Sabbath - To be kept or not (Part 1)
Its friday night, and its the beginning of weekly sabbath. I have just came back from a prayer meeting in church.
Keeping the sabbath has been a heavily debated discussion between the Sabbath keepers and Sunday Worshipers. Generally, what I observed is that, the Sabbath keepers tend to judge the Sunday Worshipers as heretic, unsaved, lost or even demonic.
One of the bible verses that is always being discussed is
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. (NIV)
For most Sunday Worshipers, the sabbath in Colossians 2:16 refers to weekly Sabbath. While the Sabbath keepers refers it to the High Sabbath in the feasts and moon seasons.
Lets read from Colossians 2:14-17. This time from KJV
Verse 14, Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Verse 15, And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it;
Verse 16, Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days;
Verse 17, Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ
These former things were the rudimentary forms of religion with no power for the New Testament believer. They can actually cut one off from grace if they make it obligatory. Paul did not want the new covenant believer to become entangled in bondage again by their keeping these as an obligation, as law. He goes on to explain Christ is the "Substance," these things he mentions were shadows, including the SABBATH. We have Christ so these things are not needed for any spiritual growth or development.
What was nailed to the cross? Was it just the ceremonial Laws or all of the Laws? Was there a distinction between moral laws and ceremonial laws? No, all Laws was nailed unto the cross, including Sabbaths
Christ said it is finished, the New Covenant was made, cancelling out the debt of the law, both the law of Moses including the 10 commandments, the penalty of our sins was paid in full by his perfect sacrifice. Col.2:17 they are a shadow of things to come. Christ came, He is the substance, the law was the pattern, Christ is the reality. All the law, the patterns and shadows pointed to the person, Which is Christ himself
