Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Sabbath

Are we or are we not to keep the sabbath today?
I have been going through a study course
the past couple weeks that has been bringing alot
of things in the bible into a new light for me.
I have long since felt that the sabbath is a very
important day of the week and is not to be taken
lightly. God said remember the sabbath to keep it
Holy. The seventh day is for rest in every week.
In the old testament, in the old law, is where we
find this commandment to the Israelites.
When Jesus came he said that he has come to
fulfill the law of Moses that we would no longer
be bound by it but that it was complete or finished
when he died and shed His blood on the cross for
us so that we didn't have to perform sacrifices
and other laws that given for cleansing and
sanctifying purposes. I never really thought about
the fact that it says nowhere in the new testament
that we are to keep the sabbath. Jesus didn't even
keep the sabbath according to Jewish law.
In the new testament we are given a new set of
laws to follow. We are told to follow Christ. We see
in Mark 16:16 the great commission. Go into all
nations and preach the gospel to all men. This is
the most important thing that we as Christians
can do for the kingdom. In Acts 2 verses 38 & 39
it says: "Peter replied,"Each of you must turn from
your sins and turn to G0d,a nd be baptized in the
name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your
sin. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit. This promise is to you and to your children,
and even to the Gentiles- all who have been called
by the Lord our God."
This is what we are told we need to do now to
become part of the kingdom of God. We are to
believe, repent, turn away from our sins of past,
and be baptized for the forgiveness of our sins,
then we will be assured our place in His kingdom.
This is the law that Jesus set forth. This is law
that we are to follow. If we believe, repent, turn
away, and then are baptized we will be saved.

1 comment:

Rick Northup said...

You might also notice, however, that not one place in the New Testament does it ever say that we are NOT to follow the Law concerning the Sabbath. As a matter of fact, the Sabbath celebration predates the establishment of The Law by a considerable time and even God rested on the 7th Day. Jesus taught that The Sabbath was given for man, not man for the Sabbath. It is a time to celebrate, not something we should suffer through. We are not "Bound" to the Sabbath or to The Law. We are "Freed by it".