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If you don't believe to the Lord, when he said in the Bible (so many, many ... times) that the Sabbath is his day, why should you believe anything else ?
Marko Sink
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I forgot to mention that i am from Slovenia. In our language sabbath is "sobota". It is quite similar isn't it. This similarity is, i think, also in many other languages.
Brenda T
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I totally agree! I am a Sabbath-keeper and do not keep Sunday as a day of worship. I agree that you should worship the Lord every day, but the Sabbath is to be kept strictly for HIM only.
Chuck Davis
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Collosians 2:16-17
Verse 16 explains the respect we should have for the sabbath.
Verse 17 explains why.
This is very plain teaching. Why is it so hard to accept?
When it comes to the first day of the week, we cannot call this a "holyday". The above scriptures bear this out plainly. However, although this day cannot be considered a "holyday", it was certainly used by the original NT churches for a certain purpose [Acts 20:7]. Remember, this was the practice when the apostle Paul was teaching and correcting the churches. Not only did he not correct this practice, he waited several days at Troas to break bread on the first day, not planning to depart until the next day. Coincidence? I don't think so. Furthermore, a study of all the references to the first, second, third, etc. days of the week in the NT will show that this day was used differently from the rest. I don't believe we have all these references to this day in the inspired word of God for no reason. It is not a holyday, but it is a day to give God the firstfruits of our time.
Be like the noble Bereans [Acts 17:11] and see if these things are so.
God bless,
Chuck
aedge1
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Because there is so much discussion on what is appropriate Friday, or Saturday or Sunday as the Sabbath. I think it is a moot point. I have been a Christian for 29 years, and in all that time God has not convicted me of keeping the Sabbath on a Sunday. I do not believe it is a sin to do so. Just like, another day would be a sin. I believe that God knows your heart, and if you are keeping the Sabbath as the Jews or 7th day adventists do, and you are in the right frame of mind, then he blesses that, if not, he doesn't. Just as with your tithe, do you give grudgingly or cheerfully? I believe it all stems from your willingness to obey. These are ALL petty things to discuss. I normally make it a habit to not argue over such mundane things. There is only one item that we need to agree on and that is that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and he is the ONLY way to salvation. The rest is all extra...
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Friends, I will say the same thing I wrote to the other forum topics participants: Where do the apostles at anytime teach followers of Jesus the Messiah to observe any day as special for any reason?
God established the 7th day Sabbath [rest] at the end of creation. The blessing and sanctity of that day has never been removed. We have no evidence of any other day being blessed by God or set aside as a day of rest for his people. Neither did God bless and make every day holy. So we cannot keep every day holy unto the Lord because we can make nothing holy. But we can be holy unto the Lord every day if he makes us holy. But we can't make something holy.
We often read into scripture things that are not there because we wish to satisfy our own lusts or do our own thing. Let me give you an example of how the scripture has been used to justify our perverted appetites.
1 Timothy 4:4-5 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Some interpret this passage as giving us permission to eat anything we want to eat. After all, "every creature of God is good." Well, let's look at the logic in this reasoning.
If every creature of God is good then are we given permission to eat any creature? What about man? Can we be cannibals? No, I think we agree man is excluded. So, perhaps other creatures are also excluded. The possibility exists, doesn't it?
Second, we are to receive it with thanksgiving because it is "sanctified by the word of God" and prayer. I am interested in the expression "sanctified by the word of God." The word sanctified means literally to separate, consecrate, or dedicate. Has God ever specified which foods man may eat?
Yes...
Originally, man's diet was...
"Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
After the flood God allowed men to eat the flesh of animals...
Gen 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
There wasn't much else to eat after the flood because everything had been destroyed. But, God did not intend for man to eat the unclean animals. Therefore, Noah only brought one male and one female of the unclean animals. But, of the clean animals he brought them in by sevens. They were to be used for food and sacrifice.
Genesis 7:2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.
Genesis 8:20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
Had Noah or his family eaten any of the unclean animals then that species would have become extinct because they only brought one male and one female of the unclean animals with them in the ark.
Later, these same principles were recorded by Moses...
Leviticus 11:4-7 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.
So the word of the Lord placed a difference between the holy and unholy, the clean and unclean. The clean animals were sanctified by the word of the Lord for he gave man permission to eat of the clean animals. But God did not give man permission to eat of the unclean animals because they were to keep the earth clean and would thus be harmful for man to eat.
So, according to the scripture, we are to eat only those creatures which God specifically set aside for our use. Nothing more!
Just as God's word does not fail but remains forever, so the distinction between unclean and clean animals remains. And just as God distinguishes between the holy and unholy, so the Sabbath is distinct from the weekday.
quote:God established the 7th day Sabbath [rest] at the end of creation. The blessing and sanctity of that day has never been removed. We have no evidence of any other day being blessed by God or set aside as a day of rest for his people. Neither did God bless and make every day holy. So we cannot keep every day holy unto the Lord because we can make nothing holy. But we can be holy unto the Lord every day if he makes us holy. But we can't make something holy.
As for the meat issue:
Romans 14:13-23 (KJV) Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. [14] I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. [15] But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. [16] Let not then your good be evil spoken of: [17] For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. [18] For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. [19] Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. [20] For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. [21] It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. [22] Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. [23] And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Faith
-------------------- 1 Thes. 5:21 (KJV) Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Well, as you can see, I am not working very hard on my answer to you about the 1000 year desolation of the earth. Actually, I am re-reading Isaiah 24-34, Joel, Jeremiah 4, and other passages for a clearer understanding before I answer.
Anyway, regarding the passage in Romans 14. This is most likely dealing with the same issue Paul addressed in 1 Cor 8 regarding foods offered to idols. Read that passage and notice the similarities. The food is unclean because it is offered to idols. I don't think he is speaking here about clean and unclean animals which are listed in Leviticus.
What Paul is addressing is a problem where some know that there is but one God and so for food to be offered to idols mean nothing to them. However, some of the Gentile believers used to believe in these other gods and so they think it wrong to eat foods offered to these other gods. So if one who doesn't believe in the other gods eats the foods offered to gods then another who once believed in other gods may follow his example and later have his conscience trouble him. In this way we cause our brother to stumble and wound his own conscience by influencing him to partake of something he feels is defiled and unholy.
Also, the word translated "meat" is broma which can mean any food, not just flesh. However, the word flesh (kreas) does appear in verse 21 in this way, "[21] It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak."
I don't think Paul has placed himself at odds with the Levitical laws regarding clean and unclean animals with his council in Romans and 1 Cor. Surely he had a complete understanding of these things as did Peter.
When Peter had his vision of unclean animals on the sheet, as recorded in Acts 10, a voice told him to "rise, kill and eat." But Peter said, "Nah! Lord. I have never eaten anything unclean." Then the voice told him, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." Many interpret this to mean that God reversed himself on unclean animals and we can now eat of these animals which were created to keep the earth clean of dead, decaying matter. But this is not Peter's understanding of the vision. Peter never confirmed such a false teaching. Rather, after the events following the vision had taken place Peter understood the meaning of the vision. The true meaning was not to make unclean animals clean, as some teach, but in Peter's own testimony he tells us the meaning.
quote:Acts 10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
Yet, before things became clear to Peter's mind he admits he was perplexed by the vision.
quote:Acts 10 17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate, 18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. 19 ¶ While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
I wonder why he didn't just reach out and eat? I guess he knew the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Now, I was not trying to convince anyone not to eat unclean flesh at this time, but was trying to show how we have misinterpretted God's word to please ourselves. That is the purpose of bringing these subjects into focus within the scope of our discussion. However, since you asked, I responded with my beliefs.
The reason why we are not to eat of them is because these things are common and unclean and we are to be holy. Spiritually speaking the things we eat and drink do not defile us. What is inside us defiles us. Yet, we can not serve the Lord as he intended if we do not keep ourselves sober and healthy. We must be stewards of our gifts and time is certainly a gift. We cannot invest our time wisely if we shorten our days and usefulness by indulging appetite.
If you would like to hear more about staying healthy just ask and we can touch on a few things at a later time. I wouldn't say that I am the perfect model but I can surely give testimony of the benefits in my personal life. They say if you take care of your stomach the first 50 years of your life, it will take care of you the second 50. Well, I for one did not take very good care of myself for some 40 years. So I suffered much because of my own neglect. But today, I do much better and have had great success. I don't regret changing my habits but I am still tempted at times. I just remember how the Lord helped me and realize I don't want to go back to being ill. It gives me strength to know that God helped when I couldn't do it myself--though I tried!
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