There are passages in Paul’s letters to the Galatians, Colossians and Romans that many are certain show that God frowns upon Sabbath keeping as legalism. And we know, don’t we, that God despises those who try to keep His commandments? (And, of course, I am being quite facetious in making that statement). Just a few days before His crucifixion Jesus told a young man, who asked how someone could obtain eternal life, “If you will enter into life, keep the commandments.” When the young man asked, “Which?” the Lord began reciting the Ten Commandments word-for-word. (See Matthew 19:16-22). If Jesus didn’t know how to obtain eternal life, no one on earth has the correct answer!
Folks read into Paul’s writings things he never said. A good example of this is found in Romans 7 where many think Paul described himself as a carnal man, one who never could get a grip on sin in his life, lamenting the fact that he was sold under sin and a virtual enemy of God. How absurd, yet I have listened to several preachers via the Internet wherein they describe Paul in exactly those terms! It doesn’t surprise me that there are a lot of Christians who are woefully ignorant of the scriptures and that includes their pastors. That’s why there are dozens and dozens of differing denominations widely separated in what they believe and teach. Millions are as confused as to what Paul is saying in Colossians 2 as they are confused as to what he is actually saying in Romans 7.
Paul gives us excellent insight as to how he viewed the Sabbath in his letter to the Romans when he wrote, “Know ye not, brethren, for I speak to them that know the law, how that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives” (Romans 7:1). And in verse 7 he identifies for us the law he is speaking of by quoting a portion of that law, “Thou shalt not covet!” Note well, Paul says the Ten Commandments have dominion over a man as long as he lives! If you are still alive, God commands that you keep His sacred Ten Commandments, whoever you are – man, woman, Gentile, Jew, black or white. “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man (the hidden man of the heart)” (verse 22). The apostle Paul was obeying the Lord in his delighting in the law as He knew God had said, “Call the sabbath a delight, the holy (day) of the Lord, honorable, and shalt honor Him” (See Isaiah 58:13).
“Do we then make void the law through faith? GOD FORBID ,yea, we establish the law” (Romans 3:31). Faith in Jesus Christ does not abolish the Ten Commandments. How absurd. The law of God is then established in our hearts. “Through breaking the law you do dishonor God!” (See Romans 2:23). “A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28). That tells us HOW we are justified. “For not the hearers of the law are justified, BUT THE DOERS OF THE LAW SHALL BE JUSTIFIED” (Romans 2:13). That tells us WHO is justified. God will not justify someone who continues to break the Ten Commandments. He just won’t do it.
“The works of his (God’s) hands are verity (truth) and judgment. ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE SURE. THEY STAND FAST FOR EVER AND EVER” (Psalm 111:7-8). Note well, ALL God’s commandments are sure and stand fast forever and ever, including the sabbath commandment! God actually carved the Ten Commandments in stone with His own hands! (Exodus 32:16). The apostle Paul believed that with all his heart. (See Acts 24:14).
How is a Christian to follow our Lord’s COMMAND to “live by EVERY WORD that proceeds out of the mouth of God” if that Christian remains woefully ignorant of that Word most of his, or her, life??? God doesn’t expect everyone to have a Bible, or even the ability to read, but He DOES expect and demand that His earthly representatives be good stewards of that Word, that they know how to read and know what God’s Word says and teaches so as to instruct those in their charge as to the true doctrines of Jesus Christ and the church. For over fifty years Satan has tried again and again to convince me God abolished His holy Sabbath, replacing it with Sunday observance – the day honoring the Sun god. Satan has failed at every turn for when one knows the truth, the truth then makes them free from all such error Those who fail in this regard will give account to Jesus Christ someday and I am sure many of them will wish they had maintained a truly open mind and actually PROVEN as true every doctrine they had embraced and shared with others. There will be a lot of Christians who will deeply regret having given so little contemplation to God’s Word. God help you to understand.
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley