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Sabbath "Remains" for the People of God Heb 4

Discussion in 'Other Christian Denominations' started by BobRyan, Jul 10, 2005.

  1. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    I didn't mention the flood or its relevance at all.

    I didn't say that it stopped. Only that it is no longer necessary. I'm aware that Jews still practice the custom today. Practicing the rabbinnic laws is not forbidden.

    Jews who are Christians are not required to adhere to rabbinnic law. Most do out of tradition, which is perfectly acceptible scripturally. However, they are not scripturally required to. I've known Reformed Jews will on occaision eat a cheeseburger or bacon. Reformed Jews don't isolate furniture for mentruating women. As for Orthodox Jews, they are more strict that Reformed Jews.
     
  2. BobRyan

    BobRyan Well-Known Member

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    Actually - that point from Acts 21 was pretty powerful.

    Paul is going BEYOND the point of just "Keeping the Commandments" of God as D.L.Moody might argue.

    He is also going BEYOND the point of just agreeing that the 10 commandment UNIT still exists (as He does in Eph 6:1-3).

    He is participating in a ceremonial vow - shaving the head and making an offering in the temple to non-Christian Jewish priests/church/leaders.

    Something NOBODY does today - so it is extreme by every measure.

    And what is the "Stated" explicit POINT/objective? To create a public statement saying that when it comes to Paul and "Rabbinic practices" thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law

    So that is pretty powerful.

    But also in the same text it shows a "distinction" that had always been there (in the OT) for Gentiles and one that is "affirmed" again in Acts 15 for Gentiles.

    In Christ,

    Bob
     
  3. BobRyan

    BobRyan Well-Known Member

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    You gave this as a Rabbinic practice that you said is there to distinguish or separate Jews from Gentiles.

    I am pointing out that pre-sinai and pre-flood disctinction could not have as it's only purpose "to identify Jews" or to "isolate Jews".


    So as in the case of Acts 16 where Paul has Timothy circumcised - your argument is that he did not really need to do that.

    But as TK points out in Acts 21 - Paul makes a public statement that as a Jew He is following the Law of God and points to something that is OUTSIDE of God's Ten Commandments as his proof.

    In Christ,

    Bob
     
  4. BobRyan

    BobRyan Well-Known Member

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    That is the approach that D.L.Moody takes. (So you are certainly in good company! ;)

    Lets say for the sake of illustration that one is speaking to a given congregation on the subject of God's Ten Commandments and the benefit of our keeping them. Do we use the Bible to "Define" what obedience is for that kind of message? "Sola Scriptura" or "Tradition"?

    In the case of Sabbath - was it to be a day of "worship" according to scripture?

    For example in Isaiah 66 it says "From Sabbath to Sabbath shall all Mankind come before Me to Worship" -- was that a big surprise to OT saints that Sabbath was a day for "Holy Convocation" and Worship??

    Notice that in Lev 23 BEFORE any mention is made of the annual sacrifices - the FIRST thing said is - these are days of "Holy Convocation" and the first Sabbath listed is the "weekly Sabbath".

    Doesn't this show that God's "purpose" for the day was communion with God - worship - etc?

    Was there any indication at all in scripture that the OT saints "picked their own day of the week as their own Sabbath"?

    These are the points I would put to D.L. Moody's POV.

    But to be frank - most people are not at D.L.Moody's level on this subject. In fact they would argue that he is in doctrinal error on his view that Christ the Creator's Holy Day is to be honored by His people.

    In Christ,

    Bob
     
  5. TorahKeeper

    TorahKeeper Guest

     
  6. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    What is it they say about a broken clock? It's going to be right once or twice every day?

    Well, tradition is often beneficial, but never doctrinal. As for scripture, where scripture speaks, we should speak; where it is silent, we should be silent. Scripture tells us to rest one day in seven, so we should. Scripture does not give doctrinal instuctions as to how we should impliment that day of rest. That is up to us (even Paul says not to judge a person's view of the Sabbath, and allow each person to be convinced in his own mind). What matters is that we truly refrain from work one day in seven. I dunno about you, but that sounds like I'll be more than happy to impliment.

    Is 66 tells inscructs people to come to the Lord and worship "from sabbath to sabbath". Traditionally, the Jews worshipped on their day of rest. However, in the NT, we're called to worship Him continually, not just occaisionally, making the worship aspect of the OT sabbath moot. HOwever, as you can see in Is 66, it was not a calling to worship just on the sabbath, but rather "from sabbath to sabbath".

    Prior to the NT, I'd say it has merit. But, from the NT on, we're to worship continually, not just on the Sabbath.
    [/QB]
    Christ said that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. That's pretty self-explanatory. Additionally, while God instituted the 7th day rest rule, God did not tell his people what day is the first day and what day is the 7th day. Especially on today's calendar, we men have which day of the week is Sunday, Monday, etc. Westerners traditionally view SUnday as the first day of the week, but I have business calendars which clearly show Monday as the first day of the week. Also, when considereing that scripture is now worldwide, when it is Saturday here, it is not somewhere else, making the whole idea of the days of the week somewhat fluid.

    I happen to agree there.
     
  7. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    Perhaps that was not its only purpose. But by the time the Jews are living with the Caananites, it's clear the the Rabbinic codes are seen as blessing by the Jews, who are, via the codes, keeping their distinctiveness in a peaceful manner, while living with others in the same land.

    Taking scripture as a whole, it's evident that scripture no longer required circumcision. However, it was not forbidden. Here is a case where someone wanted to be circumcized, so it is allowed.
    Same arguement. While no longer mandatory, it is still allowed to be practiced. I certainly do not frown on anyone who practices it as a matter of religious faith. Personally, I find the practice barbaric as we practice secularly practice it (hey, the least we could do is anesthetize the poor dudes). But I am scripturally forbidden from disallowing a person to practice it out of religious observance.

    But, to the point, either scripture no longer requires it in the NT (which would be consistent with a whole reading of the NT), or scripture requires it one moment and not the next (which is inconsistent with a whole reading of the NT).
     
  8. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    Anyhoo, at this point, there really isn't anything more to say on the topic. I invite anyone else to red the thread as a whole and decide for themselves. I'm kindly excusing myself from the topic from hereon out. I invite a moderator to close the thread if it is deemed appropriate to do so.
     
  9. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

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    Is this an example of what you call bullying:

    I pointed out to you that you cannot be an Israelite and a Christian at the same time, just as a Muslim cannot be part of Islam and Christianity at the same time. Both Judaism and Islam are false religions. That is what I said. Here is your reply.

    Who is bullying who? Look at the false allegations here. Look at the accusations "bowing at the feet of paganism." What gives you the right to say such things? Who is being the bully here? Don't you think you should take your own advice.
    DHK
     
  10. Bro Tony

    Bro Tony New Member

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    As a point of clarification DHK, do you mean you cannot be a practitioner of the Jewish faith and Christian faith at the same time. An Israelite is a citizen of Israel who is a descendant of the physical line of Jacob---there are many of them who are Christian. You can be an Israelite and a Christian---Like you can be an American and a Christian.

    Bro Tony
     
  11. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

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    Your right Tony.
    I was just going by memory. Part of the exact quote that I had originally made was:
     
  12. Bro Tony

    Bro Tony New Member

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    Thanks for the clarification brother.

    Bro Tony
     
  13. yeshua4me2

    yeshua4me2 New Member

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  14. Bro Tony

    Bro Tony New Member

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    Great verse, be sure to read all the text to keep it in context especially vs 17, which tells us all these things are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is Christ.

    Bro Tony
     
  15. yeshua4me2

    yeshua4me2 New Member

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    here are some quotes about Early christian worship:


    74 AD - The Letter of Barnabas "We keep the eighth day [Sunday] with
    joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose again from the dead"
    (Letter of Barnabas 15:6-8).

    90 AD - The Didache "But every Lord's day . . . gather yourselves
    together and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed
    your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one
    that is at variance with his fellow come together with you, until they
    be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned" (Didache 14).

    90AD - DIDACHE: ...every Lord's day, hold your solemn assemblies, and
    rejoice: for he will be guilty of sin who fasts on the Lord's day,
    being the day of the resurrection... (Constitutions of the Holy
    Apostles, Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 7, pg. 449)

    90AD - DIDACHE: And on the day of our Lord's resurrection, which is the
    Lord's day, meet more diligently, sending praise to God that made the
    Universe by Jesus, and sent Him to us, and condescended to let Him
    suffer, and raised Him from the dead. Otherwise what apology will he
    make to God who does not assemble on that day to hear the saving word
    concerning the resurrection...? (Constitutions of the Holy Apostles,
    Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 7, pg. 423)

    90AD - DIDACHE: But every Lord's day, do ye gather yourselves together,
    and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your
    transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one that is
    at variance with his fellow come together with you, until they be
    reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned. For this is that
    which was spoken by the Lord... [Matt.5:23-24] (The Teaching of the
    Twelve Apostles, Chap. 14:1, Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 7, page 381)

    90AD - DIDACHE: On the day of the resurrection of the Lord, that is,
    the Lord's day, assemble yourselves together, without fail, giving
    thanks to God, and praising Him for those mercies God has bestowed upon
    you through Christ, and has delivered you from ignorance, error, and
    bondage, that your sacrifice may be unspotted, and acceptable to God,
    who has said concerning His universal Church: "In every place shall
    incense and a pure sacrifice be offered unto me; for I am a great King,
    saith the Lord Almighty, and my name is wonderful among the heathen,
    [Malachi 1:11, 14] (Constitutions of the Holy Apostles, Ante-Nicene
    Fathers Vol. 7, pg. 471)

    107AD - IGNATIUS: Be not deceived with strange doctrines, nor with old
    fables, which are unprofitable. For if we still live according to the
    Jewish law, we acknowledge that we have not received grace... If,
    therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order of things
    have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the
    Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord's Day, on which also
    our life has sprung up again by Him and by His death which some deny),
    through which mystery we received faith, and on account of which we
    suffer in order that we may be found disciples of Jesus Christ our only
    teacher, how shall we be able to live apart from him for whom even the
    prophets were looking as their teacher since they were his disciples in
    the spirit?... let every friend of Christ keep the Lord's Day as a
    festival, the resurrection-day, the queen and chief of all the days of
    the week. It is absurd to speak of Jesus Christ with the tongue, and to
    cherish in the mind a Judaism which has now come to an end. for where
    there is Christianity there cannot be Judaism.... These things I
    address to you, my beloved, not that I know any of you to be in such a
    state; but, as less than any of you, I desire to guard you beforehand,
    that ye fall not upon the hooks of vain doctrine, but that you may
    rather attain to a full assurance in Christ... (Ignatius, Epistle to
    the Magnesians, chp 9. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, pg. 62-63.)

    130AD - BARNABAS: Moreover God says to the Jews, 'Your new moons and
    Sabbaths 1 cannot endure.' You see how he says, 'The present Sabbaths
    are not acceptable to me, but the Sabbath which I have made in which,
    when I have rested from all things, I will make the beginning of the
    eighth day which is the beginning of another world.' Wherefore we
    Christians keep the eighth day for joy, on which also Jesus arose from
    the dead and when he appeared ascended into heaven. (15:8f, The Epistle
    of Barnabas, 100 AD, Ante-Nicene Fathers,vol. 1, pg. 147)

    150AD - EPISTLE OF THE APOSTLES.- I [Christ] have come into being on
    the eighth day which is the day of the Lord. (18)1150AD JUSTIN: those
    who have persecuted and do persecute Christ, if they do not repent,
    shall not inherit anything on the holy mountain. But the Gentiles, who
    have believed on Him, and have repented of the sins which They have
    committed, they shall receive the inheritance along with the patriarchs
    and the prophets, and the just men who are descended from Jacob, even
    although they neither keep the Sabbath, nor are circumcised, nor
    observe the feasts. Assuredly they shall receive the holy inheritance
    of God. (Dialogue With Trypho the Jew, 150-165 AD, Ante-Nicene Fathers
    , vol. 1, page 207)

    150AD - JUSTIN: But if we do not admit this, we shall be liable to fall
    into foolish opinion, as if it were not the same God who existed in the
    times of Enoch and all the rest, who neither were circumcised after the
    flesh, nor observed Sabbaths, nor any other rites, seeing that Moses
    enjoined such observances... For if there was no need of circumcision
    before Abraham, or of the observance of Sabbaths, of feasts and
    sacrifices, before Moses; no more need is there of them now, after
    that, according to the will of God, Jesus Christ the Son of God has
    been born without sin, of a virgin sprung from the stock of Abraham.
    (Dialogue With Trypho the Jew, 150-165 AD, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1,
    page 206)

    150AD - JUSTIN: But Sunday is the day on which we hold our common
    assembly, because it is the first day of the week and Jesus our saviour
    on the same day rose from the dead. (First apology of Justin, Ch 68)

    150AD - JUSTIN: Moreover, all those righteous men already mentioned
    [after mentioning Adam. Abel, Enoch, Lot, Noah, Melchizedek, and
    Abraham], though they kept no Sabbaths, were pleasing to God; and after
    them Abraham with all his descendants until Moses... And you were
    commanded to keep Sabbaths, that you might retain the memorial of God.
    For His word makes this announcement, saying, "That you may know that
    I am God who redeemed you." (Dialogue With Trypho the Jew, 150-165 AD,
    Ante-Nicene Fathers , vol. 1, page 204)

    150AD - JUSTIN: The commandment of circumcision, requiring them always
    to circumcise the children on the eighth day, was a type of the true
    circumcision by which we are circumcised from error and evil through
    the resurrection from the dead on the first day of the week of Jesus
    Christ our Lord. For the first day of the week, although it is the
    first of all days, yet according to the number of the days in a cycle
    is called the eighth (while still remaining the first). (Dialogue 41:4)

    150AD - JUSTIN: There is no other thing for which you blame us, my
    friends, is there than this? That we do not live according to the Law,
    nor, are we circumcised in the flesh as your forefathers, nor do we
    observe the Sabbath as you do. (Dialogue with Trypho 10:1. In verse 3
    the Jew Trypho acknowledges that Christians 'do not keep the Sabbath.')

    150AD - JUSTIN: We are always together with one another. And for all
    the things with which we are supplied we bless the Maker of all through
    his Son Jesus Christ and through his Holy Spirit. And on the day called
    Sunday there is a gathering together in the same place of all who live
    in a city or a rural district. (There follows an account of a Christian
    worship service, which is quoted in VII.2.) We all make our assembly in
    common on the day of the Sun, since it is the first day, on which God
    changed the darkness and matter and made the world, and Jesus Christ
    our Savior arose from the dead on the same day. For they crucified him
    on the day before Saturn's day, and on the day after (which is the day
    of the Sun the appeared to his apostles and taught his disciples these
    things. (Apology, 1, 67:1-3, 7; First Apology, 145 AD, Ante-Nicene
    Fathers , Vol. 1, pg. 186)

    155 AD - Justin Martyr "[W]e too would observe the fleshly
    circumcision, and the sabbaths, and in short all the feasts, if we did
    not know for what reason they were enjoined [on] you--namely, on
    account of your transgressions and the hardness of your heart. . . .
    [H]ow is it, Trypho, that we would not observe those rites which do not
    harm us--I speak of fleshly circumcision and sabbaths and feasts? . . .
    God enjoined you to keep the sabbath, and impose on you other precepts
    for a sign, as I have already said, on account of your unrighteousness
    and that of your fathers" (Dialogue wit Trypho the Jew 18, 21).

    you would think they would have mentioned the sabbath.

    more quotes about the sabath:

    John Calvin on the Early Church Fathers on the Sabbath/Lord’s Day Issue

    However, the ancients did not substitute the Lord’s Day (as we call it) for the Sabbath without careful discrimination. The purpose and fulfillment of that true rest, represented by the ancient Sabbath, lies in the Lord’s resurrection. Hence, by the very day that brought the shadows to an end, Christians are warned not to cling to the shadow rite."

    John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, trans. Ford Lewis Battles (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1960), 1:399-400.

    5th Century

    St. Augustine:

    "The day now known as the Lord's Day, the eighth, namely, which is also the first day of the week." St. Augustine, Letters of St. Augustine, 55, Chapter XIII.

    4th Century A.D. 306

    Peter, Bishop of Alexandria in Egypt:

    "But the Lord's Day we celebrate as a day of joy, because on it, he rose again." Canon 15.

    3rd Century A.D. 270

    Anatolius, Bishop of Laodicea, in Asia Minor:

    "Our regard for the Lord's resurrection which took place on the Lord's Day will lead us to celebrate it." Chapter X.

    3rd Century About A.D. 250

    The Apostolic Constitution:

    "On the day of our Lord's resurrection, which is the Lord's Day, meet more diligently."

    Book 2, sec. 7.

    3rd Century A.D. 250

    Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage in Africa:

    "The eighth day, that is, the first day after the Sabbath and the Lord's Day." Epistle 58, section 4.

    2nd Century A.D. 200

    Tertullian in Africa:

    "We solemnize the day after Saturday in contradiction to those who call this day their Sabbath." Apology, Chapter XVI.

    2nd Century A.D. 194

    Clement of Alexandria, Egypt:

    "He, in fulfillment of the precept, according to the gospel, keeps the Lord's Day, when he abandons an evil disposition, and assumes that of the Gnostic, glorifying the Lord's resurrection in himself." Book 7, Chapter XII.

    2nd Century A.D. 140

    Justin Martyr: "But Sunday is the day which we all hold our common assembly, because Jesus Christ, our Saviour, on the same day rose from the dead." Apology, Chapter LXVII.

    2nd Century A.D. 120

    Barnabas: "We keep the eighth day with joyfulness, the day on which Jesus rose again from the dead." Chapter XVII.

    1st Century A.D. 96

    St. John on Patmos: "I was in the spirit on the Lord's Day." Rev. 1:10.


    1st Century A.D. 60

    Luke, Asia Minor: "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them." Acts 20:7.


    thankyou and God Bless
     
  16. yeshua4me2

    yeshua4me2 New Member

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    and
    Deuteronomy 5:15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and [that] the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

    this verse even states the purpose for the Sabbath

    to remember God's mighty Power in their deliverence from egypt

    thankyou and God bless
     
  17. yeshua4me2

    yeshua4me2 New Member

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    and again scripture says that the new covenant would not be like the old covenant.

    Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Yisra'el, and with the house of Yehudah:
    Jer 31:32 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 broke, although I was a husband to them, says the LORD.
     
  18. BobRyan

    BobRyan Well-Known Member

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    quote:
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Do we use the Bible to "Define" what obedience is for that kind of message? "Sola Scriptura" or "Tradition"?
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As I said - test that assumption.

    #1. "Show" exegetically (from details in the text) that any text/introduction of Christ the Creator's Holy Day does not actually specify a day of the actual week.

    #2. "Show" that as God reminded them of the Genesis 2 founding of this "Holy Day" there was no indication that this was to be a day of Worship. (Some exegesis in Exodus 20, Lev 23:1-4 etc would be sufficient)

    #3. "Show" that the Isaiah 66 mention of "all mankind coming before God from Sabbath to Sabbath TO WORSHIP" Was considered to be "any day in seven" and yet still conforming to a "pick any day you like" idea.

    I don't think that any of that can be proven "from the text of scripture.

    Show in the text for Sabbath that God allows US to pick OUR holy day (any day out of 7) and then either use it for actual worship - or not.

    Well you are right in that there is a blessing in this Holy day of Christ the Creator that is silly to ignore. Why not benefit from one of the benefits of the gift "for mankind"?

    In Christ,

    Bob
     
  19. BobRyan

    BobRyan Well-Known Member

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    Stating that God started a false religion at Sinai is going to an extreme.

    In Phil 3 Paul argues FOR his continued Jewish identification.

    In Acts 21:21-24 -- he goes so far as to offer sacrifices to God through Jewish priests and to pay those priests a religious offering.

    How do you reconcile this with your "false religion" statement?

    In Christ,

    Bob
     
  20. BobRyan

    BobRyan Well-Known Member

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    quote:
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In the case of Sabbath - was it to be a day of "worship" according to scripture?
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The NT argues the case "If a man will not work - neither let him eat"

    If Sabbath keeping people had "rested for 7 days" they would fall into that category.

    It was not possible for Adam to enjoy the same kind of meditation and worship on a work day as on a rest day devoted to God - nor can it be done today.

    In Isaiah 58 we are told by God that we have to "turn aside from doing our own pleasure or speaking our own Word on HIS Holy Day".

    In Lev 23 God commands "Holy Convocation" on Christ the Creator's Holy Day.

    Though there is still a lot of room for individual practice in that - it is not the same thing as saying that God has left us in the dark.

    In Christ,

    Bob
     
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