The Sabbath Day, Should You Keep or not Keep?

[Esaias]

The contrast throughout Galatians is between those Gentiles who had become Christians, and those Jews who taught that they (the Gentile Christians) must be circumcised and "keep the law" to be saved. There is evidence here and in Colossians of syncretistic gnostic Jews attempting to subvert apostolic Christianity, but the primary dilemma or choice if you will facing these Galatian believers is some form of Judaism vs Christian, apostolic faith.

Therefore it seems more likely that the "two covenants and the two "Jerusalems" and the two "children of Abraham" and the two "mothers" represent that same dichotomy. Both women and both children had a connection to Abraham, but one was temporary, based on bondage, and according to mere flesh. The other was age-lasting, based in freedom, and according to the Divine Word of Promise effected via the Spirit.

The two Jerusalem's are likewise both cities claiming covenanted status with God as the place where His Name is located, but one was in bondage and a persecutor of the other who was free and being persecuted.

So it seems that the two covenants most likely are the old, and the new. The old had been broken by Israel (hence God ordained a new one) but the remnant of Judah and her companions were clinging to the old marriage, and demanding the nations join it as well. But that would be like living after a divorce as if there had been no divorce. Lawfully, the marriage was severed and ended, so the woman could be married to another (the resurrected Christ) - see Paul's argument throughout Romans 6-7.

So, again, the issue seems to be "what is the basis of your covenanted status with God? Is it fleshly circumcision and adherance to the Sinaitic Covenant? Or is it spiritual circumcision of the heart in Christ?"

Note, there is nothing in Paul's argument(s) to suggest obedience to the commands of God is somehow nullified by the new covenant. In fact, much of Romans is expressly dedicated to refuting such an antinomian idea.

[Aquila]

I find the practice of Sabbath a blessing. However, I find that any effort to imply requirement or accusation of disobedience an affront to Grace.

To me, it's a devotional practice, the moment I make it a binding requirement, the blessing seems to cease, and I find my focus on the Sabbath and not Christ.

I also began a personal practice of praying three times a day (morning, noon, and evening), based on this verse:

Psalm 55:17King James Version (KJV)
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

It too is a joy, until I seek to make it a requirement or an act of obedience.

The spirituality of seeking Sabbath vs obeying Sabbath are worlds apart.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I find the practice of Sabbath a blessing. However, I find that any effort to imply requirement or accusation of disobedience an affront to Grace.

To me, it's a devotional practice, the moment I make it a binding requirement, the blessing seems to cease, and I find my focus on the Sabbath and not Christ.

I also began a personal practice of praying three times a day (morning, noon, and evening), based on this verse:

Psalm 55:17King James Version (KJV)
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

It too is a joy, until I seek to make it a requirement or an act of obedience.

The spirituality of seeking Sabbath vs obeying Sabbath are worlds apart.

In other words, you want to obey YOUR will rather than Someone Else's? "I love to do ABC, but the moment God tells me that I ought to do ABC, I no longer want to do it"?

With all due respect, that is no different than saying "I believe in and love Jesus, but the moment anyone says I MUST believe and love Him, I reject such a notion, and may even backslide just to prove to myself *I* am still in charge of my life decisions."

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Esaias

In other words, you want to obey YOUR will rather than Someone Else's? "I love to do ABC, but the moment God tells me that I ought to do ABC, I no longer want to do it"?

With all due respect, that is no different than saying "I believe in and love Jesus, but the moment anyone says I MUST believe and love Him, I reject such a notion, and may even backslide just to prove to myself *I* am still in charge of my life decisions."

Further, we can see how Grace actually works here.

The message of Grace is to surrender your will, it is to live a life of "Not my will, but Thy will be done." It's called taking up your cross, your execution stake, and marching with Christ to the Place of the Skull - Golgotha - and laying down YOUR life, YOUR self-will, in exchange for God's. It is about you getting out of the driver's seat and letting Jesus do the driving.

But so many have become Christians because it pleases THEIR will to do so. Their religion is no different after their spurious conversion than it was before, for THEY are still in charge of their life. They perform acts of piety and religion, not because it is RIGHT, not because they wish to do God's will alone, but because it pleases them and their carnal mind. They obey as long as it is pleasing to them, but the moment God's Word confronts them on some area they have left undone, the dig their heels in and slide backward, like a stubborn backsliding heifer who has decided "I will NOT go the direction my master tells me to, just because."

Such persons are unconverted. They have not died to SELF. They are sensual, meaning they are controlled by what FEELS PLEASANT to their senses. They do not "live by every word of God" but instead live by their own passions, desires, lusts, and opinions. Even if they have a great outward display of religion, their religion still consists entirely in self-pleasing, rather than God-pleasing.

Such persons need to go to Calvary and die to self, and live to God.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Further, we can see how Grace actually works here.

The message of Grace is to surrender your will, it is to live a life of "Not my will, but Thy will be done." It's called taking up your cross, your execution stake, and marching with Christ to the Place of the Skull - Golgotha - and laying down YOUR life, YOUR self-will, in exchange for God's. It is about you getting out of the driver's seat and letting Jesus do the driving.

But so many have become Christians because it pleases THEIR will to do so. Their religion is no different after their spurious conversion than it was before, for THEY are still in charge of their life. They perform acts of piety and religion, not because it is RIGHT, not because they wish to do God's will alone, but because it pleases them and their carnal mind. They obey as long as it is pleasing to them, but the moment God's Word confronts them on some area they have left undone, the dig their heels in and slide backward, like a stubborn backsliding heifer who has decided "I will NOT go the direction my master tells me to, just because."

Such persons are unconverted. They have not died to SELF. They are sensual, meaning they are controlled by what FEELS PLEASANT to their senses. They do not "live by every word of God" but instead live by their own passions, desires, lusts, and opinions. Even if they have a great outward display of religion, their religion still consists entirely in self-pleasing, rather than God-pleasing.

Such persons need to go to Calvary and die to self, and live to God.

And furthermore, this is the heart of true legalism, this idea of ME. Going about to establish their own righteousness, such self-centered and self-directed persons have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. God is a means to their ends, religion is what they feel they should do in order to get something they want. If such persons ever thought they could get it by some other means, they'd drop their religion in favour of the new thing.

Why? Because they are all about SELF.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Esaias

In other words, you want to obey YOUR will rather than Someone Else's? "I love to do ABC, but the moment God tells me that I ought to do ABC, I no longer want to do it"?

With all due respect, that is no different than saying "I believe in and love Jesus, but the moment anyone says I MUST believe and love Him, I reject such a notion, and may even backslide just to prove to myself *I* am still in charge of my life decisions."

Notice, you didn't admonish seeking more of the Lord in prayer. You didn't encourage, noting that true blessing is when one obeys out of love over duty. You didn't even say you'd pray for me. You rushed to accusation and judgment.

And that spirit is why I can't commit to Sabbath keeping. You become a venomous snake the moment someone shares an emotion, a mere emotion or opinion, that differs from your "doctrine of power play".

You became the viper that legalism is so known for. You might parade around like a holy man every 7th day... but you've totally lost your cool here, because if obedience isn't measurable and under your control, you freak out.

The odd thing is... my post wasn't "against" Sabbath keeping. It was based on my personal experience of loving devotion vs. duty.

Something so many of you have long ago forgotten.

There is more SELF in your response to me, than there is in my expressing that a loving devotion provides more blessing in my life than Pharisaical obedience.

[Aquila]

I now challenge ANY Sabbath keeper to find ONE verse in the NEW TESTAMENT that COMMANDS Sabbath keeping.

Stand and deliver or admit defeat in this debate.

[Raffi]

Aquilla, my dear brother,

I am so impressed with your heart toward the Sabbath, and your wonderful insight concerning the three daily prayers. As far as I am concerned, you are already far ahead of many other brothers and sisters. I can see in you that He is calling you to come up higher in Him. To enter into the obedience that is borne from resting-faith, that faith that does by simply relying on His Spirit. Your concern about being legalistic holds you back from your surrender, but your heart is right to be cautious and that reveals your spirit's sincerity to do only that which pleases Him rather than that which pleases yourself.

But as I said before, I want to encourage you to let go of the anxiety about legalism. You are not being legalistic if you are being obedient from a heart that simply wants to please your Creator. Indeed, that heart is EXACTLY what The Creator is looking for.

Also, don't worry about the legalists among Sabbath-keepers. There are as many "legalists" on the other side of this debate. There are legalists about Justification-By-Faith. There are legalists about Grace-Only. There are legalists about Holiness. There are legalists about Pentecost. There are legalists about Oneness Baptism, exuberant worship, New Birth Theology, Standards, and hair-length. People are rubbed the wrong way by fellow kosher-keeping Christians who get in your face and have a mean spirit about it (and who can blame them). But I myself have been just as offended by so-called "christians" who get up in MY face with a similar arrogant mean attitude and brag about how they are free in "Christian Liberty" do eat what they please. Sometimes, I don't know who is more arrogant about their position. So I let it go. I try not to worry myself with the meanies, the hypocrites, the "legalists", or the know-it-alls. For me it is like this . . . I read The Bible. If The Bible tells me that I am supposed to believe and/or do such-and-such, I just obey it. If I have some confusion about what is being stated, I study it out as best I can and THEN I obey it. I don't worry about what everyone else thinks or says. I never think of doing so as "narrow-mindedness" or as "legalism". I simply think of it as obedience in faith. How can I go wrong if it is Bible? And if at The Day of Judgment I stand before my Lord, am I going to be turned away for my faith in His Word and my willing obedience? If the Abrogationists are all correct, and God ended His Guidelines and Instructions for Righteousness (i.e. The Torah), will He be a just judge to condemn those who from a clean and pure heart sought to submit to Him in as genuine a way as to simply obey His Word, even if they were wrong theologically? If they trusted their Justification in their own righteousness, Yes. But if they obeyed His Word as best as they could out of an unsullied and pure trusting faith, what shall He do then? I believe that is the definition of true Saving Faith -- a trust in Him and in His Word that issues forth in simple obedience.

We Christians . . . we obey in many areas of Truth according to that same principle and think no wrong of it. I don't know of any Apostolics who are afraid to submit to Baptism out of fear that in doing so they may be doing it legalistically. I don't know any Apostolics who skip assembly and stay home because they are afraid that if they go to church too much, it may become ritual, mechanical, or meaningless. I don't know any Apostolics who withhold God's Tithe because they say it is an "Old" Testament Law practice. If The Bible tells us to pray three times a day, brother, do it. It is better to obey Him than to meet Him in that Day and be accused of being dis-obedient. Don't stop doing it just because you are terrified that you may be giving too much credence to the letter of Law. The Bible does not condemn obedience to the Letter. It condemns keeping the letter devoid of The Spirit. When we worship Him we must do so in Spirit AND in TRUTH (Jn. 4:24). His WORD is TRUTH (Jn. 17:17). Anything less than BOTH Spirit AND Truth is half-hearted. He wants us to love Him with ALL our heart and strength . . . and that is Old Testament (Dt. 6:5-6).

Imitate our Lord and Messiah. He was baptized (Mat. 3:13-17). He endorsed tithing (Mat. 23:23; Lk. 11:42). Many places in The Gospel tell us he prayed early in the morning each day. AND it was his manner to faithfully assemble on the Sabbath Day (Lk. 4:16). He is our example for how we are to live. Is it "legalism" to model your life after The Master, to imitate HIS manner? We believe that The Master's own life is itself a commandment to us.
But if you need more. If you need Chapter and Verse. Just hold on . . .

[Raffi]

If you want Chapter and Verse from The NEW Testament . . . I think I can help you out.

But before I go on to address what I think IS a New Testament injunction for Sabbath-keeping, let me point out a couple of additional points.
I am prepared to show that Jesus/Yeshua did NOT resurrect on Sunday. Nor did he resurrect any time AFTER nightfall on Saturday evening. Although I am not going to go into it HERE unless someone really presses me on it, I am prepared to demonstrate that in the Greek texts, Messiah resurrected on Saturday evening just prior to sunset, after having been buried the previous Wednesday evening (not Friday). But that is a whole topic in and of itself. I mention it only because some people claim that Jesus sanctified Sunday by resurrecting on Sunday.

There is not a single New Testament Commandment sanctioning the first day of the week. NOT ONE. Neither is there a single Passage in The Bible that states that The Master replaced or cancelled out the Sabbath. If he HAD done such a HUGE thing, why is there not one single Passage which mentions it? Also, there is not one single prophecy of The OLD Testament which anticipates a cancellation of God's Sabbath. In fact, Isaiah 56:1-6 informs that The Sabbath will remain during the New Covenant dispensation (or as some see this as the Millennium, either way). Jesus in Matthew 24:20 upheld the authority of the Sabbath for those in the Tribulation (this applies equally for Preterists, Historicists, as well as Futurists). He apparently didn't get the memo that the Sabbath would be cancelled (sarcasm mine, sorry). He said, the Sabbath was made for MAN, not man for the Sabbath (Mrk. 2:27). So the Sabbath may not just have been for Hebrews, but for ALL Humankind as was ALL The Commandments (Eccl.12:13). And this Divine Truth is binding and universal. The Master taught us that not even the equivalent to a period or coma is going to pass from God's Law as long as Heaven and Earth continue in existence (Mat. 5:18-19).

We say that "JESUS is our Sabbath rest." He is our Sabbath, but he is also the LORD of THE Sabbath (Mat. 12:8; Mrk. 2:28; Lk. 6:5).

But, is there a more explicit, more direct commandment for the Sabbath in The NEW Testament?
I believe that there is, but we have not noticed it before.
Allow me to point it out for you.

[Esaias]

Raffi, when you are able, please start a thread explaining your understanding of the crucifixion- resurrection timeline. I'd like to discuss that with you, if you feel inclined.