(3/3/02 4:57:53 pm)

The Creation Sabbath/Lord's Day...

I'm not a SDA, but here are some excellent Scriptures to Examine and Study on this often "controversial" topic :

In the Beginning (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:8-11), The Lord Made the Sabbath specifically for man (Mark 2:27/Literally "the human"), not just for the "Jew".

It is a Beautiful and Powerful Memorial of both Creation and Redemption (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:8-11 "Remember the Sabbath"; cf. John 19:30 "It is Finished"), and most Importantly, of our Eternal Creator, Lord, and Savior Himself, Jesus Christ.

Early NT Believers/Christians repeatedly gathered together on the Sabbath (Acts 13:44-48; 16:13; 20:7/Literal; 1 Corinthians 16:2/Literal), not on Sunday.

Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:2 Actually and Literally say,"one of the Sabbaths"(in the Greek NT), not "the first day of the week"(as nearly all English "Versions" in-accurately mis-translate).

1 Corinthians 7:19 teaches "the Keeping of the Commandents of God"(cf. 1 John
2:3-6; 5:2-3; Revelation 12:17; 14:12; 22:14).

Abraham Kept the Commandments of God (Genesis 26:5), and we are his seed (Galatians 3:29).

We Keep His Commandments because we Love Him (John 14:15, 21; 1 John 5:2-3), and because Obedience is the Inseparable Fruit of Salvation (Hebrews 5:8-9), but Grace is the Root (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Hebrews 4:9 Actually and Literally says that a "Sabbath-Keeping" remains for the people of God (in the Greek NT : [Sabbatismos] & KJV margin), not just "rest", although we enter His Rest by Grace through Faith in Him Alone (Ephesians 2:8-10).

John was in Spirit in "The Lord's Day"(Revelation 1:10; cf. Isaish 58:13-14 : The Sabbath is His Holy Day; 66:22-23), and He Is The Same : Yesterday,Today, and Forever (Hebrews 13:8; cf. Malachi 3:6; Psalm 89:34).


Also, this is the Only Day that The Lord ever Blessed and Sanctified (Genesis: 2-3/Literally "Fully-Blessed and Fully-Sanctified"), that's why He Commands us to
REMEMBER the Sabbath Day, and to Fully-Sanctify it (Exodus 20:8-11/Literal).

What a Beautiful Gift to all who are willing to Receive it.

Fact : The Sabbath Commandment was in Obeyed in the NEW Covenant : Luke 23:56 (cf. 22:20; Acts 13:44-48; 16:13).

Fact : The New Testament was written in GREEK, not English, and it commands us to "Prove all things"(1 Thessalonians 5:21/Literal), which can only be accurately and correcly done by Testing the English according to the Greek, because only the Greek Original was "God-Breathed"(2 Timothy 3:16/Literal), not the English "Versions" of it. When the English Contradicts the Greek, the English must be Corrected according to the Greek, and not vice-versa.

Fact : In the Greek Text, Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:2 BOTH actually and literally say on "one of the Sabbaths", NOT on "the first day of the week"(as in most English "Versions").

Fact : In the Greek Text, Hebrews 4:9 actually and literally says that a "Sabbath-Keeping"(Sabbatismos) REMAINS for the people of God, and this is the OPPOSITE of being abolished.

Fact : NEW Covenant Believers Kept The Commandments of God (1 Corinthians 7:19; 1 John 2:3-6; 5:2-3; Revelation 12:17; 14:12; 22:14; cf. John 14:15).

Fact : The inner "Essence" of the New Covenant is The LAW of God in the Hearts and Minds of His People (Hebrews 8:10; 10:16; cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34).

Fact : God Himself Directly Spoke (and Wrote) The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), and He Himself also Directly Says that He will not Break His Covenant, nor
CHANGE what He Himself has Spoken (Pslam 89:37; cf. Ecclesiastes 3:14).

Fact : God Himself Directly Says that the Sabbath will be observed in the FUTURE (Isaiah 66:22-23), and this would NOT be True if it was abolished.

Although we are not to Judge anyone concerning "Sabbaths"(Colossians 2:16/Literal : Plural in Greek), we can Believe the Scriptural Truth of the Sabbath, as well as let each person be fully persuaded in his/her own mind (Romans 14:5-6), because whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin (Romans 14:23).

Concerning Colossians 2:14,"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was AGAINST us", this does NOT include the Sabbath, which was specifically made FOR us (not "against" us!) by The Lord Himself (Mark 2:27; cf. Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:8-11), in the Beginning, and still REMAINS for the people of God (Hebrews 4:9/Literal & KJV Margin).

The Reason WHY the "handwriting of ordinances" was AGAINST us is because it was CARNAL (Hebrews 9:10), but the Law of God is SPIRITUAL (Romans 7:14; cf. 7:12).

Furthermore, the handwriting of "ordinances" AGAINST us refers to the BOOK of the Law, which was HAND written by MOSES, and placed BESIDE the Ark of the Covenant (Deuteronomy 31:24-26), and is SEPARATE from the TEN COMMANDMENTS, which were DIVINELY inscribed by GOD, and placed INSIDE the Ark of the Covenant (Deuteronomy 10:1-5; cf. 1 Kings 8:9; Revelation 11:19; 12:17; 14:12).

SEE the DIFFERENCE here?

Study : 1 Corinthians 7:19 (cf. Genesis 26:5).