Appointed for the Defense of the Gospel (Part 9)
Why We Don’t Keep the Sabbath Part 1
It is likely that we all either have a friend, co-worker or relative who believes in “Keeping the Sabbath”. My good neighbor’s in-laws, are such who come to visit them on Friday, leave to keep the Sabbath on Saturday, then on Sunday return to finish the visit. I was asked to speak with this couple, and this is basically what I taught them.
First, it is perfectly clear; The inspired scripture of the Bible teaches and shows the command to keep the sabbath, it is done away with. “having wiped out the [a]handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a [b]festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the [c]substance is of Christ.” (Col. 2:14-17). I would make note that “[a] handwriting”, in verse 14 is the word [χειρόγραφον] coming from two words, from [χείρ- khire] meaning hand, and [γράφω-graphō] which means to write: Thus Thayer’s defines it as, “a handwriting; what one has written with his own hand”. Concerning the original tablets of the Law that God gave to Moses we read God, “…gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God” (Exo. 31:18), and “15 And Moses turned and went down from the mountain, and the two tablets of the Testimony were in his hand. The tablets were written on both sides; on the one side and on the other they were written. 16 Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on the tablets” (Exo. 32:15-16). This is the “handwriting of requirements”, the “Ten Commands” God inscribed on the stone tablets, gave to Moses as the foundation of the Law to the Jews. It was also the second step in the three steps required of a nation, that is, (1). People, as promised God brought Israel victoriously out of Egypt (Exo. 14). (2). A Law (Exo. 32 cf.) and (3). Land (Exo. 3:8; Joshua 3). The Sabbath Law was first introduced there at the mountain and was in affect till Christ died on the cross and that is what Paul wrote of as, “against us”, and “contrary to us”; noting carefully that the antecedent of “us” is, “the saints and faithful brethren in Christ” (Col. 1:1). The Old Testament Law cannot be introduced into New Testament practice because it is “against”, and “contrary to” Christianity. That doesn’t mean we don’t study and learn from the Old Testament which is rich in wisdom, experience, knowledge, and powerful examples of what to do, and not to do. Paul said, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). Therefore, yes we do study the OT, and yes we do learn from it, and yes by learning of the 300 plus fulfilled prophecy’s, of the amazing ways God helped the people of His creation, and the promise of the Messiah, that is Jesus, we do have abundant hope. Now, Moses reviewing the Law said, “The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive” (Deut. 5:3). The sabbath was a sign between God and the children of Israel and death came to anyone who didn’t keep it holy (Exo. 31:13-17). So, let us connect the dots: When God gave the command to keep the Sabbath day holy, He was speaking only to those who had been “brought out of the land of Egypt” (Exo. 20:1-2, 8; Deut. 5). Were you brought out of Egypt? Do you keep it holy, obeying its every precept? This last question brings us to the second point in the discussion.
Today’s Sabbath keepers, do not keep the Sabbath Rest properly. Remember the observance, application and practice all came from God. Here are some commandments that accompanied the Sabbath observance. It was a day of rest, as God commanded, “…These are the words which the Lord has commanded you to do: 2 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. 3 You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day” (Exo. 35:1-3; See also Exo. 20:8-10). We read that while in the wilderness God’s children found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. They brought him to “Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation”; not knowing what to do with him. This is what the Lord commanded: “The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.” 36 So, as the Lord commanded Moses, all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died” (Num. 15:32-36). I asked if they knew of any of their members who did work on Saturday? They answered yes. I asked, why didn’t you stone him, as the law commanded? They said nothing. Then I asked, have you ever mowed the lawn or done any work on the Sabbath? They at least answered honestly, yes. I asked, then why are you still alive? Do you know any sabbath keepers who properly observe this rest-rule today?
Another place where today’s so-called Sabbath keepers fail is they fail to offer Burnt Offerings. In Numbers 28 verses 9 and 10 we read, “‘And on the Sabbath day two lambs in their first year, without blemish, and two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with oil, with its drink offering— 10 this is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, besides the regular burnt offering with its drink offering.” Don’t overlook the three words, “for every Sabbath”. Again, I ask, do you offer burnt offerings for every Sabbath? You know their answer was no! I asked, have you ever offered “two lambs in their first year, without blemish, and two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with oil, with its drink offering”? Their answer was never. Let’s be honest with each other; Sabbath keepers do not observe this command today. Why not? Can you show me where is the passage that teaches the sabbath day is still binding but not the burnt offering?
Restricted Travel is also a commandment from God: In Acts chapter 1 we read that Jesus commanded His disciples saying, “…not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father” (v.4). At verse 12 we read that the disciples were commanded not to leave Jerusalem, and they “returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey” (v.12). It is 1.6 miles from the Olivet to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. So, a Sabbath day’s journey cannot be more than that. During the time when sabbath keeping was in force, God expected his people to stay at their place and rest. “See! For the Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day” (Exod. 16:29). What is the penalty for violating its observance? It is death. I asked this couple, how far is your home from the place you go to worship? They didn’t answer, but the look on their faces said it all.
If you keep the sabbath, do you keep these rules concerning its observance? If not, why not? Is God working in you, “both to will and to do for His good pleasure”? (Phil. 2:13)
In Love
Dave Scarpino
“12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13)