Whole Bible Christianity

It's a God Thing

 

The Sabbath in Scripture - Origins, Apostles, Paul, Jesus, Observance

The Sabbath was given to all before the Fall - A Day Off for Everyone

Sabbath Came Before the Fall

God made the Sabbath at the end of His creative efforts, and was the first to celebrate or rest on it. It applies to everyone, the same as the Law as a whole. Ask yourself: "Why does God need to make a law about a day off?"

The Law is Eternal

The Law (and the Sabbath) did not just spring into existence at Mt. Sinai. What is right is always right, and what is wrong is always wrong. There are over 40 instances in the Scriptures of the Law being followed or used long before Isra'el escaped from Egypt.

One Law, One Body

Not only has the one Law been around since the beginning, so has the body of people who belong to God and follow His ways. Misguided people everywhere keep splitting things apart that are supposed to be kept together. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians tells us there is one God, one Lord, one faith and one body. There are no splits in the Scripture that I can see. The one body of the Christ has one set of behavior guides. There are not two bodies, and there are not two Laws.

The Law Doesn't Save

Of course. Following some rules cannot earn us enough points with God for Him to grant us salvation. The Law never saved, although we could argue that God's command for everyone to repent is a "law." His Laws are living oracles, as Stephen called them in Acts 7. Believers have the benefit of huge blessings simply by doing what He says. If they are misused trying to earn merit from God, then they don't work so well. But in love, as a lifestyle after salvation, they work perfectly.

Would You Ignore A Divine "Invitation?"

God invites everyone to follow His ways. But what do we mean by "invitation" from Elohim? If God invites us to do something, is that really something we can turn down? Can we ignore the source of light, life and love and still consider ourselves reasonable and rational? If we refuse His invitation, doesn't that mean there is only one other place for us to go?

Just Ordinances...

...true Laws, good statutes and commandments. That's how Nehemiah refers to the Law and the Sabbath. The seventh day of the week (look at any calendar) is true, good and just. When we take the day off, this is what is connected to our practice.

The Gospel at Mt. Sinai

Did you know the Law was also the Gospel? At least that's what the writer of Hebrews said. In 4:2 he tells us that the gospel was preached to them just as it was to us. What was the problem? It was not united with faith, otherwise known as trusting obedience. They didn't do what He said to do. Neither is the church. Could that be why divorce, suicide and other problems are just as prevalent in the church as they are in the world?

Don't Let Anyone Disqualify You

Paul encourages us in Colossians 2:18 not to let anyone keep us from obeying the Law and the Sabbath because of arguments over opinions of observance. This is exactly opposite the modern teachings of the church. He wants us to stay away from philosophy, empty deceit, human precepts and teachings according to human tradition, all of which he calls "elemental spirits of the world." The actual meaning of the passage is to seek the things that are above (such as Sabbath), and not the things of the world.

Update August 2016: This article has been reshuffled a little since it was originally placed on our website 16 years ago. The content is still basically the same; we just moved sections around and created some new headings for clarification. The printable version pdf is still arranged as it was before. A large part of the content has made its way into our book, Whole Bible Christianity.

 

Printable version of The Sabbath in Scripture

 

Our Youtube video on a similar subject: Point by Point through Freedom from Sabbath Keeping

 

This video is a response to an article by Ray Comfort he titled 'Freedom from Sabbath Keeping' showing exactly where he is wrong Scripturally. You might not like taking a day off. So don't take it. But don't tell me the Sabbath and the believer's privilege of following it isn't biblical.

 

For tips or suggestions on how to observe the Sabbath check out another article by Bruce titled Christian Faith and Practice Through...Sabbath.

 

The Origins of the Sabbath

The Sabbath originated with God before the fall and a long, long time before the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai, although the Sabbath and the Law are intertwined.

By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. Genesis 2:2,3

Sabbath and the Law are Intertwined

God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it. He did not need to rest because He does not run out of energy as we do, but He rested anyway which serves as an example to us all. "Be still and know that I am God" is one of the purposes of the Sabbath. We rest because He rested and gave the day to us. Any word He gives us could be considered a command or a Law, but His Law is full of love and mercy. The Sabbath is part and parcel of the Law, because it is part and parcel of God's Word to us. I think the reason for giving the Law (again) at Mt. Sinai was that God had to remind the Israelites of His Laws because they had been forgotten.

Law before Law (or Law Before Mt. Sinai)

There is much evidence that the instructions that were eventually part of The Law were practiced long before the Law was "given." This is why I think it's obvious The Law was actually "re-given" on that mountain. Look at this list and see if you don't agree.

  1. Genesis 2:2-3 – Sabbath
  2. Genesis 2:17 – Choose life, or God’s way, not your own knowledge.
  3.  Genesis 2:23-25 – One man, one woman for marriage.
  4.  Genesis 3 – Redemption, blood sacrifice, and atonement.
  5.  Genesis 4:4 – acceptable and unacceptable sacrifices
  6.  Genesis 4:10 – manslaughter penalties; avenger of blood; see Numbers 35.
  7.  Genesis 6:5, 11-13, 17 – Flood to destroy innocent people – without the Law?
  8.  Genesis 7:2, 8 – clean and unclean animals on the ark.
  9.  Genesis 8 – Noah’s burnt offerings, uses clean animals.
  10.  Genesis 9:4 – Don’t eat blood.
  11.  Genesis 9:6 – Don’t murder; equal justice; compare to Numbers 35:33.
  12.  Genesis 9:20-27 – Uncovering your father’s nakedness is wrong.
  13.  Genesis 14:20, 28:22 – Tithing or giving.
  14.  Genesis 17:13-14 – Circumcision given as sign of covenant (in Genesis 15).
  15.  Genesis 19:4-7 – Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed for homosexual sins.
  16.  Genesis 20:3 – Adultery wrong.
  17.  Genesis 22 – No sacrificing children.
  18.  Genesis 22:13 – Abraham makes a burnt offering.
  19.  Genesis 24:3, 28:1 – Don’t marry Canaanites (Deuteronomy 7:3).
  20.  Genesis 26:4, 5 – Abraham obeys God’s charges, commandments, statutes, laws.
  21.  Genesis 27, 29:26 – Law of primogeniture (firstborn inherits) Deuteronomy 21:15-17 and Genesis 48:18.
  22.  Genesis 30 – wrong to cheat a worker of his wages (Leviticus 19:13).
  23.  Genesis 31:35 – Rachel prevents finding idols while in the ‘manner of women.’ Compare to Leviticus 15.
  24.  Genesis 31:54 – Jacob sacrifices.
  25.  Genesis 35:2 – Jacob has the family put away gods, purify themselves and change garments. Compare to Exodus 19:10, 14; Lev. 14:9, 15:3; Numbers 8:7; John 13:12; Heb. 10:22.
  26.  Genesis 35:14 – Jacob and drink offering with an altar and oil.
  27.  Genesis 38:6-26 – Er and Onan and the law of providing for an heir.
  28.  Genesis 46:1 – Jacob sacrifices again.
  29.  Ex. 4:26 – Circumcision again.
  30.  Ex. 11 – Passover.
  31.  Ex. 12 – additional mentions of circumcision.
  32.  Ex. 13:2 – The firstborn belong to Adonai, compare to Exodus 22:29, 27:26; Numbers 3:12, 13, 16-18.
  33.  Ex. 13:16 – “It shall be for you a token upon thy hand…”
  34.  Ex. 16:4 – Manna, “that I may prove them, whether they walk in my law or no.”
  35.  Ex. 16:26-28 - “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments & laws?”
  36.  Ex. 18:16 – Moses uses and teaches God’s laws before Sinai.

Another example of "Law before Law" is that murder was obviously prohibited before Moses gave the Law, and murder is still prohibited. In Genesis 26:4 & 5 notice too that more than 430 years before the giving of the Instructions (Law) at Mt. Sinai, Abraham was commended and blessed because he obeyed God's Laws:

"I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws." Genesis 26:4,5 NASB

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One Law For Everyone

Lest you think that the Law (and the Sabbath) only applies to the Jewish people, the Word testifies that there was to be only one Law for everybody:

One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD. One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you. Numbers 15:15,16 KJV

God also tells us we are not to do what is right in our own eyes....

Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes. For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you. Deuteronomy 12:8,9 KJV

Nor is anyone allowed to add to the Word, or take away from it:

"You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Your eyes have seen what the LORD has done in the case of Baal-peor, for all the men who followed Baal-peor, the LORD your God has destroyed them from among you. But you who held fast to the LORD your God are alive today, every one of you. See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him? Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?" Deuteronomy 4:2-8 NASB

Those who argue for the elimination of the Law by "fulfilling" have trouble with the Ten. So they try to get around this difficulty by saying that somehow just the dietary and ceremonial Laws have been fulfilled, but not the Moral Law. They really can't explain how some were eliminated and some were not, nor can they explain where these headings are in the Word. But God says not to follow the ways of the nations and live:

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'I am the LORD your God.' You shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes. You are to perform My judgments and keep My statutes, to live in accord with them; I am the LORD your God. So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; I am the LORD." Leviticus 18:1-5 NASB

Some may argue that this is addressed to the "sons of Israel." Okay, so does that mean everyone else CAN do what was done in Egypt or Canaan? Obviously that does not make sense. Besides, if we (followers of Jesus) are not children (sons) of Israel, I don't know who is.

If we (sons or children of Israel) obey the Lord, we do not get the diseases the Egyptians got:

And He said, "If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer." Exodus 15:26 NASB

Even the New Covenant is between God, Israel, and Judah and involves the giving of a soft heart, a new spirit, and God's Law (we are "grafted in" to an existing tree according to Romans 11):

"And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God. But as for those whose hearts go after their detestable things and abominations, I will bring their conduct down on their heads," declares the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 11:19-21

"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances." Ezekiel 36:26,27

Some think that the Law and/or the Sabbath was just for the Jews, but I think the Word has shown in the references under The Origins heading that God's Word is for everyone, even the Torah. One might get the impression that only the Jews are being chastised and encouraged to follow His Word including the Sabbaths, but in places such as Isaiah 56 verses 2, 4, and 6 the Lord includes the stranger and the foreigner (both the same thing).

Everyone Breaks the Law

Not only does God say one Law for everyone, but notice in verse 27 of the next reference that the people in the Land before Israel had "defiled" the land by doing all these "abominations" (against the Law). Also in verse 29 "whoever" does "any of these abominations" shall be cut off, with or without the Law, Jewish or not.

26 'But as for you, you are to keep My statutes and My judgments and shall not do any of these abominations, neither the native, nor the alien who sojourns among you
27 (for the men of the land who have been before you have done all these abominations, and the land has become defiled);
28 so that the land will not spew you out, should you defile it, as it has spewed out the nation which has been before you.
29 'For whoever does any of these abominations, those persons who do so shall be cut off from among their people.
30 'Thus you are to keep My charge, that you do not practice any of the abominable customs which have been practiced before you, so as not to defile yourselves with them; I am the LORD your God.'" Leviticus 18:26-30 NASB

Isaiah tells us that ALL the inhabitants of the earth have violated the Law and broken the covenant, but how can this be unless all are subject to its requirements?:

The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left. Isaiah 24:5,6 NASB

But this squares with Romans 3:9 where Paul says ALL were under sin:

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 

Israel is said by God to have rebelled against His Laws in Ezekiel 5:6 even more than the nations, which, along with Isaiah 24:5,6 above shows that everyone on the whole earth was expected to follow God's Laws.

'But she has rebelled against My ordinances more wickedly than the nations and against My statutes more than the lands which surround her; for they have rejected My ordinances and have not walked in My statutes.' NASB

Everyone Obey the Law

Fortunately God extends an invitation to the wicked to follow His commands. Righteousness and justice are also equated to His statutes (including observing the Sabbath):

"But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?" Ezekiel 18:21-23

"When I say to the righteous he will surely live, and he so trusts in his righteousness that he commits iniquity, none of his righteous deeds will be remembered; but in that same iniquity of his which he has committed he will die. But when I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die,' and he turns from his sin and practices justice and righteousness, if a wicked man restores a pledge, pays back what he has taken by robbery, walks by the statutes which ensure life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of his sins that he has committed will be remembered against him. He has practiced justice and righteousness; he shall surely live." Ezekiel 33:13-16

As children, our motivation to follow what our Father says is that we love Him:

"You shall therefore love the LORD your God, and always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments." Deuteronomy 11:1 NASB

The King of Israel (does this apply to Jesus?) was to make a handwritten copy of the Law:

"It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel." Deuteronomy 17:19,20 NASB

Curses are given if the Law is not followed (not serving the Lord with joy and a glad heart):

"So all these curses shall come on you and pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you would not obey the LORD your God by keeping His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. They shall become a sign and a wonder on you and your descendants forever. Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things;" Deut. 28:45-47

David was known as a "man after God's own heart," and he says this about himself...

"The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not acted wickedly against my God. For all His ordinances were before me, and as for His statutes, I did not depart from them. I was also blameless toward Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity." 2 Sam. 22:21-24 NASB (See also Psalm 18)

Note that "iniquity" is literally "no law" (Greek anomias).

And later David advised Solomon on the way to succeed in 1 Kings 2:3:

"Keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn,..."

Then later still Solomon tells us what "wholly devoted" to the Lord means:

"Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day." 1 Kings 8:61 NASB

Nehemiah (9:13,14) says that God's Law (and the Sabbath) is good:

"Then You came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven; you gave them just ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments. So You made known to them Your holy Sabbath, and laid down for them commandments, statutes and law, through Your servant Moses." NASB

God tells us in Psalm 50:16-21 that hypocrisy (saying but not doing) is wickedness, and that those who think His silence equals approval for "lawlessness" are mistaken:

But to the wicked God says, "What right have you to tell of My statutes and to take My covenant in your mouth? For you hate discipline, and you cast My words behind you. When you see a thief, you are pleased with him, And you associate with adulterers. You let your mouth loose in evil And your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son. These things you have done and I kept silence; you thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes." NASB

And He also tells David in Psalm 89:33,34 that He will not alter His Word:

"But I will not break off My lovingkindness from him, nor deal falsely in My faithfulness. My covenant I will not violate, nor will I alter the utterance of My lips."

And, according to Ezekiel 44:23,24 the Priests in the Millenial Temple will observe His Ways:

"Moreover, they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. In a dispute they shall take their stand to judge; they shall judge it according to My ordinances. They shall also keep My laws and My statutes in all My appointed feasts and sanctify My Sabbaths."

So, the origin of the Sabbath was in Genesis, with God observing the first one; the Sabbath and the Law are wrapped up together; there was a lot of Law before Law; there was to be one law for everyone; everyone breaks the Law; God invites everyone to observe His Law; and we will be following the Law again in the Millennium Kingdom.

The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13,14

The Observance of the Sabbath

Thus says the LORD, "Preserve justice and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come and My righteousness to be revealed. How blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who takes hold of it; who keeps from profaning the Sabbath, and keeps his hand from doing any evil. Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, 'The LORD will surely separate me from His people.' Nor let the eunuch say, 'Behold, I am a dry tree.'" For thus says the LORD, "To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, and hold fast My covenant, to them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial, and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which will not be cut off. Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to Him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the Sabbath and holds fast My covenant; even those I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples." The Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares, "Yet others I will gather to them, to those already gathered." Isaiah chapter 56:1-8

Notice that justice and righteousness are equated to observing the Sabbath, and foreigners are invited to observe it. "Choosing what pleases Me" is the same as "holding fast My covenant."

"If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot, from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, and honor it, desisting from your own ways, from seeking your own pleasure and speaking your own word, then you will take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; and I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." Isaiah 58:13-14

What Jesus Did On The Sabbath

The list below says that He healed and ate food. But according to the text He only went against the "traditions of men" which had tended to drift from what God had instructed. Not a single one of these actions was against Torah. They could not have been or Jesus could not have been the Messiah. For Jesus' definition of what He was doing see Matthew 15:3, 6; and Mark 7:8, 9, 13.

  • Matthew 12:1 = apostles picked grain, not in the Law - but an interpretation of Law.
  • Mark 2:27 = Sabbath made for man; next verse Jesus is (I AM) "Lord of the Sabbath."
  • Mark 6:2 = Jesus teaches in the synagogue.
  • Luke 6:1-11 = teaching and healing on the Sabbath.
  • Luke 13:10-17 = healing on the Sabbath.
  • Luke 14:1-6 = eating bread and healing on Sabbath.
  • John 7:22 and verse following = circumcision on the Sabbath & healing on the Sabbath.
  • John 9:13-16 = Jesus applies clay and heals a man of blindness.

What Paul Did on the Sabbath

Mostly teaching. Teaching on the Sabbath day was never forbidden in the Word of God. However, Paul also spent time teaching "traditions." I wonder what those could've been?

  • Acts 13:14-16, 42 = Paul teaching on the Sabbath
  • Acts 16:13 and verses following = Paul teaches on the Sabbath
  • Acts 18:4 = Paul teaching on the Sabbath
  • I Corinthians 11:2 = Paul hands down traditions. Which ones? Could it be those in Galatians 1:14?
  • Galatians 1:14 = Paul holds to ancestral traditions.
  • II Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6; = Paul hands down more traditions.

Studying the Word is never considered "work" in the sense of making a living. Also, not only did Paul always deny breaking Torah, but if he taught disobedience to Torah then he was a hypocrite of the worst sort, even worse than he accused Peter of being. A cursory examination of the book of Acts shows Paul observing feasts (20:6,16), fasts (27:9), vows (18:18; 21:23-26), Sabbath (13:14,42,44, 16:13, 17:2, 18:4), circumcision (16:3), temple worship (22:17, 24:11,17,18), teaching from the Law and the Prophets (28:23), and keeping the Law (21:24, 22:3, 23:6, 24:14).

To add further consternation to those who insist that the Law is eliminated by fulfillment, Paul teaches traditions to the Corinthians, the Galatians, and the Thessalonians. It seems plain from Galatians 1:14 that he must be teaching them his traditions, that is, his "ancestral" traditions, probably those that held closely to the written word rather than the word of men.

What The Apostles Taught About the Sabbath

We need to be careful that, given the many scriptures quoted so far that are teaching positively about the Law and the Sabbath, we do not take a few scriptures in the New Testament out of context and use them to deny all those previous teachings. God does not change, and neither does His Word. If the Word appears contradictory, it is our understanding that is out of whack, not the Word. So look up the following references and read very carefully, and let us attempt to rightly divide the Word of Truth.

Romans 14

In Romans 14:5-8 Paul talks about observing days and so on, to (apparently) imply that the Sabbath is a "disputatious" matter. But if you back up a little and check out 14:1 two facts are very clear: (1) Paul is talking about men's opinions, not Torah (or Sabbath), and (2) he is referring to "not condemning" a person with weak faith, which doesn't have anything to do with whether or not Torah should be followed. A third fact is that many other people observe days and so on, not just the Jews. These facts cause the verses to convey a whole different meaning.

Galatians 3

In Galatians 3:1-14 the general tenor seems to dismiss the Sabbath observance (and by extension Torah). This reference does not speak of the Sabbath directly, but it does speak of the Law. However, if you read carefully you will see that Paul is teaching against using the Law for a purpose for which it was not intended, that is, to gain right standing from God sufficient for salvation (2,3). Go a little further ahead to 3:21 and see that the Law is not contrary to the promises of God, and in verse 23 Paul says that all (I think this means a-l-l-p-e-o-p-l-e) were shut up under the Law. This is not teaching us to ignore the Torah.

Galatians 4

Next we have Galatians 4:10, which, like Romans 14:5 and 6, is referring to observing days and so on. Again I point out that Jews are not the only one to observe days, months, seasons, and years. Why do we keep thinking that this applies only to Jews? Who is the book addressed to? And yet again I point out that if you look at this verse in context, you will see that Paul is referring to the "elemental things of the world" in 4:3, which could not possibly refer to God's Word in the slightest degree. Also, in verse 5 and 6, Paul says Jesus "redeemed those under the Law that we might receive the adoption as sons." Does this mean only the Jews were redeemed? Of course not. According to verses above all persons were "under the law."

Colossians 2

When we get to Colossians 2:16-23, it is an easy one to understand if you look at verse 20, which mentions "elementary principles of the world," and verse 22 where Paul again is teaching against the "commandments and teachings of men." This is NOT God's Word as revealed in Torah. You know, a lot of trouble could be avoided if we just READ THE TEXT. AND, in verse 16, Paul says to let no man "act as your judge" which in no way shape or form teaches negatively about the Sabbath. Why, when this verse could mean that we shouldn't let men tell us NOT to observe the Sabbath, do we take it to mean that we shouldn't obey the Sabbath? Could it be that we are naturally disobedient children and desperately looking for any excuse to avoid obedience?

Hebrews 4

Hebrews 4:1-11 comes up a lot to defend lawlessness, but for the life of me I can't see why.

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: "AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS"; and again in this passage, "THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST." 
Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS." For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

THEY had the "good news" preached to them just like WE did, but the Word did not "profit them" because it was not "united with faith." They "failed to enter because of disobedience." It seems pretty clear to me that "faith" is equal to "obedience" while "no faith" is equal to "disobedience." Therefore, "faithful obedience" will cause us to enter His rest while "unfaithful disobedience" will cause us to "fall." If the gospel they heard had been united with faith then by implication it would have profited them, and, if we do not unite faith with the gospel we hear then it will not profit us either. The plain, literal meaning here is that the Sabbath rest is entered by "obedience" (or "faith"), and there is a warning for us not to follow the previous example and "not enter" or disobey.

Summary of The Sabbath In Scripture

Jesus Himself established the Sabbath in Genesis (He was the Word that Created), and He was the first to observe it. And it is obvious from many references in Genesis and Exodus that His Word (Law, Torah) was known by all and obeyed by few well before Mt. Sinai, and penalties enforced on all for disobedience (why else was the world destroyed by a flood before the Law was "given?"). All through His Word, the Sabbath (and any other commandment, statute, ruling, law, or instruction) is spoken of as the Standard against which behavior is measured. He constantly appeals to Man to repent of following his own ways and turn to God and His Ways. Sabbath, and by extension Torah or any Word that God gives, is His Ways.

We cannot hide our disobedience in Romans 14 and the perceived teaching on "disputatious matters." By definition, a disputatious matter would be any matter that God had not already given us instructions for. Good grief, if a disputatious matter was defined as anything people argued over then I suppose every thing God ever said is a "disputatious matter." If He has already given a specific instruction, then there should be no argument or "disputation." If He hasn't given an instruction, or we can't determine His will from the existing instructions, then it becomes an opinion and open to interpretation. It becomes "disputatious" when we fight over something that God didn't spell out. We ignored His Word in the beginning (Did God really say...?), fell away from an intimate relationship with Him, and allowed death to come into the world. Some people today are still asking, "Did God really say?"

We also cannot expect the Word to justify our refusal to observe His Ways by pointing to verses in the New Testament that appear to contradict or "change" the Word as already delivered by God through His servants in the Old Testament. Unfortunately for some, the Word is a complete package that, taken as it was intended without fogging it's meaning with the doctrines of men, constitutes a crystal clear picture of what God requires of man. Paul does not teach against the Father's Word, he confirms it in the same fashion as Jesus does. Both of them attack the "traditions" that are built up around the Word and tear down the walls of separation that legalists even today continue to try and reinforce. For some, this is a bitter pill to swallow because it goes against pride; they keep thinking there must be some other way to get what they want without having to go through God.

The instructions that God gave us in the Old Testament are full of life, act as basic stepping-stones in the learning of more difficult concepts, show us our sin, and bring us to Jesus. As each command is discovered and applied, they provide rich nourishment, fullness, depth, and expanded learning and understanding and "knowing" God. I experience the peace of God by resting "in Jesus" on the Sabbath day. It is a shame that these benefits are stolen from new believers, and in their place we are given meaningless platitudes, empty philosophies, and useless traditions taught by men that lead people away from a true understanding of God and His Messiah.

I suggest that teachers who want to eliminate parts of my Father's Word from our consideration want to place themselves in the believer's life as the final authority. Instead of teaching independence (better still interdependence) or maturity, they want the believer to stay in a perpetual state of milk-induced dependence, immaturity and weakness.

For a fool speaks nonsense, And his heart inclines toward wickedness: To practice ungodliness and to speak error against the LORD, To keep the hungry person unsatisfied And to withhold drink from the thirsty. Isaiah 32:6 NASB

In order to remain the primary influence in a believer's life they deliberately keep him or her in a constant state of need, that is, a need for the teacher rather than a need for the Word.

As I've said before, if people don't want to obey God I guess that's their choice. But they shouldn't try to call the mish-mashed, lukewarm things that they do "scriptural," or sanctify their behavior by sprinkling it with parts of the Word like so much holy water, or say that they "have Jesus" without having actions consistent with that claim. These people are wolves in sheep's clothing, they are liars with seared conscience, rending and tearing by the misuse of the Word and denying the benefits and blessings of obedience to those who are untutored and weak. They are like a mirage in a waterless desert, promising life but delivering death.

Jesus said "If you keep My commandments you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love."

Let's not fool around with semantics - His commandments include those given in the Old Testament. We abide in the Vine and bear fruit as we do what He said; mere "mental acknowledgement" is not enough. We can't split up what's in the Word and call some of it New and some Old, because all of it comes from Jesus. If you want to "show Jesus" then do what He says. He has given us all of the Word for our benefit, and expects us to take the talents given and return to Him an increase. After all, He has removed the penalties (but not the consequences) for not doing His Word perfectly and given us the Spirit to lead us and strengthen us. What else do we need?

Therefore, dear friends, as you look for these things, do everything you can to be found by him without spot or defect and at peace. And think of our Lord's patience as deliverance, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you, following the wisdom God gave him. Indeed, he speaks about these things in all his letters. They contain some things that are hard to understand, things which the uninstructed and unstable distort, to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. But you, dear friends, since you know this in advance, guard yourselves; so that you will not be led away by the errors of the wicked and fall from your own secure position. And keep growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah. To him be the glory, both now and forever! Amen. (II Pet. 3:14-18 CJB)

May you be blessed by your obedience to the Word of the Messiah
Bruce Scott Bertram

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