You teach that Christians must keep Old Testament laws, including the Sabbath. Don't you know that all these laws have been abolished through Christ's death? After all, Christ did away with the entire law of Moses, that is, the laws of the Old Testament.

No, we don’t know that we are cursed when we keep the Ten Commandments, including the Sabbath. But we do know that humans are cursed if they don’t keep them (compare Matthew 25:41, 46).

To fully understand this serious question, which might very well determine one’s eternal life or death (compare Revelation 21:8; 22:15), we must fully realize what the Bible means with the “law of Moses”; what the apostle Paul taught; and what the Church decided in Acts 15.

We have thoroughly discussed and answered these and many other related questions in our free booklet, “And Lawlessness Will Abound….”

We want to quote, to begin with, from pages pages 15-16 of our booklet, to explain what Paul meant with his statement in Galatians 3:10-13. Did Paul say that we are cursed when we keep the Ten Commandments? In addition, did the Church decide in Acts 15 that Christians don’t have to keep the Ten Commandments and can still be saved?

“With that background, we should be able to better understand what Paul is telling us in Galatians 3:10-13, where he speaks about the ‘works of the law.’ In reading this passage, remember to consider the context to see what specific law this passage has reference to. Beginning in verse 10, ‘For as many as are of the works of the law [including the sacrificial and ritual works that had to be performed] are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them [i.e., the rituals and sacrifices] shall live by them [that is, God did not kill them as long as they lived within the sacrificial system.].” Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”).’

“Anyone who did not continue in everything, which was written in the Book of the Law, including the regulations pertaining to washings, rituals and sacrifices, was cursed. Although the Book of the Law included, of course, the Ten Commandments and its spiritual statutes and judgments, it also included the physical works of the law, that is, the sacrificial system, as well as the death penalties for the violations of God’s law.

“Paul’s statement, then, that the law was added because of transgression (Galatians 3:19), refers to that part of the law or laws in the Book of the Law which have to do with sacrifices and other rituals, as well as the curses or penalties for violating God’s spiritual law.”

We might want to explain here (as is being done in our booklet at another place) that the “law,” mentioned in Galatians 3:19, was ADDED “four hundred and thirty years” after God’s covenant with Abraham (compare verse 17). It was added because of transgression (verse 19). The Bible teaches that SIN is the transgression of the LAW (1 John 3:4, Authorized Version). Because the people had sinned by transgressing the LAW of the Ten Commandments, as well as those statutes and judgments which embellish those righteous commandments, ANOTHER “law” was ADDED — the temporary law dealing with sacrifices and other rituals.

To continue with our quote from page 16 of our booklet:

“We need to keep firmly in mind that ‘the Book of the Law of Moses,’ sometimes referred to as ‘the law of Moses,’ included all kinds of laws. We must therefore be careful not to draw hasty conclusions when we read about the Book of the Law in the New Testament. Again, we always need to analyze in context, which particular and specific laws the author is talking about.

“For instance, we read in Acts 15:5, ‘But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them [Gentiles who became Christians], and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”‘

“The context of the discussion shows us that they were not arguing about the Ten Commandments — including the Sabbath — but whether circumcision and other rituals contained in the Law of Moses were mandatory for Gentile Christians. Now, notice, how this question was decided in the first ministerial conference in Jerusalem. Notice that it is James who is saying these words — the same apostle who later talked about the Ten Commandments as a package [compare James 2:8-13], saying that we are guilty of violating them all if we break even one of the Ten: ‘”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”‘ (Acts 15:19-20; compare also Acts 15:28-29).

“James was not talking about the Ten Commandments. But, why does James specifically mention that the Gentiles must abstain from idols, sexual immorality, strangled meat and blood? These four aspects in the Law of Moses were mentioned here in connection with rituals and sacrifices (Leviticus 17:7, 10). Gentiles would often times drink blood with their sacrifices, or they would eat their sacrifices with the blood still in the meat (as happens when animals are strangled), or they would commit fornication with temple prostitutes. So that there would be no misunderstanding, the apostles and elders clarified to the Gentiles that those laws, although mentioned in the context of the sacrificial system, were still valid and binding on them.”

Some claim that God abolished the entire “law of Moses” with all of its commandments, statutes, judgments and regulations. They fail to realize that the “law of Moses” or the “Book of the Law” included both temporary ritualistic statutes and timeless spiritual commandments. They are ignorant of the fact that not the ENTIRE “Law of Moses” was abolished. They don’t understand what the Bible means when it talks about “law.” Neither do they grasp the difference between law and covenant, falsely teaching that they are identical, and that the Ten Commandments were abolished when the “Old Covenant” was revoked. (For a thorough discussion regarding that false teaching, read page 21 and the following pages of our free booklet, “And Lawlessness Will Abound….”) This Biblical ignorance has created a lot of harm, and those false teachers have deceived many who have followed their destructive heresies. However, God makes it clear that they will have to give account for their wrong example, as they live in sin and have induced others to sin likewise.

Let us briefly review the question whether the apostle Paul taught that we don’t have to keep the Ten Commandments any longer. A careful study shows that this was not the case, and that Paul was not even ACCUSED by his enemies of teaching this.

We are quoting from our free booklet, “And Lawlessness Will Abound…,” pages 12-13:

“We read in Acts 21:18-24, ‘On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. Take them and be purified with them, pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.'”

“What ‘law’ is this passage talking about? The law of the Ten Commandments? Note that the specific context is circumcision, purification, and other rituals in connection with the making of a vow. Consider also what Paul actually did do when following the ‘customs’ of the Jews: ‘Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them’ (verse 26).

“The reference to the ‘law’ or the ‘customs’ is solely in regard to that portion in the writings of Moses that dealt with sacrifices, washings and rituals — in other words, the ‘law that was added,’ and not the Ten Commandments at all [nor does it refer to the statutes and judgments which embellish the Ten Commandments].

“We might add here that it was of course not sinful for Paul to participate in these customs, although they were no longer required. Paul said that he became a Jew to the Jews in order to win some (1 Corinthians 9:20). And, although he had made it clear that circumcision was no longer required [see the detailed discussion later in this booklet], he still circumcised Timothy, for the Jews’ sake, in order not to place a stumbling block before them (Acts 16:1-3).”

When we refuse to keep the Ten Commandments, we sin. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) — eternal death — and we WILL suffer eternal death, unless we REPENT of our sins and begin to WALK in the way of righteousness (compare Psalm 119:172).

Christ warns and rebukes all of those who teach that the Ten Commandments are done away with. This is not a light matter in the eyes of God. He says in Matthew 5:19: “‘Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and TEACHES men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and TEACHES them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.'”

We should be able to see the tremendous responsibility of the “teachers of the Law” to teach man the ongoing validity of God’s Ten Commandments — including the Sabbath commandment. If they fail to do so, they will not be held guiltless by God. On the other hand, if we want to be a part of the “people of God,” we WILL keep the Sabbath, because we read in Hebrews 4:9: “It is therefore the duty of the people of God to keep the sabbath” (Lamsa translation). God, knowing that some would attempt to change this command, wrote the commandment in a unique way: “REMEMBER the Sabbath day, to KEEP it holy” (Exodus 20:8).

All Brethren

On Saturday, July 10, 2004, Dave Harris will be giving the sermon, titled: “All Brethren.”

Can you prove from Scripture that the Sabbath is still in effect and is to be kept, today?

Listed below are seven proofs, when taken together, show that the Sabbath is still in effect and to be observed by Christians today.

1) Mark 2:27-28 — The Sabbath was made specifically for man, and Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath, not some other day.

2) Genesis 2:2-3 — The Sabbath was made by God through Christ at the same time that man was made, and was set apart as holy time for all mankind forever.

3) Exodus 16 — Israel had lost the knowledge of the Sabbath in the Egyptian slavery and God showed them which day it was by means of special miracles – and thereby, re-emphasized the importance of keeping the Sabbath holy.

4) Exodus 20: 8-11) — The Sabbath was one of the Ten Commandments.

5) Luke 4:16 — Jesus kept the Sabbath.

6) Acts 17:2 — Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, also kept the Sabbath.

7) Isaiah 66:23 — The Sabbath will be kept in the future when God’s Kingdom will be ruling on the earth.

From this we see 1) that the Sabbath was made for man, 2) that It was established as holy time, set aside for man forever, 3) that it was given before Israel was given the Ten Commandments, 4) that it is one of the Ten Commandments, 5 that Jesus kept it, 6) that Paul kept it, and 7) that it will be kept in the Millennium when God’s Kingdom will rule.

It is interesting to note in Acts 15 that the apostles and elders had come together because of various disputes which had to be cleared up. If there were any question concerning the Sabbath or the annual holy days, surely they would have been discussed at that meeting.

Thus we, as Christians, ought to be keeping the Sabbath, today. For further proof, please read our free booklet, “God’s Commanded Holy Days.”

Who Is In Control

On Saturday, July 3, 2004, Norbert Link will be giving the sermon titled: “Who Is In Control?”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

Does the Scripture in Acts 20:7 reveal that Paul's custom was to observe Sunday as the day he worshipped God each week, rather than the seventh day Sabbath.

Acts 20:7 reads: “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” This Scripture does not say Paul observed Sunday, the first day of the week, as a day of worship. If this were an example for us today, we would be starting the service on Saturday night – not on Sunday morning. Verse 7 shows Paul preached to them until midnight. Also services would have to continue till dawn (verse 11).

Next, we realize that the breaking of bread was not a religious service, but merely the eating of a meal. Acts 27:33-38 proves this. Notice Paul’s situation. He was a Roman prisoner in the midst of many Gentiles on board a ship (Acts 27:1-2). Obviously Paul was not holding a religious service. The men ate for their health (verses 33-34).

Acts 20:7 does not describe a regular service. Notice the context. Paul was en route from Greece to Jerusalem (Acts 20:2-3, 16). Since he did not know when he would see the brethren again, he wanted to teach them as much as possible. The people were more than willing to listen. So, after the Sabbath Paul remained behind teaching the brethren, while his ship sailed around the peninsula (verse 13). He remained talking with them till midnight and continued after a short meal until daybreak (Verse 11). Then after Paul had stayed as long as he could, he left them to walk across the peninsula to meet the boat (verses 13-14). He worked on that Sunday by taking this long walk of some 19 miles!

There is nothing in the above Scripture to indicate it was Paul’s custom to observe Sunday. In fact, all through the book of Acts we see it was Paul’s custom to observe the Sabbath (Acts 17:2; 13:14-15; 42-44). We also note in reading Acts 20:6 that Paul was traveling after having observed the Days of Unleavened Bread. He continued to observe the annual holy days as well as the weekly Sabbath years after Christ had died as He remained faithful to the commands of God.

Don't Become Negligent With God's Truth

On Saturday, June 26, 2004, J. Edwin Pope will be giving the sermon titled, “Do Not Become Negligent With God’s Truth!”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

From the wording of Matthew 5:19, it appears that even those who both break the commandments of God and then teach disobedience will actually be part of the Kingdom of God. Can you explain what this verse means?

This verse must be considered in light of other Scriptures in the Bible. Knowing that it is impossible for God to lie (Compare Titus 1:2), we know that the Bible does not contradict itself–that is, God hasn’t inspired teachings that differ. With that view in mind, let’s consider the verse in the context of Matthew 5 along with applicable principles in God’s Word.

Matthew 5:19 states, ” ‘Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’ ” It is vital to read the continuation of this statement from Jesus in verse 20: ” ‘For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, YOU WILL BY NO MEANS ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.’ “

In verses 17 and 18 of Matthew 5, Jesus taught that He had not come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. His whole existence and purpose as a man was prophesied in detail in both the Law and the Prophets. Note John 5:39 in Christ’s own words: ” ‘You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and THESE TESTIFY OF ME.’ ” He also explains His additional role that expands on what we now call the Old Testament: ” ‘The law and the prophets were until John, Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.’ “

We know that “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and SIN IS LAWLESSNESS” (1 John 3:4). Matthew 5:19 speaks of those who both break the law–that is, sin–and also teach such a manner of living. That is what Satan and his ministers do (Compare 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Satan will certainly not be a part of God’s future Kingdom–not even a “least” part of it (Please refer to our booklet:”Angels, Demons and the Spirit World”)! Neither will sinners be a “least” part of God’s Kingdom!

Paul showed that “…the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Sinning and teaching others that it is alright to compromise with and break God’s laws does not end up having eternal life as its reward. Utter destruction is the end result for those who practice such things: ” ‘But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the SECOND DEATH’ ” (Revelation 21:8).

The Bible consistently teaches that sinners will NOT be in God’s future spiritual realm: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will NOT inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

What exactly is meant in Matthew 5:19, and who are these “least”? The very next verse of 1 Corinthians 6 shows us the key: “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (verse 11). Paul is reminding these Christians that they were formerly sinners, but they had repented and were now living in a new way (Compare Galatians 2:20).

We also find this statement: “for ALL HAVE SINNED and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Since we have all sinned, and since we are ALL TO REPENT (2 Peter 3:9), we must look to the further explanations that have been given about the Kingdom of God. 2 Corinthians 5:10 states: “For we must ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

Jesus also showed that the Judgment would involve rendering to each person the consequences of their own ways of living: ” ‘But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you [the “you” being some of those of His own generation who did not repent at His teachings]” (Matthew 11:24; also, Compare Matthew 25:31-46). Consider, too, what Peter says: “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not OBEY the gospel of God? Now ‘If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear’ ” (1 Peter 4:17-18)?

Daniel 12:2: “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament. And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.”

We know from God’s immutable Word that those who repent and overcome will be given eternal life. This is not to say that we are immediately disqualified if and when we slip and sin. We know that we all still do sin, even after conversion. But we are told that when we sin, we need to confess our sin to God, in repentance, and that God will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrigtheousness (1 John 1:8-9). We also know that there will be different rewards within the family of God. That plan begins to unfold in the first resurrection and continues on as God brings to pass His awesome plan of salvation. Note this further statement from Jesus: ” ‘Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is LEAST in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he’ ” (Matthew 11:11).

Since we know that unrepentant sinners, who refuse to repent, will not be in God’s Kingdom, the “least” of Matthew 6 are not those who are unrepentant sinners. Rather, these “least” are those who actually repent and are granted entrance into God’s eternal Kingdom, but they do not bear the fruit of righteousness to the extent that some others do. Regardless of what “position” any may attain in God’s government of the future, to be given the unparalleled gift of eternal life with both the Father and Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment for everyone. Paul, who indeed did at one time fight against Christ and those who followed Him, also bitterly repented and went on to live out his life in service to God with this goal: “if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection of the dead” (Philippians 3:11).

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