This is where we get to the nut of the matter. Telling others they ought to keep the sabbath is a general statement. You see, none of us know if you keep the sabbath since it is only a verbal claim you have made. You have shown that you adjust the demands of "sabbath keeping" to fit your modern lifestyle.
But how far does that go? How much can I adjust before I break the sabbath, and who judges that? Me? Let's look at some adjustments.
Sabbath Activities
- Eat a heavy meal of carbs and fat, then nap in the afternoon.
- Go to work because you feel it is necessary work.
- Take the kids out swimming.
- Put on headphones and listen to a sermon while riding your lawnmower around the yard.
- Go Snorkeling
- etc
Now if I say, "Well, that's just nitpicking." Then, I must be free to define "sabbath-keeping" however I please. On the other hand, if I find my rest in Christ and seek His righteousness and Kingdom first, will not all else be added to me? I may learn to love the day God made for me, but I won't insist others keep it.
The danger in Law-Keeping is that in doing so, we may forfeit Christ-Keeping. If we have Christ, we are new creatures and stand perfect before God. Perfected forever by His one sacrifice. If I then keep a day onto the Lord, no other brother or sister should judge me, but if they count all days the same, I should not judge them.
Once we set up anything other than Christ in our hearts that we believe adds to our chances of salvation, we have set up an idol, and we will judge others who do not believe as we do.
How many people who don't murder someone forfeit Christ? It is God who sanctifies us, makes us more like Him. Your argument falls flat on it's face when you apply it to the entire law like I did from Jeremiah 7. You base your entire thesis relies on there being only imputed righteousness when the Bible clearly teaches differently.
Revelation 12: 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed,
which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 14: 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
12 Here is the patience of the saints:
here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Paul has this to say.
Ephesians 2: 1 AND you hath he quickened,
who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Are you a child of disobedience? Or are you one who in times past fulfilled the lists of our flesh and by nature a child of wrath? Is your old man dead or fully alive and kicking?
2Corinthians 5: 15
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1Corinthians 1: 30
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
righteousness = [*StrongsGreek*]
01343
δικαιοσύνη dikaiosýnē, dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay
from 1342;
equity (of character or act);
specially (Christian) justification:--righteousness.
sanctification = [*StrongsGreek*]
00038
ἁγιασμός hagiasmós, hag-ee-as-mos'
from 37;
properly,
purification, i.e. (the state) purity; concretely (by Hebraism) a purifier:--holiness, sanctification.
Jesus is made unto us wisdom, justification, a purifier who purifies us. and redemption.
So how likely is it someone whom Jesus is purifying will forfeit Jesus as that takes a deep relationship? What did Paul say along these lines?
1Corinthians 15: 31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord,
I die daily.
Paul's old man had to die daily. Are you more spiritual than Paul?