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Topic: Do we really love and seek Truth?
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epouraniois
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I hear you. When we read of ordinance and water baptism, we can read of these through most of the Bible, as we do likewise read of Israel. How is it that the many so easily submit to taking what is covenanted between that small nation and God, and apply it to all the world? Is it the tradition of men? or is there some instruction to do so?
Does the Bible speak of Israel having any gentile priests? If not, where did the gentile priestshood find it's instruction? And of all the baptisms, the dry land of Moses, the water and divers washings, the baptism of death, which one is the 'one baptism' of Eph. 4?
Could it possibly be the one given to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth (the) all in all (things) of Eph 1?
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
I personally think everyone would benifit from focusing in on three major things; trying to answer, Biblically, allowing the Lord to direct His paths, why Paul was no longer able to quote the OT after Acts 28.28 when he did so much so before that declaration, what is 'the one hope of your calling', and finally, making a list of all the similarities between the churches up until the time of Acts 28.28, and what was given for our knowledge in the prayerful words of that chosen vessel who was so thoroughly furnished to complete his course:
Phi 1:8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
Phi 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
Phi 1:10 That ye may approve (be trying the) things that (differ) are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
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WildB
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Member # 2917
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"As pointed out in Lesson 5 the Baptism of Repentance (Water Baptism) is a ceremonial ordinance of divine origin which enables a believer to publicly declare his or her faith in Jesus Christ by being momentarily submerged in water. The Baptism of Repentance, in other words, is the shadow, the type, the blueprint, the physical illustration, the symbolic ceremony. "
IS WATER BAPTISM A TESTIMONY?
by Cornelius R. Stam
Let us suppose that you have been saved, but live a careless life and bear a poor testimony before the world. Would water baptism change this? What would it be worth?
But suppose you have been saved and live a godly, consistent life before the world. Is a water-confession necessary? How much is it worth? Don’t be afraid to answer this question honestly. How many “baptized converts” there are who cannot even give a word of testimony for their Lord among the lost!
In a sense, however, the baptism of believers by water in this age is a testimony — a bad testimony. When the Galatian believers submitted to circumcision it was a bad testimony (Gal.5:2,3). Circumcision, while a part of Peter’s “gospel of the circumcision” had no place in “the gospel of the uncircumcision” committed to Paul (Gal.2:7). And just as circumcision was connected with “the gospel of the circumcision” so water baptism was con-nected with “the gospel of the kingdom” (See Matthew 3:2,6; 10:5-7; cf. John 1:31; Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Luke 24:47; Acts 2:36-38; Acts 3:19-21).
We solemnly declare that the present day practice of water baptism is a reflection on the grace of God and a confession of a lack of appreciation of the finished work of Christ, and the believer’s completeness in Him (See Ephesians 1:6; Colossians 2:10). Furthermore, it betrays a poor understanding of the heavenly character and position of the Church of this age (See Ephesians 2:6; 1:3; Colossians 3:1-3).
Be a Berean. Search the Scriptures and see whether these things are so.
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That is all.....
Posts: 8775 | From: USA, MICHIGAN | Registered: Mar 2004
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epouraniois
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the great diversities men endures are not for argument. what you and I must do is go straight to the word of God to see what is expressly written, take the context and grammatical workflow and follow the subject and the object through unto it's completion
so when, Biblically, one was filled by the Holy Spirit to speak to people, what did they say?
Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
They quote Scripture, the Word of God;
At the very first, when gentiles spake by the Holy Spirit, fire fell upon their heads, as I will soon quote, first though, speaking to the diciples, the Lord instructs:
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
Joh 15:27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
this Holy Spirit, the Comforter, was sent to the Jews, albiet for 18 years, was sent to them via gentile believers
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
when one is guided into all truth, is it by words that no one understands? how is Christ magnified by words that cannot be apprehended?
John's 3 epistles were not written to gentiles, our name is not on the envelope, but the Hebrews names are like a golden thread running through them, likewise, where I quoted the Scriptures above, I gave both what Paul wrote as well as the quote he draw from, which was also written to the Hebrews, which he shows where and why the gentiles were speaking to the Jews in the Hebrew language. Appearently, the Lord thought it prudent to explain to the gentiles why they were being called, and as Paul writes (and others), it was, during the Acts period, all for the hope of Israel
as much as it offends many people, I must stick to the standard and measure of the word, so if the OT was written to gentiles, and speaking to gentiles, then I definately missed it, 'cause it seems to me that it was written to the Hebrews since they alone were the called out and chosen seperate nation amoung the 70 nations listed as nations.
So when I read those words that were written to Israel, telling them that strange lips (other nations) would speak to them, I also find the prophetic fulfillment where it happened because Paul quotes it.
According to Christ the Holy Spirit speaks of Christ. Likewise, the examples are that those given to speak of Christ by the Holy Spirit were given to speak in the very dialect of the hearers:
Act 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Look at the words the Holy Spirit gave for us to read:
Act 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Language = the same word translated 'tongues' in v.8:
G1258
διάλεκτος
dialektos
Thayer Definition:
1) conversation, speech, discourse, language
2) the tongue or language peculiar to any people
Act 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue (dialektos), wherein we were born?
Now when Peter was given the 3 visions to speak to the gentile Cornilius, we find that fire also fell upon their heads, they spoke in the very dialects of those who heard them,
they spoke the same way as it fell upon the 12 at the beginning:
Act 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
I can find no place where the Holy Spirit speaks and there is absolutely no understanding, why, the very purpose of the Holy Spirit is to magnify Christ, as written above...
I find no Scriptures where they speak of hearing the Holy Spirit but say the words given them receive are unintelligable
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
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becauseHElives
Advanced Member
Member # 87
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Epouraniois, you truly have miss used the scriptures
1 John 2:4, "He who says, I know Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." "A liar" is pretty strong language. A person is lying to himself and everyone else who says he knows and loves God, but does not keep God's commandments. We know that a liar cannot go to Heaven.
The above does not refer to Old Covenant believers
The information below addresses your reference to 1Co:14:21: In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. ( the below addresses the whole of 1st Corinthians)
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Introduction
A spiritual phenomenon is currently sweeping the churches. It is demolishing doctrinal barriers between denominations and apparently uniting believers of all persuasions in an amazing fervour of religious excitement. Catholic priests, Protestant ministers, evangelical clergymen and lay-members from almost every denomination - who only a few decades ago would have tenaciously contended for their church's interpretation of Scripture - now unite in apparent harmony seemingly oblivious of their doctrinal differences. It is no longer important they claim where, how or when you worship, whether you pray before an image using a rosary or not, whether you are sprinkled as an infant or immersed as an adult, whether you confess your sins to a priest or to God alone, whether you look upon the Bible as the final authority in spiritual matters or as just another inspired book having equal weight with the age-old traditions of the church:
"These differences of opinion," many say, "are no longer important."
During the past few centuries doctrinal issues exercised the minds of the most learned theologians; they changed the course of nations, spawned new religious communities in distant lands and governed the behaviour of literally millions of Christians all over the globe. In those days the word doctrine was on every responsible churchman's lips and each group did its utmost to explain its beliefs to others, fully convinced that only by practicing the truth as they understood it was salvation assured. Yes, 'doctrine' used to be an important consideration in times past. It was the navigational chart by which each group steered its course towards the spiritual Kingdom of God.
But the scene has changed: 'doctrine' has fallen from favour and now only a few church-goers, by comparison, speak of it. Today there is another word on the lips of many. It is the word 'experience.' It tells of supernatural happenings so overwhelming, so exciting and apparently fulfilling that no attempt to describe them we are assured can succeed, because they must be experienced!
"Never mind your doctrines" they say "I know. I've had this marvellous experience, and it makes no difference what you say or write or do because I know from experience."
And what is this 'supernatural experience' which has overtaken the church, causing it to abandon the tried and tested path of doctrine? It is called by those who have had it: the
Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
What are the identifying signs of a valid Baptism?
Is there such a thing as a counterfeit?
When will the real Baptism come?
This lesson has been designed to answer these questions. It is a lesson of great importance, so study it prayerfully and check the scriptural references given, for only then will you be in a position to evaluate its worth and act upon its advice.
What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the spiritual reality which is prefigured by Water Baptism. In Water Baptism the baptizer is a priest, a minister, an elder or a deacon of the church and the medium is water. In the Baptism of the Holy Spirit the baptizer is Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) and the medium is the Holy Spirit of Yahweh the Almighty God of Israel. (John 1:32-34)
As pointed out in Lesson 5 the Baptism of Repentance (Water Baptism) is a ceremonial ordinance of divine origin which enables a believer to publicly declare his or her faith in Jesus Christ by being momentarily submerged in water. The Baptism of Repentance, in other words, is the shadow, the type, the blueprint, the physical illustration, the symbolic ceremony.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the living reality to which Water Baptism points.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, in short, is the Main Baptism - the REAL THING!
But even though Water Baptism is only a 'symbolic ceremony' we can still learn a lot from it about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, just as an engineer can learn a lot about a machine by studying the designer's blueprint. So let us first turn our attention to that 'ceremonial blueprint' and see what we can learn about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Upon doing this we find that when the repentant believer goes through the waters of baptism he/she figuratively declares to the world two important objectives.
To bury the old sinful nature.
And then by the power of God to rise again to live a new life of righteousness. This spiritual resurrection is, in fact, the main purpose of baptism, that the washed believer will rise to live a new life of righteousness in accordance with God's will.
Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13: And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Also read Romans 6:3-7.
These two objectives, we repeat, both find fulfilment in the life of a believer who is Baptised in the Holy Spirit. They are no longer a figurative exercise as they were in Water Baptism, but a real, recognisable fact in the Spirit-Baptised believer's life.
What are the Signs of a Valid Baptism?
It follows from the above that the two main signs of a valid Spirit Baptism are when those two symbolic features of Water Baptism become a visible reality in the life of a believer. If they have not found fulfilment in a believer's life, (if you cannot plainly recognise their presence) then, no matter what that believer may claim, you can be sure that he or she has not been baptised in the Holy Spirit.
When we look more closely at those two ceremonial features, we find that they tell quite plainly of these two things.
The burial of the old sinful nature
The rising to live a life of righteousness - obedience!
1. The burial of the old sinful nature
The carnal mind, the one we humans are born with, is inherently sinful. It is a rebellious mind and its true character only becomes apparent when it is called upon to obey the law of God. Then it rebels. The Bible says:
Romans 8:7 "The carnal mind is enmity against God:
for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be."
Because of this fact (that the carnal mind cannot be subject to the law of God) the carnal mind must be slain: for it cannot be made holy. This slaughter of the carnal mind is accomplished by the Spirit of God. The believer's sinful nature - the "old man" as one Scripture calls it - is to be slain and buried at baptism.
In Water Baptism this death and burial of the carnal nature is only figuratively expressed when the repentant believer is placed under the water, buried in the "watery grave" so to speak. But in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit this death and burial of the sinful nature really takes place. It is no longer a symbolic exercise, but a recognisable reality - a visible fact. The believer is literally purged of sin by the Holy Spirit of God. His old sinful nature is slain and buried. In other words, he does not sin any more. He has finished with sin forever because his old sinful nature is no longer alive. He is, in fact, no more capable of sin than a buried corpse is. His carnal, sinful nature is now dead and buried - so it cannot sin any more. We repeat: he does not sin any more!
Consider this verse:
1 John 3:9 "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."
In other words a born-again believer who is baptised in the Holy Spirit is an extremely holy person - who no longer knowingly sins! He may make errors of judgement or leave tasks undone; or, like a child, may have a lot to learn, but he no longer knowingly sins. That is the first sign of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Just pause awhile and consider that amazing standard. The Scriptures make it abundantly clear that it will be reached by a great company of believers. Look up Revelation 14:1-5. There you will read about a perfect company of believers numbering many thousands who are faultless. So the standard of absolute purity can and will be reached. It has been reached before by men like Asa and Job. (1 Kings 15:14, Job 1:8)
2. Rising to a life of Righteousness / Obedience
The next sign of a valid baptism is a righteous life. The believer has not merely stopped sinning (that statement merely tells us of what he does not do). But he rises from the baptism to live a life of righteousness (This statement tells of what he does do). The Spirit-baptised believer, in short, will stop sinning (Sign 1) and will go on to do righteous deeds (Sign 2). He will obey the Law of God. He has not only stopped breaking the Law of God, but has now started to obey it. In symbolic language righteousness (obedience) is referred to as good fruit. And that is why when John the Baptist saw that true righteousness was very often missing from the lives of those who came to him for baptism, he spoke these scathing words:
Luke 3:7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8: Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance,...
9: And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
This man of God knew very well that if righteousness (right actions, good fruit) did not follow water baptism, then the whole symbolic exercise was invalidated and pointless. John was looking for good fruit - true repentance followed by obedience in the lives of those who came to him - and when he didn't find it his denunciations were voiced in no uncertain terms:
"Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire."
The Saviour expressed the same thought when he said:
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16: Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17: Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18: A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19: Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20: Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
In other words, a believer who is Baptised in the Holy Spirit will live a righteous life. He will be eager to obey the Law of the Most High. He will not merely stop sinning (Sign 1) but he will go on to produce good fruit by obeying Yahweh's Law (Sign 2).
3. Supernatural/Witnessing Power
The third sign of a Spirit Baptised believer is supernatural power to witness for Christ.
Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5: For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6: When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7: And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
When we broadly consider this matter of supernatural power we find that it manifests itself in a variety of ways (Mark 16:17-18). To mention a few:
The gift of Prophecy
The gift of Tongues
The power to Cast out Devils
The power to work Miracles
Strictly speaking, the supernatural power the Saviour was referring to in Acts 1:8 was not the power to do these kinds of miracles. The disciples already had that power. Some three years before, the Saviour had called them together and given them supernatural power and authority over all devils and to cure all diseases (Luke 9:1-6). So the power they were to receive at the Baptism of the Holy Spirit was not the kind of power they already had. It was a completely different kind of power. Also bear in mind that many of the prophets of old had supernatural power. Elisha had even raised the dead. (2 Kings 4:32-36)
The power mentioned in Acts 1:8 was an entirely new kind of power. It was the power to witness of the resurrected Saviour on a supernatural scale.
"Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Indeed, when they received this new kind of power - the power to witness effectively - they turned the world upside down. Within a few years the gospel penetrated areas where even a thousand miracles would have gone unheeded. What they received on that Day of Pentecost was the great power of the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of the spiritually blind, to unstop the ears of the spiritually deaf and to raise the spiritually dead. This is the power the Spirit Baptised believer is promised in Acts 1:8 - the power to witness with spectacular results, the power to do the spiritually impossible!
That kind of power had never been known before. It was new.
The supernatural power conferred on a believer at the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, in short, is not to be confused with the power to do physical miracles. It is the power to witness of Yeshau and to produce supernatural results just as they did in the early days of the Christian era.
Here is a further word of instruction about supernatural power.
Supernatural power at its lowest level (the power to do physical miracles) is not confined to the Christian Church. It is found in most religions, pagan and otherwise. In India, Africa, China and the Middle East, yea in almost all the nations of the world, there are heathen spiritual leaders who possess miraculous powers; and, believe it or not, many of them speak in tongues. Like the magicians of ancient Pharaoh they are well able to duplicate most of the miracles done by the prophets of God. (Exodus 7:11,22)
Because of these facts we conclude that the commonly know expressions of supernatural power (miracles, healings, tongues etc.), wonderful though they may be, should NOT be taken as a unique sign of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. For we know very well that spectacular miracles are often done by heathen religious leaders. We also know that their powers do not emanate from Yahweh the Holy One of Israel. And because of this fact we should not accept something as from God simply because it is accompanied by a miracle.
To be accepted as a unique sign of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, supernatural power must be a witnessing power, witnessing of Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel with Apostolic effect. But because this sign is so difficult to assess, we only consider it when it is accompanied by those first two signs:
The absence of sin
And the presence of righteousness.
We can summarise the valid signs of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in one word - obedience. Yes, obedience is the true measure of a believer: the more of the Holy Spirit he possesses, the more obedient (righteous) he will become. We would be false teachers if we were to pretend otherwise.
These, then, are the signs of a valid Spirit Baptism. If even one of them is missing in the life of someone who claims to have been Baptised in the Holy Spirit, you can be sure that you are not seeing the genuine article.
Satan's Counterfeit Baptism
It is an undisputed fact that Satan has over the centuries produced counterfeits of almost everything that Yahweh the Almighty God of Israel has done. There just doesn't seem to be any area of activity in which the Most High is engaged, but the Evil One will sooner or later produce one or more counterfeits; albeit inferior products by far. These imitations of Yahweh's efforts have inveigled their way even into the Christian Church, and so we have:
False Prophets who pose as ministers of righteousness
Over 100 modern English Bible translations, all posing as the Word of God. For proof see Bible Versions
Counterfeit Sabbaths and Festivals which are being palmed off as the genuine Sabbaths and Festivals of the Most High
Antichrists and bogus Messiahs pretending to be Agents of the Eternal
Miracle workers with phenomenal powers all claiming that they are the instruments of the Almighty God
Yes, in all these and many other areas Satan has counterfeited the work of the Most High. Do you suppose that in this matter of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit he is idle? Oh no dear reader, in this field he is extremely active. Indeed he has already deceived multiplied millions of Christians into thinking that they have been baptised in the Holy Spirit. It is a deception of enormous magnitude and the time has come to expose it. Here is the Scriptural message about this astonishing fact.
The Lying Spirit
Most believers have never even heard of The Lying Spirit. And yet in the whole universe he is the most effective agent in the dubious art of deception. The Lying Spirit will succeed where all other agencies fail, mainly because he never comes in his own garb - he always poses as the Spirit of Truth. The Lying Spirit always transforms himself into an Angel of Light, when in fact he is a minister of darkness. The Lying Spirit is the wolf in sheep's clothing, a lamb who speaks as the dragon, the miracle-working False Prophet from whose mouth proceeds error and deception.
(Revelation 13:11, Revelation 16:13-14)
In the Christian Church he speaks through the mouths of the false prophets who blatantly reject the commandments of the Most High. They not only disregard the Law of God, but claim that it is obsolete; and proudly parade their supernatural gifts as evidence that what they say is correct. We are given a preview of the Lying Spirit at work in the experience recorded in 1 Kings 22. Read that whole chapter over a few times and you will realise that you are in fact looking at a dramatised prophecy of the greatest deception that this old world has ever witnessed. It is a symbolic prediction which is coming true in our day.
There you will see how:
The Almighty had determined to hand the disobedient Ahab over to destruction because even after Elijah's spectacular victory on Mount Carmel (see chapter 18) he was still allowing his wicked wife Jezebel to corrupt the nation of Israel.
Each Spirit in turn proposed a plan to trick Ahab to his death. But only the Lying Spirit's plan would work.
1 Kings 22:19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
20: And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
21: And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
22: And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
The Lying Spirit had decided to speak through the mouths of the prophets of Israel. Remember that these leaders were not the prophets of Baal. The prophets of Baal had been slaughtered some time before (see 1 Kings 18:40). These men were the respected spiritual leaders of Israel!
Also note how the deluded prophet Zedekiah was wearing a pair of iron horns (verse 11). Iron horns are symbols of supernatural power. But for all Zedekiah's power and numerical advantage, (400 to 1 - verse 6 ) he was still delivering a false message. And what was worse he was totally unaware that the Lying Spirit was using his tongue to do so.
Sad to say even the righteous King Jehoshaphat believed the false prophets and he almost lost his life as a result.
Why was that ancient experience recorded in the Bible? The answer is, because it has an important message for all of us who live in the closing days of this age.
1 Corinthians 10:11 "Now all these things happened to them as ensamples (that is, they were types, illustrations, figures) and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the end of the world are come."
Did you notice that? This ancient experience is an 'example,' a 'type,' an 'illustration,' a
'figure' of a great spiritual deception scheduled to come upon this world in the end-time. That time has already begun. So let us examine this matter further.
The Last Great Deception
As you study that story over and over again you will realise that you are, in fact, looking at a spiritual blueprint, a shadow, a dramatised prophecy of a world-encompassing deception that is currently sweeping the Christian Church; a deception that is the work of the same Lying Spirit of old. And, strange as this may seem, Yahweh is once again handing over multitudes of rebellious souls to believe the Lying Spirit because like Ahab and Jezebel they do not really want to obey His Law. Yes, the Lying Spirit is again at work, posing as the Spirit of Truth. As in the days of old, his spokesmen have supernatural power just as the horned Zedekiah had. He also has the majority on his side and he is convincing the people of God that he is speaking the truth. In the end even those he has deluded will find out that he was a liar and that the truth was not in him. Now consider this amazing end-time scene foretold by the Saviour.
Matthew 7:21: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22: Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Here is one of the most amazing spiritual scenes portrayed in the whole Bible; one which will stagger your mind if you just stop to think about it. Here are believers - many of them - who:
Openly profess Christ ("Lord, Lord" they say )
They have prophesied in his Name
They have cast out devils in Messiah's Name
And in his Name have done many wonderful works!
But for all their preaching and for all their wonder-working powers, the Messiah will refuse them entry to his Kingdom. And what is the reason for this astonishing rejection by the one who said: 'He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out'?
The answer is: They are "workers of iniquity."
What is this thing called 'iniquity' that it can invalidate the powerful arguments these believers put to Christ; who disqualifies them from entering the Kingdom of Heaven? The answer is:
Iniquity is deliberate, persistent sin, a wilful refusal to acknowledge sin and obey the Law of Almighty God! Iniquity is an absolute rejection of Yahweh's commandments. Iniquity is disobedience of the worst kind, an act of spiritual rebellion so deep and so deluding that it even contemptuously dismisses the charge that it is wrong.
These persons are guilty of iniquity. To be sure they profess Christ. Indeed with their wonder-working powers they are usually the leaders in this field. What is more, in Christ's name they have cast out devils and have done many wonderful works. It would be foolish to suggest that they would use these arguments if they hadn't done these things. Yes they have done them all. But it avails them nothing. The Master still refuses them entry to the Kingdom. Like unproductive trees they are hewn down and cast into the fire.
Again we ask, Why?
Because they are blatant sinners who refuse to recognise and obey the Commandments of the Most High. They are wilfully and persistently disobedient. They are guilty of iniquity. Moreover, they have allowed their tongues to become the channel for the Lying Spirit and have taught and practised lawlessness to their own ruin. To be sure they can do miracles: but that counts for nothing when weighed against their iniquity. Oh what a terrible scene is here portrayed. Can you begin to understand it?
Pause awhile and consider so great a deception! Who are these people anyway? What do they call themselves? By what denominational name do they go? There must be many of them and they must be able to work miracles for the Master to say:
"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,
Have we not prophesied in thy name?
And in thy name have cast out devils?
And in thy name done many wonderful works?"
Once more we ask - Who are these people?
There is only one answer to that question and if you spend some time really thinking about it you will realise that it is the only answer that presents itself. And that answer is this.
These deluded souls are none other than the wonder-working Charismatic Christians who are currently claiming to have that supernatural experience called The Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Yes, believe it or not, these miracle-working believers are the only ones in the whole of Christendom who fit that prophecy. No other Christian group can possibly claim such powers as these people can.
They openly confess Christ. ("Lord, Lord" they say)
They prophesy in his name.
The cast out devils in his name.
And they have done many wonderful works.
And, astonishing as this may sound, no other group is so opposed to the Law of the Most High as they are. This makes them guilty of iniquity. The Charismatic believers are the only ones in all Christendom who fit that picture. Do you know of any others who would even qualify to be considered?
We do not.
And what will happen to these deluded souls? Are they forever lost because in their eagerness to be Baptised in the Holy Spirit they have allowed themselves to be tricked by the Lying Spirit?
We are happy to say that many of them will realise their error and like king Jehoshaphat of old cry out to Yahweh before it is eternally too late. (1 Kings 22:32) Yes, many of them will repent, they will "wash their garments," that is they will begin to obey the commandments of the Most High. (Revelation 7:13-17, 22:14) But many others like Ahab and Jezebel will not. They will continue in their lawlessness and perish in their sins.
When will the Real Baptism Come?
The Scriptures tell us that multitudes came to John to be baptised of him in the Jordan. They came from every walk of life and from all directions to be "buried in the watery grave" and to be "raised up to walk in newness of life."
That was the symbolic environment, the figure, the spiritual blueprint, the ceremonial setting. The reality will be when multitudes of believers from all nations will be baptised by the Messiah in the Spirit of the Most High. Our sinful, carnal natures, with all their inherent, lawless traits will then be slain and buried. Our minds will then be overwritten with the Law of Yahweh the Almighty God of Israel.
In other words, every believer who enters the Kingdom of Heaven is going to be Baptised in the Holy Spirit. The old carnal nature, the one that we are all born with, the nature that is inherently hostile to the commandments of the Most High, will be slain; and in its place the Messiah will give us a mind like his own and write on it His Father's Law. We will then be totally obedient sons and daughters of God, not because we have to be, but instinctively. This glorious prospect is guaranteed in these words:
Hebrews 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10: For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
The same thoughts are expressed in Hebrews 10:16.
This experience is, in fact, the climax of the New Covenant when the whole Family of the Most High will assemble at Mount Zion to His Law inscribed on the tablets of our souls. In this Covenant Yahweh's commandments will be inscribed on our minds, etched by the divine hand into our spiritual 'hardware' (to use a computer term) for all time. We will then be absolutely holy people in every thought, word and deed. Yes, the Messiah is going to personally Baptise in the Holy Spirit every believer who is going to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And he will do this in his own time; so wait for it. He has scheduled himself to slay our sinful natures, which in varying degrees are at enmity with the Law of his Father. And in the place of our sinful rebellion he will put total obedience.
This experience is the true Baptism of the Holy Spirit and when we experience it, we will never sin any more! And then this text will apply even to us:
1 John 3:9 "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."
This, then, is the wonderful prospect that awaits every believer who wants to obey Yahweh and enter His Kingdom. Think about it dear reader and in your eagerness to be Baptised in the Holy Spirit do not sacrifice True Doctrine for the deceptions of the Lying Spirit. And now may the Spirit of Yahweh the Almighty God of Israel help you to understand and obey His will.
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
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epouraniois
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the new covenant does seem in abayance at the time present, wherein the church which is His body is now given to preach the Eph3.9, and yet we can easily discover that the kingdom given to the children of promise inherit the earth under the new covenant - noting that in order to have a new covenant, one must have had an old covenant, and the nations certainly never had, nor even knew of Israel's inheritance until it became time for the spirit of prophecy to be fulfilled,
Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to THIS people.
Mar 16:15 And he said UNTO THEM, Go...preach...believeth...be saved...And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues
1Co 14:21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto THIS people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
and what had been His house was given over to them, leaving it desolate - expanded upon in Mat13, then the merciless railing in Mat23, ref first Is6.10, marking Hos1-3, Lo-ammi (I will not be your God and you will not be my people), till the times of the gentiles be full
Rom 11:15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
These can only be they who had the oracles of God, who were of the fathers, had crossed the dry land in the baptism of Moses being all under the same cloud:
Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed a hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Rev 7:5 Of the tribe of Judah...the tribe of Reuben were sealed...the tribe of Gad were sealed...the tribe of Aser were sealed...the tribe of Naphtali were sealed...of Manasses...Simeon...Levi...Issachar...Zebulun...Joseph...of Benjamin...sealed...
Amo 3:2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
Isa 40:2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
Isa 61:7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
Isa 61:8 For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Whereas the church has it's inheritance and citezinship in the heavenly places far above all heavens of heavens with Him and every spiritual gift, none withheld;
the earthly people see Him coming
the heavenly people manifest with Him when He manifest there, where He is, far above all...
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becauseHElives
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……. for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
quote:
Colossians 2:14,16 that Christ [blotted] out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross....
Doing God’s Will
The Bible must be our only authority in religion if we want to please God and go to heaven. People must give up all the various false doctrines that propagate the many different kinds of denominations and go back to only the Bible. There were no denominations in the New Testament times and there would be none today if only the Bible was taught and practiced. There would be only the Lord's one true church, the church of Christ.
How then do we make sure that we are among the few who are saved and not among the many who are lost? Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness". If you believe and call Jesus, "Lord, Lord", you are still lost if you do not do what God says. If we are not obeying God we are practicing lawlessness. If we ever hope to go to heaven, we must do the will of the Father. This is the only way. Not the will of men, but God’s will. Not our own will, but God’s will. Just because we call Jesus our Lord, this will not save us.
Jesus says in the above scripture, that on the day of judgment, that many will be pleading with him, calling him Lord, Lord, and reminding him of the many wonderful works that they had done in His name, but He will say unto them, "I never knew you, depart from Me you who practice lawlessness". Why? Why? Because they had not done the will of the Father in heaven. Oh, they thought they had, but they hadn’t. They had done their own will or the will of some other man. This will be the worst thing that will ever be said to an individual, when the Lord on judgment day says to the majority of people, "Depart, I never knew you". There will be no appeal to this decision. There will be no second chance. We have to get it right the first time.
These people in the above scripture seemed to be honest, but they were honestly mistaken as the majority of people are today. Apparently they were good people, because they had "done many wonderful works". But they had not done the will of the Father which is in heaven. Man generally wants to do things his way and he doesn't really care what God thinks. We cannot obey God without doing what God says to do, when God says to do it, how God says to do it, and for the reason God says to do it. Nothing is more important than pleasing God by doing His will so that we can go to Heaven.
We learn from the above scripture, that we don't go to Heaven by doing the will of men, or by doing what we think is right. The only way we can go to Heaven is by doing the will of the Father, and that will is found right in our Bibles. Do we really know what the will of the Father is so that we can be sure of going to Heaven? This is too important a matter to assume that we do or to take someone else’s word for it. One must know what the will of God is before he can obey it. Do we really know what the Bible says that God wants us to do in order to be saved?
What must I do to be saved? This is a very important question. Many people would answer this question in many different ways. The many different denominations give many different and conflicting answers. Only God's way is correct. The Bible is the only reliable source we can go to for our answer, since it is our soul that will be lost if we follow man's advise. Our obedience to Christ is a very serious decision and must not be taken lightly. It must be on the Lord's terms as laid out in the scriptures and not on our terms.
We have already seen in Matthew 7:13-14, 21, only few will be saved, and many will be lost, and only those who do the will of the Father can go to heaven. We read in 1 John 2:4, "He who says, I know Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." "A liar" is pretty strong language. A person is lying to himself and everyone else who says he knows and loves God, but does not keep God's commandments. We know that a liar cannot go to Heaven.
We must do all of God's will, so that we can go to Heaven. There is no other way. No single condition, that God imposes, can be ignored. God has no non-essential commands. When we don't obey a command of God, we have just broken it. Many people think that God will save them, no matter if they fellow God's specific instructions on what they must do to be saved or not. What then is God's will, so that we can go to Heaven and not have to endure eternal punishment forever and ever?
“My people perish for lack of knowledge.”
THE TRUTH ABOUT COL. 2:14
Millions are deceived! There are precious few people on the entire earth that really UNDERSTAND the Scripture in question. Before any study of a difficult verse in the writings of the apostle Paul, we must consider the warning given by Peter in II Pet. 3:16¼
"And also in all his (Paul's) epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things HARD TO BE UNDERSTOOD, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest (twist), as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction."
In view of this warning, it is essential to get a grounding of plain Scriptures of Jesus Christ and others so we won't misunderstand Paul's writing.
Of all people who has the key of knowledge it is Jesus Christ, and it is He who should be our foundation for further acquisition of knowledge on this subject. In Matt. 5: 17-18 Jesus said¼
"THINK NOT that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled."
Therefore, at the very outset of our study, we can KNOW the Law of God is NOT going to be 'done away.' Jesus went on to praise those who would teach God's Commandments. (v-19).
When a certain man asked Jesus how he could gain eternal life, Jesus made eternal life CONDITIONAL upon the keeping of the commandments. Matt. 19:17¼
"¼but IF you will enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS!"
Facts about Yahweh's Laws
Before we look at the ceremonial laws in Scriptures, there are certain facts we need to recognise about divine law. The facts are as follows:
ALL the commandments of Yahweh are perfect
Every one of the Almighty's commandments is faultless and is never in need of update no matter how many centuries roll by. Like their divine Author they change not, because they are already absolutely faultless.
Psalm 19: 7: The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
ALL Yahweh's commandments are eternal
By this I mean that the essence, the kernel, the high level spiritual requirement and objective of every divine commandment is everlasting and will apply throughout eternity. In other words, at its heart every divine commandment, moral and ceremonial, contains a sacred truth which can never become obsolete! By way of definition we may say that ceremonial or symbolic commandments are those which employ ceremonies or symbols to point out their inner truths. The symbol or ceremony may in time become unnecessary, but the moral requirement of every divine law is everlasting and will apply for all time. More about this fact later.
Psalm 111: 7: The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. 8: They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
Psalm 119: 44: So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever
Divine Objectives
These are laws which simply define Yahweh's objectives. They tell us what we should be, rather than what we should do or not do. They include directives such as:
Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. (Deuteronomy 18:13)
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)
Moral Requirements
These are moral commandments which explain how - with Yahweh's help - those divine objectives may be reached. Moral commandments include the Ten Commandments and those listed below:
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul. (Deuteronomy 10:12)
And he (Jesus) answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. (Luke 10:27)
1. Animal Sacrifices
Prior to the Messiah's death on Calvary, if a sinner wanted mercy he/she was obliged to sacrifice an animal and offer its blood to the Most High before forgiveness could be obtained. In short, no faith in the blood - no mercy. As the scripture says:
Hebrews 9: 22: And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Yahweh called for animal sacrifices in order to demonstrate to the repentant sinner the enormous price the innocent victim had to pay before pardon was possible. Every animal sacrifice was in fact a practical lesson pointing to Messiah's death on Calvary! Since the Saviour's sacrifice we sinners no longer need to kill literal animals. Faith in Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah is all that we now need to obtain mercy. In effect the ceremonial aspect of this law, that is, the slaying of an innocent animal, is obsolete: it is no longer necessary to sacrifice bulls, lambs or kids.
But, and here is a fact many Christians miss, the main lesson of this ceremonial command (that is the spiritual requirement which calls for faith in the Saviour's blood before forgiveness is possible) still stands! Even now, some 2000 years after the Messiah's death on Calvary, we still need to approach Yahweh's Mercy Seat with blood: though now it is with faith in the blood of His Son, the Lamb of God. In other words though the dramatized, instructional, ceremonial element involving the shedding of a farm animal's blood has ceased, the spiritual requirement to approach the Most High with faith in the Lamb's blood still stands. That part of the commandment is eternal: it will never cease to apply. Yes, throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity the redeemed will approach Yahweh's throne through the merits of His Son's shed blood. Sure we will not be everlastingly in need of forgiveness, for we will then be sinless: but we will, nonetheless, always be in need of the Almighty's favour and blessing which were won for us by His Son's blood. That fact, the inner core of the command, will never become obsolete; because time and space can never cancel our dependence on the Saviour's blood.
We can now see how that the essence of the sacrificial commands, the great moral truths they prefigure, are eternal; even though in ages past they needed a ceremonial drama (the slaughter of innocent animals) to explain their high-level objectives and deep spiritual meanings. For more details, see our online booklet on Animal Sacrifices.
Circumcision
Circumcision is another ceremonial commandment with deep spiritual meaning. It is a physical token, a symbolic sign in the flesh, of total commitment and obedience to the God of Israel. It signifies the absolute degree of holiness the Most High requires of His people. Yahweh said to Abraham:
Genesis 17: 11: And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
The ceremonial aspect of circumcision was raised by the early church not many years after the Saviour's resurrection. The Apostles and elders met to discuss the matter and, guided by the Holy Spirit, directed that Gentile believers need not be physically circumcised. Read about their meeting in Acts 15. The apostle Paul confirmed the decision taken at that meeting by writing:
1 Corinthians 7: 18: Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
8: Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
This article concerning circumcision further explains that decision and how that even though the ceremonial aspect of the circumcision command was suspended for Gentile believers, its moral objective (holiness) for all believers - abides forever! This leads me to the opinion that if the ceremonial law concerning physical circumcision, which is by far one of the most powerful in Scripture, was suspended for Gentile believers, then the ceremonial laws, concerning 'the wearing of phylacteries,' 'mixing wool with linen,' 'wearing fringed garments' etc., which are all far less permanent than being physically circumcised, are also temporarily suspended for Gentile believers - during this age at any rate.
6. The Wearing of Phylacteries
Phylacteries are prayer bands containing short extracts from Yahweh's law. They were worn on the forehead and forearm.
Deut.6: 4: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
5: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6: And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8: And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9: And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
This ceremonial law symbolises the need to keep the Almighty's commandments in thought, word and deed. Phylacteries also informed an onlooker that the wearer was a believer in Israel's God. This law also prefigures the time when Yahweh will personally inscribe his law on our minds and actions.
Hebrews 8: 8: ... Behold, the days come, saith the lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10: For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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helpforhomeschoolers
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Which day is the Sabbath? Is it Saturday? On which day should a Christian worship?
I believe it is Sunday. The Saturday Sabbath was given to Israel.
The weekly Sabbath is Saturday. The 7th day of the week. Set by God.
The Christian should live in continual and undending worship: Christ is our Sabbath rest,and since Christ is Lord of the Sabbath, HE is free to work in us and through us on the Sabbath day.
The Christian can gather for fellowhip, learning, edifying and corporate worship on any day he likes including Sunday, but I dont see what any of this has to do with observing the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy.
Posts: 4684 | From: Southern Black Hills of South Dakota | Registered: Jun 2002
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ToBeContinued
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Which day is the Sabbath? Is it Saturday? On which day should a Christian worship?
I believe it is Sunday. The Saturday Sabbath was given to Israel.
Ezekiel 20:12,20 states: I gave them [Israel] my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD and also hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you [Israel]. This was the first covenant to Israel.
Christians have a new covenant. Jesus made a surety of a better testament (Hebrews 7:22).
He [Christ] is the mediator of a better covenant (Hebrews 8:6). He [Christ] is the mediator of the new testament [or new agreement] (Hebrews 9:15).
Because of His death and this new agreement, we are no longer under ceremonial laws involving days. Moral laws are in effect in believer's hearts, but not the ceremonial laws. Proof? God says in Colossians 2:14,16 that Christ [blotted] out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross....
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy- day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days.
We are not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:14). God's moral law is written within and upon the hearts of believers, but ceremonial laws involving days have been nailed to the cross. We honor the Saviour of the new covenant on a new day -- the day of His resurrection, which is Sunday, the first day of the week. This we do out of love, not servitude, not through law, but through grace.
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wparr
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Sunday CAN NOT be the "new" Sabbath under the New Covenant.
Covenants are signed in blood.
Covenants CAN NOT be amended AFTER it is signed and sealed.
(Q) When was the New Covenant signed and sealed?
(A) At the time Yahshua shed His blood on the cross.
(Q) What day was the Sabbath when Yahshua sealed the new covenant?
(A)________________________________
Posts: 1203 | From: Eagle Nest, NM | Registered: Jan 2003
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epouraniois
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MATTHEW 28:1; MARK 16:l-2,9; LUKE 24:l; JOHN 20:1: All are accounts of the resurrection.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all wrote their gospels many years after Christ's death, yet every one of them refers to Sunday as simply, “the first day of the week,” nothing more, nothing special.
Eight:
THE SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF NUMBERS
Numbers are used in Scripture, not merely as in Nature, with supernatural design, but with spiritual significance, which may be summarized as follow (The whole subject may be studied in Dr. Bullinger's work on Number in Scripture) :--
Eight
Denotes resurrection, regeneration; a new beginning or commencement. The eighth is a new first. Hence the octave in music, color, days of the week, &c. It is the number which has to do with the LORD, Who rose on the eighth, or new "first-day". This is, therefore, the Dominical number. By Gematria, 'JJjjIhsous (Jesus) makes the number 888. It, or its multiple is impressed on all that has to do with the Lord's Names, the Lord's People, the Lord's works.
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becauseHElives
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epouraniois is that suposed to be an answer?
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
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epouraniois
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Concerning the 7th day, and the next, Israel weren't able to do anything which could violate the law they were under, so they prepaired for the Sabbath beforehand, and began anew thereafter. does that make the 1st day of the week special?
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becauseHElives
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Do we really love and seek Truth?
Or are we content with the traditions handed down to us by the generation befor us?
WHEN SUNDAY IS MENTIONED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, ISN'T IT ALWAYS SOMETHING SPECIAL? COULDN'T IT BE INFERRED THAT SUNDAY WAS THE SPECIAL DAY FOR THE APOSTLES?
The first day of the week is mentioned eight times in the New Testament:
MATTHEW 28:1; MARK 16:l-2,9; LUKE 24:l; JOHN 20:1: All are accounts of the resurrection.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all wrote their gospels many years after Christ's death, yet every one of them refers to Sunday as simply, “the first day of the week,” nothing more, nothing special.
JOHN 20:19: The disciples were hiding in the upper room behind closed doors in terror of the Jews.
ACTS 20:7-8: The dark part of the first day of the week is Saturday night (see New English Bible)
(MARK l:21,32; LEVITICUS 23:32). The service began on Sabbath and continued into the night. The first day of the week began at sundown. Paul spent most of Sunday, the next day, walking through swampy country from Troas to Assos where he was to catch a ship. “Breaking bread” was done “daily”
(ACTS 2:46) and was not necessarily associated with an assembly for worship. In this case it was most likely a going away supper for Paul.
1CORINTHIANS 16:1-2 “Lay by in store” does not mean, “put in the collection plate at the church.” It means to set aside at home. Some of the modern translations put it in this way. It means that the first act of business in the new week should be to separate a portion for God's service. After God's tithe and offerings are separated then we may continue with our regular business.
The weekly Sabbath is mentioned in the New Testament fifty-six times.
Matthew
12:1-8, 10-12
24:20
28:1
Mark
1:21
2:23-28
3:2-4
6:2
15:42
16:1
Luke
4:16,31
6:1-9
13:10-16
14:1-5
23:54,56
John
5:9,10,16,18
7:22,23
19:14,16,31
Acts
13:14,27,42,44
15:21
16:13
18:4
In the eight passages which mention the first day of the week there is no command to keep it; there is no record of its being appointed as a sabbath; no record of any blessing being placed upon it; no record of its being made holy; no record of any sacredness being attached to it; no promise of a blessing for its observance; no threat of punishment for its nonobservance. It is not once given any sacred title. There is no record that Christ kept Sunday or commanded it to be kept. There is no record that the apostles kept it or commanded it to be kept.
9. DID PAUL KEEP THE SABBATH AFTER HIS CONVERSION TO CHRIST?
ACTS 26:11 . . . .
Saul the persecutor always knew where to find the Christians. He persecuted them in every synagogue. And they worshiped in the synagogue on the Sabbath.
ACTS 13:14-16 . . . .
In Antioch Paul worshiped on Sabbath.
ACTS 13:44 . . . . .
The next Sabbath in Antioch Paul preached to the Gentiles, (He didn't tell them to meet him on Sunday) and almost the whole city came to hear him.
ACTS 16:13 . . . . .
In Philippi, where there were no Jews therefore no synagogue, Paul went out by the river to worship on Sabbath.
ACTS 18:4,11 . . . .
In Corinth he "reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath" for a year and a half, or 78 Sabbaths. If Sunday were indeed the new day of worship, doesn't it seem that he could have got that point across before a year and a half?
ACTS 17:2 . . . .
In Thessalonica “Paul, as his custom was, went in (to the synagogue) to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the scriptures.”
10. WHY DOESN'T PAUL STATE SPECIFICALLY THAT THE SEVENTH DAY IS THE SABBATH? IN FACT DOESN'T PAUL SAY THAT EVERY MAN SHOULD BE PERSUADED IN HIS OWN MIND?
A. Paul and other NT writers exhorted all to read and study the Scriptures which “will make you wise unto salvation.” The only Scriptures available at that time were the Old Testament, which are replete with references to the sacredness of the 7th day Sabbath.
B. The Jews were ready to kill Paul because he declared specifically that circumcision, was no longer necessary (GALATIANS 5:6-15). If Paul had declared that the Sabbath was changed or done away with, would not some account of the furor that would have caused be found in the account of his ministry. The Jews considered Sabbath observance at least as important as circumcision, yet great text is given to the account of the debate over circumcision and nothing is said about a change of the Sabbath.
Paul said, “I have fully preached the gospel of Christ” (ROMANS 15:19). Nothing was left out.
C. It is true that Paul said “Let every man be convinced in his own mind” (ROMANS 14:5). But isn't this the ideal we preach today. Each person must study and decide for himself the truth of the gospel of Christ. No observance, whether prayer or fasting or giving offerings, or Sabbath keeping is valid if the person does not understand the reason for what he is doing.
This statement reflects the change in Paul after the Damascus road. He no longer forced his beliefs on anyone. Even if he knew he was right he said “do not judge your brother.” How different from the Saul who dragged the Christians to Jerusalem in chains.
D. Devout Jews held to the custom of fasting twice a week. Paul was probably referring to this custom, because He mentions eating and not eating along with observing and not observing certain days. The days observed appear to be those days upon which certain men fasted. The context does not mention the 7th day Sabbath (Romans 14:1- 7). Paul appears to have kept the 7th day Sabbath, and there are passages which suggest that he also kept the festivals (1Corinthians 16:8, Acts 20:6, Acts 20:16). ( See also 1Corinthians 5:7-8 where Paul instructs the church regarding the keeping of the Passover.)
11. DIDN'T PAUL DESCRIBE SABBATH KEEPING AS TURNING AGAIN TO WEAK AND BEGGARLY ELEMENTS?
GALATIANS 4:9,10 “But how after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years.”
Bible teachers have differing interpretations of this passage. The Galatians were not Jews. These people had been pagans, and followed the cults of sun worship. Some say that they were now turning back to the things which they had left - worship of heavenly bodies.
Other teachers say that the Galatians who had come to belief in Christ, had been taken in by the circumcision party who were “zealous for the law.” They had themselves circumcised, and began keeping all of the Jewish festivals in order to be saved. Paul was adamant that we are saved by faith in Christ - not by “works of the law.” Keeping the Jewish festivals in order to be saved would be no better than observing pagan astral festivals in order to live forever. Both involved a type of salvation by works, and so would be called “weak and beggarly elements.
The apostle Paul refers to the law in two ways. Paul seems to be for the law and against it at the same time. This is most confusing to some. In Colossians 2:14, “the handwriting of requirements” is “wiped out,” while in Romans 3:31, he explains that justification by faith in Jesus Christ does not overthrow the law but “establishes” it. In Romans 7:6, he states that “now we are discharged from the law,” while a few verses later he writes that “the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good” (7:12). In Romans 10:4, Paul writes that “Christ is the end of the law,” while in 8:3-4, he explains that Christ came “in the likeness of sinful flesh . . . in order that the just requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us.” Paul maintains in Romans 3:28 that “a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law,” yet in 1Corinthians 7:19, he states that “neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.” In 2Corinthians 3:7 Paul designates the law as “the dispensation of death,” while in Romans 3:2, he views it as part of the “oracles of God” entrusted to the Jews.
How can Paul view the law both as “abolished” and “established”, unnecessary and necessary? The answer is to be found in the context. When Paul speaks of the law in the context of salvation, he clearly states that law-keeping useless. “If justification were through the law, then Christ died to no purpose” (Galatians 2:21). When he speaks of the law in the context of Christian moral conduct, he maintains the value and validity of God’s law. In fact, Christ came, “in order that the just requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us” through the working of His Holy Spirit. While Paul said that the law was “abolished” as a method of earning salvation, he upheld the law as a standard of Christian conduct.
Let me just say that I do not keep the law in order to be saved. I do my best to keep God’s commandments because I believe that I have been saved, and am being saved, through the grace of Christ. This includes the 4th commandment to keep the 7th day Sabbath.
12. BUT AREN'T WE UNDER GRACE NOW? THE LAW AND THE OLD TESTAMENT HAVE BEEN ABOLISHED. Please read the study entitled GRACE AND THE LAW. http://www.aggelia.com/htdocs/grace.shtml
13. THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL DID NOT MENTION SABBATH KEEPING. AS A REQUIREMENT FOR GENTILE BELIEVERS.
“Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
Stealing, murder, disrespect for parents, bearing false witness, and taking God’s name in vain, were not mentioned either. This doesn’t mean those things are acceptable behavior for believers.
The appeal is made to Moses (meaning the first five books of the Bible) who is read in the synagogue every Sabbath. It is assumed that the Gentile believers will be in attendance every Sabbath, to hear such reading. Along with the history of God’s people, they will learn about the 10 Commandments, the prophetic festivals, the health laws, and all the other things relevant to their new relationship with the true God.
Peter admonished the Jerusalem council not to put a “yoke on the neck” of the Gentile converts “which neither our father nor we were able to bear” (Acts 15:10). What was this yoke? If the yoke refers to the 10 Commandments, then we must say that God put a yoke upon His own people which they were not able to bear. If however, the yoke refers to the man made concept of “righteousness by works of the law” then Paul is telling the council not to preach righteousness by works. This agrees completely with Paul.
14. WHAT ABOUT EPHESIANS 2:14?
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one (that is Jew and Gentile), and has broken down the middle wall of division between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is , the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.”
In Ephesians 2, Paul is speaking about the separation of Jew and Gentile. “You know,” Peter said, “how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation” (Acts 10:28). Now, in Christ, they were to call no man unclean. The laws dictating the separation of Jew and Gentile were abolished.
15. NO ONE IS TO JUDGE ANOTHER REGARDING A SABBATH (COLOSSIANS 2:13-17).
“And you (Gentiles), being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. . . . Therefore let no one judge you in food (grain offerings) or drink (offerings), or regarding a festival or a new moon, or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” (See also Hebrews 9:10.)
[NOTE: Food itself was not a symbol “of things to come.” The passage is not addressing dietary laws. The “food” and “drink” refer to the offering of grain and wine, called “meat offering” and “drink offering,” which were made with every animal sacrifice.]
Paul could be understood to say “let no one judge you regarding” (whether or not you keep) “a festival . . . or sabbaths.” On the other hand, he could be understood to say “let no one judge you regarding” (the way in which you keep) “a festival . . . or sabbaths.” The meaning is not absolutely clear. Since Paul himself appears to have kept the festivals, (at least Passover and Pentecost)I believe the second interpretation is the most likely. The Christians partook of bread and wine at Passover, rather than of a sacrificial lamb. They did not bring animals for sacrifice on any festival day. They may not have appeared at the Temple in Jerusalem, at the festival times, believing that Christ now ministered in heaven (the true tabernacle) not made with hands.
What is “the handwriting of requirements that was against us?” Some say that this refers to all of the ceremonial law along with the 7th day Sabbath. A more accurate translation of “handwriting of ordinances” is “the written code.” In context, this handwritten code is wiped out because we are forgiven. I personally believe that the “handwritten code” refers to all of the rules piled upon the Jews by the Pharisees who taught righteousness-by-works. Jesus said, they were “teaching for doctrine the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:9). Paul here says that it is no longer necessary to keep all those commandments of men., because we have been forgiven by faith in Jesus Christ.
The “handwriting of ordinances” was “against us.” Did God give His own people something that was “against them?” I think not! The law given by God was for their benefit. It contained a living prophecy of Messiah to come. The “traditions of men” as Christ called them, were a yoke which they were not able to bear.
16. DOESN’T THE WRITER OF HEBREWS SAY THAT THE LAW HAS BEEN CHANGED?
“For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law” (HEBREWS 7:12).
In place of animal sacrifices we now have Christ - “the Lamb of God” (Hebrews 10:4, 9-10). In place of the Levitical priesthood we now have Christ our High Priest, who ministers in heaven - the true tabernacle (Hebrews 8:1-2). The new covenant has made the old covenant “obsolete” (Hebrews 8:13, 10:9). Three things are specifically said to be changed in religious practice - the sacrifice, the priesthood, and the Temple. Nowhere does the text say that the Ten Commandments were changed or abolished.
The law which was changed, was “received” on the basis of the Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 7:11). The 7th day was “hallowed” at creation, long before a Levitical priesthood existed. In fact, the Ten Commandments were spoken from Mt. Sinai before the Levites were appointed as the priesthood (Exodus 20). The law which was changed concerned those sacrifices which were carried out in association with the Sanctuary (or Temple). No priesthood is necessary in order to keep the 7th day holy.
17. OUR CHURCH HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND I HAVE THE SPIRIT TO GUIDE ME. HE WOULD NOT LEAD ME WRONG.
JOHN 16:13 . . . .
“when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.”
JOHN 17:17 . . . .
“Thy word is truth.”
PSALM ll9:142 . . . . .
“Thy Law is truth.”
JOHN 14:26 . . . . .
(the Holy Spirit) “He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
The Holy Spirit will not teach anything that Christ did not teach, or did not say.
1 JOHN 4:l . . . .
“Believe not every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
ISAIAH 8:20
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
DANIEL 7:25
The antichrist power will “think to change time and law.” The only commandment that involves time is the Sabbath commandment.
2 CORINTHIANS ll:14
“Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
18. HASN'T THE CALENDAR BEEN CHANGED SO MANY TIMES THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHICH DAY IS THE SEVENTH DAY?
Modern astronomers will tell you very quickly that no time has been lost in the last 3000 years, at the very least.
The manna fell for forty years. It fell on the six days of the week and did not fall on the Sabbath, thus reestablishing the weekly cycle (EX 16). There was no question in Christ's mind as to which day was the seventh, and no days have been lost since the time of Christ.
One calendar change which is frequently questioned was the Gregorian Calendar, accepted in l752. It skipped 11 days, from Sept 2 thru Sept 14, but it did not break the order of the days. Sept 2 was a Wed. and Sept 14 a Thursday.
19. SO LONG AS I KEEP NINE OUT OF THE TEN ISN'T THAT ENOUGH?
JAMES 2:10 “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”
LUKE 13:3 Speaking of sinners both great and small. “Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.”
If we know that something is right but we resist it, then we are really resisting God, and Christ Jesus. This is the spirit of sin, selfishness, and rebellion. God cannot take this spirit into His kingdom.
If we are careless with the Sabbath, we are really saying to others that this commandment isn't important. We are acting as if God just made up something to irritate us and to be a burden. We are implying that God is arbitrary, which is just what Lucifer said in the beginning. To be careless with the Sabbath and thereby encourage others to be so, is to impugn the character of God. This makes it a very serious, in fact the worst of sins.
In Eden there were two trees. In earth's last days there are two days. We must choose whom we will serve. God has said that the Sabbath is a sign between Himself and His people.
The Sabbath commandment gives the Title of the Ruler, The Territory over which he rules, and the Name of the Ruler: The Lord your God, Creator of the heavens and the earth. These are the elements needed to create an ancient “seal.” The remnant of Revelation 7, who have the “seal of God," are also described in Revelation 12:17 as keeping the commandments of God. The 4th commandment was never excluded.
HOW TO KEEP THE SABBATH HOLY
LEVITICUS 23:32 The Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday.
MARK 16:1,2 The Sabbath is over when the first day of the week beings at sunset on Saturday.
EXODUS 20:8-11 Refrain from work. Even in harvest time and planting time, refrain from work. (EXODUS 34:21)
ISAIAH 58:13 Refrain from doing your own pleasure, that is secular entertainment, or activities which would call the mind away from spiritual things. On the Sabbath we renew our relationship with our God, and with fellow believers.
NEHEMIAH 13:15-21 Refrain from buying and selling on the Sabbath.
LUKE 4:16 Worship with others.
MATTHEW 12:9-14 Do works of mercy, relieving pain and suffering.
LUKE 4:16 Worship with others.
MATTHEW 12:9-14 Do works of mercy, relieving pain and suffering.
LUKE 4:31 Share with others a knowledge of God.
LUKE 14:l Enjoy Christian fellowship for the purpose of discussing spiritual things and for praying together.
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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