Understanding the freedom we have on the Sabbath...

[Scuba]

[Scuba]

Here are just a few of the man made rules and regulations that were put on the Sabbath through a misinterpretation of Scripture or just an all out mission to destroy the joy and delight of Sabbath keeping.

 

  1. Cooking on the Sabbath is forbidden.

  2. Swimming or walking too far on the Sabbath is forbidden.

  3. Healing on the Sabbath is wrong.

  4. Work of any kind for any reason is forbidden on the Sabbath.

  5. Buying anything on the Sabbath is forbidden.

  6. Going out to eat on the Sabbath is forbidden.

  7. Setting up or Cleaning up on the Sabbath is forbidden.

  8. Playing a game on the Sabbath is forbidden.

  9. Turning on a light on the Sabbath is forbidden.

10. Using an elevator on the Sabbath is forbidden.

11. Watching TV on the Sabbath is forbidden.

12. Using the computer on the Sabbath is forbidden.

 

These are just a few of the man made rules and regulations that were put on the Sabbath as to not violate the Law. None of these came from God nor were any of these taught or enforced by Jesus. What we are taught in the New Covenant is not that the Sabbath is done away with or changed to another day, but rather, we are taught not to judge anyone in what they do on the Sabbath to make the Sabbath a joy and a delight or if they are tending to needs that come up on the Sabbath.

 

There is nothing worst than a ritualistic, legalistic Sabbath keeper who makes keeping the Sabbath more important then the one who God created the Sabbath for. 

 

Let us gather in fellowship every Sabbath to love God and one another. Let us work to make the Sabbath a joy and a delight for our friends and families in the Lord. In this we look forward to eternity and fellowship in the kingdom of God.

[Ted Oplinger]

Hmmm...you might recheck number 4 with the Sabbath Comandment. I do remember seeing the words "you shall do no work...neither you, nor your...etc." Basically, animals, staff, and family were invited and included into the Sabbath Rest.

 

Your caveat..."any kind, for any reason", is well taken. The thrust of the commandment was to eliminate as much of our day-to-day effort to make a living and sustain our families/communities, as was possible, so as to spend as much time focusing upon their Creator/Redeemer. However, we cannot presume on grace and get sloppy with it.

 

Then, as now, time management is the issue...is one cleaning their house Friday evening because they had no time in the week to do it? Or is it that they scheduled no time to do it during the week?

 

Playing a game on the Sabbath? Where is the center of attention - building bonds with Christ and family/friends, or playing the game simply to win and pass the time until sundown?

 

Taking that nap on Sabbath afternoon....are we really recharging the batteries, or making an escape to pass the afternoon away?

 

The devil makes certain lots of "emergencies" will cop up to ensure "breaking the Sabbath". Emergency call to drive 150 miles to minister to a acutely ill family member...except you're out of gas. Ooooohh..got to BUY gas...breaking the commandment...except my pick-up is my horse today, and Christ makes the provision to sustain and feed your chief modes of transportation on Sabbath (Old and New Testaments). The Priests baked bread each Sabbath, "breaking" the Sabbath, yet were guiltless of breaking the Sabbath, by Christ's own words.

 

There are many areas of life where things don't just stop at sundown Friday, and wait patiently for you, and start back up after sundown Saturday. Agriculture, Health and Medicine, Power Production, and Emergency Services are but a few I list on this.

 

Why you are doing that work on Sabbath is the important thing God is looking at. Are you careless in your weekly planning? or careful in your ministry? Presuming on God's grace? or extending God's mercy and sustaining? Only one's self and God can accurately answer that...and one's self tends to self-justify a little much...so let God direct.

 

Everything on that list in the OP can be the exception to the commandment...or the breaking of the commandment. What determines the matter is where one's focus is.

 

Blessings,

[Scuba]

Hmmm...you might recheck number 4 with the Sabbath Comandment. I do remember seeing the words "you shall do no work...neither you, nor your...etc." Basically, animals, staff, and family were invited and included into the Sabbath Rest.

 

Your caveat..."any kind, for any reason", is well taken. The thrust of the commandment was to eliminate as much of our day-to-day effort to make a living and sustain our families/communities, as was possible, so as to spend as much time focusing upon their Creator/Redeemer. However, we cannot presume on grace and get sloppy with it.

 

Then, as now, time management is the issue...is one cleaning their house Friday evening because they had no time in the week to do it? Or is it that they scheduled no time to do it during the week?

 

Playing a game on the Sabbath? Where is the center of attention - building bonds with Christ and family/friends, or playing the game simply to win and pass the time until sundown?

 

Taking that nap on Sabbath afternoon....are we really recharging the batteries, or making an escape to pass the afternoon away?

 

The devil makes certain lots of "emergencies" will cop up to ensure "breaking the Sabbath". Emergency call to drive 150 miles to minister to a acutely ill family member...except you're out of gas. Ooooohh..got to BUY gas...breaking the commandment...except my pick-up is my horse today, and Christ makes the provision to sustain and feed your chief modes of transportation on Sabbath (Old and New Testaments). The Priests baked bread each Sabbath, "breaking" the Sabbath, yet were guiltless of breaking the Sabbath, by Christ's own words.

 

There are many areas of life where things don't just stop at sundown Friday, and wait patiently for you, and start back up after sundown Saturday. Agriculture, Health and Medicine, Power Production, and Emergency Services are but a few I list on this.

 

Why you are doing that work on Sabbath is the important thing God is looking at. Are you careless in your weekly planning? or careful in your ministry? Presuming on God's grace? or extending God's mercy and sustaining? Only one's self and God can accurately answer that...and one's self tends to self-justify a little much...so let God direct.

 

Everything on that list in the OP can be the exception to the commandment...or the breaking of the commandment. What determines the matter is where one's focus is.

 

Blessings,

 

To me, when the Bible says we are not under the Law I believe we are not under the Law. It was the Law that brought the strict abstinence from work, not the seventh day itself. The Law didn't make the seventh day special, the seventh day is special because that's the way God created it. We are not under the Law, we are under the teachings of Jesus. The Law produces a self righteous and judgmental attitude. Man tends to draw his value and self worth through keeping the Law, instead of drawing his value and self worth through the cross. The Law causes me to judge you in what you do on the Sabbath when the Bible says we are not to judge anyone regarding the Sabbath. In Christ I have freedom on the Sabbath. I now keep the Sabbath because of love, not because of Law. I use the Sabbath to strengthen relationships with God and His family. Fellowshiping, having fun and enjoying the Sabbath in the Lord is what the Sabbath is all about, not worrying about if I have exerted too many calories. The Sabbath is a little piece of the Kingdom here on earth. If I'm watching, judging and worrying about what others are doing or that maybe I took too many steps on the Sabbath it will be a miserable Sabbath fellowship that's what being under the Law produces. 

[Ted Oplinger]

A great number of people seem to have a misunderstanding - a significant misunderstanding - as to what "under the Law" means for the Christian. 

 

It does not mean that we can substitute grace for the plain obligations of obedience to the Law of God. Rightly understood, grace is the key to complete obedience. In reference to the Sabbath, God's grace is the key to removing every task or obstacle possible that would preclude or divert our attention, or other's attention, away from our Living God, and His mission to redeem and sanctify mankind.

 

The Sabbath is not about a list of do's and don'ts. It is everything about recognizing it is your Living God who sanctifies you (Ezekiel 20:12)...and by sanctify, the Bible means it is God setting you apart and performing the same actions in you He performed upon the Sabbath itself in the very beginning (Genesis 2:2,3). It is about recognizing God's part in the salvation of man supercedes what man thinks of himself as being important, as the Sabbath points man to an indwelling Creator God who is the only source of holiness, for man to keep the Sabbath holy.

 

Making the Sabbath into a list of do's and don'ts is the first sign of sanctifying yourself...because there will always be an exception to that list in the circumstances of life. Friend gets sick and need to buy medicine on the Sabbath? Check. Flat tires need to be replaced/changed? Check. Unexpected guests for after church lunch requiring more outlay of food prep? Check. The list continues.

 

Are there things I don't do on Sabbath? Indeed, there are. Business, career pursuits, and hobbies are among them. But these are not done because of some thought in doing them I break the commandment. They are not done because I place a higher priority on spending time with God, and sharing that time with God with everyone around me who also chooses to use God's time to for holiness.

 

Are there times God directs me to participate in an activity normally refrained from? Yes, there are..but it is for God to reach someone within that sphere of activity.

 

Indeed, we keep the Sabbath due to love...but we likewise do the same with each and every commandment.

 

We do not commit murder, because we recognize the value Christ has placed upon another person, and love that person. Our keeping that commandment is reflected in not only do we not end that person's life in malice and hate...we will not destroy his reputation and character as well. We are free to participate in God's building that person up into the man or woman God has designed them to be. And likewise with each and every commandment.

 

 

Blessings,

[Scuba]

A great number of people seem to have a misunderstanding - a significant misunderstanding - as to what "under the Law" means for the Christian. 

 

It does not mean that we can substitute grace for the plain obligations of obedience to the Law of God. Rightly understood, grace is the key to complete obedience. In reference to the Sabbath, God's grace is the key to removing every task or obstacle possible that would preclude or divert our attention, or other's attention, away from our Living God, and His mission to redeem and sanctify mankind.

 

The Sabbath is not about a list of do's and don'ts. It is everything about recognizing it is your Living God who sanctifies you (Ezekiel 20:12)...and by sanctify, the Bible means it is God setting you apart and performing the same actions in you He performed upon the Sabbath itself in the very beginning (Genesis 2:2,3). It is about recognizing God's part in the salvation of man supercedes what man thinks of himself as being important, as the Sabbath points man to an indwelling Creator God who is the only source of holiness, for man to keep the Sabbath holy.

 

Making the Sabbath into a list of do's and don'ts is the first sign of sanctifying yourself...because there will always be an exception to that list in the circumstances of life. Friend gets sick and need to buy medicine on the Sabbath? Check. Flat tires need to be replaced/changed? Check. Unexpected guests for after church lunch requiring more outlay of food prep? Check. The list continues.

 

Are there things I don't do on Sabbath? Indeed, there are. Business, career pursuits, and hobbies are among them. But these are not done because of some thought in doing them I break the commandment. They are not done because I place a higher priority on spending time with God, and sharing that time with God with everyone around me who also chooses to use God's time to for holiness.

 

Are there times God directs me to participate in an activity normally refrained from? Yes, there are..but it is for God to reach someone within that sphere of activity.

 

Indeed, we keep the Sabbath due to love...but we likewise do the same with each and every commandment.

 

We do not commit murder, because we recognize the value Christ has placed upon another person, and love that person. Our keeping that commandment is reflected in not only do we not end that person's life in malice and hate...we will not destroy his reputation and character as well. We are free to participate in God's building that person up into the man or woman God has designed them to be. And likewise with each and every commandment.

 

 

Blessings,

 

You just said the same thing I said but in different words. If you were under the Law you would be stoned to death for doing anything on the Sabbath. Why is that? Because religious man would be your judge. When man draws his value and self worth from how well he keeps the Law he transfers that over to others. People become very critical and judgmental of others when they are under the Law. This is not so when one is under the Law of Christ. Here is one who is under the Law.

 

Luke 18:9-13 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’

 

Under the Law I can commit adultery in my mind, I can murder in my heart, not so under the Law of Christ. 

 

Remember, the Law never made sin what it is, it only pointed it out. Cain was guilty of sin long before the Law. 

 

In Christ we are no longer under the Law of sin and death. That old way of relating to God is obsolete. In Christ we are to be of the spirit of the Law, which is love. In Christ we have freedom on the Sabbath to celebrate it and make it special without fear of judgement from others. This is very hard to grasp for some who are still under the Law or still establishing their value from how well they keep the Law. 

 

Some will tell you that the Sabbath is to be strictly used to mediate on the Lord. This sounds good but puts people in bondage. I reality, a child of God will be meditating on the Lord 7/24/365 not just one day a week. The Sabbath should be a delight, a time to gather in fellowship, a time to enjoy God and His creation without the burdens of livelihood. It's a time to enjoy friends and family in the Lord. It's a time to have fun with children and yes even teenagers. We have freedom to make the Sabbath a joy and a delight for all who love the Lord.

 

To the lost who could careless about Jesus and all He has done the Sabbath Day means nothing, not so with those who are alive and in love with God. This excitement and love for God does not come from the Law, it never did.

 

Hebrews 8:13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. 

 

Listen to what was part of the first covenant or old covenant that is now obsolete.

 

Hebrews 9:1-4 Now in that first covenant between God and his people there were rules for worship and there was a sacred tent down here on earth. Inside this place of worship there were two rooms. The first one contained the golden candlestick and a table with special loaves of holy bread upon it; this part was called the Holy Place. Then there was a curtain, and behind the curtain was a room called the Holy of Holies. In that room there were a golden incense-altar and the golden chest, called the ark of the covenant, completely covered on all sides with pure gold. Inside the ark were the tablets of stone with the Ten Commandments written on them, and a golden jar with some manna in it, and Aaron’s wooden cane that budded.

 

This is not saying the principles of the Ten Commandments are done away with, it just means we are not under that old system that old way of relating to God. It was that old system that caused man to make the Sabbath a burden rather than a delight.