Colossians 2:15-17 Why feast the Sabbath?

The above did not make any sense at all.

 

Those being judged at Colosse were probably Jewish Christians who were unwilling to give up the observance of certain requirements of the law. They were not yet clear as to the status of OT regulations under the new covenant and Christ's fulfillment of these legalistic requirements.

"Christ's triumph in resurrection from the dead" cancelled out the accusations of the law against the Christian and disarmed the demonic powers of their authority.

The ceremonial laws of the OT were shadows or symbolically depicted the coming of Christ; so any insistence on their observance is a failure to recognize that their fulfillment has already taken place.

Since we died with Christ to the basic principles of the law, "why , as thought you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch! (vs.20-21)

 

Paul does not argue that they should not be observed. RAther Paul argues the same point that Christ argues in Matt 7 that judging others is forbidden. He also points to the fact that the shadow ceremonial Sabbaths -- rooted in sacrifice -- pointed forward to Christ as "shaddows" of what was to come in the sacrifice of the Messiah.

The point being that instead of being concerned about how others will judge you regarding a ceremonial Sabbath - it was much better to fix your eyes on "The WORD" which is Christ in BOTH the OT and NT!

IN Christ,

Bob

 

Are you weak in the faith, are you a Jew who recently came to know Christ? If so, then I should not judge you according to Scripture for your Sabbath observence.

Are you a long time Gentile Christian who feels Saturday "more sacred than another" and are "convince in (your) own mind" of it, then I should not judge you.

Are you forceful and insistent that others who observe Sunday change to the Sabbath, then I'm coming against you with the WORD and judge you?

 

You are doing some bad things to Romans 14 bro!

I am simply saying that Christ the Creator should be honored INCLUDING the day HE sanctified and made holy.

People are free to take it or reject it.

I personnally choose to honor Christs day that HE SAID He made holy and that HE says ALL MANKIND will honor in the New Heavens as "ALL MANKIND COMES BEFORE ME to Worship from SABBATH to SABBATH".

In Christ,

Bob

 

Ditto.

 

Romans 14:
4: Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
5: One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Notice that the entire chapter is on judging one another (Verses 4,10,13). The issue here is not over the seventh-day Sabbath which was part of the great Moral law, but over the yearly feast days of the ceremonial law.

Jewish Christians were judging Gentile Christians for not observing them. Paul is simply saying, "Don't judge each other. That ceremonial law is no longer binding".


Collosians 2:
14: Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15: And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
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:
17: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Does Collosians 2_14-17 do away with the seventh-day Sabbath? Not at all. It refers only to the sabbaths which were "a shadow of things to come" and not to the seventh-day Sabbath.

There were seven yearly holy days, or holidays, in ancient Israel which were also called sabbaths. These were in addition to, or "beside the sabbaths of the Lord" (Leviticus 23:38), or seventh-day Sabbath.

These all foreshadowed, or pointed to, the cross and ended at the cross.

God's seventh-day Sabbath was made before sin entered, and therefore could foreshadow nothing about deliverance from sin. That's why Collosians chapter 2 differentiates and specifically mentions the sabbaths that were "a shadow". These seven yearly sabbaths which were abolished are listed in Leviticus chapter 23.

 

The devil has been trying to get preachers to say that God's ten commandments have been done away with. But when will it ever be right to break God's sixth, eighth, or ninth commandments and kill, steal or lie? All ten stand or fall together because it's a sweet love relationship between you and God. If you break one, you break them all (James 2:10, 11). It's like two lovers — its either all or nothing.


Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 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 5:17, 18. Heaven and earth haven't passed away yet. It's true that we are saved by God's free grace and not by our obedience (Ephesians 2:8). I praise God that His salvation is a free gift which we can receive by simple faith. It's also true that if a person willfully, persistently disobeys God, it shows that he really doesn't love God enough to obey Him, and hasn't received this free gift. He hasn't been born again. God's true people will be obedient, happy people who love Him so much that they would rather die than sin against Him anymore! Obedience becomes a joy when you're walking with Jesus!


It's new to many people that Moses received more than one set of laws. On the first trip up the mountain, God gave him the ten commandments which He says will stand forever. At another time Moses received the ceremonial law. This law regulated the killing of animals. It was "added because of sin" and pointed forward to the sacrifice of the Son of God on the cross. It was to keep fresh in the people's minds that some day the real sacrifice for sin would come. The innocent little lamb represented "The Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29. Since Jesus really came and died for us, it's easy to see that this ceremonial law is no longer needed.


There was another set of laws that God gave to His people. They were the health laws as found in Leviticus 11, and Deuteronomy 14. Because of these, God's people were the healthiest people in the world! They didn't get the horrible diseases of the other nations, or even like we have in our world today. Since our stomachs and bodies are the same as theirs, those who follow these wise, and scientific health laws today also reap the delightful benefits. They just don't get the terrifying cancer, heart attack, etc., like others. Our God is so kind! It makes you fall in love with that lovely person — Jesus.


It was the ceremonial law of Moses that was done away with on the cross. This law had animals sacrifices, meat and drink offerings, and seven ceremonial sabbaths that rotated through the year and fell on various days of the week.


All of this pointed forward to the death of the Saviour on the cross and is of no value to us now. These ceremonial meat and drink offerings, new moons and sabbath days were a "shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." Colossians 2:16, 17. They were all a "shadow" of the cross. Paul calls it the "handwriting of ordinances" and makes it clear that it was "nailed to His cross." Colossians 2:14. I'm glad that we don't have to kill animals anymore aren't you? The seven ceremonial sabbaths that rotated through the year were abolished with the rest of the ceremonies and were totally separate from the "Sabbath of the Lord" that came every week. Not only does God want His people to observe His weekly Sabbath here on earth in a happy relationship with Himself, but the Bible says that we will still be keeping it even in heaven! Isaiah 66:22, 23.

 

THE CEREMONIAL LAW
AND
THE TWO COVENANTS

The distinction between the Moral law of God (the ten commandments), and the ceremonial law is plain.
Look carefully at the difference in the two. The one with animal sacrifices was nailed to the cross, the other will stand forever.

10 Commandments

1) Is called the "royal law" James 2:8.


2) Was spoken by God.
Deuteronomy 4:12, 13.

3) Was written with the
finger of God. Exodus 31:18.

4) Was placed in the ark.
Exodus 40:20, Hebrew 9:4.

5) Is to "stand forever and ever.
Psalms 111:7, 8.

6) Was not destroyed by Christ.
Matthew 5:17 & 18.

Ceremonial Law

1) Is called the law contained in
ordinances. Ephesians 2:15.

2) Was spoken by Moses.
Leviticus 1:1-3.

3) Was written by Moses in a
book. 2 Chronicles 35:12.

4) Was placed in the side of the
ark. Deuteronomy 31:24-26.

5) Was nailed to the cross.
Colossians 2:14.

6) Was abolished by Christ.
Ephesians 2:15.

The two great commandments are "Love the Lord with all thy heart and all thy soul and all thy mind." The second great commandment is "Love your neighbor as yourself." God's ten commandments are hanging on these two. The first four, on the first table, tell us how to love God with all our heart. (Have no other Gods, not worship images, not take God's name in vain, and remember His Sabbath day to keep it holy). the last six, on the second table deal with loving our neighbor as ourselves. (To honor our parents, not kill, not commit adultery, not steal, not lie, not covet).

THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS

The old covenant was ratified by the blood of animals (Exodus 24:5-8 and Hebrews 9:19,20) and based upon the promises of the people that they would keep God's law.
The new covenant is based on God's promise to write His law in our hearts and it was ratified with the blood of Christ. (Hebrews 8:10 and Jeremiah 31:33, 34).
Hebrews 8:10 — "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 minds, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people."

 

...there. That ought to explain things