Rejoicing In the Sabbath:

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Aquila

One has to understand the relationship between the Law of God and the Law of Moses. The Law of God is a prefect expression of holiness and God's intention for all of mankind. The Law of Moses kept the people from violating the Law of God, and provided a ceremonial way for attonement. In Christ we need no ceremonial attonement for sin (violation of the Law of God). We just turn to Christ. In Christ we are dead to the Law of God. Meaning we are not saved by keeping the Law. We are instead saved in Christ. Our born again nature leads us to desire to please God, obeying His Law is now in our nature, it is written upon our hearts.

The law of God is obviously the same thing as the law of Moses.

22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished , they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord , Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

The law of the Lord and the law of Moses are synonomus. They are NOT two separate things.

[Michael The Disciple]

I have spent the last three hours reading this entire thread. I must say the case for New Testament Christians to keep the Sabbath is extremely weak.

Aquilas MAIN point in the thread that the Law of Moses and the Law of God are different things is easily proven false. Let us concern ourselves with the Covenant we are part of. We are called to perfection. People are still thinking in terms of having A DAY of worship.

We are to be ABIDING IN CHRIST every day. We are to be spending time with him every day. As to the rest side of it as I stated early on most Americans have TWO days off per week. Not all but most. And practically ALL of them have at least one.

The claim that Christians met for Sabbath worship in Acts is a definite distortion. Go and actually read for yourselves the cases where Paul goes to the Synagogues on the Sabbath. I actually did years ago when challenged by the Sabbath keepers.

They were ALWAYS cases where Paul was going there to witness Yeshua as the Messiah to those who were dedicated to the Law Of Moses. Do yourself a favor and look them all up for yourselves. There are exactly ZERO scriptures where New Testament Christians are shown to be meeting on the Sabbath.

Most important is the absence of any command for us to do so as New Testament Gentile Christians. Neither one word of condemnation for breaking it in ANY of the various lists of sins given to us.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

The law of God is obviously the same thing as the law of Moses.

22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished , they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord , Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

The law of the Lord and the law of Moses are synonomus. They are NOT two separate things.

Michael, if you understand their relationship you will realize that they were interwoven, and yes, often spoken of in like terms. The terms "Law of God" and "Law of Moses" are not solid biblical terms of distinction. These are terms we use. But the concept is there...

For example, the Bible tells us that the "book of the law" was placed in the "side" of the Ark of the Covenant (Deuteronomy 31:26). However the "tables of testimony", the Ten Commandments, (Exodus 31:18) were placed "inside" the Ark of the Covenant, beneath the Mercy Seat (Exodus 40:20).

There IS a distinction, though they were related and interwoven in regards to application.

[Aquila]

Here's small tract that I thought was interesting on this subject. Please tell me your thoughts:

[mfblume]

Been away from the forum a bit. Catching up:

Originally Posted by Aquila

Historically ignorant.

People were excommunicated and severely persecuted after the Sunday edict. Who cares that early Christians were murdered over not worshipping on Sunday?

You twisted my words and intentions.

I meant it does not tint the view as to the fact that the early church never saw the first day as a sabbath. It affects not true understanding.

It's like saying the New testament believes Jesus died on a cross, and the Catholics demanded statements that it was a cross and not a stake, or you were killed. Their mannerisms and opinions on issues mean nothing to true doctrine.

Please do not twist my words again as though I am not concerned over people being killed. Man oh man..

The bottom line is that Gal 3:24- 4:12 teaches Sabbath was a jewish holy day not to be kept by the church. Period.

CLARKE:

Gal 4:10
Ye observe days - Ye superstitiously regard the Sabbaths and particular days of your own appointment;
And months - New moons; times - festivals, such as those of tabernacles, dedication, passover, etc.
Years - Annual atonements, sabbatical years, and jubilees.

GILL

Gal 4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. Lest the apostle should be thought to suggest, without foundation, the inclination of these people to be in bondage to the ceremonies of the law, he gives this as an instance of it; which is to be understood, not of a civil observation of times, divided into days, months, and years, for which the luminaries of the heavens were made, and into summer and winter, seedtime and harvest, which is not only lawful, but absolutely necessary; but of a religious observation of days, &c. not of the lucky and unlucky days, or of any of the festivals of the Gentiles, but of Jewish ones. By "days" are meant their seventh day sabbaths; for since they are distinguished from months and years, they must mean such days as returned weekly; and what else can they be but their weekly sabbaths? These were peculiar to the Israelites, and not binding on others; and being typical of Christ, the true rest of his people, and he being come, are now ceased. By "months" are designed their new moons, or the beginning of their months upon the appearance of a new moon, which were kept by blowing trumpets, offering sacrifices, hearing the word of God, abstaining from work, and holding religious feasts;

BW JOHNSON:

Gal 4:10-11

Ye observe days. These are specifications of how they were "turning back" to the Jewish law. Compare Col_2:16. The days are the Jewish Sabbaths. The months are the new moons; the times are the Jewish festivals; the years are the Sabbatical years. In observing these there was legal bondage to an obsolete system.