illustration to make a point.
Eve: " well does it really matter which tree we keep aside for God. I mean really. as long as we don't eat from one of them. I know God said the one in the midst of the garden but does it really matter which one we set aside for God. I mean as long as it is for God he wont mind.
question, do you think this would have been ok with God?
The only difference between this tree they were not allowed to eat from was its place. it was in the midst so that they could know which one God had set aside.
God said they could eat of every tree except that one.
God also said we could do our own thing every day except one.
one tree was reserved as one day has been reserved.
Other than its location this tree was just like any other tree. there is nothing to distinguish it from the others.
Likewise the Sabbath day is no different to any other day except that its the 7th which God reserved for us and Him at creation.
Adam and Eve did not see God create the earth. they had to believe it by faith in what they saw which was already created. God said you may eat of all trees except the one in the midst. why? because God created them thus they should obey Him. but they chose to obey someone els and thus became slaves to another.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
so who we obey shows to whom we are slaves.
God set aside a day as Sabbath. he said we had 6 days to ourselves but the 7th. (Note: he did not say one of the seven. but the seventh.) was a Sabbath.
so who are we going to obey God or tradition. God or Man. God or our reasoning.
why do we make of no effect Gods law for our traditions and opinions.
Yes Jesus is our rest. Jesus is Lord even of the Sabbath. he gave us the Sabbath as weekly reminder of who we serve.
Eze 20:12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.
Eze 20:20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.
So if the Sabbath is a sign between us and God then what do we signify by not keeping it?
are your hearts so hardened that you do not see. who should we honour? If God then obey Him.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Shall we make void Gods commandments for the sake of tradition? I tell you the truth, such a one will not enter in to the Kingdom.
Yet some of you will say. we live under the new covenant, In this you say well. yet you do not see that the new covenant is just a reiteration of the same covenant given to Abraham. You say we are saved by grace yet the very word you quote to say so, you then use to nullify the word which was spoken by the prophets that all even Abraham was saved by grace through Faith.
By what spirit do you say the Sabbath is done away. you can find no such thing in the word of God. yet you twist the scripture to make of non effect the word of God. Of Paul you say. yet Paul tells us we should uphold the law and establish it. The Apostle said that the Sabbath is a sign that we are in Jesus rest.
Was Jesus not the rest for the Jews also. yes for the Jews also. so then if Jesus was the rest for them also, why then would he have the Sabbath for the Jews. Gods Sabbath was instituted on the 7th day after creation. it was then he blessed it and made it Holy. who are we to take that Holy Day and make it nothing. shall we disregard the Gift of God?
Who has deceived you so that you would believe a lie?
Do not use the grace of God to make of no effect His law.
Where in the word of God does God do away with the Sabbath?
If there is no place then why do you argue against it?
As for me and my house We will serve the Lord for he first loved us and I am compelled by His Spirit.
children of the most High, How long will you resist the Spirits pleading. The day is coming when He will judge both the living and the dead. who is your master. No one can serve two masters. how long will you stand wavering between two masters. if the lord is God then follow Him.
Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
You say Jesus is our example, in this you do well. So why do we not pattern ourselves after His image.
Christ kept the law in entirety. The new covenant is to write the law on our hearts and in our minds.
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Paul new this to be the ten commandments
2Co 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
he saw that the commandments on stone tablets would be written on the heart by Gods Spirit.
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Even to the Jews was this same promise made.
tell me you who say the Sabbath is done away with. If God desires to write his law on our hearts and Paul is clear that it is the ten commandments. then where in the word of God does God list the law without the Sabbath attached to it?
Please brethren I counsel you to heed these words. study the word, pray and see that the Lord is Good and that His Sabbath is holy and good.
Who is your master, whom do you obey?