Sunday vs Saturday Worship

Mark 2:23-28

23  And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.24  And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?25  And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? 26  How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the hewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? 27  And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28  Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Colossians 2:16-17   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: 17  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Colossians 2:16-17   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: 17  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Let us begin by looking at the Sabbath in the old testament. It was more than just a special day. It also pointed forward to a future rest, the rest of redemption yet to come. The Sabbath was also a reminder not only of rest after six days of creation, but also the fact that God had delivered His people from Egypt. In Exodus 20:8-11 God told His people to keep the Sabbath because He rested. You will notice NO work of any kind was to be done, not even preparing of meals. This was given to the children of Israel before they entered the promise land.

In Deuteronomy 5:15 we see a change added. In verse 15 the Sabbath now becomes a reminder of their deliverance from Egypt. You will remember while they were in Egypt; God came and slew all the first born of Egypt. Only those who had the blood on the door post would be spared the loss of the first born. This was the foretelling of  the deliverance God would provide when the sacrificial Lamb’s (Jesus Christ) blood would purchase (redeem) us to Him. Hebrews 10:1-10 explains this very well. The blood sacrifices under the Law could not redeem. They could not make one perfect. They were a reminder man’s sinfulness and man’s inability to save himself. God prepare a body (Jesus’) to be the once for all sacrifice. The laws and the sacrifices under the law were replaced by the perfect sin offering.

Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

Isaiah 53:4-5; 11-12   Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.12  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

We see even in the Old Testament the promise of the once for all redeemer ould come. In Romans 8:3-4 we see:

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

While the Children of Israel were in captivity, the “promised” land was enjoying 70 years of rest (Sabbaths).

II Chronicles 36:21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.

When the children of Israel took Jericho, they marched around the city for 7 days, once each day the first six but seven times on day 7. What a picture of them entering the promise land, their land of rest, after 70 years of captivity and 40 years of aimlessly wondering about in the wilderness. The old covenant (testament) was all about looking forward to the coming promised redeemer,

John 4:25-26 – The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. Jesus was the promise that was to come.

Jesus fulfilled the Law on the cross, once and for all paying the price for all sin. He declared redemption work finished. John 19:30 –“…It is finished…” We now see the finished product. Our redemption has been secured by the resurrection. The resurrection is as vital to mankind as the creation was. In the beginning God is paramount to everything else. This new “rest” redemption preceded even creation.

I Peter 1:18-20. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

This plan, the prefect plan, was put in place “before” the foundation of this world was laid. God knew the law would not suffice. He knew a perfect plan had to be instituted.

After the resurrection we see a change from the believers, followers of Jesus. They begin meeting on the first day of the week. Jesus met with them as well on the first day of the week as they gathered. We no longer see them gathering on the seventh day, but on the first. Let us examine the evidence.

  1. The resurrection was on the first day of the week –
    Matthew 28:1
  2. Jesus appeared to others on the first day of the week.
    John 20:20, Luke 24:13
    3 Jesus met on the first day of the week with the disciples as they were gathered together.
  3. The Holy Spirit was given 50 days after the Sabbath of the
    Jewish Passover. That would be on the first day of the week. Again, the followers of Jesus were together on the first day of
    week
  4. In Acts 20:7 the believers were together in worship on the first day of the week, not the seventh, but on the first. Paul preached to them This was the day, after the resurrection, that the church came together.
  5. In I Corinthians 16:1-2 Paul encourages them to bring their offerings on the first day of the week. Throughout church history this has been the scriptural habit of believers. The churches in the New Testament gathered on the first day of the week.
  6. They came together on the Lord’s day. The apostle John was banished to the Island of Patmos. He may have been the
    only one of the original 12 who was still alive. In Revelation 1:10 we see Him in the spirit on the Lord’s day. He referred to the day as THE Lord’s day. It was a particular day. He did not say the Sabbath day, but the Lord’s day. It was the day that Christ defeated death. He had conquered the last enemy of sin, death.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

It was on the first day of the week that Jesus defeated all the enemies, even death. That is “THE LORD’S DAY.” Christians began to gather on the first day even during the life of the apostles. We celebrate His resurrection as well as the coming of His Holy Spirit at Pentecost to indwell all believers. The command to honor God one day in seven is still in practice. It is clear that the New Testament church gathered not on the seventh day, but on the first day. Note again, Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. It is clear when they came together. It was the first day of the week. Since the earliest mention of the church, Sunday, the first day, has been the day they came together.

Let us conclude by the following passages of scripture. The law was imperfect in that it could not save. God fulfilled the old with a new and better covenant.

Hebrews 9:11-15 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Christ became the mediator through death of the new covenant.

Hebrews 8:6-7 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

A new covenant had to be given because the old could not save, it could only show one’s sinfulness.

Galatians 3:16-24 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Even Abraham could not be saved by keeping the Law. We clearly see the Law cannot save. It can only point one to the promise of Christ, the redeemer of the world. Praise be to God for His unbelievable grace and mercy.

Jude 24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion, and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Only Jesus, not the law will present your faultless. Amen and Amen.

Law vs Grace

Only one can save

Read Galatians 3:1-19

As we read this passage of scripture, we see some very important discoveries. Galatians is a book that defends justification by faith in Christ alone and warns against reverting back to the Law as a means of salvation.
Verse 19 is a key verse in the law vs grace argument. The key phase being “till the seed should come”.
The Law was never given to bring salvation, but to lead one to the one who could bring salvation.

Galatian 3:19 – Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Wherefore – why was the law given?

  • It was added because of the sin already present.
  • The law as given to show the depravity of man because of man’s sin.
  • Man is by nature (naturally) a sinner.
  • All the law could do was reveal the sinfulness of man.
  • The law is just a reflector of the sin that is already in man’s heart. It mirrors what is already there.
  • A mirror lets you see what is outside, but a mirror cannot clean what is on outside.
  • The law does not wash away sin.
  • The law only proves that man is indeed a sinner, incapable of keeping the law or saving himself.
  • It was temporarily till. Till literally means the temporary will be replaced by something else.
  • The something else was a somebody else, Jesus Christ.
  • He fulfilled the law.

Hebrews 10:1-10 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Once for all.
That settled it.
There is no more offering for sin.
He paid the bill in full once and for all.

In this passage, we learn that no sacrifice under the old covenant offered year by year can save the lost. It is impossible for any other sacrifice but Jesus to take away sin. God the Father is not eternally satisfied with burnt offerings or sacrifices as a payment for sin.
Please note verse Hebrews 10:8. THE OFFERINGS MADE UNDER THE LAW DO NOT SATISFY THE JUSTICE OF GOD. ONLY JESUS SATISFIED THE FATHER AS A SUBSTITUED (PAYMENT) FOR SIN.

Isaiah 53; 11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Isaiah 53:11

Jesus came to do the Father’s will. 

Note Hebrews 10:9 (Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second) this verse tells us He came to remove the first covenant and or establish (set up) the second and permanent one.
The old was not perfect in that it could not produce salvation.
The second was perfect in that it is the only way to receive salvation.

John 14:6 -Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
We are made acceptable in Christ, not in our own merit or works.

Let’s look at three key words in Galatians 3:19 –

Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Galatians 3:19
  1. Added – To add means something else existed first and remains. Something is added to what already existed, it does not replace what existed. In this case, sin existed and the law was added. Sin still remained. The Law was not a stand alone document.
  2. Till – The word signifies a limited time. It would last until it was over. If I announce that we are going to have workday on Saturday from 8 till 12 one could rightfully assume that at 12:00 we are finished with the work. We worked until 12:00 then we were finished. The law was established until.
  3. Seed – The law was added until the seed came. The seed fulfills the Law, He does not add to the Law.

Matthew 5:17-20 tells us who the seed is. 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 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. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

  • The law was not abolished, it was fulfilled.
  • Its purpose today is the same.
  • It points out the sinfulness of man.
  • It does not save sinful man.
  • The righteousness of man is never enough to satisfy a Holy God. The only way to satisfy a Holy God is for us to receive His holiness through Christ.
  • The word fulfill means to render full or complete.
  • Jesus lived a sinless, perfect life, fulfilling (completing) all points of the Law.
  • He then took all our sins with Him to Calvary offering His blood as payment (ransom) for our sin.
  • He took our sin upon Himself on that Cross.
  • This makes it possible for us to be righteous.
II Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2 Corinthians 5:21

This verse of scripture shows us we are made in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

We are not made worthy in our righteousness, but in His.
Galatians 3:23-26 clarifies this even more. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.


Paul refers to we, our and us in verses 23-25.
In verse 26 he transitions to ye.

Who is he referring to?

In verse 23-25 he is referring to his Jewish roots.
He was Jewish by birth.
In verse 26 he was referring to a different group, the Gentiles, who were not Jewish.
They however were trying to satisfy God by keeping of the Law.
It was not what God intended for them.
The law just reminded them of that sinfulness until the seed came; Jesus came.
These Gentile believers had fallen back to keeping of the Law as part of their salvation.
Paul said this was not to be. The Law could not save, but rather was a reminder until the seed came. The Law had not passed away, but it had served its purpose. The outward observance of the law was over and that is a good thing.
Jesus is the only one who ever kept the whole law.

James 2:10 plainly states that the breaking of any one law is the same as breaking all the Law. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

In Galatians 3:10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Paul explains that the law produces a curse, IT DOES NOT PRODUCE SALVATION.
Instead the law condemns.
That which condemns cannot be the remedy.
Jesus on the other hand did not come to condemn, but to remove the condemnation that the Law points out.

John 3:16-18 clearly shows this. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. We are saved by grace through faith.

Works, the keeping of the Law has absolutely nothing to do with one’s salvation.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Grace received by faith, plus nothing.

Galatians 3:21 – Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

If the Law could save, then Jesus died in vain.
Why would He die if the payment was already available? It wasn’t so He did.


ONE IS NOT SAVED BY THE LAW, BUT ONE IS CONDEMNED BY THE LAW. ONE IS SAVED BY GRACE.

We are bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus did what we could not do in the flesh. He fulfilled the law and took our sin debt to the cross and paid our sin debt in full. THIS IS LOVE!

“THE BATTLE FOR CONTROL”

Romans 7:7-8:4

I. The Law has limits ( Romans 7-25)

A. THE LAW IS HOLY AND JUST AND GOOD (7-12)


1. It makes sin known – It defines sin (vs 7) What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.


2. The end result of the Law is death
(8-12) 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

B. THE LAW CANNOT SAVE ONE FROM SIN ( Romans 13-25)


1. The problem is not law, but sin (13) Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.


2. The Law is spiritual, but man is sinful (14) For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.


3. The Law keeps one captive to sin even though one may desire good and hate evil, one is still enslaved by sin (15-23) 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.


4. Deliverance comes only from God, through Jesus Christ (24-25)

II. The only solution – “therefore”

Romans 8:1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit.
A. Immediate solution – “therefore now”
B. Now no condemnation – adverse verdict – we are found to be innocent.
C. The fleshly has been crucified.
D. There is now a new ruler – the Holy Spirit, not Satan.
E. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE HAVE REAL FREEDOM TO LIVE ABOVE SIN.

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