Sabbath Observance: 3 Views

Post by **_PAULESPINO** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 4:29 am

Lev. 16:29-31
29 "This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work-- whether native-born or an alien living among you--
30 because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins.
31 It is a sabbath of rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance.

It is very interesting to note that in this passage it is the 10th day and not the seventh day that is considered to be the sabbath day although it is the seventh month of the year.

Post by **_Paidion** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 1:34 pm

Paul, there were a number of sabbaths other than the weekly sabbath.

Indeed, there is every indication that the sabbath on the day after Jesus' death was a special sabbath (a high sabbath) and not the weekly sabbath. If Jesus had been crucified on Friday, there's no way you can get "three days and three nights" in the tomb before His resurrection.

John 19:31 Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the sabbath (for that sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

Post by **_STEVE7150** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 2:20 pm

If Jesus had been crucified on Friday, there's no way you can get "three days and three nights" in the tomb before His resurrection.

It says "in the heart of the earth" not "in the tomb" and that could mean going back to Gethsamanee symbolically.

Post by **_Paidion** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 3:28 pm

Steve7150, can you help me here? I cannot make any sense out of your statement.

Post by **__id_2533** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 5:23 pm

PAULESPINO wrote:Lev. 16:29-31
29 "This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work-- whether native-born or an alien living among you--
30 because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins.
31 It is a sabbath of rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance.

It is very interesting to note that in this passage it is the 10th day and not the seventh day that is considered to be the sabbath day although it is the seventh month of the year.

Paidion, I want to get back to answering your questions, but first, I'll attempt to answer these other two, if you don't mind.

This tenth day of the seventh month Sabbath is called the Day of Atonement, and was a "national" day of fasting and affliction, to show repentance for "Israel's" sins. This is the day when the high priest, once per year was to go actually into the holy of holies! Once per year on the tenth day of the seventh month of God's calendar (which was at least 12 months long, and every third year or so, it was thirteen months long)

Anyway, the two goats werre brought. One was slain, the other was called the scape goat, upon whom the sins of the nation were symbolically placed, and then the "fit man" was to lead this second goat out into the wilderness and released!

Jesus fulfilled this at his baptism, which began His public ministry, signifying dying in baptism, (the first goat) and then being led immediately into the wilderness by the "fit man"(the Holy Spirit) to be tempted by the devil, whereby He was then playing the role of the scape goat too!

Paidion is right about many days besides the weekly sabbath, being called sabbath days, wherein no was to do servile work.

The day Jesus was crucified was the fourteenth of the first month, (Passover), and was the preparation day for the "high Sabbath" of the first day of Unleavened Bread, which always occurred on the fifteenth of the first month. This day could fall on any day of the week from year to year. I believe this day fell on a Thursday that year when Jesus was crucufued on the previous Wednesday. Rising on the Sabbath day three days and nights later!

Hope this helps.

Peace, dmatic

Post by **__id_2533** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 5:26 pm

STEVE7150 wrote:Yes, I do "feel" that we sin when we break God's commandments, because the defintion of sin is the transgressing of the Law (1 John 3:4), and according to Jesus, if we break even the least of the commandments given through Moses and the Prophets and teach others to break it too, we will be called least in the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 5:19

To take this at face value for us does not make sense for followers of Christ. That would mean we should be stoning adulterers and homosexuals and still having animal sacrifices until the law of Moses be fulfilled. But it was fulfilled in Jesus yet he did'nt come to abolish it so what is it that he did?
He did'nt abolish it, but his commands are different then the law of Moses therefore though he did'nt abolish it , he did transform it.
Therefore it is the commands of Christ and his apostles that apply in the New Covenant and he never did say "Blessed are you who keep the Sabbath", nor did he keep it himself.

Actually Steve, your last sentence is a false accusation. Jesus never did sin. Jesus always kept His Father's commands, and was the perfect Lamb of God...SPOTLESS!

Taken at face value, it makes perfect sense to keep God's commandments, because this is exactly what Jesus taught His followers to do, and He instructed them to teach all nations to keep and observe all things whatsoever He taught! This is how the Kingdom of God is, like leaven, leavening the whole world. As He writes His laws within, on the hearts and minds of those who are entering covenant with Him!

Peace, dmatic

Post by **__id_2533** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 5:34 pm

Paidion asked:

2. When the Sabbath commandment was introduced, was it meant only for the Israelites in Moses' day? Or was it meant for all people everywhere, not only in that day, but in every age since then? And if the latter, how do you know?

Certainly, it was first given to moses to tell all the people, including the mixed multitude that came out of Egypt with the children of Israel, to see if they would obey God. Of course, everyone soon found out that they were not that into obeying God, because even though God warned them not to go out on the sabbath day to find the manna, they did, and even after warning that if they gathered more than they needed and tried to store it overnight that it would breed worms...they did it anyway.

I believe the beauty of God's commandments are for all people everywhere. The Sabbath command commemorates God's creation, and His provisions for all of us. Please read Is 56:1-8 This seems to quickly prove the point that His Sabbath is for all people. Then, as long as you're in Isaiah, please read chapters 65 and 66 which speaks of the New heavens and new earth and the keeping of all of God's Sabbaths!

I'll try to the next question in a moment.

peace, dmatic

Post by **__id_2533** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 5:39 pm

Paidion then asked:

3. Do you keep the Sabbath day? If so, do you avoid lighting a fire on the Sabbath? Do you believe that those in Canada who heat their houses with wood, should stay cold on the Sabbath?

Exodus 35:3 you shall kindle no fire in all your habitations on the sabbath day.

I try to brother!

My wood stove is always going in the winter. I don't believe that this command is referencing this but, after looking at the word kindle, it has many interesting meanings, including the consuming of food....I think it is given by God for those who are normally invloved in preparing meals during the week. God wanted them to have a Sabbath day too! so He commanded no "cooking" on the Sabbath so that they too may rest!

I don't even think those living in North Dakota should refrain from throwing another prepared log on thier fires! However, I don't think we should be cutting and splitting wood, nor cooking on that day. we should prepare beforehand!

peace, dmatic

Post by **_STEVE7150** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 6:05 pm

Taken at face value, it makes perfect sense to keep God's commandments, because this is exactly what Jesus taught His followers to do, and He instructed them to teach all nations to keep and observe all things whatsoever He taught!

That's the key dmatic , it's what Jesus himself taught which between himself and his apostles is over 50 commands which never included the Sabbath. If you feel called to keep it that's up to you but Jesus did'nt command it.
He transformed the Law of Moses from an external obedience to His own law which is in the heart of the believer, which is called by various names in the NT like "Royal law", "law of the Spirit" etc.
Luther did'nt even realize that James was referring to the "Royal law" as opposed to the Law of Moses.

Post by **__id_2533** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 6:20 pm

Thanks Steve. You wrote:

That's the key dmatic , it's what Jesus himself taught which between himself and his apostles is over 50 commands which never included the Sabbath.

Actually, He did teach us to keep all of God's commandments as given through Moses and the Prophets. Look at Mt. 5:17-19. He commanded that we not think that He was doing away with them! And yet, that is exactly what many of the "churches" teach!

In verse 19 He definitely states that whosoever breaks even the least of these commandments and teaches other to break it (EVEN the least!) that he would be called least in the kingdom of heaven. (Yes, Jesus was a Restorationist!

)

Further, if one studies Matthew 23: 1-3 we see that Jesus taught us to do all that Moses says to do and observe, but not wha tthe Pharisees did and taught! Because they mistaught God's commandments!

Hope this helps.

Peace, dmatic