Friday, May 15, 2009

“The Sabbath & the NT Christian – 101”…Blog.


Have you ever… wondered why some worship on the Sabbath and some on Sunday? Many seemed not to be concerned about this fact. But those that practice & preach the Sabbath are adamant about Sabbath Keeping. Perhaps we could look at the Scriptures and see... The Truth?


(Mark 2:27) And He said to them, The Sabbath came into being for man's sake, and not man for the Sabbath’s sake.

MANY things… have been dragged into… True Christianity… in the Name of “Denominationalism”. Some say they Worship on Sunday… and Some on Saturday, which they say is The Sabbath. Most of all… I believe JESUS said it all… in this Verse.

· (Matthew 22:29) Jesus answered them, "You are mistaken because you don't know the Scriptures or God's power.

The Sabbath... was 'Only' given to the Nation Israel, for their Keeping. Their captivity in Babylon for ’70-years’, was due to them… NOT KEEPING the Sabbath. Jeremiah, Isaiah and Daniel will verify this fact. The Sabbath Law… was NOT Given to the NT Church.
Jesus did not say to… “Worship on the Sabbath”.

His address as to Worship… only dealt with "The Heart Issue"… not the specific day!

· (John 4:20-to-24) Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain. But you Jews say that the place where people should worship is in Jerusalem."
· (John 4:21) Jesus said to her, "Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
· (John 4:22) You don't know what you're worshiping. We know what we're worshiping, for salvation comes from the Jews.
· (John 4:23) Yet the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Indeed, the Father is looking for people like that to worship him.
· (John 4:24) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

JESUS specifically said… ‘The Place’ was not important. During the OT, because of the Adultery of David... the Kingdom was divided after the death of Solomon. Look at 1Kings 13 and see what GOD did to tell them WHERE worship should take place.

Even during the… early church age, ‘The Acts Period’, there were the Gnostics who tried to make the early Christians… put themselves back under The Law! Yes they said, Salvation is by Grace... [Ephesians 2:8-9-10 & Titus 3:4-5-6]… but one must keep the Law also. The Holy Spirit through Paul had to say this…

· (Galatians 1:8-9-10) But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that person be condemned!
· (Gal 1:9) What we have told you in the past I am now telling you again: If anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that person be condemned!
· (Gal 1:10) Am I now trying to win the approval of people or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ's servant.

Today one can… drive in almost any area… or… look in the Yellow Pages… and see… “A Full Gospel Church!” By their words… ‘Full gospel’… they infer and say, “All other Churches... are NOT Preaching… the Full Gospel!” Did you even look at their church… that way?

Those that asy… Worship is on “Only on the Sabbath”… are in reality saying, "All Others" are worshipping GOD… on the Wrong Day!” They by their practice of Sabbath worship, are making this Statement to all... that theSabbath Worship... is the only way! They even publish a book… to Prove their Point!

When conflict arose… in the early Church, [Acts] they had a church meeting. What was said in that meeting about… Worship? In Acts chapter one, church business was conducted… without the Holy Spirit to find a replacement for Judas. They were GIVEN by JESUS… Specific Instructions!

· (Acts 1:7-8) He answered them, "It is not for you to know what times or periods the Father has set by his own authority. (Acts 1:8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

And yet... this church business was not 'Sanctioned by the LORD'! Because the churhc was told [commanded] to wait for the Promise of the Holy Spirit. They, like so many other churches, did what they do… “Without The Holy Spirit’s… Validation”.

· (Acts 1:23) So they nominated two men-Joseph called Barsabbas, who also was called Justus, and Matthias... [Neither was Called Apostle... by The Scriptures!]

How many… NT Apostles were there after Judas Defected? Simple, 'Eleven'. Who then was the 12th? The Scripture says… "PAUL", who wrote most of the New Testament.

· (Romans 1:1) From Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God,
· (1Corinthains 9:1) I am free, am I not? I am an apostle, am I not? I have seen Jesus our Lord, haven't I? You are my work in the Lord, aren't you?
· (2Cointhains 1:1) From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, with all the holy people throughout Achaia.
· (Galatians 1:1) From Paul-an apostle not sent from men or by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father Who raised Him from the dead-
· (Ephesians 1:1) From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, to his holy and faithful people in Ephesus who are in union with Christ Jesus.

WHEN… was the Holy Spirit given to the NT Church in the fulfillment of the Promise of JESUS… in John 7:38-39? The Holy Spirit… causes us to be… “Born of the Spirit of God!”

· (Acts 2:1-to-4) When the day of Pentecost came, all of them were together in one place.
· (Acts 2:2) Suddenly, a sound like the roaring of a mighty windstorm came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
· (Acts 2:3) They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated, and one rested on each of them.
· (Acts 2:4) All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them that ability.

And the fact of the… “12 New Testament Apostles” where is that found in the Scriptures?

· (Matthew 19:28) Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne in the renewed creation, you who have followed me will also sit on… twelve thrones… governing… the twelve tribes of Israel.

Now, why did I… go through this 'Logic'… just to show that "The Holy Spirit"… is needed for True Worship! That also included… “Church Business!” And Most Important.... for the Understanding of The Scriptures!

What did the “Jewish Believing Church” of Acts… write to the… “Gentile Believing Churches”?
· (Acts 15:19-to-29) Therefore, I have decided that we should not trouble these gentiles who are turning to God.
· (Act 15:20) Instead, we should write to them = to keep away from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from anything strangled, and from blood.
· (Act 15:21) After all, Moses has had people to proclaim him in every city for generations, and on every Sabbath he is read aloud in the synagogues."
· (Act 15:22) Then the apostles, the elders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their men to send with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. These were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders among the brothers.
· (Act 15:23) They wrote this letter for them to deliver: "From the apostles and the elders, your brothers, to their gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings.
· (Act 15:24) We have heard that some men, coming from us without instructions from us, have said things to trouble you and have unsettled your minds.
· (Act 15:25) So we have unanimously decided to choose men and send them to you with our dear Barnabas and Paul,
· (Act 15:26) who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
· (Act 15:27) We have therefore sent Judas and Silas to tell you the same things by word of mouth.
· (Act 15:28) For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us = = not to place on you any burden but these essential requirements:
· (Act 15:29) to keep away from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from anything strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you avoid these things, you will prosper. Goodbye."

Please tell me… Where the Holy Spirit… Instructed the “NT Gentile Church”… “To Worship… on the Sabbath?” “Chapter & Verse… Please?” He did Not! How then can you say something that the Scripture… does not say? Why then do you start your… ‘own religion’ and say that Sabbath is required for true worship?

· (Acts 21:25) As for the gentiles who have become believers, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should keep away from food that has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality."

Answer… The HOLY SPIRIT… Never DID! IF… the day of worship… should be the Sabbath… WHY THEN… did the HOLY SPIRIT… Not Say SO? ? ? Are there Any Other…NT letters… Indicating that… “The SABBATH”… was the correct day of Worship? ? ? Absolutely NOT! I will share with you… the words of the Holy Spirit… through 'Paul to Peter'!

· (Galatians 2:11-to-16) But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly wrong.
· (Gal 2:12) For until some men came from James, he was in the habit of eating with the gentiles, but after they came he drew back and would not associate himself with them, being afraid of the circumcision party.
· (Gal 2:13) The other Jews also joined him in this hypocrisy, to the extent that even Barnabas was caught up in their hypocrisy.
· (Gal 2:14) But when I saw that… they were not acting consistently with the truth of the gospel, I told Peter in front of everyone, "Though you are a Jew, you live like a gentile and not like a Jew. So how can you insist that the gentiles must live like Jews?"
· (Gal 2:15) We ourselves are Jews by birth, and not gentile sinners,
· (Gal 2:16) yet we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. We, too, have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law, for no human being will be justified by the works of the law.

By Saying and Practicing that… ‘The Sabbath” is the day of Worship… YOU... do no different than Peter did here in these above verses! Gentiles… were Never told… to Worship on… “The Sabbath!”
Here are the... references to 'The Leap Year Calculations'... to show that The Sabbath of the Roman calendar … “IS NOT”… the Sabbath given to the Nation Israel by GOD Almighty! The Jewish Calendar has 360 days, the Roman Calendar has 365 plus... Leap Year!



Once again… “Christ Jesus”… Said…

· (John 4:20-to-24) Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain. But you Jews say that the place where people should worship is in Jerusalem."
· (John 4:21) Jesus said to her, "Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
· (John 4:22) You don't know what you're worshiping. We know what we're worshiping, for salvation comes from the Jews.
· (John 4:23) Yet the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Indeed, the Father is looking for people like that to worship him.
· (John 4:24) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

The Only True Worship… of GOD… has to be done in… Spirit and In Truth! NO day of the Week can bring that… ABOUT!

· (Colossians 2:16-17) Therefore, let no one judge you in matters of food and drink or with respect to a festival, a new moon, or a Sabbath day. (Col 2:17) These are a shadow of the things to come, but the reality belongs to Christ.

“If”… You practice keeping the Sabbath… “Then”…are YOU… NOT “Also Required”… To keep 'The Passover' as cammanded by the Word... "To keep the Sabbath"? Of course, you are! But do you... celebrate the Passover as required by the Word of God? How then do you Not keep the Passover and then keep the Sabbath?
And yet… “The Passover”… is just a ‘Word Picture’… of the Christ Jesus, The Messiah! And so is the Sabbath rest we who are ‘Born Again’… have in the “Finished Work of Christ!”

· (1Corinthains 5:7) Get rid of the old yeast so that you may be a new batch of dough, since you are to be free from yeast. For Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.

Simple Review of Points:

1. True Worship is done in Spirit and in Truth.
2. The Sabbath was given to The NATION… Israel… and NOT To Gentiles!
3. This Saturday of the Roman calendar… IS NOT… the Sabbath of Creation… due to Leap Year Calculations.
4. The LAW of GOD… and was given to Israel… and it made no one perfect. James 2:10!
5. Salvation is by Grace Alone… = Titus 3:5, = Ephesians 2:2-9-10, = Ephesians 1:7-to-14, = Romans 8:9, = Romans 11:6, = 1Corinthains 12:13 = and More!
6. NO… NT book or writings indicate that… The Sabbath was to be the day of Worship for the Gentiles!
7. NO Jew alive today can prove his Jewish Heritage. The records were destroyed during the Jerusalem Destruction, 70/73 AD!
8. The Apostles wrote instructing the Gentiles about Other Matters… not about which day to Worship! [i.e.] The day of worship is Not Important!
9. Last but not least… Do YOU say that Worship done on the Sabbath… is more important than… Worship done on Any Other Day?
10. "No matter what you say, it's your actions that speak for you."

Do those... "Real Born Again Christians"… “Who must... work on Saturdays = what YOU call the Sabbath”… Doctors, Nurses, Factory Workers, Power Plants, and OTHER Occupations…
….Miss OUT on True Real Worship… because THEY have to work… on The Sabbath? ? ? “NOT!”

Please Open The Scriptures… and Show ME… Verses to prove you must… ‘Sabbath Worship’?
(Ephesians 5:10) Proving what is acceptable to the Lord.

Thank you for Your EAR! Roger R. // Email // atruth459@yahoo.com