Expert: Sal - 4/25/2006

Question
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Followup To
Hi...

Thank you for your answers. Can you please give me the Biblical references where the nine commandments were reinstated in the New Testament?  Thanks..

Question -
Hello;
I found your website by accident. I am interested in your expanations for NOT considering the seventh day as the "true" sabbath. I was raised in the SDA church; my father is also a retired pastor. I find that the church, as a whole, has become very legalstic and not nurturing - as Christ commanded it to be shortly before His return to heaven.

Thank you for your time!
Answer -
Dear Pattie:

Thank you for the question and for being open to a different opinion than the SDA teaching. It is important that we be open to new insight if we are to grow as Christians.

My reasons for believing that the 7th day Sabbath is not the true Sabbath in the New Covenant are many. Firstly, Jesus claimed to be the true Sabbath rest. “Come to me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. Your souls will find rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden light� (Mt. 11:28-30). The Sabbath is now a person not a day. As a parallel to this idea Jesus is declared the true Passover (1 Cor. 5:7 & 1 Pt. 1:19). Secondly, all the Sabbaths were shadows (Col. 2:16-17) pointing to the true rest of salvation in Christ. Now that the substance is here the shadow is not necessary. Thirdly, the Sabbath was part of the Law of Moses that was “valid only until the descendant or offspring came to whom the promise had been given� (Gal. 3:19). Fourthly, the Sabbath was meant to teach the Israelites that faith alone is what can truly please God. “But now that faith is here, we are no longer in the schoolmaster's charge� (Gal. 3:25). Fifthly, the entire Old Covenant including the Sabbath is now obsolete. “When he says, ‘a new covenant,' he declares the first one obsolete� (Heb. 8:13). Sixthly, the Ten Commandments were never meant to be eternal. The “ministry of death, carved in writing on stone…was destined to pass away� (2 Cor. 3:7, 11). Seventhly, the Sabbath was never called the sign of the New Covenant. Eighthly, neither Jesus nor the Apostles taught that Christians must keep the Sabbath. Ninthly, the Sabbath was only for the Israelites. “So shall the Israelites observe the Sabbath, keeping it throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. Between Me and the Israelites it is to be an everlasting sign� (Ex. 31:16-17). Tenthly, nine of the Ten Commandments are restated in the New Testament only the Sabbath command is left out of the New Covenant.

If I can be of further help please do not hesitate to let me know.

God Bless You,
Sal  

Answer
Hello Pattie:

I will be glad to furnish the biblical references. It may be informative to know that the moral principles contained in the Ten Commandments are all carried forward into the New Covenant. Nine of the Ten Commandments are moral, written on the hearts of men (cf. Romans 2:14-15), these are all reiterated in the New Covenant. Only the ceremonial sign of the Old Covenant, the 7th day Sabbath (see Exodus 31:13, 16-17; Ezekiel 20:12, 20), is never restated in the New Covenant; therefore, it is not carried over as necessary for the people of God.   
     References for the 9 "moral" commandments restated in the New Testament:
1st - Worship God -
(53 times) Matthew 2:2; 2:8; 2:11; 4:9; 4:10; 14:33; 15:9; 28:9; 28:17, Mark 7:7, Luke 4:7; 4:8; 24:52, John 4:20,21,22(x2),23,24(x2); 9:38; 12:20, Acts 7:43; 8:27; 16:14; 17:23(x2); 18:7; 18:13; 19:27; 24:11, Romans 1:25; 12:1, 1 Corinthians 14:25, Philippians 3:3, Colossians 2:18, Hebrews 1:6; 9:1; 9:6; 10:2; 11:21, Revelation 4:10; 5:14; 7:11; 9:20; 11:1; 11:16; 14:7; 15:4; 19:4; 19:10; 22:8; 22:9
2nd - No Idolatry -
(20 times) Acts 15:20,29, Romans 1:25, 1 Corinthians 6:9; Chapter 8; 10:7,14; 12:2, 2 Corinthians 6:16, 1 Thessalonians 1:9, Galatians 5:20, Ephesians 5:5, Colossians 3:5, 1 Peter 4:3, 1 John 5:21, Revelation 2:14, 20; 9:20; 21:8; 22:15
3rd - No Profanity -
(4 times) Matthew 12:36, Ephesians 5:4, Romans 2:24, Revelation 16:9
5th - Honor Parents -
(6 times) Matthew 15:5, Matthew 19:19, Mark 7:10; 10:19, Luke 18:20, Ephesians 6:2
6th – No Murder -
(7 times) Matthew 5:21; 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, Romans 1:29; 13:9, James 2:11
7th – No Adultery -
(12 times) Matthew 5:27,28,32; 19:9,18, Mark 10:11,19, Luke 16:18; 18:20, Romans 13:9, James 2:11, 2 Peter 2:14
8th – No Stealing -
(6 times) Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, Romans 2:21; 13:9, Ephesians 4:28
9th – No Lying -
(4 times) Matthew 15:9; 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20
10th - Don't Covet -
(9 times) Mark 7:22, Luke 12:15, Romans 1:29; 7:7; 13:9, Ephesians 5:3, Colossians 3:5, Hebrews 13:5, 2 Peter 2:14

So in answer to your question all the other Commandments are still in effect although in an expanded higher moral form. Only the 7th day Sabbath command is obsolete. This helps to explain why Jesus and his Apostles never teach that New Covenant Christians must keep the 7th day Sabbath in order to attain salvation.

Thanks for the question. Let me know if I can be of further help.

God Be With You,
Sal


 
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