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Should Christians be observing Sabbath, or any other High Holy Day or Festival given to the Jews in the Old Covenant?
After all, there are Scriptures like Exodus 12:24 which state:
“Obey these instructions as a LASTING ordinance for you and your descendants”
If God does not change, then New Covenant Christians should be able to find the answer in the New Covenant as to whether or not Born Again Believers are to be observing any Old Covenant Laws, Holy Days, the Sabbath, or the 10 Commandments.
This is what this Post will do.
I have put together every single New Testament Scripture I could find which teaches the New Covenant Born Again Believer about the position or authority of the Old Covenant now that there is a New Covenant in place, because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
The New Covenant Scriptures will walk us through the following:
1 — What Happened To The Law At The Cross Of Christ
2 — Since The Law Is Fulfilled In Christ, Paul Says We Are Therefore Free From the Law (and therefore the 10 Commandments)
3 — Is The Law Therefore Bad?
4 — If Paul States That The Law Is Actually Holy or Good, Is It Therefore Beneficial For Believers To Still Observe Some Or All Of The Law In Order To Make Sure We Are Living Holy Lives For God?
5 — What Then, Was The Purpose Of The Law?
6 — What Are The Actual Commandments For The New Covenant Believer?
7 — Conclusion (As Explained In Galatians)
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Written by: LeeAnn Bell
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# 1 — What Happened To The Law At The Cross Of Christ?
Christ Abolished The Law
Ephesians 2:14-15 — For He Himself is our peace, Who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by ABOLISHING in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations {NIV}
Ephesians 2:14-15 – having ABOLISHED in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances {NKJV}
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Christ Is The End Of The Law
Romans 10:4 — Christ is the END OF THE LAW so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes {NIV}
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The Law Is Wiped Out
Colossians 2:14 — He forgave us all our sins, having CANCELED the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He TOOK IT AWAY, nailing it to the cross {NIV}
Colossians 2:14 — having WIPED out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has TAKEN IT OUT OF THE WAY, having nailed it to the cross {NKJV}
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Jesus Christ Fulfilled the Law and Gave us His Righteousness
Romans 8:3 — He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be FULLY MET IN US, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit {NIV}
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The Old Covenant is Removed and Set Aside by Christ
Hebrews 10:9 — Then He said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He SETS ASIDE the first to establish the second {NIV}
Hebrews 10:9 — He TAKES AWAY the first that He may establish the second {NKJV}
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The Law Was Set Aside and Annulled
Hebrews 7:18 — The former regulation is SET ASIDE because it was weak and useless, for the law made nothing perfect, and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God {NIV}
Hebrews 7:18 — there is an ANNULLING of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect {NKJV}
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The New Covenant is Better than the Old Covenant
Hebrews 7:22 — Because of the oath of (Melchizedek) Jesus has become the guarantee of a BETTER COVENANT {NIV}
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The New Covenant is Better and More Superior to the Old Covenant, and has Replaced the Old Covenant and Made the Old Covenant Obsolete
Hebrews 8:6 — But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which He is mediator is SUPERIOR TO THE OLD one, and it is FOUNDED on BETTER PROMISES. For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another … By calling this covenant “new”, He has made the first one OBSOLETE; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear {NIV & NKJV}
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Galatians 2:19 — I DIED TO THE LAW So that I might live for God {NIV}
Galatians 3:23 — Now that faith has come, we are NO LONGER UNDER the supervision of the law {NIV}
Galatians 4:9 — But now that you know God — or rather are known by God — how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? DO YOU WISH TO BE ENSLAVED BY THEM ALL OVER AGAIN? {NIV}
Galatians 5:18 – But if you are led by the Spirit, you are NOT UNDER THE LAW {NIV & NKJV}
Romans 6:6-18 — For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin — because anyone who has died has been freed from sin … For sin shall not be your master, because you are NOT UNDER THE LAW, but under grace
{NIV}
Romans 6:6-18 – Sin will not rule over you, because you are NOT UNDER LAW {HCSB}
Romans 7:4 – So, my brothers, you also DIED TO THE LAW through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him Who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God {NIV}
Romans 7:4 – Therefore, my brethren, you also have become DEAD TO THE LAW {NKJV}
Romans 7:6 – But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been RELEASED FROM THE LAW so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code {NIV}
Romans 7:6 – But now we HAVE BEEN DELIVERED from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter {NKJV}
Romans 8:4-9 – And so He condemned sin in sinful man (by sending Him to the cross) in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be FULLY MET IN US, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit {NIV}
1 Timothy 1:8-9 – We also know that the LAW IS MADE NOT FOR THE RIGHTEOUS but the lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious {NIV} … Remember: WE ARE “the righteous” in Christ Jesus, therefore the Law is NOT for us any longer!
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# 3 — Is the Law Therefore Bad?
Romans 7:5, 7-8 — For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies … What shall we say, then? IS THE LAW SIN? CERTAINLY NOT! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead … So then, THE LAW IS HOLY, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful {NIV}
Romans 7:14-18 — We know that the LAW IS SPIRITUAL; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin … And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in my sinful nature {NIV}
Romans 8:4-9 — For what the law was POWERLESS to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering {NIV}
NOTE: The above Scriptures teach that the Law is good and holy, however, it is weak and powerless to accomplish its righteous goal in sinful flesh.
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Galatians 3:10 — All who rely on observing the law are UNDER A CURSE, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” {NIV}
Galatians 4:9 — But now that you know God — or rather are known by God — how is it that you are TURNING BACK TO THOSE WEAK AND MISERABLE principles? Do you wish to be ENSLAVED by them all over again? {NIV}
Galatians 2:21 — … for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ DIED FOR NOTHING! {NIV}
Colossians 2:16-19 — 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. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; THE REALITY, HOWEVER, IS FOUND IN CHRIST. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility … DISQUALIFY YOU for the prize. Such a person … has LOST CONNECTION WITH THE HEAD, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow … Such regulations indeed HAVE AN APPEARANCE OF WISDOM, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in (actually) restraining sensual indulgence {NIV}
Romans 4:15 — because LAW BRINGS WRATH {NIV}
Galatians 4:21, 30-31 — Tell me YOU WHO WANT TO BE UNDER THE LAW, are you not aware of what the law says? … “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” {NIV}
Galatians 5:1-4 — It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us free … DO NOT LET YOURSELVES be burdened again by a YOKE OF SLAVERY … if you let yourselves be circumcised (or let yourself be compelled to observe the Sabbath or refrain from pork, etc) CHRIST WILL BE OF NO VALUE TO YOU AT ALL … You who are trying to be justified by law have been ALIENATED FROM CHRIST; you have FALLEN AWAY FROM GRACE. {NIV}
Special Note regarding Colossians 2:16-19:
The Laws and Holy Days which God stated were to be remembered or “kept” forever { ie: in Exodus 12:24, Exodus 31:17, Deut. 28:46, Leviticus 24:1-9, and the Ten Commandments as seen in Exodus 20} ARE FULLY met and KEPT in Christ Jesus, for Jesus IS our Sabbath, Jesus IS our Jubilee, Jesus IS our Passover, etc.
Therefore, we ARE observing and keeping all the Law forever, through the Spirit, when we are Born-Again INTO Christ Jesus (Hebrews 4:9-10).
He IS the fulfillment of the entire Law, and that entire Law is now FULLY met in us (Romans 8:3) because we are IN Christ Jesus and the Holy Days, and other Laws, are NOT to be kept in the flesh.
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#5 — What Then, Was The Purpose Of The Law?
Galatians 3:23 — Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the LAW WAS PUT IN CHARGE TO LEAD US TO CHRIST that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE SUPERVISION of the law {NIV}
Galatians 3:23 — Therefore the LAW WAS OUR TUTOR to bring us to Christ … But after faith has come, WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER A TUTOR {NKJV}
Romans 3:20 — Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather, THROUGH THE LAW WE BECOME CONSCIOUS OF SIN {NIV}
Romans 7:7-13 — What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOW WHAT SIN WAS EXCEPT THROUGH THE LAW. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead … But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful {NIV}
Note: The Law, therefore, was to teach us what sin actually is, to show us our sinfulness, and to lead us to Christ — or show us our need of a Savior.
Colossians 2:16-19 — 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. These are a SHADOW OF THE THINGS THAT WERE TO COME; the reality, however, is found in Christ {NIV}
Note: This Scripture shows us that the Law’s Festivals and Holy Days which were a commandment to keep, were just a foretelling/foreshadowing of the true “Sabbath”, true “Day of Atonement”, true “Pentecost”, true “Passover” or even true “Jubiliee” — all of which are met/kept/found in Christ.
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# 6 — What Are The Actual Commandments For The New Covenant Believer?
John 13:34 — A NEW command I give you: LOVE one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another {NIV}
1 John 3:23 — This is My commandment, that you LOVE one another as I have loved you {NKJV}
John 15:17 — And this is His command: to BELIEVE in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to LOVE one another as He commanded us {NIV}
Galatians 5:14 — The entire law is summed up in a single command: “LOVE your neighbor as yourself.” {NIV}
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Conclusion
{as explained in Galatians}
– The Apostle Paul was astonished by the Galatians who were turning from grace and freedom, back to the Law (Galatians 1:6)
– Paul was persecuted by the Jews for preaching freedom from the Law (Galatians 1:10)
– Those who traveled with Paul were not compelled to obey any parts of the Law or its rules or regulations (Galatians 2:3)
– Paul continued to preach to Jewish Believers that all are now free from the rules of the Law (Galatians 2:5)
– Paul opposed Peter “to his face” because Peter was intimidated by Jewish Believers to be separate from Gentiles and keep Jewish law and traditions (Galatians 2:11-14) which Paul says is “contrary” and “not in line with the Truth of the Gospel” (Galatians 2:14)
– Paul goes on to say that Gentiles should not be compelled to follow Jewish customs / the Law (Galatians 2:14-16)
– Paul states if any righteousness could be attained through observing any part of the Law, then Christ died in vain (Galatians 2:21)
– Paul calls obeying any part of the Law as departing from Christ (Galatians 3:1-3)
– Paul says “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13)
– Paul calls the Law “weak and miserable principles” which will enslave us if we turn back to following them (Galatians 4:11)
– Paul teaches that returning to the Law after being born again, means enslaving yourself to the entire Old Law and Covenant (Galatians 4:8-11, 21-30)
– Paul then states that it was for Freedom that Christ set us free, and that we should not go back to observing or feeling compelled to observe the Law any longer (Galatians 5:1-4)
– Again, Paul reminds us that he was persecuted for preaching freedom from the Law (Galatians 5:11) and says that whoever preaches that Believers should be observing any part of the Law is actually throwing Believers into confusion (Galatians 5:7-10), that this teaching isn’t from Christ, and that teaching that we still need to observe any part of the Law is actually “keeping” us from the Truth (Galatians 5:8)
Paul concludes his letter to the Galatian Gentile church with the statement that:
Circumcision or un-circumcision doesn’t mean a thing.
Therefore, keeping a Sabbath or not keeping a Sabbath does not mean a thing or eating pork or not eating pork does not mean a thing.
All that matters is “a new creation” (Galatians 6:15) and walking in or living by “the Spirit”:
Galatians 5:16-25 — So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature …. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law … the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. {NIV}
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“Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule”
{Galatians 6:16}
Amen.
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