Brother Bob said:
I think Jesus made a few adjustments about keeping the Sabbath. Anyway, why not answer the following scripture instead of excuses? I know you have read this scripture and was wondering how you dismiss it? There are plenty others to go with it.
1Jo 2:4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
When Christ came into the world and when he died on the cross and rose again the third day, the world changed entirely. Before folk were saved by the keeping of the Law. Not by the keeping of the commandments, for the commandments could not bring life, only death. In that as soon as a person broke just one of those commandments they became guilty of all. For the Commandments were and still are God's absolute standard for the sons of men and if any one of these commandments were broken, then that meant death.
But God also provided a way of atonement. That part of the law where the Jews had to sacrifice a lamb to atone for their sins. Moreover, salvation was only possible through the Jews, God's chosen race for this purpose. For Jesus said, "Salvation is of the Jews".
When Christ came however, things changed. His coming heralded salvation through grace and through his precious blood which he shed on the Cross at Calvary. For we are told, "The Law came by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. The commandments still remain, for they are God's ultimate standard for man and they will remain until the end of time.
But we are told, " the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." No one was ever justified by the works of the law and never shall be, for we are under grace. For again we are told, "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." and also "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works", and the reason? "lest any man should boast." And again "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them."
But here is the wonderful thing that has happened with the coming of our blessed Lord Jesus
"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us."
So it is evident that from the Scriptures that no man is saved by works, or by the keeping of any part of the Old Testament Law. For if that were so, then not only would we be debters to the whole of the Law. But we would also be under obligation to enter salvation through the Jewish race and most of us here I should think, judging by the way we are talking, are not Jews.
But having said all that, folk are right when they say that his commandments are not grievous. Not only those we call the "Ten Commandments". But also the commandments and words of Jesus that we received from the beginning.
But my dear friends we are also told the manner of keeping these commandments.
"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." This is significant that the apostle should emphasise this table of commandments and not the first table. Because it is here at this very point that our sincerity shows. For most of us can feign love towards God and we can make a great show of religion and of our devotion towards God etc. But here is where it tells if his commandments are not grievous or if they are. Here is where heart religion comes into its own.
True, if we are Christians, then his commandments are truly not grievous to us. But neither can we glory before God for keeping them. For we shall never be acceptable to Him if we rely upon them for salvation. For if we rely upon the commandments to save our souls, then we I am afraid will be bitterly disappointed on judgement day. For it is Christ alone who has saved us from the curse of the law and we can
never again be condemned by the law. For we have passed from death unto life.
My dear friends, Paul the apostle wrote these words,
"all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."
The law is right and good if we keep it in its proper place. Our salvation is not dependent on the keeping of it. If it were, then I'm afraid we are all lost. But it is written that "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them." Not that we should keep them in a legalistic way as the unlightened Jews (not all Jews were unenlightened) and trust in those laws to save us. For that was never their purpose and never will be. But to keep them in a spiritual way in our hearts. And above all to demonstrate that we love his commandments by our love for one another. For by this commandment the world shall know that we are his disciples.
commandments. The Sabbath is not part of the NT church. Worshiping the Lord is, but it does not matter what day and no laws are associated with it. That is why we cannot be under the law anymore, for to break one is to break them all.