The Sabbath and the Old Covenant

[Robert]

I've been to many forums outside WWAF and the one thing I've read over and over is that the Sabbath belongs to the Old Covenant and that SDA are a cult. 

 

Look, I'm no fan of traditional, historic Adventism.  I'm thinking of folks like "Hope International", "Pilgrim's Rest", etc. Not that everything they state is in error, but they do teach a subtle form of legalism, especially when it comes to the Sabbath.

 

I would like to present a New Testament, New Covenant reason to rest.

 

So let me start with a question.  First let's review the Sabbath commandment as found in Exodus 20:8-11

 

 

 

"Remember the Sabbath day to set it apart for God. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work....For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day."

 

 

Now, looking at the immediate context, please tell me the reason that we are to rest?  What's the reason, given in the moral law, to keep the Sabbath?

[Robert]

Well, I guess we have some shy viewers; so I'll answer my own question.

 

The reason the law forbids work is because God rested from His perfect work of creation.  See Ex 20:11

 

The 4th commandment forbids our weekly labor .  Why?  Because God rested the 7th-day from His perfect work of creation.

 

Why did God rest?  Because according to Genesis chapter 2:1-3, God's work was complete.  No sin marred God's perfect & sinless creation, until the fall.

 

Why would God have us rest as He rested if creation is imperfect?

 

Let me ask this another way:  Is God still resting from His perfect work of creation?  No!  That would imply creation is imperfect and stained.  

 

Does that mean the Sabbath is meaningless?  No!

 

After Moses received the law and was coming down Mt Sinai he found the Israelites worshiping the golden calf.  You know the story:  Moses became angry and threw down the tablets breaking them into pieces. See Ex 32:19 Later God restored the law and Moses recited them to Israel. Notice that Moses changed the reason why one is to rest:

 

Deut 5:13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work.

 

 

Why?  Because God rested from His perfect & sinless creation?  No! Then why?

 

 

15 And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. 

 

Because God redeemed Israel from slavery.  So the reason the Israelites were to ultimately rest as God rested was because God delivered them from bondage. So the Sabbath, from the law, has a redemptive significance. 

Edited September 13, 2014 by Robert

[Robert]

Now let's move to the New Testament, under the New Covenant.

 

When one accepts Christ by faith he/she goes from under law to under grace.  The believer is now just by faith in the doing & dying of Christ.  That is to say, the believer stands perfect in Christ Jesus before God and His holy law.

 

Now what?  Some will ask about Christian living.  What does Jesus say?

 

"And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us." (1 John 3:23)

 

 

What is commanded for the New Covenant believer?  Two things:

 

1] To put your faith in the righteousness of Christ.

 

2] To love your neighbor as yourself.

 

Nothing here about the 4th commandment.  That's why are Sunday keeping Christian brothers & sisters say the Sabbath is Old Covenant and it is therefore obsolete.

 

Now before I continue we must keep in mind that the last 6 commandments of the moral law are a standard for Christians living under grace.  The Christian is no longer under law and therefore the law is not binding on him/her in matters of salvation.  That doesn't mean he/she is free to live a life indulging the sinful nature.  The believer, because of the Spirit of God, cannot continuously condone and practice sin as a legitimate lifestyle. BTW, to condone sin is to refuse to repent of it when we fall and all of us have besetting sins. 

 

Again, what about the Sabbath?

 

Well, under grace the Sabbath has a very special significance.  In fact the New Covenant Sabbath is linked not to the law, but to the gospel...the everlasting gospel. To understand the New Covenant Sabbath we must go to Hebrews chapter 4.

[Robert]

 To understand the New Covenant Sabbath we must go to Hebrews chapter 4.

 

Hebrew 4:1 "Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it."

 

 

 

What does “His rest” refer to?  The Sabbath?  No, verse two & three explains the meaning of “His rest”:

 

2 "For indeed we have had good news (the gospel) preached to us, just as they (the Jews of the exodus) also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. 3 For we who have believed enter His rest…"

 

 

So entering “His rest” is referring to accepting the gospel, the good news. It’s very clear here.

 

Now let’s drop down to verse 9 & 10:

 

Verse 9:  “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest (literally a Sabbath keeping) for the people of God”

 

In what respect?

 

 

Verse 10: “For the one who has entered His rest (i.e., who has accepted the gospel) has himself also (i.e., in addition to accepting the gospel) rested from his works, as God did from His.

 

 

 

Keep in mind that the unbelieving Jews were keeping the Sabbath, from the Torah, in order to secure salvation.  That's salvation by works (legalism).  If they were already keeping the Sabbath then why did Paul state, "there remains...a Sabbath-rest"? 

 

Now a question: From what did God rest on the Sabbath that we, believers, are to also rest?  Keep in mind the context is the gospel, not creation. 

[LifeHiscost]

Well, I guess we have some shy viewers; so I'll answer my own question.

Later God restored the law and Moses recited them to Israel. Notice that Moses changed the reason why one is to rest

[

 

Notice on the second set of the ten, Moses had to hew out the tablets himself after breaking the first set while throwing a tantrum. Seems a good indication of God's patience while allowing Moses to account for his hasty response to the children of Israels unacceptable behavior.

 

God is Love! Jesus saves!

[Robert]

From what did God rest on the Sabbath that we, believers, are to also rest?  Keep in mind the context is the gospel, not creation. 

 

From what did God the Father rest as linked to the gospel?

 

1 Cor 1: 20 "It is because of him (God the Father) that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our justification, sanctification and redemption." 

 

This is once again gospel language.  In Christ, God the Father has saved the human race.  In Christ we already stand perfect in every detail.  This God did in His SOn.  When did that work come to an end?

 

What did Christ state just shortly before His death late Friday afternoon, just before the Sabbath?

 

"It is finished!"

 

What was finished?

 

Before the cross Jesus said, "My Father is still working even now, and so I am working." John 5:17

 

What was their mission...Their work?  Answer:  To save the human race from under the curse of the law, legally, to under grace.

 

So when Jesus cried out "it is finished" He was referring to redemption of the human race. 

 

God rested from His perfect work of saving the fallen, human race in Christ Jesus. That work is complete.  You can't improve on...you cannot add to it. Your law performance does not add to God's perfect redemption in Christ Jesus.

 

So when you rest as God rested that Sabbath some 2000 years ago, you are outwardly stating that I can add nothing to God's perfect & finished work of redemption in Christ Jesus. That's the reason we should be keeping the Sabbath under the New Testament and New Covenant!

 

Then our Sunday keeping brothers and sisters can't accuse us of legalism....In fact maybe then they would see the Sabbath's significance? 

[Robert]

 Seems a good indication of God's patience while allowing Moses to account for his hasty response to the children of Israels unacceptable behavior.

 

God is Love! Jesus saves!

 

[Robert]

If you are interested in a bit deeper explanation, go here:  http://www.jacksequeira.org/hebrew07.htm

[Samie]

What did Christ state just shortly before His death late Friday afternoon, just before the Sabbath?

Was it Friday when He died?

 

Mark said our Lord was crucified on a prosabbaton (Mark 15:42).  When the Sabbath referred to by this prosabbaton was past, the women followers bought spices (Mark 16:1). Luke tells us the preparation of these spices was done before the Sabbath according to the commandment (Luke 23:56). 

 

The Sabbath according to the commandment is, no doubt, Saturday; the preparation of these spices was therefore Friday. But what about the Sabbath referred to by the prosabbaton in Mark 15:42?

 

It was when the Sabbath of the prosabbaton was past that the women followers bought spices which they prepared Friday.. Since the buying was after the Sabbath of the prosabbaton, the Sabbath of the prosabbaton fell on Thursday, and the prosabbaton was Wednesday, the day our Lord died. After 3 days, He resurrected:

 

KJV Mark 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

 

3 days after, as recorded in Greek Mark 16:9, He rose from the grave on "proi prote sabbatou" = "early morning of the chief Sabbath", Saturday.

 

Mark 16:9 VAnasta.j de. prwi> prw,th| sabba,tou evfa,nh prw/ton Mari,a| th/| Magdalhnh/|( avfV h-j evkbeblh,kei e`pta. daimo,niaÅ

Scriptures tell us our Savior was crucified for our sins and was resurrected for our justification:

 

KJV Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

NIV Hebrews 10:10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

He died to make us holy. He resurrected to keep us holy.  Our Savior resurrected on the day God made holy in Creation, that He might keep holy those He made holy in redemption.

 

Yes, the Sabbath is truly linked with the gospel.

[Robert]

He died to make us holy. He resurrected to keep us holy.  Our Savior resurrected on the day God made holy in Creation, that He might keep holy those He made holy in redemption.

 

He died to redeem us from under the law.   That's the major reason He came to this world under its god, Satan.

 

Secondarily, He lived and died to prove that men & women, fully surrendered to the Spirit of God, could reflect His love.  But that is not what saves. What He does in us is demonstrative, not meritorious. If not, then none of us will make it because we "fall short of the glory of God (His agape)".

[Robert]

He died to redeem us from under the law.  

 

Evidence:

 

Romans 7:6 "But now we have been released from the Law, having died (see verse 4, in the humanity of Christ) to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter."

 

Gal 4:4  "But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem (save) those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons."

 

Gal 3:22 "But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. 23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

[Sojourner]

Its interesting to also note that the Sabbath is prophetic in the book of Isaiah (66:23). Since this has not come to pass as yet, it remains in the future tense, hence its difficult for the Sabbath to be fulfilled or done away with. 

[Samie]

He died to make us holy. He resurrected to keep us holy.  Our Savior resurrected on the day God made holy in Creation, that He might keep holy those He made holy in redemption.

 

The Sabbath was given as the constant reminder for people to REMEMBER that it is God who made people holy:

NIV Ezekiel 20:12 Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy.

 

God did this through our Savior's death on the cross:

NIV Hebrews 10:10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

 

Not only were we made holy: we also were made perfect:

NIV Hebrews 10:14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

 

The Sabbath constantly reminds us EVERY week that because of what God through Christ did FOR us, we remain holy and perfect in God's sight.  As God NEVER took away the sanctity He accorded the seventh day Sabbath, in like manner, He NEVER will take away the sanctity He imparted to us through our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.

 

In creation, God made the Sabbath holy.  In redemption, God made man holy. Our Savior resurrected on the day God made holy in Creation, that He might keep holy those He made holy in redemption.

[LifeHiscost]

Our Savior resurrected on the day God made holy in Creation

Could you please give the biblical injunction for this statement?

 

God is Love! Jesus saves!

[Samie]

 

Could you please give the biblical injunction for this statement?

 

God is Love! Jesus saves!

 

The Greek Scriptures say:

 

Mark 16:9 VAnasta.j de. prwi> prw,th| sabba,tou evfa,nh prw/ton Mari,a| th/| Magdalhnh/|( avfV h-j evkbeblh,kei e`pta. daimo,niaÅ

 

prwi> is "early morning" (see Matt 20:1; Luke 21:38; John 8:2)

prw,th| from "protos" may be translated "chief" (see Acts 16:12)

the genitive sabba,tou refers to "sabbath" (see Matt 12:8; Mark 2:28; 6:2; Luke 6:5; 13:14, 16; 14:5;  John 19:31; Acts 1:12)

 

Therefore, prwi> prw,th| sabba,tou = "early morning of the chief Sabbath".  Unfortunately, in order to perhaps give a semblance of Scriptural authority to Sunday-keeping, the Greek phrase was translated into "early first day of the week" by translators who were themselves Sunday-keepers.

 

There is no existing document written circa the NT period that can tell us that the genitive sabba,tou ever referred to "week".  In the Old Testamemt Greek Scriptures - the Septuagint, all occurrences of sabba,tou were from the Hebrew tB'v;  (shabbath) and NOT for once from [;buv' (shabua), Hebrew for "week".

[LifeHiscost]

 

 

Romans 7:6 "But now we have been released from the Law, having died (see verse 4, in the humanity of Christ) to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter."

 

Gal 4:4  "But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem (save) those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons."

 

Gal 3:22 "But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. 23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

Biblically sound admonitions.  As for being released from being a prisoner of the Law and no longer under its' supervision, I now revel in the freedom of following common sense, for my own security as well as the security of all my brothers and sisters of faith, along with others lost whom Jesus came to save. By God's grace I freely hold my Father God and those made in His image, as is so eloquently  expressed in Deuteronomy 5, in the highest esteem, remembering what He asks me to remember and honoring what it is a privilege to honor. Perfectly? Hardly. 

 

Do others find life easier as a result of pursuing the same intention? Without question, not to mention hope elicited when Jesus is recognized as Lord. Is my intent to work my way to heaven? I have already received that as a gift and find no need to work for it.

 

The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:20-21 KJV

 

God is Love! Jesus saves!

[LifeHiscost]

Our Savior resurrected on the day God made holy in Creation

 

Could you please give the biblical injunction for this statement?

Do you not see the inconsistency in the revelation of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit's character if He(They) did not allow that "Truth", if it were actually that, to be more clearly seen by all on earth willing to submit to Him, considering that we are on the verge of eternity.

 

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit...Acts 2:17-18 KJV

 

So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Matt 24:33-37 KJV

 

God is Love! Jesus saves!

[Samie]

Do you not see the inconsistency in the revelation of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit's character if He(They) did not allow that "Truth", if it were actually that, to be more clearly seen by all on earth willing to submit to Him, considering that we are on the verge of eternity.

 

Honestly, I don't see any inconsistency. God knows when to reveal what He foreknew is truth needed for a specific period in earth's history.

 

KJV John 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

 

Knowing people can bear a specific truth now, God reveals it.

 

"There is no excuse for any one in taking the position that there is no more truth to be revealed, and that all our expositions of Scripture are without an error. The fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people, is not a proof that our ideas are infallible. Age will not make error into truth, and truth can afford to be fair. No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation." {RH December 20, 1892, par. 1}

[Robert]

Its interesting to also note that the Sabbath is prophetic in the book of Isaiah (66:23). Since this has not come to pass as yet, it remains in the future tense, hence its difficult for the Sabbath to be fulfilled or done away with. 

 

Yes, when the earth is made new, the Sabbath will once again point to a perfect & finished re-creation.  But for now it points to a perfect redemption.

[Aliensanctuary]

The Sabbath, according to Genesis, is for us to remember who we are and where we came from. The Kingdom of YHVH is not lawless, but is a government founded upon restrictions and permissions for behaviors. We have already been given somewhat of an idea on what is expected of humans in His kingdom. These restrictions and permissions are like a code of ethics in the workplace, and without them only conflict, chaos, and death would result, demonstrated quite well by our very own planet. The Kingdom of YHVH bans Self, and all selfish acts, all resulting from a fatal infection, a disease caused by the Virus of Evil.

 

Since, due to our infection with this almost-incurable disease, we have transgressed the laws of the Kingdom and should not even hope to be able to join it because we would only bring ruin and death to it, and, we should only expect to be destroyed in the final decontamination event of the universe. Fortunately, there is a way for humans to be able to join the Kingdom. Through the teachings of the Son of Man we can see that Self is our greatest enemy. If we believe that YHVH is our Creator, then it is our responsibility to fight our selfishness and follow his Rules of Conduct for members of His Kingdom. Even though we may fail and fall back into the pigpen of life multiple times, we can still pick ourselves up, brush off the nasty stuff, and continue on our journey to the Land of YHVH. 

 

The Kingdom of YHVH is not a religion, but a government consisting of masters and servant/workers. Someday, we will all have to make a decision on whether to join YHVH's Kingdom and die, or, enjoy the wicked pleasures of the Kingdom of Self for a time. Those who wish to join YHVH's Kingdom will have to request forgiveness of all of their transgressions of His laws for His servants. Once these requests have been registered, these transgressions will be deleted from the individuals's life record. Then, when Judgment Day arrives, they can stand and face YHVH, the Great Judge, without fear, and can accept his invitation to join His Kingdom.

 

In the Old Covenant, the Laws of the Kingdom were written and passed down to successive generations of humans. In the New Covenant, the Laws of the Kingdom are programmed into our minds, and we will not have to read the law books or try to memorize them all in hopes of not transgressing them. Our responses to certain situations will be automatic, and we will no longer be able to violate the commands of YHVH. Before entering into the New Contract with YHVH, we must wash up in and drink the River of Life which will destroy our sense of Self. It is at that point that we, as His servants, become one with Him, because Self is dead.

 

Thus, the Old Covenant, or Old Contract, was a written set of laws, easily forgotten, while the New Covenant, or New Contract, is a program in our minds guiding our behaviors, preventing us from committing acts that harm ourselves or others.

[Samie]

...

 

The Kingdom of YHVH is not a religion, but a government consisting of masters and servant/workers. Someday, we will all have to make a decision on whether to join YHVH's Kingdom and die, or, enjoy the wicked pleasures of the Kingdom of Self for a time. Those who wish to join YHVH's Kingdom will have to request forgiveness of all of their transgressions of His laws for His servants. Once these requests have been registered, these transgressions will be deleted from the individuals's life record. Then, when Judgment Day arrives, they can stand and face YHVH, the Great Judge, without fear, and can accept his invitation to join His Kingdom.

 

...

 

The Atonement made by our Savior on the cross forgave and cleansed us from all sins:

NAS Colossians 2:13 And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions

 

NKJ Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood

 

What is there to ask forgiveness for when under the New Covenant, ratified by the death of our Lord, all sins were forgiven and God remembers our sins NO MORE?

KJV Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

[LifeHiscost]

The Atonement made by our Savior on the cross forgave and cleansed us from all sins:

 

What is there to ask forgiveness for when under the New Covenant, ratified by the death of our Lord, all sins were forgiven and God remembers our sins NO MORE?

Aliensanctuary, on 14 Sept 2014 - 02:00 AM, said:

...

 

The Kingdom of YHVH is not a religion, but a government consisting of masters and servant/workers.

 

1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

12This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. John 15:1-12 KJV

 

A great problem of Christianity in general is making a distinction between God's love and His commandments. God is Love.   and when He has a requirement it is based upon acceptance, to reveal His true character. Only when we fail to fulfill the love of God by disobedience are those commandments against us, which is true of anything done contrary to God's Holy Word (will).

 

6“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:6-7 KJV 

 

1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

2For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

3For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

4He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

5Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

6Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Prov 41-6 KJV

 

God is Love! Jesus saves!

[Aliensanctuary]

No matter what Paul wrote in his letters, the New Covenant has not yet gone into effect. That will not happen until after the resurrection, Judgment Day, and the wash-up in Living Water. Our requests for the forgiveness of our transgressions have been and will be recorded and stored, then the transgressions will be deleted from our life records, but the life records are not opened and examined by YHVH until Judgment Day. We only have a vague idea of what the Kingdom of YHVH is, but after the resurrection, it will be explained to everyone, and then they can make their choice whether to become his servants, or not.

 

The exception to this would be the 144K.

[8thdaypriest]

It seems an unending debate regarding whether we believers are under the "Sinai" Covenant, or a "renewed" Covenant, or a "new" Covenant.  I can only give my personal opinion.

 

I believe we are BETROTHED to the risen Christ by a NEW marriage covenant. 

 

The Sinai Covenant was a marriage covenant.  Israel was betrothed to the pre-incarnate Son of God (the only mediator).

In the Ancient MiddleEast the betrothal WAS the marriage covenant.  Adultery during the period of betrothal was punishable by death.

The marriage was never consumated. 

 

    Jeremiah 3:14 “Return, O backsliding children,’ says the LORD; ‘for I am married to you.”

    Jeremiah 31:32 “‘the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD.’”

Ezekiel 16:32  “You are an adulterous wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband.”

 

 

When the intended groom DIED by crucifixion, this freed the betrothed bride from THAT marriage covenant, necessitating a NEW covenant of marriage.

Which is why Paul writes:

 

    Romans 7:1  “Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives?
    2 For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband.
    3 So then if, while her husband is living, she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress, though she is joined to another man.
    4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead” (NAS).

 

The risen Christ was "another" in the eyes of the Law. 

 

We are BETROTHED to Jesus Christ, by a "new" marriage covenant.  The marriage has NOT YET been consumated, but it is legally a marriage none-the-less. 

 

    2 Corinthians 11:2 [Paul] “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

 

So - what has changed from the Sinai Covenant? 

Answer - "the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change of the Law" (Heb. 7)  NOTE:  It does NOT say "the high priesthood being changed".  It says "the priesthood".

 

If you "change" the priesthood - from Levite/Aaronic - to Melchizedek, you change the system of animal sacrifice,

BECAUSE the Law commanded that every sacrifice be brought to an Aaronic priest at the Temple on the Mount at Jerusalem. 

 

The promise of the New Covenant is that the LORD will write His Law on our hearts. 

 

I find no "change" of the Sabbath. 

 

NOTE:  There is a study posted at my website titled "Two Covenants".

 

Respectfully,

Rachel Cory

Prophecy Viewpoint

[LifeHiscost]

The promise of the New Covenant is that the LORD will write His Law on our hearts. 

 

I find no "change" of the Sabbath. 

 

NOTE:  There is a study posted at my website titled "Two Covenants".

 

Respectfully,

Rachel Cory

Prophecy Viewpoint

God wanted them to be written on the heart from the beginning and only when it was clearly seen by mankind that we couldn't do it ourselves did He set into affect the means for the original intent to be brought to fruition.

 

Keep My commandments and live. And My teaching as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart  Proverbs 7:2-3 KJV 

      

"...without Me, you can do nothing."   John 15:5 KJV    

 

"I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me." Phil :4:13

 

God is Love! Jesus saves!