This is the continuation, or Part II, of my post with this same title.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exodus 20:8-11

Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. Exodus 31:16

Remember in the past when all the stores were closed on Sunday in observance of the Sabbath? Now granted, mammon has become even more influential these days, so the store closings are now a thing of the past. Nonetheless, the fact remains that the Sabbath day was changed from the seventh day to the first day, and God didn’t do it! Doesn’t that sound just like satan to mimic God -- with a day of observance but now on the FIRST day instead of the LAST, doing the exact opposite of what God commanded?! I stand in awe of the “men of God” preaching in the churches and how they never seem to question this concept. Why? Is the tax-free money they receive under the 501-3(c) code just too much to lose?? If not, what else is holding them back?? This truth is one of the easiest to find in scripture -- the Sabbath day was never changed from the seventh day to the first day, so why is no one questioning this in the churches? Again, it is “mainstream Christianity” observing the Sabbath (and half-way that is) on Sunday, and those who choose to actually honor the Sabbath on the day God commanded and in the way He commanded are few and far between, walking mostly alone down a narrow path and often being questioned and ridiculed. It’s very scary when one stops to really ponder this. There is really much more to this subject alone, but I would like to move on to the next truth and lie.

Now, what about God’s holy days, or feast days as they are typically referenced in the Bible? Is this something we are being taught today in mainstream Christianity? No, it is not. These are days, documented and outlined very clearly in the Bible, in which God commanded be observed throughout all generations forever. Instead of these days being taught and observed, our Sunday churches are teaching and honoring Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving, amongst others. These holidays cannot be found anywhere in scripture and when researched are completely pagan in nature (it is astounding what you will find out)!! So, again… isn’t that just like the enemy to mimic God’s holy days with different days, called holidays, all in the name of Christianity?! How is it that the churches can continue to teach and celebrate these unbiblical days??? These are more lies fed through the mainstream in an effort to tear us away from the true holy days of the Most High God!

Easter is taught as an observance of Christ’s resurrection, of which they proclaim to be on Sunday (the first day of the week), with His crucifixion and death the Friday prior. Friday to Sunday is not three days and three nights! In reading and studying scripture, one will find that Christ died on a Wednesday evening, between 3:00 p.m. and sundown and was in the tomb into the next day, which was the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread (which was a feast, high Sabbath day), through Saturday between 3:00 p.m. and sundown, at which time He rose (and this day was the end of the weekly Sabbath). This is why when Mary and the others went to the tomb very early Sunday morning, the first day of the week, His body was already gone! This period of time as scripture spells out (Wednesday evening till Saturday evening) is three full days and three full nights, just as was spoken in Matthew 12:40 (For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.) Why are they lying to us?? What is the motive? Who started this lie and why are the churches perpetuating it? Do these questions ever plague and baffle you??! I am just amazed, although I will confess, I was caught up in this lie for years myself; again, being born into another one of the deeply-rooted age-old traditions of man initiated by satan! This lie alone is enough to make one scream, “What else are they lying about?!”

Overall, we were not commanded to observe the resurrection of Christ; we were commanded to observe and celebrate Passover in the spring , in remembrance of how God passed over His people and saved them out of the bondage of Egypt. We were also told to observe and celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, but this along with the other holy days of this season, has been set aside and replaced with bunnies and eggs. Christmas offers the same falsities… Christmas trees, gifts, santa (same letters used in the word “satan”), lights, etc. All of these things have nothing to do with Christ and His birth, and we were never commanded to observe His birth in the first place. And to make matters worse, Christ was not born on December 25th in the winter. He was born during a time when the shepherds were tending their flocks (which would not be in the rainy winter season in Israel) and during the time of the annual census and taxation when Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem for this reason when she was “great with child” (taxation was during the fall season of the Feast of Tabernacles when people took advantage of the journey to pay their taxes since they were collected at this time of the year). We don’t know the actual date of Christ’s birth, but we do know that it is not during the winter season, as the scriptures give us plenty of references. Christmas is a lie, just as Easter is a lie. And I will go one step further and state that none of the other holidays and celebrations of our time, including Thanksgiving, New Year’s Day, Mother’s and Father’s Day, etc., are mentioned anywhere in the Bible. These are also man-made traditions, and most of them are completely pagan in nature; this means that we as followers of Christ should have nothing to do with them. Simply “google” the history of Easter and Christmas and find out who’s really getting the glory on these days; you will be very surprised and saddened. So, how do you feel knowing that the very church or churches you have attended have celebrated these days when they are unquestionably proven as lies? I pray that you feel something!

The truth of the Most High’s holy days are found in His word, period. All of the days, the timing of the days, and the instructions for observance are all there. They are either remembrances of significant acts of God from the past or observances of significant events coming in the future, and they are also all a type and shadow of what is to come during the reign of Christ . They are significant, important, and critical; they are to be observed and honored by all true God-fearing, Christ-following people! The churches are leading people away from these days and replacing them with doctrines of demons, but why? Why doesn’t matter! Whether it be defiance or ignorance, it is inexcusable! While some can be credited with teaching the grace and love of Christ, they are not teaching the whole truth of the Most High regarding His ways, His commandments, and His holy days – He is the God of Israel who has not changed and He is due honor and obedience!

One additional truth and lie that I would like to cover is our annual calendar. Did you know that the Most High outlined the whole year in perfect synchronicity, perfect order, and in accordance with His Sabbaths. It was a perfect 364-day calendar made up of 52 perfect weeks, four full weeks in each month, and seven full days in each week, with of course, one Sabbath for every week. This is all based off His perfect creation week of seven days. You can read all about this, word for word, in the Book of Jubilees, chapter 6 (more on this book below). In His word, He told us exactly when the new year would begin, when to celebrate His holy days, and when each season was to start perfectly on time -- perfect order and perfect timing, the Most High’s way. Well, just like His other laws, commandments, institutions, and holy days, satan changed the calendar and convoluted and confused the months, the seasons, and all the observances of God’s holy days. Today we have the Gregorian/Julian calendar, instituted by Pope Gregory XIII of the Roman Catholic Church in 1582. This calendar is made up of 12 months all named after pagan gods, an inconsistent number of days for the months (some of which include incomplete weeks), 365 days for the year instead of 364 (unless it’s a leap year), and plenty of references to all of satan’s substitute holidays. In others words, it’s all messed up! The laws and times have surely been changed, and it was not the doing of the Most High. What are we to think of this? Are you understanding the depth of the lies in which we live in today?

I mention the Book of Jubilees above, which brings me yet to another set of lies. There are many other biblical writings that as I like to say, fill in the gaps, and bring more understanding and meaning to the current books of the Bible. Many of these very books are mentioned in the Bible, such as the Book of Jasher, the Book of Enoch, and others. The Apocrypha is also a set of books that were actually included in the Bible itself for almost 300 years before they were removed sometime around 1828. If you find yourself a 1611 King James Bible today, it will likely include these books. The books of the Apocrypha started after Malachi and continued until Matthew and also the rest of the book of Esther beginning right where it leaves off in our Bible today!! The Roman Catholic church claims these books today and calls them “deuterocanonical”, and there is some speculation that the church wishes to keep them hidden (I’ve even seen a quote where someone high up in the church has stated that they hold the hidden mysteries of these books!). When reading these books, it easy to see why satan would want them removed. They are vibrant, full of life and mystery, and correlate to and support many of the other books of the Bible. Just gaining understanding on the perfection of God’s calendar from the Book of Jubilees gives me spiritual insight as to why there is such “confusion” about these extra books. Don’t you wonder what you’ve been missing? Just do the research and see for yourself, and then ask, why would they take out books from the Bible that were previously included? There can only be one reason, and it is likely sinister in nature.

Conclusion
I realize that this has been a great deal of information and the nature of it is quite controversial, but as a Christ-follower, shouldn’t you know this? I ask myself all the time how I could have believed so many lies for so long, even while reading and studying the word, praying and worshipping Christ, and being as obedient to His word as I could. The problem was that I was following the mainstream; I was soaking up the popular teachings of Christianity and just following along with the crowd. I found myself many times questioning scriptures by inspiration of the Holy Spirit (actually questioning some of the lies that were being taught), but because I didn’t want to go against the grain of mainstream teaching, I simply followed suit, and that has proven to be a mistake.

Everything that I have shared with you in this writing is biblical. The truths can be found right in the word of God, proven beyond any doubt. We truly live in a very scary time – the end of time – and we know this from the very words of Christ. The very first sign of the end and of His coming that He gave to His disciples was, “See that you are not deceived”. He said that the signs and wonders from the evil one would be so deceptive and convincing that even the elect would be deceived, if this were possible . When you meditate on that very thought, it should hit home to you the depth of deception that will exist in that time, and I believe we are there now! And to take it a step further, think about this… If we are living in a time of truth right now, where the true and pure gospel is being preached and all are living the truth, why does the Most High need 144,000 of His chosen elect to preach the gospel all around the world in the end? We are NOT living in the time of truth; the truth is not mainstream; the truth has been suppressed by the enemy and all those who follow him. The enemy is at war with the people of God, and we must have the belt of truth around us to win! In this time, today, the truth must be deeply desired and sought as something precious, with an uncompromising intention to obey out of love and adoration for the one true God. Only then can it be found and set us free indeed!

I close this writing with one final thought… The Bible tells us that God will judge sin, and His wrath on this earth will be unbearable. For those who are found sinners, the earthly wrath won’t be the end of the torture, as everlasting fire will still be waiting. And what is the “sin” that causes these to receive such a horrible destiny? Sin is the transgression of the law. I John 3:49 If sin is the transgression of the law, then it is best that we follow and obey the law. It is time for us to wake up, fear our God as this is the beginning of wisdom, and continue every day to work out our salvation with fear and trembling – for the days are dark with deception, and there is an enemy waiting to devour and deceive at every turn. We must never forget that this world is his territory, and if it is his, then the mainstream will likely be of him. We must love God and follow His commandments with fervor and endurance. We must receive and rest in the grace of Christ as He is our sacrificial lamb and Redeemer. We must seek and obey truth at all costs. And we must always be separate as the elect of God. If we are not separate, then we are of the world, for He said, “He that is not with Me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.” Matthew 12:30 There is no middle ground.

Hi Stacy,

I just wanted to thank you for this post and to also let you know I shared it on the Rapture Bible Prophecy Forum Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rapture-Bible-Prophecy-Forum/362856490414697

We have over 870 plus followers on facebook!

When we post on FACEBOOK our posts have the potential to reach many 10's of thousands before the end of the day since most people are on facebook and find it more convenient for their lifestyle than to come to a forum like this but want all the information we post on this site.

This site ( http://www.rapturebibleprophecyforum.com ) is moving UP the rankings on google as the 7 year pre tribulation rapture doctrine crumbles and is exposed for the false doctrine that it is more will come to this site so please continue to post your commentaries on this site and help us to shed light on the many deceptions prevalent in the world today!


1. The Bible is the INERRANT WORD of God.

2. Jesus is God's Son ( Jesus is God )

3. The Holy Spirit will teach us ALL things.

4. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Thank you again for such a well written commentary.

God Bless


Steven

Hi Stacy,

I enjoyed this detailed article of yours so much and cannot disagree with one iota of it. In fact, this portion, which you stated here

blessed me so much because that is the exact way I've been trying to show others and always, even if they agreed mostly, they would never accept the fact that Our Lord & Saviour arose on the Sabbath. And why wouldn't He? He is Lord of the Sabbath, not of Sunday. His Resurrection happened on the very day that honors His Heavenly Father and our Heavenly Father. Once risen, He stepped into the next role of the High Priest, where He officiated at the offering to the Father, the First Fruits that He set free from Paradise. Allowed for the purpose of showing the Resurrection Power of God were the many who were seen later walking around in Jerusalem. I'm not sure of this but can only surmise, since they were resurrected from the dead, that they followed Our Lord up to heaven on the day that He left this earth. Yes, they were not seen at the place where he left, at the Mt. of Olives, but from wherever they were, they probably left just in the twinkling of an eye. It seems to be a picture of the promise that our own bodies (still living) will be changed in a twinkling of an eye, able to be taken to meet Him in the Air when that time comes.

Anyway, thank you Stacy and you are so correct; Steven puts an enormous amount of work into providing this variety plus the news site to keep us up to par with what is taking place in these days of enormous change. In my opinion, there is no other site like this one where we can all learn from this variety and make good friends. If we could not look at these article from others, who may not teach totally correct, how would be able to distinguish the many falsehoods out there. We would still be stuck paying attention to someone who claims to have all the necessary degrees, as if we don't have a mind of our own, God's Written Word and The Holy Spirit guiding us in our heart-felt desire to know TRUTH.

Gerlinda

I Ditto that Gerlinda!

Stacy, this is a wonderful read and full to the hilt with His written truth! This is a WONDERFUL testimony to see what obedience to His word and His will does. I pray this message goes far and wide, reaching deep in the heart of many who call on his name, because it is the truth! What a joy it is to give up all things pagan. As a matter of fact you feel liberated! What joy it is to get BACK to His way of doing things. As the stronghold of deception is broken from our souls we REALLY can get a feel of what it was truly like when He spoke to His Church in the wilderness...both Jew and Gentile alike, for they were one people, with one Law and they together served one God...THEY WERE ISRAEL!

As we are seeing all the ugliness darkness holds as Christ is allowing things to be exposed, I feel a special calling to the doctrine of truth, for all those He has already drawn away from organized religious institutions. It seems they are more susceptible to seeing truth for what it really is, once they take that step out of what each of us, at one time or another, held so dear. But it is definitely in His time.

It is my desire to encourage our brothers and sisters to take another look at EVERYTHING we have been taught, then see what THUS saith the Lord Most High. Stacy is right! Call out to Him for TRUTH and don't be afraid of change. This is the ONLY way we can be safe any more. For Christianity has taught us that the Church is separate from Israel, but bringing together His Church is still His desire today. He still desires all to come in to One God, One People, One Law, One family. He gave us the story of Ruth and Naomi for this very purpose, they had it RIGHT!

Let Us as Brothers and Sisters...Get It Right!

He is calling us to BELIEVE...................HIM!

Blessed be His Name

Hi Everyone,

Patti did NOT post this article on on this thread but I think that it is a good idea to post it here to help us all to work out the finer details in a mature discussion.

Me personally I am saved by GRACE through faith (I can't boast) I rest in JESUS ONLY.

Feel free to read or comment with respect and maturity using SCRIPTURE to share your thoughts.

This is a Forum.

God Bless

Steven

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Patti C.: Wrote:

Hello all,

Just as there were Judaizers in the first century Church, we are still dealing with this same problem today. Those that want to keep putting old vine into new wineskin, and adding their own works to Grace. When preaching the Gospel of salvation, when was the keeping of the Law or Sabbath keeping mentioned as a condition of being saved? And, when one was saved, were they ever told by the disciples to be sure and keep the Sabbath? Is the law of the Old Covenant or Sabbath keeping ever mentioned as part of the Gospel of Christ?

Below are just a few verses from the Scriptures that deal with this issue, and there are many more. Let us not be taken in by those that want to turn back to bondage and give up our freedom that Christ lived and died for us to obtain. For this Hebrew Roots Movement is the most dangerous of all false doctrines entering the Church today.

Galatians 5:1

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Galatians 2:16

Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Titus 3:5

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Galatians 2:4

Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery—

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Colossians 3:11

Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

1 Corinthians 12:13

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Romans 16:17

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

Romans 10:9

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Gal. 5:14

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

The following article tells it like it is about all this. I am not trying to be in conflict with my brothers and sisters in Christ, but I do feel a need to alert others of the dangers of this movement, and show, in this regard, there is nothing new under the sun. It was happening in the first century with early Jewish Christian believers and it is definitely happening now.

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FOR FAIR USE EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES


Link of article or video : http://www.biblicalmissiology.org/2012/07/03/the-judaizers-when...


The Judaizers: When almost right isn’t good enough

By John Span

The true God says: “No righteousness, wisdom, or religion pleases me, but only that by which the Father is glorified through the Son. It is those who lay hold of the Son and me and my promise in him, by faith, to whom I am a God, a Father; it is they whom I accept, justify, and save. Everyone else remains under wrath, because they worship what is no god.” (Martin Luther’s Commentary on Galatians)

In modern times, it appears that what is demanded in many professions and areas of life is not demanded in theology. When I deposit money into my bank account, I expect that the teller will be accurate and deposit the check for $289.00 and not get it just about right with shifting the decimal only one small place and making it $28.90. Ditto for car parts which must be an exact correspondence to the part number. Yet when it comes to theology many are content to get things “just about right.” This paper will show the Apostle Paul paid very close attention to theological precision and that moderns would be wise to follow that example.

The Judaizers:

In the Apostle Paul’s day there was a group called the Judaizers who got many things right. They believed in the value of the law, the resurrection from the dead, the need for faith in Christ, that Jesus was the Messiah and that he was divine. On the surface they were as orthodox as they come. Yet, Paul had a dispute with them. It would be easy to charge Paul with being an obscurantist, a dogmatist, someone looking for a theological quarrel, and someone who was being divisive in the Body of Christ.

So what was the problem?

In his book Christianity and Liberalism Gresham Machen analyzed the theology of the Judaizers and suggested that for all their so-called orthodoxy there was something amiss in their logic of salvation. Machen showed that both Paul and the Judaizers had the same elements in what constitutes salvation, but that the application of the order of them was radically different. In his words:

Paul said that a man:

(1) first receives faith in Christ,

(2) then is justified before God,

(3) then immediately proceeds to keep God’s law.


The Judaizers said that a man:

(1) first receives faith in Christ,

(2) then keeps the law of God the best he can, and then

(3) is justified…[ii].

The consequence of what seems like a seemingly insignificant error, would lead Paul to deliver some of his strongest words to any party in his writings, namely that they should be cursed or eternally condemned [Gk.anáthema ] (Galatians 1:9).


Christ + something= nothing

At stake was the fact that the Judaizers said in effect, Christ’s work needs something else to constitute full salvation, and in their case it was circumcision. For Paul it was a working out of the adage, “addition to the work of Christ is the greatest subtraction of all” or “Christ plus something equals nothing.” Yet they pontificated that they were perfecting what Paul had started.

Machen added his observation about this activity what he called “piecing out the work of Christ”, that is to say, adding piecemeal or a bit at a time, something to the finished work of Christ: “…Such an attempt to piece out the work of Christ by our own merit, Paul saw clearly, is the very essence of unbelief; Christ will do everything or nothing, and the only hope is to throw ourselves unreservedly on His mercy and trust Him for all.” (emphasis mine)[iii]

The need for theological discernment

Paul’s thinking exemplified the fact that the line between truth and error is very small. Both Charles Spurgeon and John Murray have demonstrated that this distinction calls for spiritual discernment. Respectively they said “Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between what is right and wrong; rather, it is the difference between right and almost right” and “the difference between truth and error is not a chasm but a razor’s edge.”

In addition, very likely the Judaizers were congenial, looked upon as upstanding models of orthodoxy in their communities, and could claim tradition as their ally. In modern day terms they might be the radical contextualizers of the day who advocate “staying inside of Islam” just as the Judaizers advocated “living out the gospel” within Judaism. It seems rather ironic, however that one of the proponents of this “staying inside of Islam,” namely, Ralph Winter, would assert in a rather anachronistic way:

“Well, everywhere Paul went “Judaizers” followed him and tried to destroy the Insider Movement he had established.”[iv]

Yet Paul saw through the Judaizer facade and sharply pointed out four areas of contention. They were:

a. Incredulity. At root Christ’s finished work was insufficient in their minds and they could not bring themselves to believe it was good enough or that the Gospel was intrinsically powerful enough to thoroughly save. Recall in Acts 15:1 they said, “Unless you are circumcised … you cannot be saved”

b. Self-justification. Since something needed to be added, the works of the law were close to their background and they seized on them. It is as Roy Ortlund observed about the human condition as a whole: “self-justification is the deepest impulse in the fallen human heart.”

c. People pleasing. A tangible demonstration of their piety through the law or imposing that on others would bring accolades from their religious friends, Christian or otherwise (Gal 6:12).

d. Persecution avoidance. The foolishness of the cross of Christ in the eyes of the local context was something to be avoided by the Judaizers (Gal 6:12). Better to appear respectable.

Modern day Judaizers

Consider the following statements:

1. “I am a fully surrendered Christian and I follow Jesus to the uttermost” or “you must be a fully surrendered Christian and follow Jesus…”

2. “I am an incarnation of Christ in this mission field” or “you must be incarnational…”

3. “I love Muslims just like Christ” or “you must love Muslims just like Christ would.”

4. “I am a great missionary because I have contextualized myself just like Christ did” or “if you want to be a great missionary you must….”

5. “In talking with Muslims about Jesus, we must learn what we call “receptor-oriented communication.”

At first blush these sound very convincing. But are we hearing some echoes from the past?

The Judaizers would have said:

“I am keeping the law to the very best of my ability.” “I am as pious as one can be”

“I am the model of righteous living in my community.” “I ….I….I…” Then they would project this on to others and deliver a “you must …” or “unless you…” set of rules to be followed. If they lived today they would use the more politically correct “we must” to soften the edges somewhat [see number 5 above].

In each system, the focus has shifted from accolades to Christ, to Him living and moving through someone by the power of the Holy Spirit to subtly drawing the attention to one’s piety through rule keeping and to imposing this on others as well.

The antidote to the Judaizers

Paul knew that he shared with every human, the tendency to boast in his own abilities and his own “results.” Thus he preached to himself: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ” (Galatians 6:14).

He also knew that he would have to call out the Judaizers for promoting what he determined was “really no gospel at all” (Gal. 1:6) and risk the fact that he would be charged with trying to “win approval” (Gal 1:10) for himself while exposing their dark side.

Paul labels the trajectory of their actions as “enslaving” as they are “turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world” (Gal. 4:9). That is to say, although they had been given complete freedom in Christ, they were looking in the rear-view mirror with some adulation for what had been rendered of no real consequence by the cross. The wording is strong and communicates the message that what you are yearning for is impotent, and will only serve to enslave you. Little wonder he had called them “foolish Galatians” (3:1) earlier on.

The so-called zeal of the Judaizers is misguided and Paul correctly observes that it carries an undercurrent of drawing the Galatian audience away from commitment to the true Gospel and by default its messenger Paul (4:17). That it to say, for all its superficial commitments, this zeal is actually divisive at the core as it is ultimately self-serving for the Judaizers whose motivation as Paul saw it was simply to “boast about your flesh” (6:13). With something of a knock-out blow, Paul then suggests that if the Judaizers would truly be zealous, let them go all the way and instead of circumcision, let them “emasculate themselves” (5:12).

Finally, Paul puts the Judaizing campaign in perspective by suggesting that what really counts is a “new creation” (6:15). That is to say, only a supernatural intervention by God in Christ can count for anything and Judaizing religion is only cosmetic.


Summary:

“The gift of spiritual discernment", is one of the most needed spiritual gifts in this day and age. When “almost right” is subtly pushed as the new gospel of respect and tolerance, it is actually “completely wrong.” Paul risked his reputation to call out the anti-Gospel campaign of the Judaizers with all their semblances of orthodoxy, and the clarion call at this time is for those who like Spurgeon see the difference between “right and almost right” to declare it boldly. For in the final analysis, the question “by whose power and for whose glory?” must be asked of every Judaizer whether modern or ancient, and any tendency to accomplish or add to salvation by human power will always draw glory to itself, instead of to the cross of Christ must be exposed for what it is.

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It's a fine line...it is a very fine line between this falsehood and the Truth. Judaizers want you to believe that you must be perform the works of law and Sabbath keeping to be justified before God. This is not the Gospel!! We are justified to God by Christ and Him only! It's only having Christ in us that we are able to do good works, as we rest in Him and yoke ourselves to Him and He does the work. This seems so obvious and simple to understand, yet still so many are being deceived, and woe to those that add to this deception.

It really helps to understand that the Old Covenant was between God and man, thus required man to perform rituals and keep special days etc. But, the New Covenant is between God and Jesus and requires no works of man whatsoever other than surrender, and belief in Jesus and what He did for us, and worship in Spirit and in Truth. Jesus is Truth and Jesus is Spirit via the Holy Spirit.

If we are truly in Christ and rest in Him everyday we no longer need a special day set aside for our rest, other than physical rest. The New Covenant Sabbath is Spiritual and we find complete rest only in our Lord and Savior.

As to the Saturday/Sunday debate, this has been twisted way out of proportion with all manner of different opinions. Worshiping on Sunday is more about the eighth day than the 1st day, as the eighth day being the symbol of a new creation and a New Covenant. But that is another study.

Jesus is our Sabbath rest, and all those that have the luxury of not having to work on Saturday to support themselves or their families, can enjoy resting on this day. But, for anyone to tell you that if you do not rest on this day, you are not saved, or justified, or not God's elect, do not believe them for they are modern day Judaizers. Pray for them to come to the fullness of the Truth in Christ.

JESUS IS ALL AND EVERYTHING!!

Patti C.

Dear Stacy,

I did not know that Steven posted my study here until I came to reply to your post. So I guess I will just go ahead and post what my reply is and it will be in addition to what has already been discussed. I pray I do not offend you or anyone else, but as Steven says this is a forum and all sides can be discussed.

I just have to address what you are conveying, and I will use your quote below as the springboard of what I have to say.

Quote:

"Another clue… we all seem to be okay with nine out of ten of the commandments because they are basically written on our hearts -- don’t steal, don’t covet, don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, have no other gods before the Most High, etc. But now, let’s talk about the fourth one… “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy”. This is where the problem begins, right?! This is the only commandment that generates a stir! And why is this? Because it requires action and obedience, and in many cases, it requires change! And also, maybe it’s because the Most High specifically stated that the Sabbath would be a sign between God and man for sanctification, and the enemy wants to distort the truth and put his sign on our heads instead!"

end quote


Where in the New Testament does it say that Sabbath keeping is a sign between God and man for sanctification?? Where? It is not part of the New Covenant, so it is not there. The sign becomes spiritual and is the Holy Spirit given a believer by Jesus, that is the sign of sanctification and none other! The seal of God is on our foreheads and on our right hands in what we think and do, just as the mark of the beast is. Totally dependent on which spirit we let guide our lives, the Holy Spirit or the spirit of antichrist.


As to the 4th commandment, it is also the only Commandment that is NOT reinstated in the New Testament under the New Covenant!! This keeping of a day holy actually requires doing works...our doing of works to prepare and make sure we do all the right things. In other words this day is all about man's works or non works!!

If this Sabbath Saturday keeping is so important then I am sure the Lord would make it so that every born again Christian would have Saturday off work so they could keep this special time. Yet, I know many wonderful spirit filled Christians that have to work on Saturdays as that is mandatory for their livelihood. Doctors, nurses, people who take care of the elderly, motels and restaurants, and on and on. Do you not think that the Lord knew what this modern world would be like and how difficult it would be for us to keep this one day of the week to rest?

And, if the Disciples actually kept the Sabbath as holy that would have been passed down and New temples would have been built for that purpose.

And when you state that Jesus fulfilling the Law makes it valid for us to continue to keep it is misunderstanding what is being said. He came to fulfill it, complete every jot and tittle of it and in doing so prove that He is the Messiah, as no man could keep all of the law except this one perfect Son of God. He finished it, now if we believe and rest in Him, we also fulfill the law because He did!!

Think about it what pleases God more?

Believing in the Finished works of what His Son did at the Cross, believing on Him, being born again and Holy Spirit filled and resting in His Son's finished works everyday of the week.

Or-

Keeping an Old Covenant physical law, dependent on our own works in order to prepare and keep all that is necessary to do or not do, that ends up being all about you and your works.

To me there is absolutely no contest!!

Sorry Stacy, I disagree with anyone that is making works mandatory in the guise of resting on a special day. No matter how good and righteous it sounds. Doing so makes it all about man and man's righteousness and that is not holy in any way! There is only one Holy One and that is Jesus Christ! The only way for people to be holy is to be in Christ and He in them!

I do agree about the evil pagan holidays that the world loves, and how this dishonors the Lord. But while on that subject let us think about this. You say Sunday is the day that pagans worship the Sun, and is therefore could not be the Lord's Day. Did not the pagans also steal the Sabbath of the Old Testament in their worship of the planet Saturn! Saturday is Saturn's Day to them, remember Saturnalia was their winter celebration that got turned into Christmas. Therefore, Saturday has been perverted, even more than Sunday!

IT IS NOT ABOUT A DAY!! IT IS ALL ABOUT JESUS!!

I just had to comment on what you wrote as one who loves the Lord with all my heart, soul and mind, and with His help loving my neighbor as myself. I am born again and spirit filled and rest in Christ and His finished works everyday. The only good thing about me is Him. But, I do not keep Old Covenant laws, and see no need or command of my Lord to go backward to them.

It hurts me to see you make this a requirement of Salvation, or Justification, or Sanctification, because it just is not true, and it leads others astray. I had no choice but to speak up on this matter, it means as much to me as what you are saying means so much to you.

In His Love,

JESUS IS ALL AND EVERYTHING!!

Patti C.

Thank you all so much for your comments. I appreciate every single one of them.

Apparently I need to clarify one thing. I did not say even once that anything I can do or observe can save me outside of the blood of Christ. I am saved by grace through my faith in Christ period. I follow the commandments because my Lord tells me to, and I want to obey Him and show my love for Him. Again, Christ did it all; my works are simply a demonstration of my faith.

The statement I made regarding the Most High sanctifying and setting apart His people through their observance of the Sabbath comes from Ezekiel 20:12.

Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know I am The Lord that sanctify them.

My intention was to reiterate that this is a sign between man and God, and it is a sign that sets us apart.

Again, we are not saved by works; Christ is the one and only Savior who finished it all. Our works just prove to the world Who saved us.

All praises to Christ, The Lord!

AMEN AND AMEN!

Well said Stacy. This is what most people do not understand or comprehend about the law. Very well said!

To KEEP His commandments requires a WILLING act of faith in order to DO what He says.

All praises to the Most High Ahayah.

Blessed Be His name

Hi Stacy,

Finally getting a moment to catch up on replying.

Wow! You and Linda sure write and sound alike!! Are you related?

I am not against anyone making a personal choice to keep Saturday as a Sabbath, I just don't understand holding on to the shadow when the real is come. But that is up to you. And, certainly I am not saying if you make that choice you are not a born again Christian or not Holy spirit filled or any thing like that. I explained this already to you. I hope you understand what I am saying.

But one thing I would like an answer to is the question I asked above in regards to this statement you made:
****
And also, maybe it’s because the Most High specifically stated that the Sabbath would be a sign between God and man for sanctification, and the enemy wants to distort the truth and put his sign on our heads instead!"

end quote
****

Where in the New Testament does it say that Sabbath keeping is a sign between God and man for sanctification?? Where?

You gave me a quote from the Old Testament, that is not what I asked for. I would appreciate your answer from the New.

Thanks!!

JESUS IS ALL AND EVERYTHING!!

Patti C.

Hi again Stacy...

As to the sign that sets God's people apart being Sabbath keeping, this must mean that only Jews, who reject Christ, and SDA are the only true elect of God.

This Old Covenant law may have set pagans and God's people apart under the Old Covenant, but is CERTAINLY NOT TRUE under the New!

The Holy Spirit is the seal of God!! Not Sabbath keeping!! Don't lead people astray on this, as that is not a good thing!!

YSIC

Patti C.

Hello again Patty. I think we simply do not understand one another. And this is where I just stand still.

May you be blessed sister.

Stacy

Dear Stacy,

I am sorry that we are misunderstanding each other, I know we have tried our best to make our positions clear. I am guilty of being of being a "pit bull" about this subject, as it something I am passionate about especially when I feel Holy Spirit inspired to keep defending this position. And, honestly I feel it is important for those who come here to see both sides of this issue.

I think being still is the best way to rest in Christ, as we get out of our own way and let Him work through us. Wise words.

I do know we agree about what matters most,beyond debates and discussions. Jesus is our Lord and we love Him deeply, and we want Him to be Lord of our lives so that we can love as He loved.

So let us rejoice in that, and know we both did our best to honor what we are being shown. Who knows how all this might have a positive effect in helping others to want to find out for themselves.

Blessings to you, too!

Patti C.