davidbu@tekigm2.men.tek.com (David Buxton) (10/13/89)
In response to s.r.c. post by Patrick Gaughan.
Even though the Bible, both OT and NT, is clear that the Sabbath dates back
to Creation Week; it is not 'absolutely' clear what was the precise version
of Abraham's understanding of God's law. Read carefully the story of the
Manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16). This story pre-dates the Mt. Sinaii
story. God was clearly displeased with those who went out to see if they
could collect this food on the Sabbath day. "How long refuse ye to keep my
commandments and my laws" (Ex:16:28) God was trying to re-instate His
Sabbath and there were those who had decided that any day would do. Even
though we do not know the exact wording of the law that Abraham knew it
should be reasonably obvious that the Sabbath was a part of the law for
Abraham and the other Patriarchs pre-dating Mt. Sinaii.
In Matthew 24 Jesus says - Pray that you don't have to flee in the winter
or on the Sabbath. Clearly Jesus knew that the Sabbath was not to be done
away with at His death. Or do we claim to know something that He did not
know? If any day will do then why did Jesus say what He did?
Regarding - 2 Cor. 3:7,8 - The context here in chapter 3 is that Paul is
talking about the law written upon the heart vs the law written upon stone.
In both cases the same Decalogue. Paul is not talking about the Mosaic vs
Decalogue, as he does elsewhere. He is talking about how we should keep
the law. I find the context to be quite clear. I do not see that Paul has
a problem with the Decalogue; but rather the law on stone vs the law placed
upon the heart; the keeping of the law spiritually vs legalistically. Paul
has made it clear that a legalistic, 'heart of stone', keeping of the law
is a ministration of death. The 'heart of flesh' keeping of the law is
what is spiritual and is what saves.
Only 9 of the 10 of the Decalog repeated in the NT - I fail to understand
this one. The NT is full of Sabbath keeping. Jesus life offers many
examples of how to keep the Sabbath God's way instead of man's way. Jesus
clearly angered the Pharisees by breaking their Mishna. At the same time
He did indeed keep the Sabbath of God. The Pharisees declared Jesus to be
a law breaker. By their yard stick He certainly did NOT live a perfect
life. At the same time Jesus certainly did keep the Sabbath God's way.
His life was a perfect keeping of God's law. Let His life be our example.
Let me quickly tell a story that I believe illustrates a spiritual, 'heart
of flesh' keeping of the 4th commandment. A medic by the name of Desmond
Doss in the context of WW-II. He refuses to go on practice maneuvers on
his Sabbath and gets into a lot of trouble. They go into battle a number
of times. Then comes a battle on the Sabbath day. He knows there will be
wounded in need of his help and he willingly goes. The men climb a cliff
and charge forward and quickly get mowed down by enemy gunfire. Desmond is
the only one with the courage to clamb up and work to rescue them. He is
now out in the open among his wounded companions. In order to let each man
down he must stand up at the edge of the cliff and let them down on a rope.
Bullets are flying past his ears. . . . . Congressional Medal of Honor
presented by the President of the United States on the White House lawn.
Regarding - "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: Which
are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ" (Col. 2:16,17).
This text is clearly dealing with festivals including the annual Sabbath
days of the ceremonial law. Refer to my s.r.c. post on the "The Law that
Was Blotted Out". If you missed it I'd be glad to email it to you.
I subscribe to God's Law and not to any old or new Mishna that man might
wish to invent.
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8-) (-8 Dave (David E. Buxton)
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.-. davidbu@tekigm2.MEN.TEK.COM
. . Smile! Its a beutiful day!
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