Hi there GT, nice to meet you here and thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have added some comments for your consideration below
We have to obey the commandments, but as for the Sabbath, Jesus is the Sabbath rest. Observing special days was part of the works of the law. It was a shadow and teaching tool about Jesus. It is worthless now to observe special days, but we are to observe Jesus all day every day.
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
So GT you believe that we have to keep 9/10 commandments? Can you show me a scriptures that says Jesus is the Sabbath rest? The only ever definition I have ever found of "Sabbath" in God's 4th commandment is the 7th day of the week as shown in
Exodus 20:10, But
the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD your God...
There is no scripture that says Jesus is a Sabbath. We do get rest however from believing and following Gods' Word. I believe that God's 4th commandment is a part of God's 10 commandments and there are not 9 commandments written and spoken by God on the tables of stone but 10 as shown in Exodus 20:8-11; Exodus 32:16; Exodus 20:1-17. I do not believe we are saved by them but that their role is to give us the knowledge of good and evil; sin and righteousness in the new covenant as shown in Romans 3:20; Romans 7:7; 1 John 3:4; Psalms 119:172 and if we break anyone of them we stand guitly before God of sin *James 2:10-11.
Isaiah 30:15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.
Indeed dear friend. Repentance is from sin which is defined in the scriptures as not believing God's Word and breaking anyone of God's 10 commandments *Romans 14:23; 1 John 3:4
Isaiah 28:12 to whom he said, "This is the resting place, let the weary rest";
I like Isiaah 28 very much and especially the scriptures around v12 as the context and subject matter is to those who are following false teachings and the call to return to the pure word of God. A message indeed to all of us today that will be living in these last days...
Isaiah 28:7-16
[7], But
they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision,
they stumble in judgment.
[8], For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.
[9],
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
[10],
For precept must be on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, and there a little:
[11], For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
[12],
To whom he said, This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
[13],
But the word of the LORD was to them precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
[14],
Why hear the word of the LORD, you scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
[15], Because you have said,
We have made a covenant with death (Sin), and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing whip shall pass through, it shall not come to us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
[16], Therefore thus said the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believes shall not make haste.
The rest here is the same as Matthew 11:28-30 of believing and following God's word. Both these scriptures do not say that Jesus is a Sabbath. Only that we receive Gods' rest from believing and following God's Word. No one enters into Gods' rest (the Sabbath) without believing and following God's Word *Hebrews 4:1-4. If God asks his people to "remember" keep the Sabbath holy (God's 4th commandment - Exodus 20:8-11) and we say no, are we believing and following God's word?
Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Indeed great scripture. Jesus goes on to say...
Matthew 5:18-19 [18], For truly I say to you, Till heaven and earth pass, one stroke or one pronunciation mark shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
[19], Whoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [20], For I say to you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Galatians 4:9 But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
I do not see these scriptures are referring to God's 4th commandment as there is no reference to God's 4th commandment in any of Galatians. Pauls audience here is to gentile believers not Jews so the turning back cannot be in referenc to God's 4th commandment as they never obeyed it before coming to Jesus. Also, like Jesus and the disciples Paul's custom was to keep the Sabbath according to the 4th commandment *Acts 17:2. Happy to look further at these scriptures if you like? Can you show me why you believe Galatains 4 is talking about God's Sabbath? I have read it and cannot see this is referring to God's 4th commandment.
Taking into consideration the above. This is how I very these scriptures...
Galatians 4:8-11 [8]
Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.[9]
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? [10]
You observe days, and months, and times, and years. [11] I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
Galatians 4 says nothing about sabbaths. Its speaking of those Gentile believers who observe times before they came to Christ.
Deuteronomy 18:9-11 [9] When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.[10] There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination,
or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,[11] Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
The same thing goes on to this very day. Its speaking of the occult. Those who observe certain days by use of horoscopes?
2 Chronicles 33:3-6 [3] For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.[4] Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.[5] And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.[6] And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom:
Also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger
Enchantments, witchcraft, familiar spirits, and wizards. Its speaking of the occult. Not following sabbath days.
LEVITICUS 19:26-30 [26] Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment,
nor observe times. [27] Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.[28] Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.[29] Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.[30]
ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.
I guess this scripture says it all. You shall not observe times BUT you will keep my sabbaths.
Colossians 2:16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
For me I do not see this is in reference to God's 4th commandment as the context is not to sabbath singular but sabbaths plural and the within chapter context here is to the sabbaths in the feast days not God's 4th commandment of the 10 commandments. These sabbaths were shadows linked to the feast days and days of holy convocation where no work can be carried out and could fall on any day of the week depending on the yearly cycle of the annual feast days of Leviticus 23. Did you know there are many different kinds of sabbaths in the old testament that are not God's 4th commandment dear friend? In the old testament sabbaths that were
not God's 4th commandment included....
1. The Sabbaths of the Feast of unleavened bread (first and last day) that can fall on any day of the week *
Leviticus 23:6-8
2. The Sabbath on the annual day of Atonement that can fall on any day of the week *
Leviticus 23:27-32
3. The Sabbath on the annual Feast of Trumpets that can fall on any day of the week *
Leviticus 23:24-25?
4. The Sabbath on the Feast of Booths that can fall on any day of the week *
Leviticus 23:34-36
5. Feast of first fruits (first and last day) that can fall on any day of the week *
Leviticus 23:39
6. The sabbaths (sabbaton plural) of holy convocations from the annual feast days *
Leviticus 23:7-8; 21;24; 27; 35-36 that can fall on any days of the week
7. The Sabbath of the land (7 year single cycle) *
Leviticus 25:2
8. The Sabbath of Jubilee - culminating of the 7x7 yearly cycles sabbaths *
Leviticus 25:9-54
Happy to discuss Colossians 2:16-17 indepth of your interested looking at both the within chapter and scriptures context and linking the old testament scriptures Paul is quoting from if you like. I think this would be a great discussion actually as I believe many people have not been taught the truth here.
There is actuallyt not one scriptures in all of God's word that says God's 4th commandment is abolished and we are now commanded to keep Sunday as a holy day. Do you know why we keep Sunday today dear GT?
Thanks for sharing your view GT.
God bless
