About the Sabbath 7th. day Gen. 2:2

[justaname]

Apparently we are at an impasse because I see no division in the Law as you do. From Jewish tradition, evident in how it is still treated today, there never was only 10 always 613 commandments. If any emphasis was ever made at all it was on the Great Shemah, they even post on their entrances to their homes, as I have explained and is also displayed in the text (Luke 10:25-28). Even though I have shown from the James passage nothing was ever hinted to the 10 commandments as sin but rather to (Leviticus 19:18) evident by (James 2:2-4 ) but you still want to point back to the 10. I have even displayed how scholars explain Paul's denunciation of having to maintain Sabbath practice, as to which you say they are wrong but you are right because of some elusive form of interpreting the text you use, instead of the plain manner and practice everyone else uses.

Using your logic from my perspective, again I do not separate the 10 from the rest, I would have to begin practicing all 613 laws which would throw me right back under the bondage of the Law, something Jesus died to free the Hebrews from and the Apostles taught against.

Hebrews 8:10

10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
After those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws into their minds,
And I will write them on their hearts.
And I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.

I do not Judge you in any manner, as well I will also say I do not see you as working for your salvation, only loving the Lord. :wub:
I only ask, if it is as I proclaim the Lord has not put in my mind or written it in my heart to observe the Sabbath as you do, to extend me the same favor in withholding your judgment against me, allowing that for our Lord.

Exodus 31:13

13 “But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.

Hebrews 8:11

11 “And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, And everyone his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ For all will know Me, From the least to the greatest of them.

The sign is no longer needed, nor do I believe it was for us.
Remember we Gentiles were brought in through the seed of promise (the Christ).

All in the Love of Christ,
Shalom

You're right in stating that that commandment comes from Leviticus. Which is why the commandment is called not new, but also is called new. It was revealed in the old times. However, the meaning of it was not understood until now, the deeper meaning of it, and how it is actually bound to the 10 Commandments.

It is not that the leviticus command is bound to the 10, rather it summarizes them.

 

[williemac]

In response to post #20, the sabbath indeed is not gone. However, the law is fulfilled in us who believe. This is not to say that we who believe are keeping it in order to fulfill it. It is specifically that it is fulfilled in us by our faith. Refer to Rom.10:4, which states that Christ is the end of the law to those who believe.
As I have shared from Hebrews ch.3+4, the sabbath rest is no longer a command that is to be kept but rather it is a promise that is entered into by faith. Ironically, it was a law at one time, making the keeping of it a "work". Here is the irony. A command to rest can never be kept by working.
There are those who reply to the scripture that says "love is the fulfillment of the law"...by twisting it to say that if you keep the law, this is how you love God. However, in order for that to be the case it would be more accurate to say that the law is the fulfillment of love. But where does it say that?
Furthermore, here is another angle for you. The law was given as a requirement. They were required to keep it as their part to play in the covenant with God.. This law, originally given on Mnt. Sinai, came down on tablets of stone, written by the hand of God. They were in His handwriting. But what does Col.2:14 say about that?...." ..having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross".
I marvel at how this passage gets twisted by those who say that the handwriting of requirements is our sin. O really? Our sin? We/they were required to sin?
But just what does it mean that these were nailed to the cross? Well it is quite simple. The law was given, as we see in Gal.3:19, because of transgressions. It is explained there that the law was given on Mnt. Sinai as a temproary measure, to tutor them; to teach them that they were sinners and needed a savior, namely the Seed to come. But now that the Seed has come, we/they are no longer under a tutor. THIS INCLUDES THE 4TH COMMAND. It was nailed to the cross, meaning that it was taken out of the way. It is no longer a requirement for us to keep, within the confines of the covenant we are in with God.

Concerning the covenant, the law is no longer man's responsibility or part to play. Our covenant with God is governed by grace, not law. Furthermore, it is entered into by faith, not by works.

If this subject is not understood within the confines of the covenant between man and God, it gets real confusing.

 

[day]

Saturday is not the only day in scripture referred to as a Sabbath. "Sabbath" was time consecretated to God, one aspect of which was rest from work for personal gain. Gathering together and group worship were other aspects.

Before the time of Jesus, God indicated Saturday as a weekly Sabbath by not providing manna on that day while Israel was in the desert. This changed with the death and resurrection of Jesus. After the Resurrection, Jesus met with his followers on Sundays, and the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples on a Sunday. This would indicate that God was choosing to come among us in a special way on a different day than before.

I believe we should stop our personal pursuits and meet with him. Every seventh day still proclaims God as Creator, and resting from our labors still shows that salvation is from God and not from our own works.

 

[Axehead]

Saturday is not the only day in scripture referred to as a Sabbath. "Sabbath" was time consecretated to God, one aspect of which was rest from work for personal gain. Gathering together and group worship were other aspects.

Before the time of Jesus, God indicated Saturday as a weekly Sabbath by not providing manna on that day while Israel was in the desert. This changed with the death and resurrection of Jesus. After the Resurrection, Jesus met with his followers on Sundays, and the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples on a Sunday. This would indicate that God was choosing to come among us in a special way on a different day than before.

I believe we should stop our personal pursuits and meet with him. Every seventh day still proclaims God as Creator, and resting from our labors still shows that salvation is from God and not from our own works.

There is no such thing as "personal pursuits" in Christ anymore. All that we do and all that we are we do as one "walking in Christ" and we do to the glory of God. We work for Him, not man. We don't compartmentalize what we do for the Lord and what we do for ourselves like turning on Christ or turning Him off. I once worked with a Baptist guy who said, you don't bring Christ to work. I politely disagreed with him and in retrospect, he should have brought Christ to work and every other place besides his Sunday service, as he ended up falling into adultery at work.

If you go on vacation, you are still to be walking and abiding in Christ.

Jesus is the Better REST of God. We receive Him as our Sabbath Rest and enjoy Him as our Rest everyday. You can be working very hard and very late hours and yet still be at complete REST in Him as much as you can be in a Sunday service. That is what the Spirit of God is able to accomplish in man.

For those that want to observe days and seasons, they have the liberty, too. For those who want to treat every day alike, the Scriptures do not teach any condemnation for those who do that. On the contrary, Liberty is what the Scriptures teach, not condemnation.

The thing is, observing a day of the week, does not necessarily mean that one is Resting in the Lord and abiding in Him. Neither, does it mean that those who do not observe days of the week are automatically abiding in Christ.

Every day proclaims God as Creator and Jesus Christ as Savior, not just one day a week.

Resting in the Lord EVERYDAY, proclaims that we are no longer pursuing our own works of righteousness.

There is no law that produces the Fruit of the Spirit. It is produced by the cooperation of the Believer with the Spirit of God, everyday, not just one day.

God chooses to be with us in a special way, everyday, because we need Him EVERYDAY!

Don't compartmentalize Jesus. He is not just for Sundays. If you are working on a hobby in the garage, your mind should be on things that are lovely and pure and praiseworthy. In short, you commune with and rest in the Lord everyday. This is walking in the Spirit....everyday. Don't short change yourself. Receive God's Sabbath REST each and everyday of the week. 24x7x365. Can you say, Hallelujah!!! You are the TEMPLE of GOD and Jesus is in you ALL DAY, EVERYDAY.

The 7th Day Sabbath brings man back in harmony with his Creator. It also brings all of creation into harmony as well, all harmoniously resting and worshipping the Creator on His Sacred Day. About considereing everyday alike, such a teaching is usually taken out of context:

Romans 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

This entire chapter is about doubtful disputations. It is not doubtful, that the Lord blessed and set the 7th Day Sabbath and set it apart for holy use in Genesis. And when that day was made, who was kept in mind? Mankind. God rested, with us in mind. Continuing:

Romans 14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

Doubtful disputations, as pertaining to food. That's what this entire chapter is about, and it's used out of context to say that people do not have to keep the Sabbath.

Romans 14:5-6 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the
Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Wouldn't this seem out of place, to be talking about food, and randomly switch to talking about the Sabbath? Why is a day mentioned, in the chapter about what you eat? Here's one clue:

Isaiah 58:4-5 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?

What is a disputation? A debate. Not only are they admonished in Romans not to judge one another in their eating of certain foods, they were to refuse to enter into debate about food, nor fasting, eating, nor not eating.

To discover how to keep the 7th Day Sabbath Holy, one would look at the principles out laid in the OT, and then the NT. :) Upon learning about the Creators Sabbath, we must learn to sacrifice our own cherished opinions.

Only Jesus Christ brings man back into harmony with God. You cannot deify a day of the week.

 

[JB_Reformed Baptist]

Socrates [439 AD]--: "For although almost all churches throughout the world celebrate the sacred mysteries on the Sabbath of every week, {yet the "Christians" of Alexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, have ceased to do this}. The Egyptians in the neighborhood of Alexandria, and the inhabitants of Thebais, hold their religious assemblies on the Sabbath, but do not participate of the mysteries in the manner usual among Christians in general: for after having eaten and satisfied themselves with food of all kinds, in the evening making their offerings they partake of the mysteries." (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. Second Series, Vol. 2, p. 132.)

Sozomen [460 A.D.]– "The people of Constantinople, and almost everywhere, assemble together on the Sabbath, as well as on the first day of the week, {which custom is never observed at Rome or at Alexandria}. There are several cities and villages in Egypt where, contrary to the usage established elsewhere, the people meet together on Sabbath evenings, and, although they have dined previously, partake of the mysteries." (Ecc. History, Book 7, chap. 19. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. Second Series, Vol. 2, p. 390.)

*NOTE: The testimonies of Socrates and Sozomen are very important because these men lived in the fifth century, and had access to all the existing material, and yet they bear testimony to the fact that it was the almost universal custom of the church at that time to assemble on the Sabbath.

 

[williemac]

Socrates [439 AD]--: "For although almost all churches throughout the world celebrate the sacred mysteries on the Sabbath of every week, {yet the "Christians" of Alexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, have ceased to do this}. The Egyptians in the neighborhood of Alexandria, and the inhabitants of Thebais, hold their religious assemblies on the Sabbath, but do not participate of the mysteries in the manner usual among Christians in general: for after having eaten and satisfied themselves with food of all kinds, in the evening making their offerings they partake of the mysteries." (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. Second Series, Vol. 2, p. 132.)

Sozomen [460 A.D.]– "The people of Constantinople, and almost everywhere, assemble together on the Sabbath, as well as on the first day of the week, {which custom is never observed at Rome or at Alexandria}. There are several cities and villages in Egypt where, contrary to the usage established elsewhere, the people meet together on Sabbath evenings, and, although they have dined previously, partake of the mysteries." (Ecc. History, Book 7, chap. 19. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. Second Series, Vol. 2, p. 390.)

*NOTE: The testimonies of Socrates and Sozomen are very important because these men lived in the fifth century, and had access to all the existing material, and yet they bear testimony to the fact that it was the almost universal custom of the church at that time to assemble on the Sabbath.

"almost" universal custom!. Note also, Sozomen's words..."The people of Constantinople and almost everywhere, assemble together on the sabbath, as well as the first day of the week" . But why do we focus on what day they assemble together anyway? This in no way proves that the sabbath itself is being followed to the letter of the law. I can assemble at church and then head off to work afterward. So could they. Where do we find them resting on the entire sabbath? No proof in these quotes.

 

[JB_Reformed Baptist]

"almost" universal custom!. Note also, Sozomen's words..."The people of Constantinople and almost everywhere, assemble together on the sabbath, as well as the first day of the week" . But why do we focus on what day they assemble together anyway? This in no way proves that the sabbath itself is being followed to the letter of the law. I can assemble at church and then head off to work afterward. So could they. Where do we find them resting on the entire sabbath? No proof in these quotes.

"almost" universal custom!. Note also, Sozomen's words..."The people of Constantinople and almost everywhere, assemble together on the sabbath, as well as the first day of the week" . But why do we focus on what day they assemble together anyway? This in no way proves that the sabbath itself is being followed to the letter of the law. I can assemble at church and then head off to work afterward. So could they. Where do we find them resting on the entire sabbath? No proof in these quotes.

"So could they. Where do we find them resting on the entire Sabbath No proof in these quotes."

These are plain statements of FACT from Sozomen, as he was known NOT to infuse his own idea's when reporting facts of historical(Church)significance. Equally true and counter to your last statement is; there is absolutely NO evidence that they didn't hold the entire Sabbath day in honor of the creator- in-fact church history suggests strongly they did.

What actually was taking place over the first 500 yrs AD was a gradually decline in Sabbath observance to Sunday observance but NOT before they began to combine both 'Sabbath' worship and "Lord's day" fellowship. :-)

 

[Axehead]

The "rest" spoken of in the OT was a physical land in which they would possess and the Lord would give the Hebrews REST from their enemies. A physical land for a physical rest. No more oppression and tyranny of Egypt and no more weary wanderings in the wildnerness.

Even though "the Lord had given rest to Israel" (cf. Joshua 23:1), there was still the continued conditional need for a faithfulness on the part of the Israelites (Joshua 22:4,5; 23:6) in order to enjoy and appreciate God's "rest" in the land of promise.


"The Lord gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it and lived in it. And the Lord God gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of their enemies stood before them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hand. Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass" (Joshua 21:43-45).

The radical new understanding of Paul's conception of God's promised "rest" was that it was a spiritual fulfillment in the Person of Jesus Christ, rather than a particular physical and geographical land placement and ethnic nation. Paul regarded the "promised land rest" sought by the Hebrews in the Exodus to be but a pictorial prefiguring of the function of God's spiritual "rest" in Jesus Christ (4:3) in the new covenant. Since Jesus is "the heir of all things" (1:2), those who are "in Christ" are "joint-heirs with Christ" (Rom. 8:17) of all the promises of God (II Cor. 1:20), including the promise of entering God's "rest".

The "better rest of God" in Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the prototypical creation story, for now in the spiritual "new creation" (Gal. 6:15) of the Body of Christ, the new "Israel of God" (Gal. 6:16), God "rests" after having done everything necessary to create "new creatures in Christ" (cf. II Cor. 5:17) by the regenesis of spiritual regeneration. In the resultant new creation Sabbath rest (4:9) God's sustaining grace continues to function, allowing all of His new creation to enjoy all that He has done and is doing in His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus also serves as the fulfillment of the new Exodus, for Jesus has delivered people from the slavery of sin to the new place of rest "in Christ." This was God's spiritual intent for His People from "before the foundation of the world" (4:3), and the physical genesis of creation and historical exodus were typological prefigurings of what God determined to enact in Jesus Christ and those united with Him as Christians.

When the Spirit of Christ dwells and abides in Christians, the place of God's "rest" is within us. In his defense before the Jewish high priest, Stephen explained that "the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands" (Acts 7:48), and quoted God's statement from Isaiah 66:1: "'Heaven is My throne, and earth is the footstool of My feet; What kind of house will you build for Me?' says the Lord; 'Or what place is there for My rest (Greek katapauseos)?'" (Acts 7:49). The place of God's "rest" is in His new creation people, in the "household" that Jesus Christ has built (3:6), in the church of the living God, in Christian people. Having "Christ in us, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27), God "rests" in the temple house (I Cor. 3:16; 6:19; II Cor. 5:1; 6:16) of our individual bodies and the collective Body of the Church, expressing His own character in Christians' behavior by His grace, and enjoying the results of His new creation. Christians, who have experienced God's spiritual knife in the cutting off of sin in "the circumcision of the heart" (Rom. 2:28,29), continue to experience Christ's penetrating work as He exposes the subtle differences between religious performance and the inner "rest" of relying on God's grace. Paul's desire for the Jerusalem Christians was that they recognize "the better rest of God" and cease from their "works" as God has rested from His works (4:10), which would entail refraining from all nationalistic endeavors and avoiding all religious performance in order to enjoy the continuing grace-work of God in Jesus Christ. "Jim Fowler".

 

[JB_Reformed Baptist]

"So could they. Where do we find them resting on the entire Sabbath No proof in these quotes."

These are plain statements of FACT from Sozomen, as he was known NOT to infuse his own idea's when reporting facts of historical(Church)significance. Equally true and counter to your last statement is; there is absolutely NO evidence that they didn't hold the entire Sabbath day in honor of the creator- in-fact church history suggests strongly they did.

What actually was taking place over the first 500 yrs AD was a gradually decline in Sabbath observance to Sunday observance but NOT before they began to combine both 'Sabbath' worship and "Lord's day" fellowship. :-)

"So could they. Where do we find them resting on the entire Sabbath No proof in these quotes."

These are plain statements of FACT from Sozomen, as he was known NOT to infuse his own idea's when reporting facts of historical(Church)significance. Equally true and counter to your last statement is; there is absolutely NO evidence that they didn't hold the entire Sabbath day in honor of the creator- in-fact church history suggests strongly they did.

What actually was taking place over the first 500 yrs AD was a gradually decline in Sabbath observance to Sunday observance but NOT before they began to combine both 'Sabbath' worship and "Lord's day" fellowship. :-)

Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Hebrews 4:9
therefore — because God “speaks of another day” (see on Heb_4:8).

remaineth — still to be realized hereafter by the “some (who) must enter therein” (Heb_4:6), that is, “the people of God,” the true Israel who shall enter into God’s rest (“My rest,” Heb_4:3). God’s rest was a Sabbatism; so also will ours be.

a rest — Greek, “Sabbatism.” In time there are many Sabbaths, but then there shall be the enjoyment and keeping of a Sabbath-rest: one perfect and eternal. The “rest” in Heb_4:8 is Greek, “catapausis;” Hebrew, “Noah”; rest from weariness, as the ark rested on Ararat after its tossings to and fro; and as Israel, under Joshua, enjoyed at last rest from war in Canaan. But the “rest” in this Heb_4:9 is the nobler and more exalted (Hebrew) “Sabbath” rest; literally, “cessation”: rest from work when finished (Heb_4:4), as God rested (Rev_16:17). The two ideas of “rest” combined, give the perfect view of the heavenly Sabbath. Rest from weariness, sorrow, and sin; and rest in the completion of God’s new creation (Rev_21:5). The whole renovated creation shall share in it; nothing will there be to break the Sabbath of eternity; and the Triune God shall rejoice in the work of His hands (Zep_3:17). Moses, the representative of the law, could not lead Israel into Canaan: the law leads us to Christ, and there its office ceases, as that of Moses on the borders of Canaan: it is Jesus, the antitype of Joshua, who leads us into the heavenly rest. This verse indirectly establishes the obligation of the Sabbath still; for the type continues until the antitype supersedes it: so legal sacrifices continued till the great antitypical Sacrifice superseded it, As then the antitypical heavenly Sabbath-rest will not be till Christ, our Gospel Joshua, comes, to usher us into it, the typical earthly Sabbath must continue till then. The Jews call the future rest “the day which is all Sabbath.” JFB

 

[Axehead]

Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Hebrews 4:9
therefore — because God “speaks of another day” (see on Heb_4:8).

remaineth — still to be realized hereafter by the “some (who) must enter therein” (Heb_4:6), that is, “the people of God,” the true Israel who shall enter into God’s rest (“My rest,” Heb_4:3). God’s rest was a Sabbatism; so also will ours be.

a rest — Greek, “Sabbatism.” In time there are many Sabbaths, but then there shall be the enjoyment and keeping of a Sabbath-rest: one perfect and eternal. The “rest” in Heb_4:8 is Greek, “catapausis;” Hebrew, “Noah”; rest from weariness, as the ark rested on Ararat after its tossings to and fro; and as Israel, under Joshua, enjoyed at last rest from war in Canaan. But the “rest” in this Heb_4:9 is the nobler and more exalted (Hebrew) “Sabbath” rest; literally, “cessation”: rest from work when finished (Heb_4:4), as God rested (Rev_16:17). The two ideas of “rest” combined, give the perfect view of the heavenly Sabbath. Rest from weariness, sorrow, and sin; and rest in the completion of God’s new creation (Rev_21:5). The whole renovated creation shall share in it; nothing will there be to break the Sabbath of eternity; and the Triune God shall rejoice in the work of His hands (Zep_3:17). Moses, the representative of the law, could not lead Israel into Canaan: the law leads us to Christ, and there its office ceases, as that of Moses on the borders of Canaan: it is Jesus, the antitype of Joshua, who leads us into the heavenly rest. This verse indirectly establishes the obligation of the Sabbath still; for the type continues until the antitype supersedes it: so legal sacrifices continued till the great antitypical Sacrifice superseded it, As then the antitypical heavenly Sabbath-rest will not be till Christ, our Gospel Joshua, comes, to usher us into it, the typical earthly Sabbath must continue till then. The Jews call the future rest “the day which is all Sabbath.” JFB

The context of "remaineth a rest" is Heb. 3:18,19 - "they should not enter His rest...because of unbelief" (Paul talking about OT Israel). The "Rest that remaineth has come and is realized in the Finished Work of Jesus Christ.

If one is not resting in Christ then they are in unbelief.

Who was the one that said, "Come to Me and I will give you REST?"

This promise was for something better than the land of Canaan

Rom. 4:13 - "promise to Abraham and his descendants that he would be heir of the world" (not just Palestine)
Heb. 11:10 - "Abraham was looking for the city..whose architect and builder is God"
Heb. 11:13-16 - "they desire a better country, a heavenly one...God has prepared a city for them"

The promised land is where God dwells.

II Cor. 6:16 - "I will dwell in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people"
Eph. 2:6 - "seated us with Him in the heavenly places"

The promised land is a place of rest.

Heb. 4:1 - "a promise remains of entering His rest"

Heb. 4:9 - "There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God" The promised land is the new Jerusalem, spiritual Zion, not a place but a people. Those who God dwells in walks among (II Cor 6:16).

Heb. 12:22 - "you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem"
Gal. 4:26 - "the Jerusalem above is free, she is our mother"
Rev. 3:12 - "The name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem"
Rev. 21:1,2 - "I saw a new heaven and a new earth, the holy city, new Jerusalem"

II Peter 3:13 - "according to His promise, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" Augustine - City of God of the blessing promise

Gal. 3:8,9 - "those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham"

Gal. 3:14 - "in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith"

Eph. 1:3 - "God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" Only in the spiritual fulfillment (not physical fulfillment such as a day of the week) do they become "eternal" promises in an "eternal" covenant by the "eternal life" of Jesus Christ. Gen. 13:15; 17:7,8,13,19; 48:4

The eternal purposes of God are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, not in restoration of physical Jews Eph. 1:9-14

The "hope of Israel" is not restoration of Jewish nationalism, but the restoration of humanity by the divine life of Jesus.
Paul was on trial for preaching the gospel of the resurrection life of Jesus.

Acts 26:6 - "I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers"

Acts 28:20 - "I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel"

Jesus is the hope of Israel and the Gentiles

Eph. 4:4 - "one hope of our calling" (not one hope for national Israel and another for Christians)
Heb. 7:19 - "there is a bringing in of a better hope" That "better hope" is realized now in Christ Jesus.
I Tim. 1:1 - "Christ Jesus is our hope"
Rom. 15:12 - "In Him will the Gentiles hope"

All the promises of God to Abraham and other Old Testament personages are fulfilled in Jesus

Lk. 22:44-49 - "all things about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms should have been fulfilled"

Luk_24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Mat_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.

All things have been fulfilled concerning Christ therefore the law has been nailed to the cross. It has been terminated by the bringing in of a better covenant.

Rom. 15:8 - "Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers"
II Cor. 1:20 - "as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes"

Robert D. Brinsmead - "Unless we can take out our pen and write 'Fulfilled' across every one of the three thousand promises of the Old Testament, we deny 'the finished work of Jesus Christ,'"

Christians are now
1. the "chosen people" of God
Eph. 1:4 - "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world"
Titus 2:14 - "a people for His own possession"
I Pet 2:9 - "you are a chosen race,...a people for God's own possession"

2. recipients of the inheritance of God

Gal. 3:18 - "God has granted the inheritance to Abraham by means of a promise"
Heb. 9:15 - "those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance"

Col. 1:12 - "qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints"

3. spiritual Jews
Rom. 2:28,29 - "he is not a Jew who is one outwardly;...but he is a Jew who is one inwardly...and his praise is not from men, but from God"

4. spiritual Israel
Rom. 9:6 - "they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel"
Gal. 6:16 - "the Israel of God"

The promises of God to Abraham are ultimately fulfilled in those who receive Jesus Christ by faith (Gal. 3:9), who are thus "heirs according to promise" (Gal. 3:29)

Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Hebrews 4:9
therefore — because God “speaks of another day” (see on Heb_4:8).

remaineth — still to be realized hereafter by the “some (who) must enter therein” (Heb_4:6), that is, “the people of God,” the true Israel who shall enter into God’s rest (“My rest,” Heb_4:3). God’s rest was a Sabbatism; so also will ours be.

a rest — Greek, “Sabbatism.” In time there are many Sabbaths, but then there shall be the enjoyment and keeping of a Sabbath-rest: one perfect and eternal. The “rest” in Heb_4:8 is Greek, “catapausis;” Hebrew, “Noah”; rest from weariness, as the ark rested on Ararat after its tossings to and fro; and as Israel, under Joshua, enjoyed at last rest from war in Canaan. But the “rest” in this Heb_4:9 is the nobler and more exalted (Hebrew) “Sabbath” rest; literally, “cessation”: rest from work when finished (Heb_4:4), as God rested (Rev_16:17). The two ideas of “rest” combined, give the perfect view of the heavenly Sabbath. Rest from weariness, sorrow, and sin; and rest in the completion of God’s new creation (Rev_21:5). The whole renovated creation shall share in it; nothing will there be to break the Sabbath of eternity; and the Triune God shall rejoice in the work of His hands (Zep_3:17). Moses, the representative of the law, could not lead Israel into Canaan: the law leads us to Christ, and there its office ceases, as that of Moses on the borders of Canaan: it is Jesus, the antitype of Joshua, who leads us into the heavenly rest. This verse indirectly establishes the obligation of the Sabbath still; for the type continues until the antitype supersedes it: so legal sacrifices continued till the great antitypical Sacrifice superseded it, As then the antitypical heavenly Sabbath-rest will not be till Christ, our Gospel Joshua, comes, to usher us into it, the typical earthly Sabbath must continue till then. The Jews call the future rest “the day which is all Sabbath.” JFB

Somehow, JB, you missed this quote by JFB.


CHAPTER 4
Heb 4:1-16. The Promise of God's Rest Is Fully Realized through Christ: Let Us Strive to Obtain It by Him, Our Sympathizing High Priest.
1. Let us . fear-not with slavish terror, but godly "fear and trembling" (Php 2:12). Since so many have fallen, we have cause to fear (Heb 3:17-19).
being left us-still remaining to us after the others have, by neglect, lost it. his rest-God's heavenly rest, of which Canaan is the type. "To-day" still continues, during which there is the danger of failing to reach the rest. "To-day," rightly used, terminates in the rest which, when once obtained, is never lost (Re 3:12). A foretaste of the rest is given in the inward rest which the believer's soul has in Christ.

Amen, JFB, "the inward rest which the believer has in Christ".

But regardless of what commentators say, one must receive their own personal revelation of God's REST as Fully Realized in Jesus Christ. otherwise it will always seem unobtainable, far away, into the future, somewhere.

Corrie Ten Boom's sister comes to mind as a great example of someone who had obtained the REST (Jesus Christ) of God while on earth. Here she was in a concentration camp, laboring 7 days a week (no physical sabbath observance allowed) and yet according to Corrie's witness, she was at perfect rest in the Lord. Amen!

Axehead

 

[John_8:32]

Chapter 14​

Principles of Conscience​

1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.

What is the main subject of Romans 14?

Rom 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.

Judging others for their practices.

What are the two main points of Romans 14 that we are not to judge others on?

Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Rom 14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Setting aside a particular day of fasting.

Other point?

Rom 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Rom 14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Rom 14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Offending a brother by what you eat or drink. This is not clean adn unclean meats, it is about food. Here is this passage in the Diaglott...

Rom 14:14 I know, and have been persuaded in Lord Jesus, that nothing common through itself, if not to him regarding anything common to be, to him common;
Rom 14:15 If but through food the brother of thee is grieved, no longer according to love dost thou walk. Not with the food of thee him do thou destroy, on behalf of whom Anointed died.
Rom 14:16 Not let be evil spoken of therefore of you the good.
Rom 14:17 Not for is the kingdom of the God eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in spirit holy;

Example:

A person may be offended if they see you drinking alcohol, so what do you do? Do not drink alcohol in their presence.

Over the past few months I have been speaking to Rae who is yet to understand the principles of Pauls teaching, as you have expounded in your above post. The weakness is found in believing that God cannot put to one side a commandment in place for a higher manifestation of that command in Christ.

Take this passage for instance:

For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (Heb 7:18)

Rae cannot process how the Law and its commands in their old format i.e written and legal, are now set aside. The keeping of the Sabbath for example was made weak and useless, not becuase of the One who gave it, but the flesh which could not uphold it requirements becuase its terribly weak. The 10 commandments in fact the entire commandment of the Law is holy,just and good!!!

She needs to step away from her denomination and take an eagles view of the inspired record.

But otherwise a sound response.
TGG

Yes indeed, let us take that passage and actually read it in context and see what the truth is...

Heb 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

Whatever this change of law is, it is tied to the Levitical Priesthood.

Heb 7:13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

It has to do with genetics...

Here is what this statement is talking about...

Exo 27:21 In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
Exo 28:1 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.

Num 1:50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.

Num 3:9 And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.
Num 3:10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

Who was to be the Priesthood? Levites, specifically the sons of Aaron.

Heb 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
Heb 7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
Heb 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, (What carnal command? We just read it above stated in different places) but after the power of an endless life.
Heb 7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Heb 7:18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

A disannulling of what commandment? The one that states that a Priest must be a Levite and a direct descendant of Aaron. As far as applying verse 18 to the Ten Commandments and setting them aside...

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 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.
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Did Christ have a clue? Did He know what He was talking about?

Mat 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mat 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Hmmm...

2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

The Holy Bible tells the history of man's salvation. The Sabbath Day was linked to the 6 day creation. God created everything in 6 days and rested on the 7th day. The Sabbath Day is Saturday, and of the 10 commandments....it is the only commandment that God gave a reason as to why the Israelites should keep the Sabbath. It is considered a rest day, and it is a foreshawdow of things to come. It is the only commandment that can be changed as predicted by the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 66:23 And it shall come to pass, [that] from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

Christians no longer follow the Saturday Sabbath. They follow the Lord's Day (Sunday) - His day of the resurrection for it was on Sunday when He rose from the dead. The first day of the week is sometimes called the eighth day and a "new" day. As Christians, we no longer celebrate the Sabbath. We celebrate the Lord's Day, because we are no longer part of the old creation. We are now part of the new creation for we have been made a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old has gone and the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Very good and solid Catholic doctrine from the Council of Nicea in 325AD, but it is not scriptural.

So in other words you seek to be justified by keeping the Law. Also you are judging those who do not set one day above another by stating they hate His law, but this I do not hold against you.

Colossians 2:13-16

13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—

17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

The word of truth speaks for itself, concentrate on substance and allow liberty to live through you. Christ rose on Sunday and Christians observe that day instead of Saturday because we are Christians not Jews except inwardly through the circumcision of the heart. It is not religious practices that make you righteous, rather Christ. It is not festivals, food, or Sabbaths that show our righteousness outwardly, rather our faith.

Habakkuk 2:4
4 “Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.

When we realize it is not man who is the judge, we honor the One who is the Judge.

Shalom

I didn't see anything about justification by keeping the law. Justification is by...

Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Reconciliation and salvation...

Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Here is Col 2:14...

It is of interest to note that the expression "the handwriting of requirements" is a Greek legal term that signifies the penalty which a lawbreaker had to pay--through Jesus the penalty was wiped out ("the handwriting of requirements"), not the law! "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them" (Heb 10:16).

Even Protestant commentators realize this. Notice what Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible states about Colossians 2:14:

Whatever was in force against us is taken out of the way. He has obtained for us a legal discharge from the hand-writing of ordinances, which was against us (v. 14), which may be understood,

1. Of that obligation to punishment in which consists the guilt of sin. The curse of the law is the hand-writing against us, like the hand-writing on Belshazzar's wall. Cursed is every one who continues not in every thing. This was a hand-writing which was against us, and contrary to us; for it threatened our eternal ruin. This was removed when he redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, Gal 3:13. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.).

Some will argue that you still cannot keep the ten commandments (for "all have sinned"), even if they are all mentioned as being in effect after the crucifixion. Does this mean one should not try?

Furthermore, let's look at another translation:

14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross (Colossians 2:14, NASB)

The handwriting of requirements (often also called the hand-writing of ordinances) or certificate of debt was wiped away and nailed to the cross.

Which requirements were wiped out?

Please understand that the expression "the handwriting of requirements" (cheirógrafon toís dógmasin) is a Greek legal expression that signifies the penalty which a lawbreaker had to pay--it does not signify the laws that are to be obeyed--only the penalty. It is only through the acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that the penalty was wiped out ("the handwriting of requirements"). But only the penalty, not the law! Dr. Robert Thiel

Col 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:
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Don't let anyone judge you FOR KEEPING THEM! They are a shadow of things to come, not past. This was written 20 some years after the crucifixion and Paul says they look forward to the future.

When we realize it is not man who is the judge, we honor the One who is the Judge.

Jas 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
Jas 4:12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

The context of "remaineth a rest" is Heb. 3:18,19 - "they should not enter His rest...because of unbelief" (Paul talking about OT Israel). The "Rest that remaineth has come and is realized in the Finished Work of Jesus Christ.

If one is not resting in Christ then they are in unbelief.

Who was the one that said, "Come to Me and I will give you REST?"

This promise was for something better than the land of Canaan

Rom. 4:13 - "promise to Abraham and his descendants that he would be heir of the world" (not just Palestine)
Heb. 11:10 - "Abraham was looking for the city..whose architect and builder is God"
Heb. 11:13-16 - "they desire a better country, a heavenly one...God has prepared a city for them"

The promised land is where God dwells.

II Cor. 6:16 - "I will dwell in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people"
Eph. 2:6 - "seated us with Him in the heavenly places"

The promised land is a place of rest.

Heb. 4:1 - "a promise remains of entering His rest"

Heb. 4:9 - "There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God" The promised land is the new Jerusalem, spiritual Zion, not a place but a people. Those who God dwells in walks among (II Cor 6:16).

Heb. 12:22 - "you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem"
Gal. 4:26 - "the Jerusalem above is free, she is our mother"
Rev. 3:12 - "The name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem"
Rev. 21:1,2 - "I saw a new heaven and a new earth, the holy city, new Jerusalem"

II Peter 3:13 - "according to His promise, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" Augustine - City of God of the blessing promise

Gal. 3:8,9 - "those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham"

Gal. 3:14 - "in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith"

Eph. 1:3 - "God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" Only in the spiritual fulfillment (not physical fulfillment such as a day of the week) do they become "eternal" promises in an "eternal" covenant by the "eternal life" of Jesus Christ. Gen. 13:15; 17:7,8,13,19; 48:4

The eternal purposes of God are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, not in restoration of physical Jews Eph. 1:9-14

The "hope of Israel" is not restoration of Jewish nationalism, but the restoration of humanity by the divine life of Jesus.
Paul was on trial for preaching the gospel of the resurrection life of Jesus.

Acts 26:6 - "I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers"

Acts 28:20 - "I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel"

Jesus is the hope of Israel and the Gentiles

Eph. 4:4 - "one hope of our calling" (not one hope for national Israel and another for Christians)
Heb. 7:19 - "there is a bringing in of a better hope" That "better hope" is realized now in Christ Jesus.
I Tim. 1:1 - "Christ Jesus is our hope"
Rom. 15:12 - "In Him will the Gentiles hope"

All the promises of God to Abraham and other Old Testament personages are fulfilled in Jesus

Lk. 22:44-49 - "all things about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms should have been fulfilled"

Luk_24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Mat_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.

All things have been fulfilled concerning Christ therefore the law has been nailed to the cross. It has been terminated by the bringing in of a better covenant.

Rom. 15:8 - "Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers"
II Cor. 1:20 - "as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes"

Robert D. Brinsmead - "Unless we can take out our pen and write 'Fulfilled' across every one of the three thousand promises of the Old Testament, we deny 'the finished work of Jesus Christ,'"

Christians are now
1. the "chosen people" of God
Eph. 1:4 - "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world"
Titus 2:14 - "a people for His own possession"
I Pet 2:9 - "you are a chosen race,...a people for God's own possession"

2. recipients of the inheritance of God

Gal. 3:18 - "God has granted the inheritance to Abraham by means of a promise"
Heb. 9:15 - "those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance"

Col. 1:12 - "qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints"

3. spiritual Jews
Rom. 2:28,29 - "he is not a Jew who is one outwardly;...but he is a Jew who is one inwardly...and his praise is not from men, but from God"

4. spiritual Israel
Rom. 9:6 - "they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel"
Gal. 6:16 - "the Israel of God"

The promises of God to Abraham are ultimately fulfilled in those who receive Jesus Christ by faith (Gal. 3:9), who are thus "heirs according to promise" (Gal. 3:29)


Somehow, JB, you missed this quote by JFB.


CHAPTER 4
Heb 4:1-16. The Promise of God's Rest Is Fully Realized through Christ: Let Us Strive to Obtain It by Him, Our Sympathizing High Priest.
1. Let us . fear-not with slavish terror, but godly "fear and trembling" (Php 2:12). Since so many have fallen, we have cause to fear (Heb 3:17-19).
being left us-still remaining to us after the others have, by neglect, lost it. his rest-God's heavenly rest, of which Canaan is the type. "To-day" still continues, during which there is the danger of failing to reach the rest. "To-day," rightly used, terminates in the rest which, when once obtained, is never lost (Re 3:12). A foretaste of the rest is given in the inward rest which the believer's soul has in Christ.

Amen, JFB, "the inward rest which the believer has in Christ".

But regardless of what commentators say, one must receive their own personal revelation of God's REST as Fully Realized in Jesus Christ. otherwise it will always seem unobtainable, far away, into the future, somewhere.

Corrie Ten Boom's sister comes to mind as a great example of someone who had obtained the REST (Jesus Christ) of God while on earth. Here she was in a concentration camp, laboring 7 days a week (no physical sabbath observance allowed) and yet according to Corrie's witness, she was at perfect rest in the Lord. Amen!

Axehead

Not much mention of verse 9 here...

Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

The word for rest here is...

G4520
σαββατισμός
sabbatismos

Let's read this verse in the Diaglott...

Heb 4:9 Therefore remains a keeping of a sabbath for the people of the God.

Which is a shadow (remember Col 2:16-17?) of the coming rest, the 1000 year reign of Christ on the earth.

 

[williemac]

What is the main subject of Romans 14?

Rom 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.

Judging others for their practices.

What are the two main points of Romans 14 that we are not to judge others on?

Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Rom 14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Setting aside a particular day of fasting.

Other point?

Rom 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Rom 14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Rom 14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Offending a brother by what you eat or drink. This is not clean adn unclean meats, it is about food. Here is this passage in the Diaglott...

Rom 14:14 I know, and have been persuaded in Lord Jesus, that nothing common through itself, if not to him regarding anything common to be, to him common;
Rom 14:15 If but through food the brother of thee is grieved, no longer according to love dost thou walk. Not with the food of thee him do thou destroy, on behalf of whom Anointed died.
Rom 14:16 Not let be evil spoken of therefore of you the good.
Rom 14:17 Not for is the kingdom of the God eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in spirit holy;

Example:

A person may be offended if they see you drinking alcohol, so what do you do? Do not drink alcohol in their presence.
Yes indeed, let us take that passage and actually read it in context and see what the truth is...

Heb 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

Whatever this change of law is, it is tied to the Levitical Priesthood.

Heb 7:13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

It has to do with genetics...

Here is what this statement is talking about...

Exo 27:21 In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
Exo 28:1 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.

Num 1:50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.

Num 3:9 And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.
Num 3:10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

Who was to be the Priesthood? Levites, specifically the sons of Aaron.

Heb 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
Heb 7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
Heb 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, (What carnal command? We just read it above stated in different places) but after the power of an endless life.
Heb 7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Heb 7:18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

A disannulling of what commandment? The one that states that a Priest must be a Levite and a direct descendant of Aaron. As far as applying verse 18 to the Ten Commandments and setting them aside...

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 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.
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Did Christ have a clue? Did He know what He was talking about?

Mat 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mat 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Hmmm...

2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Very good and solid Catholic doctrine from the Council of Nicea in 325AD, but it is not scriptural.
I didn't see anything about justification by keeping the law. Justification is by...

Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Reconciliation and salvation...

Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Here is Col 2:14...

It is of interest to note that the expression "the handwriting of requirements" is a Greek legal term that signifies the penalty which a lawbreaker had to pay--through Jesus the penalty was wiped out ("the handwriting of requirements"), not the law! "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them" (Heb 10:16).

Even Protestant commentators realize this. Notice what Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible states about Colossians 2:14:

Whatever was in force against us is taken out of the way. He has obtained for us a legal discharge from the hand-writing of ordinances, which was against us (v. 14), which may be understood,

1. Of that obligation to punishment in which consists the guilt of sin. The curse of the law is the hand-writing against us, like the hand-writing on Belshazzar's wall. Cursed is every one who continues not in every thing. This was a hand-writing which was against us, and contrary to us; for it threatened our eternal ruin. This was removed when he redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, Gal 3:13. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.).

Some will argue that you still cannot keep the ten commandments (for "all have sinned"), even if they are all mentioned as being in effect after the crucifixion. Does this mean one should not try?

Furthermore, let's look at another translation:

14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross (Colossians 2:14, NASB)

The handwriting of requirements (often also called the hand-writing of ordinances) or certificate of debt was wiped away and nailed to the cross.

Which requirements were wiped out?

Please understand that the expression "the handwriting of requirements" (cheirógrafon toís dógmasin) is a Greek legal expression that signifies the penalty which a lawbreaker had to pay--it does not signify the laws that are to be obeyed--only the penalty. It is only through the acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that the penalty was wiped out ("the handwriting of requirements"). But only the penalty, not the law! Dr. Robert Thiel

Col 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:
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Don't let anyone judge you FOR KEEPING THEM! They are a shadow of things to come, not past. This was written 20 some years after the crucifixion and Paul says they look forward to the future.Jas 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
Jas 4:12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

Not much mention of verse 9 here...

Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

The word for rest here is...

G4520
σαββατισμός
sabbatismos

Let's read this verse in the Diaglott...

Heb 4:9 Therefore remains a keeping of a sabbath for the people of the God.

Which is a shadow (remember Col 2:16-17?) of the coming rest, the 1000 year reign of Christ on the earth.

The sabbath rest of Hebrews is not a keeping but an entering in by faith. One can mess all they want with what they think is the meaning of a word, but the meaning is seen in the context.
As well, one can mess all they want with that which they call a legal term, but the fact is that the ten commandments were given in God's own handwriting and they were that which He required of them as their role in the covenant. (Col.2:14) They were against " us" and we were held by them, as Paul said, because they did the job they were given to do; that is to reveal the sin nature in a man by the fact that the requirements of the law were never satisfied to the standard of the law by any one man...ever. (Until Jesus) (All have sinned and fall short of God's glory)

One must acknowledge what the cross accomplished in order to understand this passage. As we know, Jesus died for the sin of the world. And in doing so, for those who believe, He erased the curse that the law caused. Make no mistake, The ordinaces, as some call them, did not place the curse on anyone. It was the moral part of the law that did that, so when we were forgiven our sin by the One sacrifice, Jesus at that moment took away the power that the law had over man to condemn him, to they who believe. Thus He nailed the power of the law to the tree. The context proves this point by the preceeding verse..." ..having forgiven you all tresspasses: (Col.2:13) How does nailing mere ordiances to the tree forgive any tresspass? One must follow the context!

As Paul said in Rom.10:4, "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to all who believe" What law? The law that required one to be righteous. The moral law. Righteousness is about morality. Therefore, we are not required to keep the law in order to be declared righteous. It was revealed that righteousness is rather a gift from God to they who believe. We are righteous by faith , not by the law. We are at rest from the law for righteousness. Therefore by faith, we have entered into HIS rest. The sabbath law, the 4th commandment, was a type and shadow of the rest that is given by promise through faith rather than by obedience to law. That is the context of Hebrews ch.3&4. But go ahead and continue to play semantic games and ignore the real message of the writer.

But Paul confirmed his stance on this subject throughout his letters, confirming over and over such things about the law: that the moral law could not bring life(Gal.3:21), ministered death (2Cor.3:7), and condemnation (3:9), arouses sinful passions (Rom.7:5), brings bondage (Gal.4:24), and has been removed as one's tutor once he has come to Christ by faith ( Gal.3:19-25). The context in all these examples speak plainly that this is the moral law.
It amazes me that one can pass over these few examples and even more, in order to hang on to the very thing that cannot justify a person.


It amazes me to see the very confirmation that the law's purpose is to bring about condemnation, by the fact that those who come promoting the law do so through the condemning of they who (in their eyes) are not keeping it.

 

[Axehead]

Well said, Williemac.

The REST of Jesus Christ to some is reality while to others is only something in the FUTURE.

Jesus is the GREAT I AM. Here and now! I AM is our salvation, comforter, high tower, life, REST and much more. Whatever you need, the I AM is your all sufficient one.

The context of "remaineth a rest" is Heb. 3:18,19 - "they should not enter His rest...because of unbelief" (Paul talking about OT Israel). The "Rest that remaineth has come and is realized in the Finished Work of Jesus Christ to those who believe.

Heb 4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

Have you entered in by faith? If you have entered into Christ by faith then the REST that remaineth is yours. Are you part of the "some" that have entered in (into Christ)?

Heb 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, <-- This sums it up. The REST that remaineth is for those who believe.

Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. <-- To enter into Christ's rest we must turn from our own works of righteousness that cannot save us and turn to Christ resting in Him and His work.

Luke_24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Jesus is referring to "all things being fulfilled" by His impending death and subsequent resurrection and ascension to glory.

These "all things" that Jesus is referring to have been fulfilled in the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. The Law would not pass away until all these things were fulfilled concerning Christ. It is now nailed to the cross and the Old Covenant is terminated by a bringing in of a better hope, better REST and Better Covenant. As far as NT Saints are concerned, Christ is the end of the law to all who believe. Obviously, people have other explanations about this but taken in context of the whole Bible and the Life of Christ, we now live by a higher law, the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus and as we look to Christ who fulfilled the law, our faith is counted as righteousness. Not to be misunderstood, the Spirit of God will guide those He indwells to put to death the deeds of the flesh, and walk in love which is the fulfillment of the law.

Notice, what was "written in the Law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms had their fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ.

So, what will REMAIN? His Spirit. He cannot send His Spirit if He does not go to the Father. And what comes with His Spirit indwelling us? REST.

Matthew 11:28 is now able to be fulfilled to all those who come to Christ by faith. He will give you rest. This is the Rest that REMAINS.

Others want to say that REMAINS means future. There is further rest, that is true. We will have glorified bodies, no sickness, no aging, etc. But the Spiritual Rest that the Lord promised if we came to Him, is a promise fulfilled for now by the great I AM.

Now, there is no rest for the wicked so to remain in His rest requires continued faithfulness on our part, and Christ who is our provision and advocate if we sin promises to restore us and keep us each step of the way as we continue to look to Him. We go from faith to faith and glory to glory all because Christ is the Great I AM for our every need.

If one is not resting, they may be walking in unbelief and it is time to get back to resting in Christ. The one who realizes and admits to themselves that they never have this spiritual rest, may not have His Spirit and their life may just be much religious activity. Many testimonies abound of people caught up in religion until they found Christ.

Isa_28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

He that keepeth Israel never slumbers nor sleeps. He is with you daily not just on the Sabbath. He is your Sabbath Rest (Spiritual Rest). He is with you 24x7x365. And conversely, you can say that we should keep the Sabbath (Keep Christ, abide in Christ), 24x7x365.

He keeps us (abides with us) and we keep Him (abide in Him).

Axehead

 

[williemac]

Amen, brother Axehead.

It occurs to me also that those whom God swore would not enter His rest, ironically were surely keeping the Sabbath according to the 4th command. Here they were in the wilderness for forty years and during that time no one was employed in the way that we would consider employment. Resting on the sabbath was not their challange. They, as a group, failed to believe the promise of God. In fact, they who surely kept the 4th command were kept from entering into what the author of Hebrews called the "sabbath rest" ( the promised land) .

What was revealed by the author of Hebrews is that this thing called the sabbath rest is not experienced through the keeping of the law, but rather is a gift from God to those who believe His promise. If the law was given as a tutor to bring us to Christ, as Paul explained to the Galatians, then surely the 4th command was also a tutor, being part of the law. It was there, as all the law was given, to teach them the fact that one's attempt to keep the law in no way could succeed in fulfilling the law. The sad truth is that many sabbath keepers and law keepers of today are still trying to fulfill a law that cannot be fulfilled by the attempted keeping of it. It was always destined to be kept and fulfilled by God Himself on our behalf through His Son.

The real sabbath rest is a gift , that is a permanent state rather than a one day event also called ironically..a "work" of law. Some still refuse to rest from "their" work, though they by all appearances, keep the sabbath.
Fact: We are in the "seventh day". Christ truly is the end of the law to those who believe.
But then I am merely repeating what you have shared, in so many words. Blessings, Howie

 

[Axehead]

Amen, brother Axehead.

It occurs to me also that those whom God swore would not enter His rest, ironically were surely keeping the Sabbath according to the 4th command. Here they were in the wilderness for forty years and during that time no one was employed in the way that we would consider employment. Resting on the sabbath was not their challange. They, as a group, failed to believe the promise of God. In fact, they who surely kept the 4th command were kept from entering into what the author of Hebrews called the "sabbath rest" ( the promised land) .

What was revealed by the author of Hebrews is that this thing called the sabbath rest is not experienced through the keeping of the law, but rather is a gift from God to those who believe His promise. If the law was given as a tutor to bring us to Christ, as Paul explained to the Galatians, then surely the 4th command was also a tutor, being part of the law. It was there, as all the law was given, to teach them the fact that one's attempt to keep the law in no way could succeed in fulfilling the law. The sad truth is that many sabbath keepers and law keepers of today are still trying to fulfill a law that cannot be fulfilled by the attempted keeping of it. It was always destined to be kept and fulfilled by God Himself on our behalf through His Son.

The real sabbath rest is a gift , that is a permanent state rather than a one day event also called ironically..a "work" of law. Some still refuse to rest from "their" work, though they by all appearances, keep the sabbath.
Fact: We are in the "seventh day". Christ truly is the end of the law to those who believe.
But then I am merely repeating what you have shared, in so many words. Blessings, Howie

Thank you, Willie,

I forgot to mention to you that I enjoyed your post, too.

Here is another thing that is ironic, today. The multitudes of people observing a 7th day external Sabbath, once a week, who really have not experienced the internal REST of Jesus Christ that we are talking about.

There follows (remaineth) to them that believe, a REST, that those in the wilderness could not enter into because of Unbelief.

Same thing today.

All the best to you today,
Axehead

 

[justaname]

Let me say this. I just returned from Israel. There I observed the Sabbath as well as eating Kosher. I came home and I will not observe the Sabbath and I already ate pork.

Like Paul teaches, in Israel I observed what it is they observe in order to show kindness as well as to not offend my neighbors. I pray my example there may bring others to Christ. Here there is no need for such activity so I will live the law of liberty.

John_8:32,

Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Rom 14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

You must have missed this bolded portion when you were doing your observation in these Romans passages.