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NASB | Exodus 20:8 ¶ "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Exodus 20:8 ¶ "Remember the Sabbath (seventh) day to keep it holy (set apart, dedicated to God). |
Subject: Must Christians keep the Sabbath today? |
Bible Note: You are speeding down a highway, exceeding the speed limit by 20 mph. Soon, you are pulled over by a police officer. You plead with him, and he decides to give you another chance. What would you do? Would you rev your engine, and leave the officer in a cloud of dust, and again violate the speed limit law? Or, would you be careful this time to drive within the speed limit? Does being "let off the hook" give you license to violate the speed limit law? Yet, we have broken a higher law - God's law, and the penalty was death. But, the grace of God, infinitely greater than that granted by the police officer has set us free. It is solely by grace that we are saved (Eph 2:8). But, being saved by grace does not give us license to continue breaking God's law, no more than being given a second chance would have given the driver license to break the laws of the road. Paul makes it clear that we are not under law, but under grace (Rom 6:14). As you were pulled over by the police officer for disregarding the speed limit, you were under the law - under its condemnation - and you deserved the penalty. After you were given an undeserving second chance, you were now under grace. We are under the grace of God; therefore, sin shall no longer enslave us (Rom 6:14). Rom 6:15: "What then? SHALL WE CONTINUE IN SIN BECAUSE WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW?" Since 1 John 3:4 defines sin as the breaking of God's law, the apostle was actually asking: "SHALL WE CONTINUE TO BREAK THE LAW, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT UNDER LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE?" His answer: "GOD FORBID." Obedience to God is the theme of verses 16 and 17. Walking as Jesus walked means living a life of total surrender to God; a life of righteousness involves obedience (Rom 6:16). A bride and a groom, because they are so inlove, will do anything to please each other. They would abide by the laws that guard their marriage without giving it a second thought. Love - it's the fountain from which obedience springs. That's why Jesus said: "IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS." A husband who loves His wife would never dishonour the laws that guard their marriage. So those who love Christ will never dishonour God's law. They are not obedient because they are trying to commend themselves to God. They are obedient because they love Him so much, they want to please Him in every way. Obedience is the fruit of love. In Galatians 3, Paul never hints that keeping the law of God is unnecessary. He made the point that one is made righteous, not by keeping the law, but through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus (Gal 2:21). He then explains, in Galatians 3:10: "For all who rely on the on the works of the law are under a curse" (RSV). Rely on the law for what? For righteousness (2:21). We are justified by the grace of Jesus through faith, not by the deeds of the law (Gal 2:16; Rom 3:20; Tit 3:7). But, why? Because the function of the law is to make us conscious of sin (Rom 3:20). Righteousness is by faith (Rom 3:21-30). But FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD (James 2:17). James says: "I will show thee my faith by my works" (2:18). But WHOSO LOOKETH INTO THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY [God's Commandments], AND CONTINUETH THEREIN, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a DOER OF THE WORK, this man shall be BLESSED in his deed (James 1:25). Such a one, God deems a saint (Rev 14:12), and will have right to the tree of life (Rev 22:14). Let's not charge God with being unjust, by stating that it's impossible for us to obey His Commandments. Jesus said: "KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS" (John 14:15). If Jesus commanded us, it is very possible! "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST which srengtheneth me" (Phil 4:13). So, THROUGH CHRIST, I CAN KEEP THE WHOLE LAW, AS GOD REQUIRES (James 2:10-12). Our loving Saviour would never require of us anything that is impossible. With man it is impossible, but not with God; with God ALL things are possible (Matt 19:26). Let us grasp these promises in faith. Jesus' words to the rich young man, "IF THOU WILT ENTER INTO LIFE, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS" are still valid. They are so valid that only those who "do His Commandments" will "have right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gates into the city" (Rev 22:14). I love my mother so much, I cheerfully and willingly help her around the house, never complaining or murmuring about the tasks she asks me to perform. As a matter of fact, it pleases me to please her. But I love God a whole lot more. What He commands, I will cheerfully perform, THROUGH JESUS (I repeat, with greater emphasis, ONLY THROUGH JESUS), my strength. Like Paul, I delight in the law of God (Romans 7:22). Like John, I don't consider His Commandments to be burdensome, but perform them in love (1 John 5:2,3). Let Paul have the final word: "[We are saved solely by faith in Jesus, and not because of works, but] DO WE, THEN, NULLIFY THE LAW BY THIS FAITH? NOT AT ALL! RATHER, WE UPHOLD [or establish] THE LAW" (Rom 3:31). |