I hope that you go into this Message with prayer that the Holy Spirit will guide you into the truth.
Before I get to the text at hand, I wanted to make a point.
Proverbs 28:9
If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law,
even his prayers are detestable.
I believe that God placed you here, in part, to learn truth. If the Seventh day Sabbath is indeed important to God, one should not only begin keeping the commandment, but he should share with others who might not find out any other way.
If someone told us we had a questionable doctrine we would listen, especially if they thought they were working along side God. The way that we would test them would remain the same (compare it to the Bible) I claim that upon testing this Sabbath issue with scripture, it will resound as a firm and everlasting command of God.
Read the whole chapter of Colossians 2.
I am familiar with this text, and have enjoyed researching further. What we will see is that God’s plan for salvation was perhaps even better news than we thought. The fulfillment of Jesus’ necessary death on the cross surely began a new way of life for those who became Christians. Also they enjoyed knowing that God is stable and unchanging, his promises, and his laws never change.
To proceed, we will stroll through Colossians 2 and maybe delve a little further into what Paul is talking about, rather than with a standard reading of the words. If he says (2:14) “legal demands” we can jump back into the Bible and have a look at what it says those “legal demands” were, for example.
SO, grab your Bible, I request that you look up every text for yourself, otherwise I may have been able to make some texts up and toss them in.
All verses are NIV with marked ESV
Question: What are some things Paul is keenly against in Colossians 2:8? And what or who is the single thing that we can depend on?
2:8 - “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
I wanted to point out even in this section that he warns us about deceptive philosophies, and human tradition, even “basic” principles and ways of this world are named inferior to Christ. Who is the best example of how a christian should live? Christ of course.
Check out Colossians 2:14 How would you tell someone reading this, that the Ten Commandments (all of them) were still valid at all?
2:14 - “having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.”
Many Christians lead very carnal lives hoping that this verse is telling them that it is OK to do so. Even in light of Matthew 5:17-19, Jesus (Our best example for a christian lifestyle) said:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
So maybe it’s a contradiction? How would you explain this to a worried somebody? Here is where it gets interesting, here is where you find out how perfectly created the Bible is and how amazing Jesus and what he did on the cross was.
Let’s refurbish our understandings of God’s Holy Law versus the Ceremonial laws. I’ll place The Ten Commandments in Orange and the Ceremonial or “Mosaic” laws in purple. The one with animal sacrifices was nailed to the cross “destroyed”, the other will stand forever.
The Ten commandments are named the “Royal Law”
James 2:8
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
“Ceremonial Law” is called “Law of Commandments expressed in ordinances”
Ephesians 2:15
by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, (ESV)
The Ten Commandments are spoken directly by Gods mouth
Deuteronomy 4:12,13
Then the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice. He declared to you his covenant, the Ten Commandments, which he commanded you to follow and then wrote them on two stone tablets.
But The Cerememonial Law was given to Moses to Speak
Leviticus 1:1-3
The LORD called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock. “If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD.
The 10 were written by Gods finger
Exodus 31:18
When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.
But the Ceremonial Law was written by Moses (read further for more insight)
II Chronicles 35:12
And they set aside the burnt offerings that they might distribute them according to the groupings of the fathers’ houses of the lay people, to offer to the LORD, as it is written in the Book of Moses. And so they did with the bulls.
The 10 were carried inside of the Ark of the Covenant.
Exodus 40:20
He took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark and set the mercy seat above on the ark. (See also Hebrews 9:4)
While the ceremonial were carried beside it.
Deuteronomy 31:24-26
When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book to the very end, Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, “Take this Book of the Law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against you.
The 10 Commandments stand “forever and ever”
Psalm 111:7,8
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
But (Thank GOD) the ceremonial laws were nailed to the cross. Can you imagine still being part of the sacrificial system? Still looking forward to the messiah to replace it with HIS death?
Colossians 2:14
“...by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
None part of the 10 Commandments were set aside by Christ.
Matthew 5:17,18
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
The ceremonial Law was tossed, now unnecessary.
Ephesians 2:15
by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace,
OK, there are actually like ten or more additional comparisons that can be made, but I need to get on with my point.
The Sabbath was given at Creation. It is in fact a memorial OF creation.
Genesis 2:1-3 “...and it was made a “Holy Day”.
There is only one God-given-Seventh-day-of-the-week-Holy-Day. But there are many “Holidays” throughout the year. The Word Sabbath is relatively synonymous with Holiday in this way. We get to observe holidays like Labor Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Veterans Day, etc. but none of these are ‘Holy’ Days, even though they are referred to as such (Holidays). Click Below for the etymology of Holiday…
Holiday
In Colossians 2:14 and others we noticed that the scriptures speak of the “legal demands” of the Ceremonial Law. Some of these Can be found in Leviticus, read (or peruse) the chapters surrounding Chapter 23 to get a good picture of what the scroll beside the ark contained. Now read chapter 23 specifically.
As you saw in the feast of Trumpets v.24 and the day of Atonement v.32 they are specifically referred to as “Sabbaths”. In some versions the feast of trumpets is not. Our most comparable holiday is “labor day” when we are as a nation supposed to be free from labor (thought it is now poorly observed). The word “Sabbath” was used to help the Israelites understand that no work was permitted on this day, just like life on “The Sabbath”.
Each of the “Holy Convocations","Holy Days”,"Sabbaths", “feasts” foreshadowed the life of Jesus. His life and death capped each perfectly ending each messianic prophecy in a beautiful and astounding way. See Leviticus 23:37,38 again. And note the importance of the timing of the days in the year. Also notice in 28 that it separates the feast sabbaths from the Lord’s Sabbath.
“These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the LORD food offerings, burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day, besides the LORD’s Sabbaths and besides your gifts and besides all your vow offerings and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to the LORD.”
This is an entire separate study. Even our verse in question speaks about how the Sabbaths WERE foreshadowing things that WERE to come: Colossians 2:16-17
“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
Why did Paul feel like he need to say this then? The believers of the church of Colossae were apparently occasionally attacked by clever men who worked for the devil. He mentions his goals of keeping them from deluded paths in Colossians 2:4, 2:8, 2:16-23
4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
16Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
Here in 16-23 he makes it clear that some are telling this young church that the old Jewish ways (or) the ceremonial laws and festivals (see 16, 18, 21) and worship of angels are things they should be setting their minds to. Paul says NO! (19) LOOK AT CHRIST!
So, lets do that. In all aspects of his life we should read and learn, there is nothing he ever said or did that we cant learn from. Jesus is God. Did he keep the Sabbath? Yes.
Luke 4:16
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom,he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.
Also significant, is the fact that he was crucified on Friday, Rested in peace Sabbath, and rose for more work Sunday. Thats right...Friday he died before sunset and was taken from the cross right after Matthew 27:57
As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.
Then in Matthew 28 it starts:
28:1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
Jesus was RIP on Sabbath.
It is important to notice sometimes what is NOT said in particular texts or in the Bible and it is important NOT to infer things we want to hear. It is never said in the Bible that Sunday should even be observed as a Holiday.
i don’t think Easter celebrations are not wrong, but they are just traditions of men, God never says to keep the day of his rising as a yearly Holiday. Same with Christmas. We already determined that it was because of a thrust from the Catholic church that it was changed, and that is apparently a bad thing…
( Matthew 5:17-19
17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. )
Especially when God confirms that the Sabbath will even be observed in Heaven.
Isaiah 66:22,23
22 “As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares the LORD, “so will your name and descendants endure. 23 From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the LORD.
Keeping the commandments of God, the way that he wrote them, is a defining characteristic of those who truly love him.
Revelation 14:12
This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.
Ezekiel 20:12
Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy.
Ezekiel 20:19,20
I am the LORD your God; follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.”
Through masterful practices, Satan has pulled down the walls of Gods law. Sabbath is not the only commandment that is frequently trampled on, and God desires for us to rebuild the importance of the Law.
Isaiah 58:12,13
“Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD’s holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words...”
Why does God want us to build up his Commandments? That’s another study, but the short answer is in Romans 3:20
“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.”
We are driven to our redeemer to submit, to trust in him, to love him because he knows best and much more. The 10 Commandments are here for our benefit. It would be great to do another study just about how little we understand how much love is packed into those 10 Commandments. Psalm 19:11 says:
“By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.”
Truly this post could go on much longer because this issue is knit into many Bible prophecies as well as numerous other texts. And God deserves to be loved the way he requested. The Sabbath is a wonderful memorial for God’s creation, which he finished and rested from. God declared The Sabbath to be a holy day. And just like how he inhabited a space of a burning bush and it became holy (Moses, take off your shoes), he has decided to inhabit a space of time, once a week, in a very special way. This Sabbath day, the last day of the week, is on fire with his presence, and a lot of people forget that. The only commandment HE decided to begin with the word “Remember”.
Sometimes it’s hard to do the things God asks us to do, or to NOT do the things he asks us not to do. But NO MAN or WOMAN has ever regretted doing the true will of God in hindsight. God knows best. We are not omniscient like God. The last day of the week was specifically designed for refreshment and communion between the creator and his creation. God never asked us to try to feel convicted about his Commandments, they are a given. It would seem wrong If someone were to tell you that he needed to pray about committing adultery and feel a convicted feeling before he decided to stop doing it. Or if someone took The Lord’s name in vain occasionally, but they tried to justify it by saying that “God will understand. I’m used to saying that. It’s just a habit. He knows I don’t really mean it.” The same goes for all the rest of the Commandments, including the Sabbath. Here is a little of what God, Himself, said about the Sabbath:
Exodus 20:8-11 (The Ten Commandments)
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Very nice. I like how you word it out.
When I am confronted with the issue of the Sabbath, I say, ‘Hey look, God rested on the seventh day. Look on your calendar, and it just so happens Saturday is the Seventh Day. Jesus changed it on the cross? Ya right. Check out Matthew 5:17.’
And thank you too, if I have any questions, I will want to reference to this.
Once again, very nice.
This topic can be touchy for some. But not when we surrender to God. If a church is having tension because of discussion surrounding this sort of study then it is likely that many have been led to believe a lie.
Here is an example:
Comment: “My interpretation of this is right and I see flaws in yours.”
The lie: “one of us is right”
The truth: “We have been led into a fighting stance, the only victor when humans fight is Satan, we are both corrupt… let’s seek Jesus!”
The solution: “we need to get out of conversation with each other, and into conversation with God!”
If one person boasts and resists prayer, do not tell them to “Get on your friggin knees and PRAY fo’ y’self FOOL!” Rather begin to pray for them as well. If we all really believed that God hears and answered our prayers we would be in heaven by this time next year. SUBMIT!
Can you HEAR Gods voice? For some, including myself (which I only tell you so you can know it is OK to ask further questions) Gods voice is like this. I get the meaning of what he is saying just as if you were speaking to me, minus my eardrums vibrating. It sounds so technical and sterile, and believe me its tempting for me to talk about it in poetic terms, but it is valuable to speak about it this way. If you aren’t hearing him this way let me tell you… Im not “special” I am to God, but not in a way that would make it more easy for him to speak to me this way than it would be for him to speak to YOU this way. He desires this open communication with him every moment of the day. It is a REAL friendship. Close your eyes when you finish reading this and visualize Jesus standing with his arms open before you waiting for a hug, a real hug. Your choice is whether or not you want that hug. I say GO for it, make it long.
Ok, now.
God whispers to us that he loves us, he is obsessed with us, his mind is consumed with desire for our betterment. If you don’t think God is always completely Loving, then you have believed a lie.
Lack of submission to the Daddy of the universe is the root of problems in a church institution, someone is taking the lead in the hearts of some or all of those involved in church drama, and they are not God.
That is disobeying the first commandment. “Thou shalt have no other Gods before me” This commandment of love runs deeper into our daily decisions than we can imagine, and when we begin to stop breaking it we will experience freedom. Freedom from what? Freedom from everything that we hold so dear. Its like gripping the bar of gold that is too heavy to swim with. If we let go it disappears into the muddy water, but we get to breathe.
Very much so, Jesse. There is no greater power than on our knees.
God isn’t in the strong wind, the earthquake, the fire, but instead, a still small voice,
and that’s what we need to listen for.
(some versions will say the silence, so it’s the quite time with God that He will speak with you.)
That commandment of consuming, surrendered love/lover is truly the only freedom we’ll ever know on Earth. That hug also goes to each other. Great post!
