Bible Discussion Thread

I am doing a Bible study and a whole chapter is dedicated to The Sabbath day, the study says the Sabbath is Saturday (not Sunday as I have always believed) and that as its one of Gods Ten Commandments, I am sinning if I dont keep Saturday holy. The study provided various references both Old and New Testaments. People I talk to and listen to have said this died with the coming of Jesus, but dont we still have to follow the Ten Commandments today? I am uncertain, I am praying about this and seeking Gods guidance. Can you help?

Thank you

Ani

Ani,

James 1:5,

Exodus 20, Exodus 31:12-17, note Exodus 31:16,17, Exodus 35:1-2, Leviticus 16:29-34, Leviticus 23, Leviticus 24:8,9,

Leviticus 25, Deuteronomy 5, Matthew 12, Matthew 28:1-9, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:52,53,54,56, John 19:31, Mark 1:21,

2Chronicles 36:20-21, Isaiah 58, Jeremiah 17, Amos 8, Matthew 25:31-46, Mark 3:4, John 5:10,16 hypocrisy & cruelty, John 7:22,23, Malachi 3:5,

Nehemiah 10:31, Nehemiah 13:14-27, Isaiah 56,

Colossians 2:16,

Hopefully these are all helpful in your study & Bible Study.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my question. I will spend time reviewing the references you have provided. God Bless... Ani

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Fourthly, the Ten Commandments were given to Israel & were binding upon them. Some of their objectives were:

a. to reveal the Holiness of the Eternal God to His people, Israel: Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 20:7-8.

b. to set Israel apart as distinct from all the other nations: Exodus 19:5.

c. to reveal man's sinfulness: Galatians 3:19. Although the Law is "holy, just & good ( Romans 7:12), it did not provide salvation for the nation of Israel; and it cannot provide salvation to anyone who wants to or tries to keep the Law. No one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin ( Romans 3:20; Acts 13:38-39).

d. to show to humanity that not one person can fully keep the Law but everyone falls short of God's Standard of Holiness. Realizing that, should cause us to cast ourselves upon a Merciful God for His Forgiveness. When Jesus came, He fulfilled the requirements of the Law completely and by His death fully paid the penalty for their breaking it ( Galatians 3:24; Romans 10:4). Therefore, by His Obedience, He was qualified to be the accepted Sacrifice for all mankind, for all of our sins ( Hebrews 10:10-12). If Jesus failed in fully keeping the Law, He would have been disqualified as a Savior - all mankind would be forever stuck in the quagmire of their sins & hell would be the destiny. But He was raised from the dead to show His Father's acceptance, our justification & deliverance ( Romans 4:23-25).

I hope you can see Ani, that even though there was nothing wrong with the Law, even keeping the Sabbath by Israel, anyone who puts themselves under the Law (i.e. to find forgiveness or acceptance by God by it), is doomed to fail. Our Rest - continual rest (Sabbath) is now found in Jesus & not in Law-keeping & we can only be subject now to the Holy Spirit who enables us to fulfil both the spirit of the Law & finding the true rest in Christ Jesus ( 2 Corinthians 3:6-9; Romans 8:1-4).

Thankyou Chris for taking the time to reply to my question and providing so much detail and references, I will spend some time reviewing the information you have sent me. God bless you ... Ani

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Hi Ani. GiGi has shared accurately with you and I would like to add some more thoughts for your study & consideration.

I'm unsure where you obtained this particular Bible study book from, as it's clearly slanted towards 'keeping of the Law'. Does your Church support this teaching or are you doing this study by personal choice?

Firstly, the Jewish Sabbath has always been the Saturday (from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday) & was given to Israel as part of the other commandments for them to observe ( Exodus 20:8-11). Why was this particular Command given? It was the seventh day when the LORD ceased from His Work of creating & it was for a remembrance when God brought out His people "with a mighty hand & a stretched out arm": i.e. from the perennial state of bondage & hard labor in Egypt to a time of liberty & rest. Even when Israel collected their food (Manna) while in the desert, they were not allowed to gather it on the seventh day ( Exodus 16:19-30), indicating the sanctity of the Sabbath Day.

Secondly, the Christian observance of Sunday, is not a redefining of the Jewish Sabbath - it is what is termed, the Lord's Day ( Revelation 1:10), or the First Day of the Week ( Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2) - never the Sabbath.

Thirdly, the Church is not required to observe the Jewish Sabbath as we were never in bondage in Egypt & brought into Canaan. We were however, once in bondage to sin & the flesh & now given a glorious forgiveness & release into the Lord's Rest. See Matthew 11:28-30 and Hebrews 4:1-11. Not only is the Christian given Christ's Peace in his heart, but also a resulting rest that comes only from Him. And yet, there is also a coming rest ( Hebrews 4:9), where the word here is 'sabbatismos', or Sabbath Rest: a rest in God's Presence that will be one continual Sabbath Rest, when our earthly toils & hardships are finally over.

Dear Ani, I think that we are to obey all of the Commands that Jesus and the apostles affirmed as binding on the Christian believer. But Jesus and Paul both have removed the obligation to keep a Saturday Sabbath, because we have entered into the 'rest" promised of God through salvation by faith. The other commandments, Jesus spoke extensively about in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 are binding because they are how we are to love God and others. The Sabbath was made for man, not for God, with the intention that we have rest from our labors.

Thank you GiGi for responding to my question and providing your insight. I will reflect on your answer and continue to pray for God's guidance. There have been others who have generously offered similar opinions and Bible references, I will review all responses and details and I know I will be guided by the Holy Spirit. What a blessing to have a community of Christians willing to spend time to help and support each other. Bless you ... Ani