‘The sabbath was nailed to the cross, we no longer need to keep it’. This is a very used and almost predictable mentality of many Christians today. This unproven theory is used by most denominations in the context of not having to adhere to the 10 commandments. The theory is commonly followed by the misconception of ‘once saved always saved’. Unfortunately, these theories are nothing but the ideas of men, they can very easily be proven wrong. Let’s break this idea down so it is much more easily digestible.
The first scripture many people like to use to support their argument is,
Galatians 4
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 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 worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain. 12 I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.
Paul has clearly mentioned before knowing YAH they were in bondage by worshiping false non existing gods, they were observing certain times for these gods and performing rituals and sacrifices. Now, to fully understand this scripture, the reader needs to know a few things about the people Paul is talking to. The people of Galatia are gentiles, they have previously been worshiping false gods and deities. Gentiles have never been Jews before this moment as the death of the Messiah has helped the gentiles be grafted onto the olive tree. Another important thing to know is, in Israelite custom and law, there are holy days, festival weeks and sabbatical years, but there no holy months or seasons. How then can Paul be speaking about the law of YAH? Let’s once again turn to the bible and prove this with only scripture.
Galatians 2
7 On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.
This is Paul talking to the gentiles, he has said the task of preaching to them was his and preaching to the Jews was Peters. So, we should only refer to what Paul is saying for this to be an honest perspective.
Romans 7
12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.
This is Paul explaining the importance of the law, how could Paul say this and then in another letter call the same thing “weak and beggarly”. He would never call the law of his god a derogative thing.
Deuteronomy 18
9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God. 14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so.
This is the very thing Paul is talking about to the gentiles. These Galatians are those mentioned in Deuteronomy. The land of Canaan had many wicked customs, the Jews were warned about them, so when the gentiles were able to be grafted onto the olive tree, they were always going to turn back to customs they had always known, remember, they have never practised Israelite customs before, so how can they possibly turn back to worship they’ve never partaken in before? Now you understand the weak and beggarly elements Paul is referring to, the heathen practises.
Galatians 6
15 For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy and upon the Israel of God.
It is paramount that we understand, we are under grace, grace is what saves us from the transgression of the law. The bible clearly states what sin is;
1 John 3
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
So then because we are under grace, we no longer need to keep the law of YAH? Absolutely not, in fact that is completely opposite to what the bible teaches us.
Romans 6
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Well if that doesn’t prove it alone then let me further explain.
Revelation 14
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
John 15
10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
John 14
15 “If you love me, keep my commands
1 John 2
3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.
Ephesians 2
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Matthew 15
Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” 3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?
Matthew 7
22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness
For the Messiah has power over the law as he has fulfilled the law, he came, lived under the law and died not breaking it once. He is our atonement for sin (transgressing the law). When the Messiah had been crucified, above his head had the words “king of the Jews”
Matthew 27
37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the Jews
This is the exact “written charge” mentioned in;
Colossians 2
13 When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses, 14 having cancelled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross! 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. 16 Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind. 19 He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow. 20 If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”? 22 These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
The debt ascribed to us isn’t the perfect and holy law of YAH’s, but it is the sin we have compiled. How can the perfect law of YAH’s be ‘against us’ when it was written ‘for us? The Messiah died alongside two thieves; how do we know this? Because the debt ascribed to them was hanging above their head on a wooden plaque, “THIEVES’. In verse 20, he explains it in more detail;
20 If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”? 22 These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.
You see!! These are the laws of the world made by man! NOT the laws of our father in heaven, the ones that you are forbidden to break even under grace.
Paul will now explain once again.
Romans 2
13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)
Psalm 19
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm and all of them are righteous.
Let me simplify all this for you again, with nothing but scripture.
John 1
29 “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
Not the law, the sin!
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 fulfil them.
Not done away with, fulfilled!
Matthew 19
16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and inquired, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
Keep the commandments directly from the Messiah’s mouth!
So, after all this, I leave you with one question.
What is the fourth commandment??