Why we are not supposed to keep the Sabbath

[trophy33]

In Romans 11:16:

“If the firstfruit is holy: The firstfruit probably represents the first Christians, who were Jewish. Their conversion was something holy and good for the church. After all, each of the apostles and most of the human authors of Scripture were Jewish. If the conversion of this firstfruit was good for the Gentiles, how much better will it be when the complete harvest is brought in!”

“Many commentators take the firstfruit here as the patriarchs, but it fits better to see it as the original core group of Christians – who were each Jewish.”

Enduring Word Bible Commentary Romans Chapter 11
I should have referred to the "firstfruit," but the olive tree could also be Israel.

Therefore? What do you expect to get from this imagery regarding the Sabbath?

 

[Jerry N.]

My primary point is that the Law in the Torah is good. God gave the Law to separate a people for Himself. We are His people just as the Jews who believe in Him. Obviously, the Laws regarding the Temple and those related to it were for the Israelites and non-Israelites living among them. Even there, many of the Laws only were meant to be followed in Israel. The Ten Commandments are the most universal part of the Law, and it is good for us and all of humanity to follow them. It is not beneficial to reject, let’s say, “You shall not murder,” so keeping the Sabbath is also good for us. Under the new covenant, we do what is right out of love for God and what He has done through Christ. If a Christian keeps the Sabbath to be closer to God, it is good, and should not be discouraged. We are free of the Law through grace, but the Law is still God’s instruction for good.

 

[Jerry N.]

Therefore? What do you expect to get from this imagery regarding the Sabbath?

The fruit of the olive tree are people saved by faith, both Jews and Gentiles. The Law convicts us of sin, but it also is lifestyle for people devoted to God. If we are graphed in, we should take the Law seriously.

 

[trophy33]

My primary point is that the Law in the Torah is good. God gave the Law to separate a people for Himself. We are His people just as the Jews who believe in Him. Obviously, the Laws regarding the Temple and those related to it were for the Israelites and non-Israelites living among them. Even there, many of the Laws only were meant to be followed in Israel. The Ten Commandments are the most universal part of the Law, and it is good for us and all of humanity to follow them. It is not beneficial to reject, let’s say, “You shall not murder,” so keeping the Sabbath is also good for us. Under the new covenant, we do what is right out of love for God and what He has done through Christ. If a Christian keeps the Sabbath to be closer to God, it is good, and should not be discouraged. We are free of the Law through grace, but the Law is still God’s instruction for good.

Thats not the point of the text you provided, though.

 

[trophy33]

If we are graphed in, we should take the Law seriously.

The text says nothing of this kind.

 

[Jerry N.]

The text says nothing of this kind.

It is not difficult to see. If the Law is good for the original olive tree, then the Law is good for the branches graphed in. God planted the olive tree, and He knows what is best for it. Think of the Bible as the nourishment if you like. Analogies always break down if you get picky enough, but Paul thought it was a pretty good one.

 

[trophy33]

It is not difficult to see. If the Law is good for the original olive tree, then the Law is good for the branches graphed in. God planted the olive tree, and He knows what is best for it. Think of the Bible as the nourishment if you like. Analogies always break down if you get picky enough, but Paul thought it was a pretty good one.

Analogies must not be used for anything else than an author used it for. Exactly for the reason that they are just imperfect analogies, not the reality.

 

[Jerry N.]

Analogies must not be used for anything else than an author used it for. Exactly for the reason that they are just imperfect analogies, not the reality.

I’m not sure that is a legitimate rule, but it doesn’t matter. The topic is “Why we are not supposed to keep the Sabbath,” and I’m just expressing the idea that there is no reason we should not keep the Sabbath. If a Christian wants to keep the Sabbath, there is no reason to say he or she shouldn’t. Notice I am not saying Christians must keep the Sabbath, unless they feel that they should. For that matter, if you are a good Catholic, don’t work on Sunday.

 

[trophy33]

I’m not sure that is a legitimate rule, but it doesn’t matter. The topic is “Why we are not supposed to keep the Sabbath,” and I’m just expressing the idea that there is no reason we should not keep the Sabbath. If a Christian wants to keep the Sabbath, there is no reason to say he or she shouldn’t. Notice I am not saying Christians must keep the Sabbath, unless they feel that they should. For that matter, if you are a good Catholic, don’t work on Sunday.

If there is no requirement to keep the Sabbath, then the word "keeping" lost its lawful meaning. If you do not work on Saturdays or whatever, its not keeping anything, its just your lifestyle.

You can keep/follow only a rule that is active.

 

[Jerry N.]

If there is no requirement to keep the Sabbath, then the word "keeping" lost its lawful meaning. If you do not work on Saturdays or whatever, its not keeping anything, its just your lifestyle.

You can keep/follow only a rule that is active.

Roman Catholics, Orthodox followers, and many Protestants believe that Sabbath moved from Saturday to Sunday to celebrate the Resurrection. Seventh Day Adventists, and Messianic Christians (like myself), and a few others believe the Sabbath is eternal and on Saturday to remember the creation and God’s resting on the seventh day. The central tenet is to limit or do no work, thereby keeping the Sabbath by making it different from six days of work. I don’t believe in Islam, but that doesn’t mean they don’t keep Friday holy in their faith by limiting work. It is active in their belief and dedication to pleasing God; therefore, it would be wrong for them not to keep it and should be respected. I don’t ask Roman Catholics to work on Sunday, and they should not ask me to work on Saturday. You can find all of the reasons in previous posts. It is much more than a lifestyle. Lifestyle is in reference to self or society, religious observance is toward God.

 

[trophy33]

Roman Catholics, Orthodox followers, and many Protestants believe...

People can believe all sorts of things.

Lifestyle is in reference to self or society, religious observance is toward God.

Christians did not receive any day observance from God, therefore any such observance its only to obey men, culture, feelings etc. And any way or style of such observance (or none) is valid in the same way.

 

[Jerry N.]

People can believe all sorts of things.

Christians did not receive any day observance from God, therefore any such observance its only to obey men, culture, feelings etc. And any way or style of such observance (or none) is valid in the same way.

You should have a look at vows in the Old Testament. People did it often to promise an action or possession to God. God doesn’t make them do it, but He is very unhappy if they break their vow. When a person enters a religious practice, they make vows, internally or externally, to do something or not to do something as a sign of their dedication to God. The vow comes from people of their own free will, but God expects them to keep it. Matthew 5:33 might help here.

 

[trophy33]

You should have a look at vows in the Old Testament. People did it often to promise an action or possession to God. God doesn’t make them do it, but He is very unhappy if they break their vow. When a person enters a religious practice, they make vows, internally or externally, to do something or not to do something as a sign of their dedication to God. The vow comes from people of their own free will, but God expects them to keep it. Matthew 5:33 might help here.

It seems you are just jumping from one reasoning to another. First that we are grafted into Law, then that we can keep the Law even though we do not have to and now you try to base your Sabbath observance on individual vows. This way, we could continue for quite a long time without any conclusion.

 

[Jerry N.]

It seems you are just jumping from one reasoning to another. First that we are grafted into Law, then that we can keep the Law even though we do not have to and now you try to base your Sabbath observance on individual vows. This way, we could continue for quite a long time without any conclusion.

I didn’t say we are graphed into the Law. We are graphed into the people of God, and God gave the Law for their own good to separate them for Himself and make their lives better. Vows are made to conform to the Law, or religious practice, in various ways to improve devotion to God. In grace, we can choose to vow to keep various parts of the Law like the Sabbath. For example, you might vow never to eat pork, because you believe that God indicated that pork is not good for you. If you eat pork after that vow, you have sinned. If you never made that vow, you could eat all the pork you want. I would never say that abstaining from pork is required for Christians, but you should abstain from pork if you vowed to do so.

My point has consistently been that Christians should never be required not to keep the Sabbath.