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.