Bible Discussion Thread

Hello my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus!

I had a thought... maybe a clarification is needed. The bible talks about how God took six days to create everything and rested on the seventh. I understand that man should keep the sabbath day holy, but what is considered work? Cleaning? Cooking? Are doing those on the sabbath considered not keeping it holy?

John 5:17 - "But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work."

Wesley's Notes for John 5:17

5:17 My Father worketh until now, and I work - From the creation till now he hath been working without intermission. I do likewise. This is the proposition which is explained # John 5:19 |- 30, confirmed and vindicated in # John 5:31 and following verses|.

Greeting's

Matthew 15:3

"But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?"

Matthew 5:19

"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

1 John 2:27

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."

Blessings

Greeting's

Exodus 20:8

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."

Exodus 20:9

"Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:"

Exodus 20:10

"But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:"

John 14:21

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

1 John 2:4

"He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

Blessings

Yes we must be a doer not a hearer only deceiving our selves . Like James said faith without works abides alone. Doing the word results in Holiness and spiritual blessings and abiding in Christ . But we need him to do it , for without him we can do nothing! A hard lesson for many to learn . Seeking the truth is the right path

John 8:31

"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;"

John 8:32

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Blessings

Amen ! Seek the truth ! I was reading in Amos God said a number of times Seek me and you shall live , that was to sinning Israel .

Amen.

Matthew 7:15

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

Matthew 7:13

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:"

Matthew 7:14

"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

Blessings

Jesus said he was Lord of the Sabbath, and the book Hebrews says Jesus Christ the same yesterday today and forever Therefore Jesus is still the Lord of the Sabbath and forever will be . And Jesus is the head of the church ! So learn how to put them together because they cant be separated because Jesus is the same for ever . Thanks for your consideration

Hello Sarahirena and thanks for your question. I'm unsure whether your question on the keeping of the Sabbath Day is simply for understanding what Israel was required by God to do on that day, or whether, you are wanting to observe that day yourself and enquiring about what was permissible. So, I'll assume the first, and give you some Scriptures for you to read on the subject.

Exodus 34:21 (no work in the fields); Jeremiah 17:21,22; Amos 8:4,5 (not carrying any load and doing business); Exodus 16:28-30 (not to leave the precincts of the home); Exodus 35:2,3 (light no fires/no cooking); Numbers 15:32-36 (no gathering of firewood). These are some of the restrictions placed on the children of Israel; if they disobeyed, as the man gathering sticks did, it meant death. Very harsh punishment, but that was what the Law demanded, requiring strict obedience to God.

And when the Jewish leaders (the Pharisees and Saducees) came on the scene during the second temple period (i.e. after the Persian king Cyrus began to release the Jewish captives back to their homeland & helped in the building of this temple), these 'new' religious leaders began to add many laws & regulations to the existing Laws given by God to Israel. And it was these leaders that accused Jesus and His disciples for picking and eating corn from the fields on the Sabbath Day (which was not lawful to do). But Jesus explained ( Mark 2:23-28), that the Sabbath day was given for man's benefit and not the other way around. So, if you are hungry, then you are entitled to 'work' by picking or purchasing food to satisfy your need, even though the Letter of the Law prohibited it.

So the Sabbath Day (with the other 9 commands, plus many others) were given to Israel so they might have a day of rest from their hard labors in the field, etc and be refreshed for the next six days work. And this Day was "holy" because it was 'set apart' from the other days. And these commands were for Israel - not given to the Church.

Good evening!

Thank you for that explanation. It makes more sense now. I was asking for my own benefit. I have two small children and I work full time. It seems the only day I can find to deep clean my house is on Sundays.

Suggested reading, Galatians 3-5, but especially the end of three & all of 4, but of course all of it is profitable.

Love, Joy, Peace, Acts 19:2

Thanks for coming back to me Sarahirena. As you wrote, that Sundays are the only day when you can clean your home, then the matter of working on the Sabbath does not apply as the Sabbath is the seventh day of the week and Sunday is the first day of the week. The Jewish Saturday never became the Christian Sunday.

By all means, do whatever is necessary for you to do on the Sunday, since that is the only day you have off, but I would urge you to lay time aside to attend your Church Fellowship and the reading of God's Word. I know it's not easy with two kids plus working full-time, but the Lord will make a way for this to happen when you put Him first. As you would never neglect your children and giving them a clean home to live in, so you should find the time also for the Lord and prayer, even in those quiet hours when the children are asleep. May the Lord guide you and help you in this matter.

Greetings Chris,

I understand. I wake up early to have a conversation with God before I get everyone up. I talk to him as I get ready for work in the mornings. I find it is easier to have a conversation with him when I am the only one up or around. Im not as distracted that way.

I don't have many people I can go to for advice on this or even talk to for that matter. It is hard to share my thoughts or actions to people whom do not believe as I do. I have a co worker at work that I consider a friend, but her beliefs are a stark contrast to mine. Most of her beliefs contradict mine. No judgements toward her, I just believe differently. I suppose I am more old school. I was raised in a holiness church. Thats what alot of my family believe. Although I don't strictly wear skirts or have long hair, I still carry many of (if not all) of the spiritual beliefs. This forum is helpful and I find it refreshing to share my thoughts and questions with people who emphasize God as the main part of their life, as do I.

Hi Sarahirena. Thanks again for sharing more of your life and experiences with us. I understand a little better as you mentioned as being, or have been, connected to a holiness emphasis Church. Though much of what they believe and advocate are true and commendable, the core issue of 'entire sanctification' raises questions, particularly where, through a second work of Grace 'believers are cleansed from the nature of sin'. I won't get into that matter, but I can see where you probably were in a quandary as to how to keep the Lord's Day special and free from earthly concerns and pursuits and still be able to look after your home and children as well as engaging in full-time work.

The way I see it, is that man is very prone to set rules for others to meticulously follow, whereas the Lord sees each heart, their needs, their struggles and accepts us as we are at in our earthly pilgrimage, with our desire to follow Him and please Him with our lives. So maybe you were taught that doing anything that is not concerned with spiritual activities or being of assistance to others on the Lord's Day must be avoided at all costs, and so you're seeking other advice. And yes, on a Site as this, you can gain both knowledge and fellowship around God's Word, hearing and appreciating different people's understanding of biblical teaching. I hope you are able to attend a good Bible-believing Fellowship, so believers there can share in your life (and you in theirs), and be of help and counsel as needed.

May the Lord reveal more of Himself and His Will for you as you spend that quality time with Him & His Word, guiding you in respect to home, the children and your work commitments. Every blessing.

Tell me ,does God need rest?

And is it not written that " we are to rest from our works as God did from His"

Which puts things on a completely different level .

In another place Jesus pointed out that the priests broke the sabbath in the temple but were guiltless .

Is it not written that in Christ " we are made kings and priests unto God"?

It is also written that "if one man esteems one day holy unto the Lord and another esteems all days alike let each be fully persuaded in their own minds " and by implication be at peace with God and with each other .

Anything else is but the flesh striving .

Thank you for your reply!