Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!psuvax1!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: hudson@athena.cs.uga.edu (Paul Hudson Jr) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: the Sabbath Message-ID: Date: 13 May 91 08:19:01 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Georgia, Athens Lines: 36 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu The Old Testament Sabbath, though part of the Ten Commandemnts is part of the Law. Although God kept the first Sabbath, he did not command it before the Law, as he commanded things to Noah (which are reflected in the letter of the council at Jerusalem to the Gentiles.) And the Sabbath is not given as a commandment to the Gentiles in the New Testament, as most of the other Ten Commandments are. Rather, we Gentiles are told that we do not have to keep the Sabbaths. Paul writes in Collosions how that the curse of the law was removed with the handwriting of the old ordinances being nailed to the cross. Paul wrote, "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. (Collosions 2:16-17.) Notice that the Sabbath is specifically refered to. There were many sabbaths, but the primary meaning for the word was the seventh day of the week. If Paul wanted the Gentiles to keep the day, I am sure that he would have included this in his writings. Paul would have been teaching false doctrine if it were wrong not to keep the sabbath. Romans 14:5 and 6 tell me that I can choose wether to keep any day above another as my conscience leads me, 5 "One man esteemeth one day above another. Another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." Every day includes from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. I am fully persuaded that I do not see one dya as holier than another, or do not need to treat any day any different from any other. But, of course, people are free to keep the Sabbath as they so choose. It is built into ROmans 14:5, adn I suppose you could see it in Collosions if you tried. The Jews were zealous adherants of the Law, and they kep the Sabbath, I am sure. They were the first Christians who preached the Gospel that spread into the whole world. In light of these New Testament Scriptures, can you explain to me why I as a Christian, and a Gentile at that, should keep this particular facet of the law of Moses?