Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 12/5/2007

Question
Thank you Br. Adams for your writings. One day I came accros your answers to one lady who wanted to know God truly by asking you about the Sabbath she read in one of the books and your answer raised my attention, here I write to you some information and kindly requesting you to read it sir in love.
I happen to be a University student as well as o lover of God and so a bible student.
Its true the issue of the Sabbath is one of the fundamental bible principles that the devil has tried to stample upon, and unfortunately the entire world has joined him in doing this.

Lets move, in six days God creates everything and on the seventhday he rests, he makes holy, sanctifies and blesses the seventhday, then instructs man to rest on that day (read the story of creation in Gen: 1 & 2).

In Exodus 20, God gives the children of Israel 10 commandments among which the fourth one is not forgotten about the sabbath in vs 8-12. Mark the word "remember" in the beginning of the sentence. Through ages, God's people obeyed him, they kept the sabbath because their loved one had commanded. You said in your answer that the Bible talks not anything about the day of worship, But have you read the book of Luke 23: 50-55 & 24:1-3, to discover that the day called Sabbath is clearly indicated as Saturday? If not read the bible to discover the truth.

Jesus said "not even a single jot of the law will pass as long as earth and Heaven still exist" read Mat 5 from vs 18.

And remember that the day of worship was just Changed from the Sabbath(Saturday), the seventhday of the week to Sunday the first day of the week on which almost the entire world today go for worship. But we thank God who has provided all the evidence so that people may not say that they never knew but rather blame themselves for having rejected his call.

The change was prophesied in Daniel 7:25 that it would happen.

Jesus raised a comment in Mat 15:8,9 that these people honour me with their words but their hearts are far away from me, they teach human rules as though they were God's laws, its of no use for them to worship God.
Whatever we do God is aware, the truth is everything we needd has been provided in the bible and so the would be followers of christ would rather walk like their master wants than tread their own path.

At the end the difference will be between the Obedient who follow God's word and those who follow their own teachings and so having kept almost the whole decalogue, most people will neglect the sabbath and Satan will support them, but the bible says "whoever breaks one is guilty of breaking all.

The truth is, like it was during the dark ages (another prophecy in Daniel), similarly it will be in these last days. God's true believers will be known through obedience and a true church of Rev 12:17 shall be determined. We are warned in Mat 21:7 that not all those who call his namme shall enter his kingdom, but those who do his will. For many will come saying we did this in your name and he will say to them I never knew you, go away from me you wicked people- the disobedient.

Below is some extra information for you my friend, Abrams, enjoy it as you discover more bibilically:


WHERE can you PROVE the sabbath -- tradition or scripture?   Those who believe only in the traditional "Christian sabbath" (whichever "weekend" day that might be) treat scripture as either unimportant or of secondary importance when it comes to actually proving their so-called "sabbath," simply because they cannot prove their "sabbath" there!

   If you were alone on a deserted isle with only your bible for guidance, and did not know which day "of the week" it was, could you -- with the help of scripture alone -- discover the true sabbaths and keep them on the correct commanded days?

   When scripture says "the seventh day," how can you be absolutely sure it means the same thing as what the world today calls "the seventh day of the week"?

   What role does tradition play today in proving when the sabbaths are commanded to be kept, and therefore on what day of the week they must be kept today?   How can tradition prove which day of the week is the sabbath?

   These questions have been ignored by every major so-called "sabbath-keeping" church or religion today, for the simple reason that they cannot answer them satisfactorily!

Can you?

   Think about it. If we're supposed to "PROVE ALL THINGS" (I Thessalonians 5:21), then why doesn't anyone seem to want to prove their supposed "sabbaths" in scripture!?

   And why do those who at least appear to be trying to do so, invariably end up adding their own words into the scriptures -- such as: "the seventh day of the week" -- which clearly do not say any such thing?

   Could it be because, deep down in their hearts, they really know -- or at least suspect -- that there is absolutely no proof whatever for their false "sabbaths" in scripture?!?

   So they have done what all false ministers before them have done; they turn to Jewish tradition and accept it carte blanche, without question and most certainly without proof that their "Saturday sabbath" is what they claim it to be, the "truth" as revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai and preserved from then until now by the Jewish religious tradition.

   But what does scripture reveal about these traditions, however, and what part can or should they play in preserving or determining such truths as the commanded sabbaths?

   Concerning the sabbaths in particular, and the yearly Feast sabbaths as well, scripture tells us that anciently the Yasraelites "hid their eyes" from the sabbaths (Ezekiel 22:26), and as a result, Creator Yahveh said that He had "caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Ziyavon" (Lamentations 2:6).

   Once this happened, as it did during the Babylonian captivity, how were the sabbaths finally restored, since there were obviously no traditional observances left for the returning Yasraelites to use for so-called "proof"?

   (Their entire tradition was, remember, of continually profaning the sabbaths and polluting them, by refusing to keep or remember them; Ezekiel 20:12-24, 22:8, 26, 23:38.)
Discovering the Sabbaths

   Ezra was "a scribe in the law of Moses" (Ezra 7:6), and he sought to learn "the law of Yahveh, and to do it, and to teach Yasrael the statutes and judgments" (verse 10).

   Ezra the scribe "opened the book" and "they read in the book of the law of Yahveh distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading" (Nehemiah 8:4-5, 8).

   What did Ezra, Nehemiah and the Levites prove to the people from scripture?   Notice: "And Nehemiah…and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said to all the people: 'This day is sacred to Yahveh your Almighty One, do not mourn nor weep.   For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law." (Nehemiah 8:9).

   This was the yearly sabbath or Feast of Reva, which was "the first day of the seventh month" (verse 2), and they also discovered and kept the Feast of Tabernacles and the eighth, or Last Great Day (verses 14-18).

   Then, finally, they acknowledged the true sabbath (Nehemiah 9:14), and they finally began to obey this commandment once again (Nehemiah 10:31).

   There were still some who disobeyed and utterly refused to keep the true sabbaths that are found revealed in the law of Yahveh, however (Nehemiah 13:15-22).

   Now if Ezra, Nehemiah and the Levites proved and restored the sabbaths -- not from false sabbath-violating tradition, but directly from the scriptures alone -- then why can't modern supposed "sabbath-keeping" religions do the same?!?

   Could it not be because they have not yet discovered the TRUE sabbaths, nor are they yet keeping the commanded sabbaths on the days they call "the sabbaths," without proof, other than the traditions of people who claim that they've done what none of their supposed ancestors were ever capable of doing for long; keeping the true sabbaths down through the ages on the correct commanded days without ever forgetting or abandoning them!?

   Why, then, can they also not prove their traditional so-called "sabbaths" in scripture?!?   Even when we see scriptures that so obviously contradict their "weekly sabbaths" (such as those concerning the seven complete sabbaths between the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Pentecost), must we ignore scripture to follow what is obviously a false tradition instead?

   Didn't the Savior warn us to not follow the sins of the Pharisees (Matthew 16:6, 11-12; Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1), which was to violate the commandments of Yahveh by their traditions (Matthew 15:3, 6; Mark 7:8-13)!?

   How can we "prove" anything in scripture, as the Bereans did (Acts 17:11), if we are to blindly follow someone else's false religious traditions instead?

   So consider yourself challenged.   Can you prove the traditional "sabbaths" in scripture alone?   If not, they simply are not the true sabbaths revealed in scripture, and you should not deceive yourself that you can obey the way of truth by merely following and obeying the traditions of wicked men and their utterly FALSE religions instead!


Answer
Hi Emmanuel,
        Did you happen to notice every Scripture reference you used was from the Old Testament, and the Gospels.   Each passage was God talking to the nation of Israel the Jews.  The only other reference was in Revelation 12:7 which also is addressing the Israel in the Tribulation.

  I will try to explain why Christians (Gentiles) in this dispensation are not under the Old Testament law, but under grace.  Paul revealed this saying,  “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward” (Ephesians 3:1-2)  

        The Sabbath was given by God to Israel not Gentiles,   “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; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.”  (Exodus 31:13)   Exodus 31:12-18 plainly says the Sabbath was a special sign between God and Israel.  If mankind in general had been given the Sabbath following creation, it could not have been a sign for Israel. The fact is that the Sabbath belongs to the nation Israel and not to any other people. It is also important to note that the Sabbath will be an eternal possession of Israel (Exodus 31:16). This special sign was unique to Israel  will never be annulled or transferred to another people.   This explains why the prophets foretell that Israel will keep the Sabbath even after the kingdom of Christ is established on earth in the Millennium. (Isa. 66:23). It also explains why Jesus Christ mentioned the Sabbath in His prophecies of the Tribulation (Matt. 24:20). Israelites in the land of Palestine still keep the Sabbath today.

  In the Book of Acts every mention of the Sabbath was in relation to the Jews...never to Gentile believers (Christians).  

  The only other mention of the Sabbat in the New Testament says “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”   (Colossians 2:16)   This passage was address to the Colossians who were Gentile believers and plainly states they were not to allow “no man” (that means anyone) judge them concerning the meat, drink, keeping a holy day, a new moon of the Sabbath.    All of these observances, they were not to let people judge them on, were Jewish observances and practices.     The reason for the verse is that the Judaizers, meaning Christian Jews,  were trying to impose Jewish law on Gentile Christians.    Paul repeatedly stated to the believers (Christians) that they were not under the Old Testament law.    Note what Paul said to Gentile believers:

        “And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.”  (1 Corinthians 9:20-21)

  “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)

  “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.” (Galatians 3:23-25)

  Clearly, Gentile believers are not under the law God gave to the nation of Israel.   It was a special sign from God, a special covenant  to them and them alone.   Christians in this dispensation are not under the Old Testament laws which was given to a nation to govern them.    Christians voluntarily assemble in Christ’s name to worship and serve Him.    God gave us to be, not a nation, but a called out assembly of born again Christians.   We are not a nation and are free to keep the principles of God out of liberty, voluntarily because we love God, not because God forces us to obey Him.  

       Sir, you and many others are confusing God working with Israel the Jews, and Christians in the dispensation of time.   We worship God on Sunday because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ was on that day.   The early Christians, even the Jews, worshiped on Sunday, as Christians have for over 2000 years.   Do not try to impose Jewish law on Gentile believers which is a serious mistake.   The resurrection of Jesus Christ on Sunday, opened the way for the Gentiles to receive salvation.   The Sunday resurrection of Jesus Christ was the most important day the world has ever known or will know.   The Old Testament law was given to them to teach symbolically them spiritual truths.  It never justified anyone.   

     “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:38-39)

  “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)

  “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:28)

  “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.” (Galatians 2:16)

  God did not give a special day of worship to the Gentiles.   We are to worship Him continually every day.   We assemble together on Sunday to collectively worship Him in the “ekklesia” (church) which Christ died for.    If Gentile believers were to worship on Saturday,  when why did God not tell us to do that? The reason the early Christians were already worshiping on Sunday and understood that this was the day that Jesus Christ arose from the grave and conquered sin and death.  

  Sir, if you are not a Jew and not an Israelite....God has not instructed you to keep the Sabbath.   By the way God says “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10) Sabbath keeping was part of the all the laws God gave to Israel.   Do you keep all of them?  If you do not God says you are guilty of them all.

  Thank the Lord, we are not under the law, which was simply a schoolmaster, to teach spiritual truths and right and wrong to Israel.   We have the New Testament Epistles to instruct us as Gentiles so that we can live a godly life pleasing to God.  We have the Holy Spirit to indwell us and guide us in our lives.  The Old Testament Jews did not have that and thus we have better position in Christ than they did.
         I hope you will study this matter thoroughly and understand God’s instructions to Gentile believers.

       “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)    Jesus said, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

Cooper Abrams
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