our great God to reach out and save people from the death penalty of sin through the cross. The follower of Jesus no longer needs the slaying of lambs and the priestly services of an earthly mediator. We find it all in Jesus.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Galatians 3: 24:25

However, just because we are not under the schoolmaster of those earthly sanctuary services, it does not mean that there is not an end-time implication in some of its services.

This we find in the annual Day of Atonement when the sanctuary was cleansed. If we can understand what happened on that day, we can understand what it means to our 2,300-day prophecy. Don’t you agree?

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The sanctuary services (both earthly and heavenly) were established to deal with the sin problem (not just the sin, but the sinner as well). The sacrifices of the old testament did not provide the sin solution, but rather taught the sinner the cost of sin. and provided a way for forgiveness, not through the animal, but in the faith of the coming Messiah (Jesus).

They received forgiveness the same we do. They looked forward in faith to the cross (payment for sin) and we look back to the cross in faith. All, both old and new testament sinners are saved by grace through faith.

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Hebrews 10:4

^{By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all}

Hebrews 10:10

So when a sinner brought an offering to the sanctuary, a priest mediated the process. The sin moved from the sinner to the spotless sacrifice. The sacrifice died in the place of the sinner, but the blood of animals could not takeaway the sins. Only Jesus could do this.

The priest took the blood into the 1st compartment of the sanctuary and sprinkled it before the curtain to the Most Holy place. The sin (in type) remained in the sanctuary until the annual day of atonement

And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock’s head, and kill the bullock before the Lord.

And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation:

And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the Lord, before the vail of the sanctuary.

Leviticus 4:4-6

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What can we learn about the Day of Atonement from the Old Testament that is applicable to Christians today?

The day of atonement was very somber. The people were to stop their work and put all their attention on the services for that day.

“In the typical day of atonement, every man was required to afflict his soul before God. He was not to afflict the souls of others, but the work was between God and his own soul.” Signs of the Times, The Christian’s Hope 1884

Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.

And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God.

For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.

Leviticus 23:27 – 29

The high priest alone was to prepare himself to enter the Most Holy place where the shekinah glory of God dwelt ; to complete the work of moving the sin out of the sanctuary to a scapegoat. In type, the penalty for sin was moved from the sinner to the sanctuary and then to the scapegoat. Thereby, the sanctuary was cleansed, signifying the end of sin.

And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:

And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

Leviticus 16: 19 – 22

and thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou hast made an atonement for it, and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it.

Exodus 29:36

Keep in mind, all of this was meant to demonstrate the final end of sin and what is taking place in heaven now. The writer of Hebrews could see this clearly and makes the connection between the services before the cross and those after the cross. Both have sanctuaries, high priests, and a work for the sinner. But it is Christ that works for us now, not an earthly priest.

Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Hebrews 8: 1 -2

So what is Jesus doing for us now? He is mediating for us.

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Hebrews 8:6

Many Christians do not feel a need of a mediator in heaven. But, if that were the case, why would Jesus identify himself as a mediator?

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

1 Timothy 2:5

This mediation, as with the first, deals with the seriousness of sin. Just because we have received Christ does not mean we do not sin. When we do sin, we have an advocate that mediates for us in heavenly places:

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

1 John 2:1

It is God’s desire that we do not sin, but we know that we often do. Jesus provides us a way to deal with the sin in our live AFTER we have received Him. Many think that once they have gone down front and are baptized that there is nothing more. But Jesus save us not only from the penalty of sin (i.e., eternal death), but the power of sin in our lives. We don’t have to be slaves to sin and bad habits! This is good news!. Jesus can save us completely! He does this through his work as a high priest in interceding for us.

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:25

I once gave a Bible study on the 4 P’s of salvation to demonstrate how Jeus saves us to the “uttermost.” He saves us from the:

Penalty of sin (When we receive Him, repent, and turn from our life of sin.)

Power of sin (This is the mediation he does for us in the heavenly sanctuary. Once we have been reborn, the liar stops the practice of lying, the adulterer becomes faithful to their spouse. In other words the born-again heart has a different view of sin….This is all the work of Jesus working in us.)

Presence of Sin (Often God will take us away from the temptations of sin, but one day when He comes, He will take us to the place where He is now (heaven). This place has not sin. We will no longer have it nearby to tempt us.)

Propensity of Sin (When Jesus wipes away all sin and we live in new glorified bodies, the propensity to sin will not be present. Although we will continue to have free will, we will not desire rebellion and sin because we have seen what it can do and we are constrained by the love God demonstrated. BTW, the Lord can do that even now!)

________________________________________________________________

As we will see next time, the cleansing of the sanctuary has to do with the final actions to rid the earth of sin. It has to do with judgement and sealing his servants. Because when He comes, Jesus brings His reward with Him.

Blessings until next time.

Answers From Scripture – A Jesus Journey

Tag Archives: 10 commandments

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^{By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all}

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"He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. Colossians 1:28

A Misunderstanding About the Sabbath

Son Of Man-And Lord

Additions and Traditions

The Sabbath From The Beginning

Jesus Created The Sabbath

Jesus’ Connection with the Sabbath-Summary:

Religious People and the Sabbath

Worship and the Sabbath

Jesus’ Connection With You

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By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all

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"He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. Colossians 1:28

^{By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all}