The Truth of the Sabbath

The Truth of the Sabbath

In the Old Testament dispensation, The LORD GOD (Father) said in Lev.23:3-Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. God also commanded (7) annual Holy Sabbath days, Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, Purim, Trumpets, Dedication, and Atonement. The children of Israel remember and tried to keep these practices until the time of Christ, but their faithfulness to ALL the law was not perfect in them.   For the New Testament dispensation, The Lord Jesus Christ (Son) said in (Mark2:27)- The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath:  Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath. Meaning now the Son speaks, on what to do and what not to do, he is now ruler over the Sabbath.

Jesus’ authority rights in ( St. John 5:16) -   And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Jesus just said that God was working on the Sabbath and so was He. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. If Jesus had broken the Sabbath, then that would mean Jesus sinned, as he was being judge by man`s judgment.  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.  Remember Jesus healed a man in John 5:8-"Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the Sabbath".  Now notice that Jesus healed the man and he could have just walked away but he healed the man and then told him to take up his bed (carry it) and walk, meaning now he has told the man to go and work on the Sabbath by labor carrying his bed. So did Jesus tell the man to sin, or was it the" Lord of the Sabbath" speaking and showing that this practice will be done away with in him. Remember in Exod.31:14-Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
  But, Jesus said in St.John7:22- Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers ;) and ye on the Sabbath day circumcise a man. If a man on the Sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the Sabbath day? Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Jesus is greater than Abraham and Moses.    All the new changes occur after Jesus death and resurrection.  Since God is using Jesus to speak through, showing that God will not continue this weekly practice in the New Testament. Notice Jesus never taught the people or his disciples that you must keep the Sabbath law forever. Just as the same also that Jesus did not teach them to keep the tithing law forever. So was Jesus a tithe giver unto the Levi tribe? Was he in sin for not giving, because there’s no record of this practice by him or his disciples. He was aware of it because he rebuke the hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees in their tithe giving.

If you’re to keep the Sabbath, then you must also faithfully keep the holy 7 Sabbaths, otherwise that would be hypocrisy. You can’t choose on your own what to keep and what not to keep. (Matt.12:1-8)- At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?  Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.(He was speaking of himself)  But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.  For the Son of man is Lord(master/ruler) even of the Sabbath day.  Here is the key point to all of Jesus teachings, and actions that he did while under the Law. Remember Moses said in Deut.18:15-The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.  Here is wisdom; Moses just said that the people will not always obey his words or what came from him. But, that when this "new prophet" comes, then you will turn unto him and obey his words that he gives you from God! The Apostle Peter acknowledges this truth that with Christ there will be a change and God given requirements spoken by his son in Acts 3:17-26. Christ did not come to bring to the world, the Law of Moses, but the gospel of the kingdom and the doctrine of his father God.

The scriptures must be rightly divided, in Exod.31:13-Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations (the 12 tribes of Israel); that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. Exod.31:16-Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. God said the keeping of the Sabbath was for a sign unto him from Israel, but in the New Testament under Christ sanctification, God`s people are now an all nations of people and their generations (Jews and Gentiles) are with Christ, that has spoken he is now "Lord of the Sabbath" Heb.2:10,11. In Exod. 31:16 we see the words "a perpetual covenant", now perpetual means never ceasing; continuing forever or for an unlimited time. God`s commands are always perpetual, UNTIL God says something different or something else commanded for you to do. You are to continue until he says it’s the end or he makes changes.  God sent Jesus to make changes in this matter, for Heb.10:9 says," Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first that he may establish the second ".  And, In Heb.10:19,20- Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.  God makes changes after the counsel of his own will, that’s what dispensations of times are and he showed a change unto the Apostle Peter in Acts 10:9-16/.Eph.2;11-19./ I.Tim.4:3-5. When the scripture saids "For I am the LORD, I change not"(Mala.3:6), God is referring to his divine character and image, which is after his godliness in light, love, and holiness. There is no darkness in him at all, he's the God that will do what he saids and he's the God that hates the works of sin, this he will not change! Not that God doesn’t have the right to rule as he see please or to change anything that he has ordered. God the Father is the only Lord God the spirit, and his begotten son is the only Lord Jesus Christ the man. God has not change from being the only Lord God! The spirit. He is not nor ever been a man or half spirit half man. 

Now the church has a new Lord, from God the Father and a new Sabbath which the saints now rest from their sins daily in  the Lord Jesus Christ by walking spiritual minded in the Spirit, not from the rest of physically working 6 days in the flesh. Jesus is the Spiritual Lord over the spiritual Sabbath. You have to always remember that Jesus is and represents the New Testament, not the Old Testament. He came to bring in the New Testament, not to continue after the old. The son of God would bring in the more perfect way to live before God.  Matt.11:27, - All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (This is the New Testament Sabbath.)  Remember God said this in Jerem. 31:31-Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:32- Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: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.  God has greater respect towards a man resting from not committing sins than from a man resting from 6 days of physical work, and still be bound by his own iniquity. Jesus says in Matt. 5:29-if thy right hand offends thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
In Heb.4:1-11, speaks of God`s rest now being through Christ. To enter into his rest is to Sabbath in Christ, not any longer a certain day of the week. Heb.4:9- There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  Now these scriptures show that God is not speaking of the last day of the week Sabbath. In Heb.4 chapter shows us that we rest first from sin and then finally entering into God`s rest of immortality to be with him and Christ.  What good is it and what have you gained if you live in sin 6 days in a week ,but then on the 7th day you stop to rest and assemble on the Sabbath, still guilty of sinning.  In Acts 3:1, it does not state it was on the Sabbath day of the week that the brethren assemble for prayer, showing you did not have to wait for one day out of the week only, to assemble pray and worship together.

Nor does Christ or the Apostles state that we are only to assemble the last day of the week to honor or not work on the Sabbath, or to continue to recognized the last day of the week as Sabbath. You will have to go back under the Old Testament time and under Moses to make an argument to keep the Sabbaths.  (I.Cor.5:6)-Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.( Col.2:15)- And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body (church) is of Christ. So if Paul was saying here in Col.2:16, that let no man judge and stop you from keeping the Sabbath and all the other Holy days, then he would have had to base that on the teachings of Christ, and then we will find that in the scriptures of Christ teaching that unto his Apostles. Remember Christ taught the people of Israel in parables and the meaning of the law, but unto his Apostles he taught them the Grace and Truth of God for the church. Christ did not come preaching the law but, love and the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Now since we are not required to keep the Holy days, then Paul is saying, let no man judge you (condemn you) that you SHOULD BE KEEPING the Sabbath & Holydays, that were from under Moses, for all these practices are now a shadow. This is the same treatment the Pharisees were doing to Jesus in Matt.12:7.  In (Rom.14:5)- One man esteemed one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

In (St.Joh1: 14)- For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.(Matt.17:5)-This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.  Abraham receives honor and glory for the Holy Covenant, Circumcision and Father of the chosen Nation of God. Moses receives honor and glory for the Law and the Sabbaths, Elijah receives honor to represent all the Holy Prophets of God and Jesus Christ receives honor and glory for giving God`s Salvation, Grace and Truth for all mankind(Jews & Gentiles). Jesus said in St. John 14:6- I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Therefore the church body of Christ is under grace and truth through faith. Remember in Acts 15 chapter we see how false brethren of the Jews tried to keep the new Jews and Gentiles of Christ under the Law and order of Moses.(Acts15:10)- Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Notice also that none of the Apostles includes the Holy Sabbaths days in their judgment unto the saved Gentiles. Some people misunderstand the reasons for certain times Jesus or the Apostles went into the “Synagogues”, it was not for worship and fellowship, unless they were a converted one by the Apostles ,like in Acts chapter 18, but was for to represent and to present the truth to those that would assemble because of the practice to the Sabbath. In Acts the place where the saints assemble was not always called a synagogue. There were assembly of the Jews and assembly of the Gentiles. But the synagogue was the place that the unsaved Jewish nation used, who live under their religions and falsehood of keeping the Law of Moses. We need to clearly understand that there is a difference between a commandment from God and a choice custom from man. Jesus's custom was that on the Sabbath he assemble himself, likewise the Apostle Paul's custom. The bible does not show that the church was commanded by either prophet, for "us the church" to obey in like manner.

This is the New Testament way of righteousness in (Rom.3:21)-But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: In (Acts13:39)-And by him (Jesus) all that believe are justified (not condemned) from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.(Rom.9:32,33)-Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.(I.Pet.2:8)- And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. If you self desire not to work on the last day of the week or to assemble on that day, you have that personal liberty, but you cannot say it is God`s will only and a commandment to do so unless Christ has said it to be, for he is the spoke person for God. Mankind has failed to realize why Christ is the stumbling stone. He is because man refuses to accept that God used a man to bring his grace and truth through, and that it would not be based on the law of Moses, but based on the Spirit, truth, grace, and love of God.  He`s also a stumbling block because Jesus came to represent and fulfill God`s prophesy. All of the Old Testament Prophesy stated that God `s Christ was coming, the Son of God, not God himself changed into flesh would be coming. God sent his son, a man and God was with him!  So then In Gal.3:23- But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.  

In Christ`s church his saints can assemble any day and time of the day to pray, worship, fellowship, and edify. (Matt.18:20)- For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.  We have no one set temple building and city to worship in like it was in the Old Testament time where God placed his name there, you can worship in a house or in a devoted building. In the New Testament it’s no longer just one nation of people, but now an all nations of people (Jews & Gentiles) salvation in God.  Some people don’t realize that they are under man`s religions and their commandments and custom, which are Satan inspired, that’s why their beliefs and practices is contrary to written scripture. God has not commanded through his Son, Jesus Christ for us today to worship only on Sunday as the Sabbath(Catholic/Christianity), Saturday as the Sabbaths(Jewish) and Friday as the Sabbath(Moslem). Today we worship God in spirit and in truth, and every day is the Lord`s day, when you’re in God`s son you have rest from sins and are in oneness fellowship with God and his Son. You are in your New Testament Sabbath, where the Lord Jesus Christ is now the “Lord of the Sabbath” and you follow after him by the teachings of the Apostles.

God has commanded by Jesus Christ that we are to first Love, God and then to his Son, Christ and to have love one to another. This is accepted more than a Sabbath Day, because you can do evil and hate your brother on the Sabbath, which would mean you’re in sin and abideth in death, there is no righteousness in the last day of the week, just because you refused to work and went to assemble worship on that day.   You have to remember that when you honor the Sabbath day practice, that’s in honor and remembrance of God resting from working the six days of creation and resting on the 7th day. When you are in Christ Jesus your Sabbath rest comes from when Christ saved you from your sins and you became born again. So when you rest from committing carnal sins, and when you walk in the spirit and love, that is everyday Sabbath unto you. This is where God and Jesus abides in.(I.Joh.2:7-11). (I.Joh4:11)-Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.(I.Joh4:19-21)-We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. In (Rom.13:8-10)- Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment (like also the Sabbath Day), it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. This is what’s required by God through his Son, Jesus Christ. Being free from sin, and abiding in his truth and love.(Jam.2:8-13)- If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Eld. James said that we should judge by the “Law of Liberty” James2:12, not by the Law of Moses. In James1:25 says, "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed". So what is the Law of Liberty, living by the spirit of God with the doctrine of Christ is the "Law of Liberty". In I.Tim4:16-Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. II.Cor.3:8-18 says- How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (Rom.8:1)- There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3.For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  So according to the scriptures we are to live in the “spirit” and “love “ of God and the doctrine of Christ teaches us how to do that. Again, this becomes our rest, our holy everyday sabbath living in God through Christ Jesus.  Jesus said in (Luk.16:16)-The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God(spirit) is preached, and every man presseth(born again) into it. (Gal.3:2-4)- This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 

Jesus said in Matt.5:17-Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20-For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

I realize why most people failed to understand the truth of Christ and the law from Matt.5:17-20, is because of the first error they made was to accept and believe that Jesus was God, therefore they took Jesus as God saying you must keep the law for salvation, and second was not understanding that Jesus when he came, he himself was under the law of God, which means he had to fulfill the law in righteousness. Grace and truth dispensation began on the Day of Pentecost, which is the dispensation that was to come after the dispensation of the Law of Moses and after Jesus death, burial, and resurrection, Eph.3:2-5. How did Jesus fulfill the Law, by living by the spirit of God and walking in love and how did he fulfill the prophets by doing what was written from the law of Moses and the prophets that were prophesied concerning him. Jesus never said there will be no change to the law, but he said "till all be fulfilled" meaning until the time for change. The change will be Luke16:16-The law and the prophets were until John: since that time(after John) the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.(the new change)  So Jesus did not come to glory in the law, but the law was first given for this reason>Rom.5:12-Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.Gal.3:19- Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator (new change). Moses was the mediator to bring the law and Jesus is the mediator to bring grace and truth, .St.John1:17.

 The second reason for the law was>Rom.3:23- For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 31-Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.Gal.3:23-But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.  Jesus said in Matt.7:12-Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Jesus said in Matt.5:20-"except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees" ,so what was the righteousness of the pharisee,well the Apostle Paul who was in his sinful past a Pharisee said this in Phili.3:9- And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

This showing more proof that God wants us to live by his spirit in love, and his doctrine by faith and not by the law. Why? Because in Gal. 5:3-18, For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  For Paul said in I.Thess.4:1,2- Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

Finally in Gal.2:16-Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.  17. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.  18. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.  19. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.  20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  21. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

This is the new way of life, the holiness life, the new Sabbath resting life in Christ Jesus. Obeying Christ Jesus teachings, that there is no longer one day out of the week for a Sabbath rest law. That, now when we rest from our sins, we worship and glorify God in spirit and truth through his son, Christ Jesus.

Min. Timothy  Irby