as long as I'm here I might as well share a post from an online Facebook friend.
"I posted this information not too long ago; and I want to share it again for those who have left the SDA and for those SDA who are struggling with the doctrines.
The Bible in its original was written in Hebrew and the Koine Greek. In order to understand the original message intended one have to go to the original languages, the customs of the time when it was written, to who it was written and to who it applies. So let me take you to the time after the Cross; many epistles (letters) were written to the Christians of the time of the Apostles.
There was this letter that was written to the churches of Corinth; these churches were being targeted by the Judaizers among other heretic groups. The language at that time in the era was Koine Greek, at least in Corinth, Greece (Corinth is located
eighty kilometers west of Athens).
2 Corinthians 3, is a "hot potato" in the Seventh Day Adventist Organization; the true behind this chapter is kept away from the flock by the SDA Leadership. There is no doubt that 2 Corinthians 3 is speaking of the Old Covenant - Ten Commandments and the New Covenant.
How do I know that? Well, first, what was written with ink, and what was engraved on stones? The Ten Commandments!!!
Now, the Ten Commandments was a Covenant between God and Israel only, no other country was included. When the bible speaks of Gentiles, pretty much it is speaking of any country outside of Israel that is not part of the Covenant. But this Covenant was open to gentiles as long they joined Israel (Ruth the Moabite left behind her nation and joined Israel through the Old Covenant).
This letter was sent to the churches of Corinth for many reasons, and one of the reason was the "Judaizers" among christians.
Here is the deal, these letters pretty much were read in front of the Congregation; so I suggest try to transport your mind 2,000 years ago and imagine yourself been part of the audience, leave behind your mother language and embrace the language that was mostly spoken in that time and place; the Koine Greek.
As you're paying attention to the speaker (who ever was at that time) there are words that the Apostle Paul intentionally included in order to get the attention of the greek speaking audience; words like: "written, engrave, stones, Moses, veil, children of Israel, veil, covenant" are spoken......among others words.... but one particular word is mentioned not once, not twice, not thrice, but four times!!! You want to know what word is that?
Here is the word ***Abolish!!!! ***
Oh, Lord!!!! Red flags are raised in the minds of the Judaizers (In modern times will be Seventh Day Adventist). No doubt the Judaizers can put the pieces together, they are told that the Old Covenant - Ten Commandments is abolished!!! The Apostle Paul is putting it eloquently, with kind words, not too harsh as He did to the churches of Galatia (Read the Epistle to Galatians).
Yes, my dear reader, the word "
abolish" is mentioned in the Koine Greek, the very original language that the New Testament Cannon was written. Paul makes it very clear.....four times he had to use it in order to "shut down" the Judaizers, to silence the Judaizers intruders/spies/false teachers from within the Christian crowd of Corinth.
2 Corinthians flat out says the 10 commandments are abolished in 4 places by using the same word for abolish as in Eph 2:15.
- Verse 7 - The ministry of death, written and engraved on stones ... abolish - fading (Strong's G2673 - *katargeō - *καταργέω)
- Verse 11 - The *ministry of condemnation... ***abolish - done away ***(Strong's G2673 - *katargeō - *καταργέω)
- Verse 13 - Look to the end of that which is ***abolish *** (Strong's G2673 - *katargeō - *καταργέω)
- Verse 14 - The old covenant... is ***abolish - done away ***in ***Christ!! ***(Strong's G2673 - *katargeō - *καταργέω)
Do you know what this mean my dear Seventh Day Adventist friend? The Sabbath is also abolished because it was part of the Old Covenant; it was the very sign of it!!!
But there is a better Covenant, and it is not a "set" of rules or elements of this world, but a Person....... and the Sabbath (shadow) pointed to such a Person...... Christ!!!
And by the way, Christ is mentioned in 2 Corinthians 3, here Paul says that the Corinthians are a
letter of Christ, “
Christ is written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts of the Corinthians” (2 Corinthians 3:3). And you can find a "true Rest" in Christ as it is mentioned in the Gospel of Mathew chapter 11.
But it does not end there, there is more to it!!! The Apostle Paul identify the Old Covenant as the ministry that brought death and condemnation, which was engraved in letters on stone and written with ink (Book of the Law/Torah). And do you know what the Apostle Paul tells the church of Corinth? Not to teach the Ten Commandments - Old Covenant.
Watch this: "God has made us "able/competent" as "ministers" of a New Covenant, not ministers of the "Letter"". (verse 6).
- The word "able/competent" in the Koine Greek is Strong's G2427 - hikanoō to make sufficient, render fit to equip one with adequate power to perform the duties of one.
- The word "ministers" Strong's G1249 - diakonos one who executes the commands of another, of a master, a servant, attendant, minister, the servant of a king, a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church...
So in few words God has "enabled" His children to teach the New Covenant of Christ/Grace/Faith/Holy Spirit!!! God has not command and enable His Children to teach the Old Covenant simply because it is "abolished" It has been fulfilled, and it did the job very well to whom it was pertained - Israel.
PS: Under the Old Covenant, Israel was commanded to "Remember the Sabbath", but under the New Covenant, Christians are commanded to "Remember Christ".......did you see that? Two "Remembers"; Two different Covenant and each one has a "Remember"; Israel remembered their most dearly rule for almost 1,400 years, and Christ has been remembered for over 2,000 years and counting by true Christians........ Just saying...
Blessings!!!"