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Interesting Discovery Reveals Judgment Associated With New Testament Sabbath Texts!
The Lord of the Sabbath Day Is there now no condemnation if we just believe in Christ and yet trample upon the Sabbath? Is this truth? How can we be honoring the One, Who says He is Lord of the Sabbath, if we discard the day He has sanctified and blessed and set apart for special fellowship with us? For how else can we keep it HOLY, but in fellowship with the HOLY ONE?
In studying through some of the texts used by those who seek to try and abolish Christ's Holy Sabbath Day, (for yes, it was made holy by Christ at creation, and declared His holy day in Isaiah 58:13), I noticed something very interesting. Repeatedly man made traditions reared their heads in these passages, a call would be given not to allow human traditions, commands and judgments to cause us to dishonor God, but to REMEMBER THAT CHRIST AND GOD WILL JUDGE!
The lament of Christ comes to mind, "Why do you transgress the commandments of God because of your tradition.....You have made the commandments of God of no effect, by your tradition. Well did Isaiah prophecy about you; These people praise me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."
In the following texts we see that the Sabbath is the holy day of the Lord, and that Jesus says he is Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath commandment is one of the 10 commandments spoken directly by the voice of the Lord, and written with His own finger. We find also that the Son of man, who is Lord of the Sabbath, is also Our Judge.
Duet. 5.12-14 says, "Keep the sabbath day holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you.
Then Jesus tells us in Matt. 12.8, that He,
John 5.22-24
In John 5:23--The call is given to honour Christ (how do we honour Christ?)
Notice again the text which Christ quoted from Isaiah (in Matt. 15:8,9) for
Isaiah tells us in plain words that honoring God is more than just words.
Isaiah 29.13-15
In Christ's judgment the councils of men CANNOT replace the commandments of God. Man's supposed counsel and wisdom will perish. For yes, Christ sees and knows. The worldly wise study deep in order to present a message far from the counsel of the Lord. Their hearts, the Lord says, are far from Him. But in Christ's judgment it is His commandments that are the standard.
We honor and love Him by following
Him with heartfelt obedience to His law. Jesus Himself, used this verse from Isaiah in conjunction with the keeping of the ten
commandments in Matt. 15:3-9. The Son of Man, who is the Lord of the Sabbath, says, "In vain do people worship him they cast aside God's commandments and replace them with man's commandments."
Who is it in John 5, who does not come into condemnation? It is he that hears and does Christ's word.
(compare with Matt. 7:21,24,26; Luke 6:47,49) Where Jesus tells us that he who hears His sayings and does them, will be
like a house that stands through the storm, and he who hears and does not do them, will be like a house that crashes in the
storm. "For not everyone that says Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom, but he that does the will of God in heaven."
John 5:24 He that hears Christ's word and believes will not come into condemnation in the
judgment.
So here in Colossians we see a strong warning against following the dictates of men, in violation to God's will.
Don't let anyone deceive you with persuasive speech (2:4)...you have received Jesus, so live in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith (2:6)...See that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human traditions, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ (2:8). ....why do you submit to regulations, do not taste, do not touch according to human precepts and human doctrines? (2:22) These may look like wise practices, but they are of no value. Focus on Christ and the things above.(2:23)"
The message is clear! The traditions and doctrines of men, which are not according to Christ's commands and sayings, are deceitful and dangerous. How easy it is to be swayed by the counsels of men, intimidated by them, or simply find their counsel more to our liking than walking in obedience with Christ and His commandments.
In this setting we know that the verse "let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to festivals or new moon celebrations or a sabbath," is speaking of man made regulations and commandments. For did not the Christain world adopt a man made sabbath in place of God's Holy Sabbath? The commotion over certain people urging certain man made rules and practices in these Colossian texts, were not about whether or not we should keep God's
commandments -- they were concerned with MAN MADE rules --
This commotion was a shadow of what IS to come--
Yet what really happens if we follow man's commandments instead of God's will according to Colossians?
We pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of HIS WILL in all spiritual wisdom and understanding to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work. .....In Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge... therefore let no one disqualify you of your inheritance......according to human precepts and doctrines. ( See Col. 1:10; 2:3, 2:8,18)
"Who are you to judge? To His own master he stands or falls." And WHO is our master?
For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ... each of us shall give account of himself to God.
We must give an account to God, not to man.
Romans 10:9-11
Now again compare this verse with Jesus words:
"Believe that God has raised Him from the dead". This concept is given fuller development in Romans 6. For it is the power that raised Christ from the dead, which can also raise us to newness of life, wherein the old sinful nature is dead, we die unto sin, but now live unto God.
Yield yourselves to God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members (your body) as instruments of righteousness unto God...know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are...so being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness."
Paul makes it perfectly clear that we must stand before the judgment throne of Christ and each of us shall give account of himself to God (Romans 14:10-12) Yes, we must receive our Justification from Christ, He alone can justify. Yes, we can only obey when the Spirit of God is allowed to control our hearts and lives. But none of that negates the fact that we must live in harmony with God's commandments and NOT replace them or substitute them with man made ideas, rationalizations, commands and traditions.
Romans eight carries the judgment message as well.
Heb. 4.10-13
"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Again we see that God sees and investigates the thoughts and the intents of the heart.
Again we are reminded of Jesus words: "Why do you transgress the commandments of God because of your tradition.....You have made the commandments of God of no effect, by your tradition. Well did Isaiah prophecy about you; These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."
Yes, in vain are all the man made substitutes, while God wants us to yield our hearts and lives to Him and serve Him. He is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. We may conceal our sins from the eyes of men, but we can hide nothing from our Maker.
God spared not His own Son, but delivered Him to death for our transgression and treason against his law and rule, and raised Christ again for our justification. Through Christ we may present our petitions at the throne of grace. Do we die to self and rise by the power of the Holy Spirit to new life in Him? To become a disciple of Christ is to deny self and follow Jesus. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Again we see that God sees and investigates the thoughts and the intents of the heart.
Again we are reminded of Jesus words: "Why do you transgress the commandments of God because of your tradition.....You have made the commandments of God of no effect, by your tradition. Well did Isaiah prophecy about you; These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."
Yes, in vain are all the man made substitutes, while God wants us to yield our hearts and lives to Him and serve Him. He is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. We may conceal our sins from the eyes of men, but we can hide nothing from our Maker. The apostle Paul speaks of wrestling against principalities and powers as he fought the good fight of faith. Again, he declares: "Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." Ah, no. Today sin is cherished and excused. The sharp sword of the Spirit, the word of God, does not cut to the soul. Has religion changed? Has Satan's enmity to God abated? A religious life once presented difficulties and demanded self-denial. All is made very easy now. And we are told to rest and not worry about obeying God's commandments, why is this? The professed people of God have compromised with the power of darkness.
But Hebrews 12:1-14 tells us we must "cast aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us and run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the author and finisher of faith...be subject to the Father and live!...make straight paths for your feet, ...for without holiness no one will see the Lord."
And Hebrews 10:26-31 says;
The whole book of Hebrews describes Christ's wonderful ministry for the salvation of His people. He gave everything to redeem us! All power is made available to us if we just lay hold upon Christ and make Him Master, Savior, and Guide of our lives. It is a whole hearted response we need to make, casting ourselves in humility and surrender at His feet, and he will lift us up to stand before Him in righteousness.
The last messages to the world begin with the summons: Fear God, and give Him glory for the hour of His judgment has come and worship Him who made heaven and earth. Rev. 14:7
It is to God to whom we must give an account of ourselves, and the hour of His judgment has come. Upon what basis are we judged? All the way through our study we see the battle between man made commands and traditions vs. God's commandments. And what is the commandment which the professed people of God have replaced with the traditions of men? It is the commandment that directs us to worship Him who created the heavens and the earth.
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it HOLY Fearful are the warnings against those who set up the counterfeit worship system. A worship system made of traditions and commandments of men. Yet who is it that receives the honor of being called God's Saints in this judgment?
Here is the endurance of the saints, here are they that KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS and have the faith of Jesus.
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Christ's Judgment vs. Man's judgment in Colossians
Christ's Judgment vs. Man's judgment in Romans
Christ's Judgment vs. Man's judgement in Hebrews
Fear God and Give Glory to Him for His Judgment has Come
Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath DAY.
Six days you shall labour, and do all thy work:
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD your God:"
"the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day."
For the Father judges no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent him.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Therefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as these people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but
have removed their hearts far from me, and their honor toward me is taught by the commandments of men: ....the wisdom of
their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden. Woe unto them that study deep in order to hide their counsel far from the LORD, and their works are in the dark. They say, Who sees us? and who knows us?
And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ.
But he that does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done: and there is no respect of persons.
The so called Christian church would arise and tell people to fast upon the Sabbath, celebrate upon the sun's day, it would tell the people
to observe a whole liturgy of holy days and festivals and to keep the WRONG Sabbath day. AND WOULD EXCOMMUNICATE and consign to hell any who disobeyed her.
Also Warns Against Allowing Human Beings To Judge on Eternal Matters According to Human Laws and directs us to the ONE we must give an account to.
So does it not behoove us to follow the commandments of God, NOT the traditions of men? Even if all rights to buy and sell are
removed from us, when we obey God rather than men?
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart, that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, for the scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
"Why do you transgress the commandments of God because of your tradition.....You have made the commandments of God of no effect, by your tradition. Well did Isaiah prophecy about you; These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."
"For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his."
Did God cease from "dead" works of legalism? No, He simply stopped His work of Creation on the Seventh-Day.
We too need to labor, "six days shall you labour and do all your work" and then enter into the rest of the Sabbath Day.
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
If we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of truth, there remains no more sacrifice but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and condemnation....For the Lord will judge His people....therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise...the just shall LIVE by faith; but if anyone draws back My soul has no pleasure in him.
Six days you shall work
but the Seventh-day is the Sabbath of the LORD YOUR GOD.
...For in six days the Lord created the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that in them is and rested the Seventh Day, wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it HOLY. (Ex. 20:11)
Yes, it is Christ, not the Sabbath that will save us, for He sanctifies the heart, and draws the person to Himself. A person abiding in Christ will have the whole law written upon their hearts and minds by His Spirit. Only in this way can they keep the 7th Day Holy unto the Lord. Without HIM as the center of the Sabbath, and His holiness lighting up our hearts to respond to Him, we can't keep the 7th Day Sabbath HOLY. His presence makes it holy. Thus it is the test administered by the One Who knows the heart. A sign that we are in Christ Who sanctifies us.
Read the Story of the Counterfeit as found in Colossians more fully by clicking here
Read the Story of the Counterfeit plan according to "Mary" by clicking here
And visit various other sites dealing with the Sabbath Question.