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Re: No Such Commandment!"xxxxx", I have read through your study on "What Saith the Scriptures concerning the Sabbath" There are two points about Bible interpretation, that I'd like to point out to you. First off, if a doctrine is built on opinions of man, and not the specifically stated word of God, it is built on a foundation of sand, which will be destroyed… Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: Secondly, false doctrine will always lay aside the commandments of God, and hold the traditions of men in a higher state of authority than the quoted word of God… Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition…. 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Some statements you made in chapter 4, page 4, are the "foundation made in sand" for your whole study…
These two statements are your whole case. These two statements are not made anywhere in scripture, but they definitely do make several scriptural quotes of none effect! Allow me to demonstrate… Laying aside the commandment of God… Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to **vanish away**. 2 Cor 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. 7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious… which was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. Ye hold the tradition of men…
Mark 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Now statement number #2… Laying aside the commandment of God… Gal 5:14 **All** the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Rom 13:8 …For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Ye hold the tradition of men…
Mark 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Not one place in your bible study on Sabbaths do you state the fact that " love is the fulfilling of the law". Not once!!!! Nor did you once quote… Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Why is that? Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 for Christ is the **end** of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. Though not quite so foundational to your argument, I would like to address just one more point from your study…
As I have shown above by the scriptures (Heb 8:13, and 2 Cor. 3:3-11) that covenant was supposed to be abandoned, "xxxxx"! Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. Let us remember an even more important everlasting covenant, that has also, and that very specifically, "vanished away"… Gen 17:13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an **everlasting** covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant. Rom 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. But in the New Testament, we have a completely different story… Gal 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. 7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. "xxxxx", this scripture is for you- "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" and therefore, so is this- GAL 5:8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. Now "xxxxx", in this post that I am replying to, you said:
This is very disappointing for me to hear coming from you, "xxxxx". Jer 2:5 Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? Deu 30:11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. So that now, you aren't only breaking God's commandment not to add to his word, you are breaking your own convictions!
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. The bible doesn't say to search outside of the scriptures for lost or forgotten doctrines, or ordinances. The Bible says… John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. You're telling me that you've found doctrines, or believe there are doctrines, in addition to scriptures, but I tell you No, for the scriptures tell us… 1 Tim 1:3 …Teach no other doctrine, Jesus put His whole plan into the words of the Apostles only… John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: When we reject what those Apostles say, whom the Lord has sent to teach us, we aren't rejecting the messengers, but God Himself… 1 Sam 8:6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. 7 And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. When I quote the Apostles direct response to this very subject, and you counter with purposes of an extra-biblical nature, or you attempt to contradict the Apostles very specific words on the subject by nothing more than private interpretations, you are accusing the Apostles themselves of… a) Not understanding what they were talking about. 1 Pet 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. Now you say…
And again the scriptures ask you… Gal 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. 7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? You see, "xxxxx", you're not the first one by any means to fall into this trap of reestablishing the law… 1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: Acts 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, ye must… Keep the law: to whom we gave *no* *such* *commandment* "xxxxx", when the Apostles all gather together over a specific topic, and make a judgment about that specific topic, by quoting scripture for it, and then that commandment from them gets recorded in God's Word- Acts 15:24, and you overturn that judgment through your interpretations only, what do you think you have accomplished? "xxxxx"- If Peter was to be blamed for this very same reason, (compelling Gentiles to keep the law) what makes you think that you can be excused from that very same blame? Gal 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, if thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and **not** as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. I'm not sure you yet understand the depths of making yourself a transgressor you have accomplished in doing this. For what is most disturbing about this that you have done in reinstating the law, which the Apostles specifically said they gave no such commandment, is who you are in company with in doing such! Gal 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offence of the cross ceased. 12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you. And that scriptural question I ask you also, "xxxxx"- If the early church kept the law, why were they persecuted by the Jews for not keeping the law? That's Paul's question to you- not mine! Acts 21:27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, 28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. 2 Cor 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Why did certain Jews bind themselves with an oath to kill Paul, if he kept their law? ("If I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution?") Acts 23:12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. 14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. 15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. 1 Th 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: The only reason any of the early church compelled anyone to keep the law, was to avoid persecution! Gal 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. This is the key as to why Paul circumcised Timothy, or that any of the church observed the laws… Acts 16:3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. It wasn't that they were constrained to follow them as commandments, it was merely to gain an audience with those whom they wished to preach the gospel to... 1 Cor 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became **as** (for appearance sake only!) a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, **as** under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. Now, not only have you denied all the Apostles who gave no such commandment to keep the law, but you have also justified them which persecuted the Apostles and Jesus Christ our Lord for not keeping the law! Mat 23:29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? 34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. It is almost amazing to me, for it is obviously no coincidence, that not only do you people who utterly fight for your right to keep the Old Testament laws, attempt to keep the sabbath day, but one of your other main tenets is that Jesus Christ is not equal with God! As the conversations with "xxxxx" and your father "xxxxx" are proving! John 5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. 17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself **equal** with God. John 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, *I Am*. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I Am, ye shall die in your sins. John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him (not them!), My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. Should we be compelled to use the Hebrew Name of Yeshua in place of the name of Jesus? While we are on the subject of adding to the word of God, I have read your treatise called "Re: the Name" to "xxxxx" Again, "xxxxx", you do quite a bit of philosophizing about what and what shouldn't be done about the name of Jesus Christ- but you seem to have overlooked some important points. For example… One. In many places the Bible justifies proper names being translated into the tongues of the understanding of the listeners. Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Mark 15:22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. John 1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. John 1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. The scriptures in the New Testament do not say anywhere that it is required that proper names are to be kept in the original language. Two. Jesus Himself authorized that the Bible should be published throughout the world, therefore different languages… Mark 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. Acts 1:8 …ye shall be witnesses unto me (We are to be Jesus witnesses!!) both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Three. The Bible itself never specifically commands that the name of "Yehoshua" should never be interpreted or translated into the tongue of the natives. And the Bible is very specific about what is right and wrong. 1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. There simply can be no wrong (sin) where there is no commandment against it. Rom 7:9 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. 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. Four. All you have to do is listen to the profanity of the worldly to know the name of who it is that they despise. How many English speaking people do you hear profaning the name of Yehoshua? Are we to think they are guiltless since they haven’t pronounced the name correctly? Lev 19:12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord. Five. The name of Jesus is not a magic formula. The key is to have faith in the name, not to use it as a magic formula, like "abra-cadabra", or something, which apparently, if not stated precisely, renders it ineffective. Acts 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. Six. If Yehoshua is the name, and carries as much importance as you place on it, rather than Jesus, or Iesous, then God's word has been lost! For the New Testament was written in the Koine Greek- not the Hebrew. If it was not, then God's word was lost. And if God's word was lost, either He isn't God, or the word wasn't His. Therefore, it would be pure presumptuousness, and accusatory to God, to say His word was lost. Isa 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. Seven. Paul was the witness of Jesus' name to the Gentiles… Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: Acts 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Tell me, "xxxxx", where are all these Gentiles throughout the history of Christianity who have been called by the name Yehoshua? Eight. Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Are we to believe now that no one has ever been saved through the name of Jesus Christ? Acts 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. And that's the bottom line that I have to say about these doctrines I have addressed here. In the service of Jesus Christ- the name that devils love to hate!!! Think about it. :-) Please continue with No Such Commandment- The Scriptures Only |