THE SABBATH OBSERVANCE AND THE WAR IN GAZA - the CONNECTION
In just the last day, a comment on one of these posts, and a dear friend brought up the subject of the Sabbath. The former suggested it is still to be observed; the latter wrote and asked me to clarify what day the Sabbath is supposed to be.
I am so glad that she asked. Because the example of observing the Sabbath that was put away by Christ, exposes also the egregious error of Israel’s wresting of the land.
First off, I answered her by pointing her to Colossians 2:16 & 17
16 Let NO MAN therefore judge you in meat, or in drink,
or in respect of an HOLY DAY , or of the new moon, or of the SABBATH days:
17 Which are a SHADOW of things to come; but the SUBSTANCE is of CHRIST’.
What does this mean? JESUS CHANGED EVERYTHING.
And if only the saints would recognize this, Christians (who are) would not be supporting ‘Israel’s’ slaughter of Palestinians for ‘the land’.
LET ME EXPLAIN
From Colossians 2:16, the New Testament Epistles and the Book of Hebrews, we understand that as Christ fulfilled all the ceremonial law, we NO LONGER NEED TO OBSERVE IT’.
IN A WORD - THE FUNCTION OF ALL THE CEREMONIAL LAW WAS TO PAINT A PICTURE OF THE CHRIST TO COME - WHICH - ONCE HE CAME, THERE WAS NO MORE CEREMONY TO OBSERVE.
AS IT IS ALSO WRITTEN:
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. (THE LAW) Galatians 3:24
“know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.” Galatians 2:16
‘Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight:
for by the law is the knowledge of sin’. Romans 3:20
because by works of the law NO ONE will be justified.
because by works of the law NO ONE will be justified.
BUT - WAS THE SABBATH a LAW?
The Pharisees - AKA the guardsmen of ‘the Law’ of God, certainly thought so,. Look at Matthew 12:10
‘And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they (the Pharisees) asked him, saying, Isn’t is against the LAW to heal on the SABBATH days?
Whereupon Jesus enlightened them with words spoken also for his Church today..
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 EVEN OF THE SABBATH DAY’ Matthew 12:7,8
IF YE HAD KNOWN,.. YE WOULD NOT HAVE CONDEMNED THE GUILTLESS - remember this verse as we continue..
ALL OF THESE served as ‘SHADOWS’ of GOOD THINGS TO COME.’ (see Hebrews 10:1)
ALL OF THESE were only for a ‘period of time’.. a ‘SEASON’; to bring us TO Christ (Galatians 3:24)
During which ‘season’ obedience to the ‘LAW’ was as ‘obedience to God’.
But when the season is over, and God REMOVES the Law, to OBEY the law - is now as DISOBEDIENCE to God.
What ‘GOOD THING’ came that replaced the law of God?
JESUS the CHRIST.
After his fullfilment of it - the ‘law was ‘finished’, forever.
‘It is finished!’ John 19:30
JESUS’ COMING; DYING; RESURRECTING; AND ASCENDING- CHANGED EVERYTHING.
The Ceremonial Law, including the Sabbath, which previously God’s people were commanded to keep, God now commands us to NOT KEEP.
Christ DID AWAY with the ‘Law for righteousness’, being MADE A LAW for us; CANCELLING IT
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, WHY - as though living in the world, [would ye be] subject to ordinances??
WHY? WHY? WHY ?-
Questions in Scripture are powerful figures of speech.. Indeed God is asking ‘WHY ON EARTH HAVING CHRIST.. WOULD YOU WANT TO RETURN TO EGYPT, SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING - THE LAND OF HARD KNOCKS’?
Touch not; taste not; handle not;22 Which all are to perish with the using; after the COMMANDMENTS and DOCTRINES OF MEN? WHY?
Do you see friend, that what had ONCE been a commandment of God, was voided, and left as a fruitless ‘commandment of men’.. good only for virtue signaling and posturing, but having no merit at all with the Father!
a fruitless ‘commandment of men’..
good only for virtue signaling and posturing,
But the Pharisees, then and now, by refusing to recognize the SUBSTANCE, JESUS CHRIST - still observe shadows, and follow ‘laws’.. continuing to live in an Old Testament times mentality- following precepts that have no bearing whatsoever to the Post Christ world.
NOW the LAW is no longer OF GOD, for God disannulled it, in his Son.. but is become a ‘tradition of MEN’ - (;like so much of church today)
When Jesus Christ came in the flesh, to OBEY the old law became reckoned obedience to ‘the traditions of men’ - but DISOBEDIENCE to God.
‘And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him,
Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe;
yet they are ALL ZEALOUS FOR THE LAW.” Acts 21:20
Nothing has changed. We have Christians today which ‘believe’, yet are zealous for the ‘laws’ of God; not discerning the body of Christ.
Why would anyone want to continue to obey the stringent restrictive ceremonial laws of old when Christ is ‘freedom from the law for righteousness’?
Because they prefer the APPLAUSE OF MEN - rather than the eternal approval of God.
EVEN NOW. There is no other way on earth to explain the ‘Christian’ support of the slaughter of Palestinians for 70 years now.
By now it should be clear how some groups of Christians, who are ignorant of the fullness of what Christ came to be, and to teach, are also backing the genocide in Israel for what are virtually the same reasons..
virtue signaling and posturing - using the premise done away with in Christ and the new Covenant, that LAND is to be swept clean and possessed.
Jesus was never about ‘land’ for Israel. NEVER.
He slept outside;
The son of God - the HEIR of all things - staked a claim to NO LAND.
Ironically - His betrayer sold HIM for land.
Did Christ leave us with ANY LAW?
YES - THE LAW OF LOVE
‘Owe no man any thing, 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, (Palestinians)
Thou shalt not steal, (Their homes)
Thou shalt not bear false witness, (Against them)
Thou shalt not covet; (Their land)
and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (the Palestinians)
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: (The Palestinians)
'LOVE is the FULFILLING of the LAW.' Romans 13:8,9,10
If the saints would understand the New Covenant, they would not observe a Sabbath, nor would some of them be supporting the hijackers of the Land of Judah, in slaughtering their neighbors.
People want to argue about the Sabbath.
Feel free.
The rest of us who want to follow the Lord's example, will be healing the sick, and casting out demons, and leading people to Christ ... meanwhile you are shadow boxing.
Very good Victoria, thank you! 🩷