Nehemiah Chapter 8 Discussion Page 2

Hello Dan. Thank you for your comments.

A person cannot judge another man for not keeping the Sabbath in the Christian Church under the New Covenant. Under the Old Covenant, a person was required to judge such a person and stone them to death.

However, in the New Covenant given to the Christian Church, the Elders of a Church are indeed required to judge a man who is sinning such as by committing fornication.

At 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, there is a case of a man who is living in a state of sexual immorality. The Apostle Paul tells the Elders of that Church to judge and disfellowship that individual. Notice:

1 Corinthians 5: 12, 13 "For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."

That unrepentant, sinful person had to be judged and be thrown out of the Church. Yes, those who break the serious laws of the New Covenant, such as fornication - a serious sin - were judged and expelled.

However, no Christian could be judged for not keeping the Sabbath since the Sabbath was only given to Israel in the Old Covenant. The Apostle Paul and the other Apostles never commanded the Church to keep the Sabbath. If the Sabbath was that important, why would he not do so? Colossians 2:14-16 explains why. I invite you to read it.

As for Matthew 5:18, I would suggest you also read the other portion of that statement recorded at Luke 16:16:

Luke 16:16 "The law and the prophets were UNTIL John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it."

The Old Covenant was until John. Then, Jesus at his death with his blood, instituted the New Covenant or New Testament - laws found in the books of Romans to Revelation to the Christian Church - the so-called New Testament.

I would also invite you to read Jeremiah 31:31-33 and Luke 22:20.

Hello Dan.

I would suggest that the "commandments" referred to in 1 John 5:2, 3 are not the 10 commandments nor the Mosaic Law commandments. If that were so, then Christians would be obligated to circumcise their children as per God's commandment at Leviticus 12:3. The New Testament said that circumcision is not required at Acts 15. Yet, that was a commandment of God. If we are to obey all God's commandments, then why do we not go up to Jerusalem three times a year as was commanded by God's commandment at Deuteronomy 16:16. Why do we not stone adulterers and adulteresses as commanded by God at Leviticus 20:10. That was his commandment.

I would suggest that the "commandments" of God referred to at 1 John 5:2, 3 are the New Covenant commandments that were given to the Church through the Apostles via revelations such as to the Apostle Paul and inspiration as others wrote the New Testament - Romans to Revelation. In those instructions, we are never commanded to keep the Sabbath Day holy nor to keep the kosher laws. In fact, we are commanded the opposite:

Colossians 2:16 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:"

Therefore, Christians do not obey the Old Covenant Mosaic Law given to ancient Israel but only to the New Covenant Laws given to the Church via the Apostles through the epistles of Romans to Revelation. Jeremiah had prophesied such at:

Jeremiah 31:31, 32 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that 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 that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

Christians are no longer under the Old Covenant Laws (the 10 commandments followed by approximately another 600 laws). Jeremiah prophesied:

Jeremiah 31:31, 32 "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that 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 that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

You will notice that the New Covenant would NOT be like the Old Covenant. The New Covenant was inaugurated by the shed blood of Christ as per:

Luke 22:20 "Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."

Under this New Covenant, the Laws being stipulated namely in Romans to Revelation, we are never commanded to keep the Sabbath Day holy. In fact, we are commanded the opposite.

Colossians 2:16 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:"

Before the Mosaic Law was given at the time of the exodus from Egypt, the Bible never says that the faithful kept the Sabbath Day - whether that be Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc. Notice when the Sabbath was given and to whom:

Nehemiah 9:13, 14 "Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments: And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:

Ezekiel 20:10-12 Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them. Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them...

The word "them" is referring to ancient Israel.

Brother Dan, may CHRIST IN US grace us with HIS wisdom and HIS understanding.

Luke 5:39 No man also having drunk OLD WINE straightway desireth NEW (wine): for he saith, THE OLD IS BETTER.

John 2:1 And THE THIRD DAY (represents Christ resurrection) there was a MARRIAGE IN CANA OF GALILEE.....(represents New Jerusalem)

John 2:2 And BOTH Jesus was called, and his disciples, TO THE MARRIAGE.

John 2:3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, THEY HAVE NO WINE.

John 2:9 .... and the governor (God the Spirit) of the feast called (CHRIST) the bridegroom,

John 2:10 And saith unto him....but thou has kept the good wine until NOW.

The old (wine: laws written in tablets of natural stone) were replaced by new (wine) laws written in the heart.

Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Matthew 22:38 This is the first and GREATEST COMMANDMENT.

Matthew 22:39 And the SECOND is like unto it, thou shall LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF.

Matthew 22:40 ON these TWO COMMANDMENTS HANG all the law and prophets.

Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart will I GIVE you, and a new spirit will I put in you....

Ezekie 36:27 ....and CAUSE YOU to walk in my statutes....

Hi Sammy,

I'm sorry but I don't understand your statement. Could you be more clear with me what you meant? Thank you.

God Bless.

Oops. 1 Timothy 1:8-10.

Richard you need more wool on those suits !

My brothers Chris and Dan,

Don't let me get in between your conversation which is great. Which we all do to help one another. Just to put my feelings about the couple things being discussed about the Sabbath day and the law.

I wanted to write this a while back as now is my time to post this. We who follow Christ should strive to keep every day Holy not just one day of the week.

About the law I see it as the Ten Commandments are a good guide for us to follow. As none of them are grievous to follow and are all good. Even going through the 613 Mitzvot laws numerous times most are good moral things to follow. Of coarse we are past trying to follow every single one as we are under the New Covenant and Jesus Christ came for us. Things like sacrificing animals, dietary laws(which some may still like to follow), stoning people, etc.

As stated by someone else when Jesus Christ was asked "the greatest commandment". Him giving the two commandments to hang all the law and the prophets. Surrounding true love for God and one another. If we follow true love with a pure heart this truly will guide us down the straight and narrow path to truly want to do what pleases God and others around us. Producing good fruit in the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 13.

Just a couple scriptures I like about the law thing. Romans 3:31, 1 Timothy 8-10.

God Bless you my brothers and sisters in Christ. Have a wonderful day!

Brother Chris,

You are ignoring tons of scripture regarding God's Commandments.....

I will comment on a few of your comments.

You ask - What then do we do with Scriptures (e.g. 1 John 5:2,3) that say we must obey God's commandments? That is a good question! If we believe what you are saying, then we need to ignore this scripture. In addition, there is a multitude of scripture including scripture from Jesus that asks us to follow God's commandments, are we to ignore all of this scripture too?

Yes, we must obey God's commandments. When we fail and sin, which all will, we can now be forgiven though Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ's death does NOT cancel God's commandments. God's commandments guide us and provides moral direction. Yes, apostle John and others followed Gods commandments and based on their scripture we should be doing the same.

You ask - Are John & others pointing the believer back to the letter of the Law that kills or rather to the Spirit Who gives life ( 2 Corinthians 3:6)? Yes, John and others are pointing back to the Law/10 Commandments. There is no easy way to get to heaven. If we ignore the commandments and live in sin....we perish!

You quote this scripture: It is the Spirit's Law in our hearts that frees us from the Law of sin & death ( Romans 8:2). This scripture from Paul sounds great but it does NOT provide us with a free ticket to sin. The scripture is about the Spirts Law - is the Holy Spirit residing in our heart that helps us to avoid sin.

You state: To give consent to both, that which is opposed to each other, weakens (even negates) the power of the New Covenant through Christ's Blood & the keeping of the Sabbath ever stands as a centrepiece to cause both error & division.

Ok, so we can believe in the new modern popular doctrine pointing to minimizing or eliminating the need to observe God's commandments or we can be (old fashioned) and believe in the bible and the 10 Commandments. I choose the latter.

God Bless

Thank you Michael for that clear & concise response. If the foundations of biblical teaching or doctrine are not properly laid, the building cracks will develop & bring destruction. I find that many Christians, whether because of Church teaching or from their own surmisings, look at Scriptures such as John 14:15 & immediately apply the obedience to the Law for all people, that which was given only to Israel.

To do so, several things have to be overlooked or rejected: to whom was God speaking in the OT & to whom was Jesus speaking prior to His crucifixion? Only to Israel, none else. Gentiles weren't even in the picture pertaining to the Law & never have been. What was the reason for giving the Law? God's code of conduct (spiritual, moral & social) for His people, His Mark of separation from the heathen - Leviticus 26:46, (as also with circumcision: Genesis 17:10), & to demonstrate to Israel a godly standard that as sinners they could never fully obey ( Galatians 3:21-26).

But then we get verses such as Matthew 5:17-19 which are often used to support the eternal nature & applicability of the Law to all people. To those under the Law, indeed, the Law is current & will be used against them. To those who have escaped the curse of the Law & have found new life in Christ, have learned that Christ has indeed fulfilled all the Law, forever abrogating it & thru His Death ushered in a new & better Covenant ( Hebrews 8:6-13).

What then do we do with Scriptures (e.g. 1 John 5:2,3) that say we must obey God's commandments? Are John & others pointing the believer back to the letter of the Law that kills or rather to the Spirit Who gives life ( 2 Corinthians 3:6)? It is the Spirit's Law in our hearts that frees us from the Law of sin & death ( Romans 8:2). To give consent to both, that which is opposed to each other, weakens (even negates) the power of the New Covenant through Christ's Blood & the keeping of the Sabbath ever stands as a centrepiece to cause both error & division.

Dear Brother Michael,

I will agree that many of the old ceremonial laws, including animal sacrifices, and other old customs that were previously required have been eliminated because they are no longer required in order to receive God's forgiveness, as it was during the old testament days before Christ.

Christ became the sacrificial lamb. God gave us the ultimate gift and total sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ. And now, through Christ we can be forgiven and saved.

You quoted Paul in Colossians 2:16

"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:"

True no man can judge another. The judging will be performed by Christ. But this scripture you quoted above does not eliminate the need to follow God's 4th commandment! This scripture simply states they we should not judge one another. You conveniently pulled out the word Sabbath and then you interpret it to mean we can eliminate the need to follow the 4th commandment! I read and understand this scripture in a different way than you. To me, it means if a brother or sister does not keep the Sabbath we are not to judge them.....Christ will judge.

Romans 14:10

"But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ."

We will all eventually be judged by Christ. I will continue to believe and strive to follow God's 10 Commandments, including the 4th Commandement: Keep Holy the Sabbath. God's 10 commandments will always exist, until heaven and earth pass.....this is from the mouth of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:18

"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."

You have quoted the apostle Paul in scripture regarding the Sabbath, and I am quoting Jesus. If there is a conflict between them I will respectfully defer to Jesus.

God Bless

Hello Dan. Thank you for your response.

Jesus himself was born under the Mosaic Law and, therefore, was required to keep the Mosaic Law. That is why he was circumcised on the eight day as per the Mosaic Law. Notice that in the following verse. Jesus was made (or born) under the law - the Mosaic Law.

Galatians 4:4 "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,"

As long as that Mosaic Law was in force, the Mosaic Law (the so-called Old Testament) was in force. Jesus therefore kept his Father's commandments of that Mosaic Law. But, the Holy Scriptures has said that God would set up a New Covenant that would not be like the Old Covenant. Notice...

Jeremiah 31:31 "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that 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 that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:"

It was not the Apostle Paul who changed God's Law to his people - it was God himself as per Jeremiah 31:31. However, the Apostle Paul, writing under inspiration of God, gave the first-century Church the new directives or laws governing that New Covenant. He never instructed the Christian Churches of the first-century to keep the Mosaic Law such as circumcision or the sabbaths. In fact, he instructed them the complete opposite. Notice again...

Colossians 2:16 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:"

You cannot judge a Christian for not keeping the sabbath days - as per the New Covenant that has been set up between God and his present-day people - the Church of God.

I welcome your further thoughts, Dan. Good day.

Thank you Brother Dan....

Ask any prelate (employee: priest, bishop, cardnal, and even pope, and they will tell you that they changed the holiness of the Sabbath Day, in fact they are quite proud of it....

See Daniel 7:25 "He shall speak pompous words against the Mostg High . Shall persecute the saints of the Most High.

And shalol intend to change times and laws."

I ask you which of God's Ten Commandments has to do with time? Only the Fourth Commandment, which starts out with "Remember", which is really the only one of the Ten that man wants to forget. and do away with. Also, consider that man can not really change or do away with any of God's Ten Commandments, they cab only "Think" to do so....

God os not caught "flat footed here" He knew that a power would try this in thefuture....

Living under the new covenant today does not take away from God's 10 commandments. Many people today quote and misquote apostle Paul's writings. This simple truth is that the apostle Paul does not have the authority to cancel any of God's commandments.

Jesus respected his Father and his commandments and Jesus did not cancel any of the 10 commandments. Please read and try to understand the following scriptures spoken directly by Jesus Christ while he was on this earth.

John 14:15

"If ye love me, keep my commandments."

John 14:21

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

John 15:10

"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."

Matthew 5:17

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

Matthew 5:18

"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."

Paul and the other disciples honored and followed the 10 commandments including the 4th commandment. See apostle John's scripture below:

1 John 2:3

"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments."

1 John 5:2

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments."

1 John 5:3

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

2 John 1:6

"And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it."

Please read the scriptures and pray for understanding.

God bless

Thank you Michael!

I am not now a member of any church. I spend my Sunday's in prayer all day, out in the mountains hiking, taking long runs, maybe stopping for a coffee at a local Cafe, reading my bible, and feeling joy and happiness at the people around me. I am in constant prayer on Sundays. I bless all the churches that preach the gospel, but i am not now a church-goer in the traditional sense. In this life, God has steadfastly delivered me of a religious spirit, and I feel free. I am willing to go back to church if he calls me. But so far, not. I know many will judge me on this. Perhaps I could be evangelizing more. God will call me. Blessings!

Hebrews 8:13 "In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away."

(Christians are not under the Old Covenant or Testament but under the New Covenant or Testament.)

Luke 22:20 "Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."

(Jesus set up or inaugurated the New Covenant or Testament with his shed blood.)

Colossians 2:16 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:"

(The Apostle Paul, in all his letters, never instructed the first-century Church to keep the Sabbath - not once. In fact, he said that no man can judge another concerning the sabbath day, nor meat (food) or holydays such as the Day of Atonement in which sacrifices were commanded to be offered by God. Many of the laws of the Old Covenant or Testament are not kept by the first-century Church - such as circumcision, the Festival of Booths, the law requiring men to go up to Jerusalem three times a year, purification laws (washing) for when a person touches a dead body, etc.)

Sorry, but I do not believe your answer, answers my question. Is a person's job a reason to break one on God's Ten Commandments, written by God, not Moses, on tables of stone? In Exodus 20:8-11, God specially states that the Sabbath (Saturday to us) is His Holy Day, "The Sabbath is My Holy Day"....

THanks Chris---I found some information but was not as complete as you sent to me. I thank you very much It helps to understand the bible if you can find out all words and meanngs

Jesus healed people on the Sabbath. One reason why the Pharisees wanted to have him arrested.

Church happens when the doors are open and people attend. Society today, some people have to work on Saturday or Sunday. They need jobs to support family. What is wrong with attending Church at mid-week for those people?

If we become intolerant and hard on these matters, we would be as guilty as the Pharisees.

My opinion....

In the Bible Saturday is the Sabbath. So why do we keep Sunday as a holy day? Read Exodus 20:8-11....

If God wrote all the Ten Commandments withHis own finger, on tables of stone, how dare we change it....

Could it be that the Roman Catholic Church changed it during the "Dark Ages" when it reined supreme?

Something to think about, don't you agree....

The following brief extract is from the Web: Spikenard comes from a flowering plant in the honeysuckle family & is found in the Himalayan ranges of China, Nepal & India. An amber-coloured aromatic essential oil is extracted from the plant's underground stems and over the centuries has been used as perfume, traditional medicine or in religious ceremonies from India to Europe.

Jesus had his feet washed with pure nard in marthas house. WHAT IS NARD?

Anthony,

You are correct. 1 Timothy 2:11-15 gives us instruction concerning function in the church, how God has designed it to be. Verse 11 says "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection."



That is the number one command. What is the woman's role in the church? Learn, in all submission, or subjection.

In Verse 12 Paul says But I suffer not, that is I do not allow a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man.

We're talking about doctrinal issues in the church. A woman is not to teach, nor to take the authenticity of man, don't take over for him, but to be in silence. That's just what he said. They are to learn in silence. The reason is found in Verse 13.

The church is to function in the order God has designed.

Now to the church in Corinth, Paul wrote this: But I would have you to know that the head of every man is Christ. And the head of the woman is the man. And the head of Christ is God.



There is a type of chain of command that God has established way back in Genesis Chapter 3. And that command is followed in the church.



It's not talking about women not having the same ability, or being better than a man or a man being better than a woman. It has nothing to do with that.



We're talking about responsibility of function. God has chosen the man to pray, and to teach. And He's chosen the woman to be the man's helpmate and to represent the church.

This is God's proper order for the church. Putting the woman in a position of authority over the man in the church would be out of proper order, and would go against how God intended the church to function.

We're talking about responsibility, not one person is better than the other. And God says that if the man functions this way, and the woman functions this way, the church will be fine, and the home will be fine!

05/07/2021

According to 1Corinthians 14: 34 , 1 Timothy 2: 11-14 women are not to teach Bible to men. However, I see

many churches women are teaching Bible today. Is this correct?

Hi Cam, If I may add unto some of the scripture S Spencer has already provided. The key to our faith and understanding is to read the KJV bible on a daily basis and a lot of our questions will be answered.

Mark Chapter 10:14-15, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Acts 1:7-11, And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Hi Cam

Mathew 28:1

Mark 16:1-8

Luke 24:1-12

John 20:1-18.

Should answer your Question about whether Jesus is still in the grave.

Infact there's no shortage of info on Jesus in the scripture, It's a matter of believing!!

You would have to read all the scripture and believe in what's given.

God bless.

What are "Booths" Nehemiah 8: 14 thru 18

Is the verse about living in huts still observed today? Or is this only Jewish law?

Nehemiah were courageous to take the stand that he did, because he had faith, we can do the same as God people if we keep the faith, God fought his battle ,and he will fight our.