*WHAT IS SALVATION?*
part 1

We shall also briefly define the words: ATONEMENT, REDEMPTION, RECONCILIATION, PROPITIATION

‘TO SAVE’ (‘sozo’ in Greek) is used approx. 106 times in the New Testament.
‘Salvation’ (soteria) is used approx. 45 times in the New Testament.
‘Savior’ (soter) is used 24 times in the New Testament.
‘Salvation’ (soterion) is used four times.
Four terms used 180 times.

*THE MEANING OF ‘SALVATION’*
1. In non-theological contexts ‘SALVATION’ means ‘to rescue, to deliver.”
a. It is common for the New Testament, especially the gospels, to call the ‘deliverance from sickness” salvation. Salvation can refer to restoration to health. A person’s well being has returned. (See Matt9:21-22; Mark3:4; 5:23, 28, 34; 6:56; 10:52; Luke6:9; 7:50; 17:19; 18:42; Jn11:12; Acts4:9; 14:9; 27:34; 2Cor1:6; James5:15.)
‘…for she was saying to herself, ‘If I only touch His garment, I shall get well’ (Greek, ‘saved’). But Jesus turning and seeing her said, ‘Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well” (Greek, saved). And at once the woman was made well (Greek: sozo)’ Matt.9:21-22
‘…and the prayer offered in faith will restore (sozo) the one who is sick’ James5:15a

b. Salvation may be used of *deliverance from demons* Lk8:36

c. Salvation may be used of rescue or *deliverance from enemies* (Lk1:71; Acts7:25)

d. *Jesus Christ spoke about being saved*. This helps to show that the word means in this case ‘deliverance.”
‘Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, *save* Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour” Jn12:27
‘In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety’ Heb5:7 – this verse speaks of the suffering of Jesus in Gethsemane where the Father protected (saved) Jesus from dying before the cross.

e. The word salvation is used of *RESCUE FROM DANGER* in a variety of situations: storms on the sea Matt8:25;14:30;Acts27:20,31; deliverance at the end of the tribulation period Matt10:22; 24:13,22; Mark13:13,20; rescue from the cross Matt27:40,42,49; Mark15:30,31; Luke23:35,37,39; from trouble 1Tim4:16; from prison Phil1:19; from slavery in Egypt Jude5; from the flood Heb11:7.
Before the Christian authors of the New Testament used the word save, it was used of common dangers to man. Salvation means ‘deliverance, rescue, preservation, help, assistance, aid, escaping trouble.”

2. Biblical authors took a normal word that means ‘deliverance” and used it in a theological sense. Believers are ‘saved” from a number of troubles.
*a.Believers are SAVED FROM SIN’S DOMINION, PRESENCE AND PENALTY* Matt1:21; Luke1:77;7:50; 1Tim1:15, which means to be saved from the slavery of sin in this life (but the Christian can still choose sin), from the presence of sin after death (or rapture) and from punishment of sin as Jesus took our punishment on the cross
‘And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will *save His people from their sins*” Matt1:21
‘Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all’ 1Tim1:15

*b.Believers are SAVED FROM WRATH, JUDGMENT AND CONDEMNATION* Jn3:17; Rom1:16 in context, see v. 18;5:9; 1Thess5:9; 1Pet4:17-18
‘we shall be *saved from the wrath of God* through Him’ Rom5:9

*c.Believers are SAVED FROM A PERVERSE GENERATION*, a wicked world: Acts2:40

*d.Believers are SAVED FROM BEING LOST TO GOD*:
‘For the Son of Man has come to seek and to *save that which was lost*” Luke19:10

*e.Believers are SAVED FROM DEATH* Matt16:25;Mark8:35 See, also, the following verses that speak of deliverance from death but do not use the word salvation: Jn5:24; Rom6:23; Eph2:1.
‘For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever *loses his life* for My sake, he is the one who will save it” Lk9:24

*f.Believers are SAVED FROM PERISHING IN HELL* 1Cor1:18;2Cor.2:15-16 and FROM ITS DESTRUCTION (James4:12).
‘For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being *saved* and among those who are *perishing’* 2Cor2:15

*THE TIME OF SALVATION*
Sometimes the Bible speaks of salvation as past, sometimes present, and sometimes future:

1. IN THE *PAST*, believers in Christ *were saved from the penalty of sin* Rom8:24;Eph2:5,8; 2Tim1:9;Tit3:5
‘For by grace you HAVE BEEN SAVED [past tense] through faith’ Eph2:8
‘He SAVED [past tense] us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy’ Tit3:5

2. In the *PRESENT*, believers *are being saved from the power of sin* Phil2:12; 1Pet2:2
*’work out (express, let it be revealed) your salvation* with fear and trembling’ Phil2:12

3. In the *FUTURE, we will be saved from the presence of sin* and from all wrath Rom5:10;13:11; 1Thess5:9;2Tim.4:18; Heb1:14; 9:28; 1Pet1:5;4:18; Rom5:10

*SUBSTITUTIONARY ATONEMENT*

Atonement means that Christ died as our *SUBSTITUTE*. He died in our place taking our punishment and paying our penalty; and, thereby, He satisfied an angry God. Other purposes fulfilled in his death on the cross are secondary (like to be an example to believers 1Jn3:16).
-Matt20:28 and Mark 10:45 are key texts in the doctrine of substitutionary atonement. Since anti means substitution, the phrase ‘a ransom for many” means that Christ gave His life as a *substitute* for the many. He died *in the place* of sinners. His life was given *in exchange* for our lives that should have been forfeited.
‘just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom *for* (in place of) many” Matt20:28
‘Greater love has no one than this, that a one lay down his life *for* his friends” Jn15:13
‘while we were yet sinners, Christ died *for* us’ Rom5:8
‘He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up *for* us all’ Rom8:32
‘Christ died *for* our sins according to the Scriptures’1Cor15:3;2Cor5:21
‘I have been crucified with Christ… who loved me, and delivered Himself up *for* me’ Gal2:20;3:13
‘For Christ also died for sins, once for all, the just *for* the unjust’ 1Pet3:18
‘He would render Himself as a *guilt offering*…’ Isa.53:10a
See also: Rom5:6, Gal1:4, Mark14:24, Jn6:51, Tit2:14;1Pet2:24a; Heb9:28; Mark10:45; 1Tim2:5,6; Matt26:28; Jn10:11;Heb2:9

*REDEMPTION: The Sinward Aspect of Atonement*
Christ paid the redemption price for sin and ransomed man from slavery to sin. To say that Christ redeemed us from sin means that He bought us. More specifically, it means that He ransomed us from sin (and the law’s curse) by the payment of a price just as one would ransom a hostage, a slave, or a prisoner of war. Redemption included both the payment of a price and, in the fullest sense, the release of the hostage.
‘For you have been *bought* with a price’ 1Cor6:20
‘Christ *redeemed* us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us’ Gal3:13a;4:5a
‘…being justified as a gift by His grace through the *redemption* which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a *propitiation* in His *blood* through faith…’ Rom3:24-25
‘In Him we have *redemption* through His *blood*…’ Eph1:7;1Cor1:30, Eph1:7; Rev5:9

Although the New Testament usually views redemption as being a past event, ‘apolutrosis’ (to redeem) is used of a future redemption three times (Rom8:23; Eph1:14; Eph4:30). There is a future aspect of redemption because the complete deliverance (freedom) of our bodies from sin and its effects is future. Viewed from this angle, believers are still awaiting a future and complete redemption.
‘we ourselves groan within ourselves, *waiting* eagerly for our adoption as sons, the *redemption* of our body’ Rom.8:23
‘…who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, *with a view to the redemption* of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory’ Eph1:14
‘Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of *redemption*‘ Eph4:30
…end of part1

*PROOFS FOR THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST*

1. The believer has everlasting or eternal life Jn5:24;10:28
2. The believer is born of God, cant be ‘unborn’ Jn1:12,13
3. Christ will raise every believer up at the last day Jn6:44,47
4. The believer has already passed from death unto life Jn5:24
5. The believer is not the object of God’s wrath Jn3:36
6. Believer are God’s sheep Jn10:24
7. The believer will not listen to nor follow a stranger, but will flee from him Jn10:5
8. The believer is known of God Jn10:14
9. The believer listens to the voice of the shepherd Jn10:27
10. The believer is in Christ’s hand and cant be removed Jn10:28
11. The believer is in the Father’s hand and cannot be plucked out Jn10:29
12. The shepherd is charged with the responsibility of keeping the sheep Jn10:11,14
13. The believer is not condemned Jn3:18
14. The believer shall never thirst Jn4:14
15. The believer will keep Christ’s commandments Jn14:23
16. The believer is secure because of Christ’s prayer Jn17:912
17. The believer shall never die Jn11:26
18. The believer will be kept from the evil Jn17:15
19. The believer will be with Christ in glory Jn17:24
20. The believer shall never hunger Jn6:35
21. The believer will in no wise be cast out Jn6:37
22. Christ will not lose a single believer Jn6:39
23. Christ will raise up the believer at the last day Jn6:38,40
24. Whosoever eats the bread of life shall never die Jn6:51
25. The Holy Spirit abides in the believer forever Jn14:16,17
26. It is the Father’s will that Christ should lose none Jn6:39
27. Because one cannot be unborn Jn3:5
28. The believer will follow Christ Jn10:27
29. The believers continue with God 1Jn2:19
30. The believer’s faith overcomes the world 1Jn5:4
31. Because of the record that God hath given 1Jn5:1011
32. The believer is like Christ 1 Jn3:2
33. The believer is kept by the power of God 1Pet1:5
34. The man who believes shall be saved Acts 16:31
35. The believer has been saved Eph.2:89
36. The believer is hid by God in Christ Col3:3
37. The believer shall not come into condemnation Jn5:24
38. There is now no condemnation for the believer Rom8:1
39. The believer is sealed by the Holy Spirit Eph1:13
40. The believer is sealed for a definite time, the day of redemption, or the resurrection of the body Eph4:30
41. The believer lives and abides forever 1Pet1:23
42. The believer is dead to sin Rom6:2
43. The believer will appear with Christ in glory Col3:4
44. The life of the believer is Christ’s life Col3:4
45. Christ cant die again,so the believer is eternally secure Rom6:910
46. The believer is saved through faith not by works Eph2:89
47. Faith is a gift from God Eph2:89
48. The believer is not saved by what he does, but by what Christ has done for him Tit3:5, Rom4:5
49. Salvation is a free gift, not a wage for works Rom6:23
50. The believer’s hope is a living hope 1Pet1:3
51. The believer’s hope will not fade away or grow dim 1Pet1:45
52. The believer’s hope is reserved in heaven for him 1Pet1:4
53. The believer’s inheritance is incorruptible 1Pet1:4
54. The believer’s inheritance cannot be defiled 1Pet1:4
55. The believer is kept through faith 1Pet1:45
56. The believer to be revealed in the last time 1Pet1:5 Also the believer is more than conqueror through Christ Rom8:37
57. The believer is justified by faith,saved from wrath Rom5:9
58. Nothing can separate the believer from Christ Rom8:38,39
59. Christ will complete our salvation until the end Phil1:6
60. The believer preserved spirit, soul, and body 1Thess5:23
61. God cannot lie Tit1:2
62. Jesus is able to save unto the uttermost Heb7:25
63. The believer is born of incorruptible seed 1Pet1:23
64. The believer is perfected forever Heb10:14
65. The believer believes unto the saving of his soul Heb10:38,39
66. Believer made righteous through Christ’s obedience Rom.5:18
67. All things work together for good to the believer Rom8:28
68. Because the believer is so helpless that he cannot place his sins upon Christ. God must do it for him Is53:6
69. Christ did not come to help us, but to save us Luke19:10
70. Because God, not being a man, cannot lie Numb.23:19
71. Because His mercy endures forever Ps136
72. Believer will bear the image of the heavenly 1Cor15:49
73. Believer is preserved unto the heavenly kingdom 2Tim4:18
74. Believer is object of God’s mercy, not wrath Eph2:4, Jn3:36
75. Because a sealed and witnessed transaction is final Eph.1:13
76. Salvation is obtained, not attained Heb9:12
77. Because the believer is a new creation Eph4:24
78. The Father reckons the sinner saved Rom6:35, Eph2:46
79. All believers will be changed at Christ’s coming 1Cor15:51,52
80. Because of the “MUST” of 1Cor15:53 1Cor.15:23
81. The power of God is not limited Mat28:1819, 1Pet1:5
82. The saints are preserved forever Ps37:28
83. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ Rom8:35
84. Because God will not forget the believer Is49:15
85. A new everlasting covenant in His blood Jer32:40
86. Because believer has ceased from his own works Heb4:10
87. Sanctified once for all through the sacrifice of JC Heb10:10
88. Believer has been redeemed (past tense) 2Pet1:18,19
89. Believer’s salvation is begun and finished by Christ Heb12:2
90. Salvation is by grace, not grace+works Rom11:6
91. Christ intercedes for believers Rom8:37, Heb7:25
92. Because God predestined believers in Christ according to His foreknowledge before the foundation of the world to be conformed to the image of his Son, and then, in time, He calls and justifies us, and finally He will glorify us Rom8:29,30,Eph1:5,7,11,13, 2Cor2:13
93. Because salvation IS salvation Heb5:9, Heb7:25
94. The believer cannot perish Jn3:16
95. God’s promise that through the offering of Christ He will put away the believer’s sins,and will forget them Heb10:17
96. Because God is for us! Rom8:31
97. God corrects His children, not sends them to Hell 1Cor11:31
98. God allows His children to suffer loss of rewards in Heaven rather than exiling them to Hell 1Cor3:1115, Heb12:611
99. God allows His children to suffer shame at His coming rather than exiling them to Hell 1Jn2:28
100. Because God is greater than our heart 1Jn3:20
101. God is able to save and keep us 2Tim1:12, Jude1:24
102. Because the Bible says we have eternal life 1Jn5:13
103. The believer is part of the Body of Christ forever Eph5:30
104. Our salvation results from the Son’s covenant with the Father 105. We have the life of Christ which is eternal, perfect Col3:4 106. We are placed in Christ forever not temporarily Col3:3 107. Our faith in Jesus overcomes the world, not works 1Jn5:4 108. Adoption cant be reversed Rom.8:15, Gal.4:5, Eph1:5
109. All believers will be resurrected/raptured 1Thes4:17…etc…
Pastor Daniel

*WHAT IS SABBATH?*
…part 3
*Ellen G. White has made false prophecies about public events and wars* that never came to pass:
http://www.bible.ca/7-prophecy-blunders.htm
http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/white.htm
*She also believed that all sins will be placed on Satan*: ”The Great Controversy”, p.422 , when the Bible says sins were placed on Jesus at the cross Is.53:6.
*Ellen G. White preached that people that were alive in her time will see Jesus coming back*, but by now they are all dead. Visit this website for many more of her false doctrines and theological http://www.whiteestate.org/issues/contradictions.html
*HERE ARE SOME MORE OF HER FALSE DOCTRINES* (and yet more in the above website):
–‘plan of salvation was made after the fall’ (The Great Controversy, Chapter 19 ”Light through Darkness” p133,p.347), the Bible says ‘before the fall’: Eph1:4, 1Pet1:18-20
–‘Adam was deceived by Satan’ (Evangelism, p.598) is contradicted by 1Tim2:14
–‘people before the flood mated with animals’ (Spiritual Gifts, vol.3, p.64 ) contradicted by Gen1:24,25
–‘tower of Babel built before the flood’ (Spiritual Gifts, vol.3, p.301) contradicted by Gen.9-11
–‘Jesus was not the Lord Almighty’ (Letter 32, 1899, quoted in the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol.5, p.1129) contradicted by Is9:6, Rev1:7-8
–‘Jesus’ bones were broken on the cross’ (Spiritual Gifts, vol.1, p.58, written in 1858) contradicted by Jn19:25,36
–‘Jesus died on the cross not for sin but to give man another chance to deserve or earn salvation’ (Testimonies to Ministers, p.134) contradicted by Heb9:27
–‘the blood of Jesus didn’t cancel or remove sin’ (Patriarchs and Prophets, p.357) contradicted by Rom4:7-8
–”faith of parents covers (”saves”, from context) children” (Selected Messages, vol.3,p.313) – in terms of temporal protection that is true, as a drunkard parent inflicts trouble on a child or a parent believer brings protection upon the child, but not salvation; child without capacity of believing because of age or mental disability is saved by grace as Jesus paid for the sin nature of man Rom5:12
–‘assurance of salvation or to say, ”I am saved” is deception’ (Christ’s Object Lessons, p.155) contradicted by 1Jn5:13
–‘those who believe in Christ can reach sinlessness’ (Review and Herald, vol.71, No.35, p.1, August 28, 1894, also vol.77, No. 39,p.1, September 25,1900) contradicted by 1Jn1:8; no Christian is perfect, only God is perfect; not to say that we should live in sin, but we do sin Titus2:11, 1Jn2:1
–‘our obedience to God reconciles us to God’ (Testim., vol.4, p.28 also p.294) contradicted by Col.1/21,22
–‘Paul was instructed by men in the Gospel’ (Testim., vol.3, p. 430) contradicted by Gal1:11-20
–‘you have great work to do to be accepted by Jesus’; ‘You are uncultivated, unrefined, and
unsanctified. There is no place in heaven for such a character as you now possess’ (Testim., vol.2, p.84 and p.316 also vol.3,p.465) contradicted by Rom.15:7 and Acts15:8-9
–‘you must kneel every time when you pray’ (Selected Messages, book2, p.311,312, book3, p.266,267) contradicted by Mark11/25
–‘all sicknesses are result of personal sin’ (Counsels on Health, p.37) contradicted by the book of Job; we can say sicknesses are result of the sin of Adam and Eve but not because of personal sin
–Ellen G White affirmed that she knew the day and the hour of Jesus’ coming (Early Writings, pp.15,34,285) – contradicted by Matt24:36
–‘the saints will have wings in heaven’ (Early Writings, p.53) contradicted by Phil3:21
-adventists believe baptism is required for salvation (see ‘SDAs Believe’, pp.182,184,187) contradicted by all above verses on salvation by faith alone, not by works; there are 2 ordinances or ceremonials for the church: water baptism and the holy communion (bread and new wine/grapes juice) – none of these save or remove sins Rev1:5, 1Jn1:7
–*Ellen White believed that worshiping on Sunday is the mark of the beast*, see ”The Great Controversy, 1950, chapter ‘God’s law immutable’ ”p.605, p172 in newer version; but early Christians met Sundays and at times every day for worship!! Would God ever punish one of his children for worshiping Him on Sunday?? See verses on the seal of God, which is the Holy Spirit, not Sabbath: Eph1:13;4:30
–*adventists believe that when a believer dies, he is unconscious until the resurrection*; Stephen in Acts 7 didn’t pray ”Lord Jesus, put me to sleep” but ”Lord Jesus, receive my spirit”, it does say that Stephen ”fell asleep” as an expression meaning to die physically (also 1Cor11:30), not soul sleep; in 2Cor5:5-8 Paul said ”I would rather be absent from the body and present with the Lord” not ”soul sleep”. Eph3:14-15 Paul mentions believers in heaven and on earth; in Gen5:24; 2Kings2:11 why did God take to heaven Enoch and Elijah?…just to put them to sleep?? Why Jesus said that Lazarus was carried by angels in Luke16:19-31?…why would Jesus use false doctrines if souls are put to sleep? Moses and Elijah were brought back from soul sleep to talk with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration in Matt.17? Why John said in Rev6:9 that he saw souls in heaven who were awake and talking, asking for revenge against those that killed them? Why on the cross Jesus said to the repentant thief, ”today you will be with me in paradise”?
Luke20:38 Jesus says that the dead are alive for God, they seem dead to us because we only perceive the body as being dead but we can’t see souls. Read also Jn11:25-26, which speaks about physical death and spiritual death and Jesus made the promise that those who believe in Him shall never die (by ‘soul sleep’ sabbatarians mean ‘soul dead temporarily’); read also 1 Pet.3:18-19.
-Sabatarians, as Jehovah Witnesses, use verse Ecc9:5 *”but the dead do not know anything”* and conclude the doctrine of soul sleep, they don’t understand that in this book the writer asks a lot of philosophical questions and in the end of the book he reaches faith in God, for example in 3/21 he asks, ”Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?” You must read the context of a book, or else you read in Ps14:1 ”God does not exist” and conclude that God does not exist, but in fact the whole verse reads: ”the foul says in his heart: ‘God does not exist’.” See our study ”What happens with the soul after physical death”.
-During the July 2005 SDA General Conference, Bert Haloviak, director of Archives and Statistics for the Adventist world church, said that 1.5 millions have left the adventist church from 2000 to 2005. Why?… They have lost 1/3 of all members in the last 50 years, many wake up! Check the adventist websites below:
http://news.adventist.org/all-news/news/go/2013-11-19/at-first-retention-summit-leaders-look-at-reality-of-church-exodus/
http://nonsda.org/sda_losing_members.shtml

For more infos on the adventist religion read:
www.bible.ca
www.exadventist.com
If you forward this to a friend, first make sure you read these infos a few times, read the verses in your Bible and spend time in prayer to be prepared for questions from your friend; do answer questions but do not enter quarreling debates, “the man of God should not strive” 2Tim2:24, if they are proud “leave them alone until the harvest time”, Mat13:30, ”they are blind leading the blind” Mat15:14.
We dont write these to judge sabatarians, but to warn the people of God just as Paul has warned Timothy and the church in 2Tim2:17 about Hymenaeus and Philetus who were spreading wrong doctrines (also John warned about Diotrephus in 2Jn9 and Jesus about a self-proclaimed prophetess, Jezebel in Rev2:20, Ellen White being one of the many Jezebel).
Pastor Daniel

*SABBATH*
…part 2
From those failing to keep the LAW, God required sacrifices of animals that were pointing to Jesus, therefore nobody has ever been saved through the keeping of the law.The law was given to prove to every human that they are sinners, to shut every mouth that would try to boast before God Rom3:19. No human has ever kept the 10 commandments perfectly, only Jesus; we humans have broken every commandment: have you killed? Maybe not, but Jesus said, if you get angry with your brother you are guilty as a criminal Mat5:22, if you look at a woman with lust you have committed adultery in your heart Matt5:28; if you break one commandment you have broken all James2:10.
Does that mean we should live in sin willfully? No, but trying to keep the law does not take you to heaven or does not justify you before God.You being 99% pure does not make you better than the one that is 0.05% pure, you still deserve hell! You can only be 100% if washed in the blood of Jesus.
Salvation is not by works or merit, but by grace, you cant mix grace with works Rom11:6.And of course God knows to chastise his children that are rebellious Heb12:6, 1Cor11:29-30 but he does not cast his children into hell.Jesus will reward godly living, that reward is not heaven itself (which is a gift), but rewards will be received in heaven: 1Cor3:10-15.Ask yourself: is heaven a reward or a gift? See Rom6:23.
The law had different *SHADOWS or SYMBOLS pointing to Christ* Heb8:5,9.23,10:1,Col2:17:
–the *TEMPLE* spoke of the body of Jesus: Jn2:19; it had an ALTAR that symbolized the cross, a BASIN for washing hands that speaks of confessing sins 1Jn1:9, a LAMP-STAND with 7 arms speaking of Jesus as the light of the world Jn8:12, the PROPITIATORY symbol of the heavenly throne of God where Jesus went with His own blood Heb9:12, a VEIL that was broken from top to bottom symbolized the Body of Jesus broken for us on the cross Heb10:20, WOOD PILLARS COVERED IN GOLD spoke of Jesus humanity and divinity, exterior of the temple was covered not in gold but in animal skins which have NO BEAUTY just as Jesus had no human beauty Is53:2, INCENSE altar that speaks of prayer as Jesus intercedes for us Rom8:34; A HIGH PRIEST, Jesus being our High Priest Heb8:1
–different *CEREMONIALS* and interdiction: regulations regarding uncleanness (touching a woman during menstruation days, touching a dead body, touching blood or a bleeding person etc), redeeming the first born; interdictions regarding foods as symbols for sin; holy-days: sabbatical days and sabbatical years, jubilee years; feasts: tents feast speaking of the tabernacle of God Rev21:3, feast of trumpets speaking of the rapture 1Thes4:16, feast of the first fruits speaking of Jesus as first fruit 1Cor15:23, feast of Pentecost speaking about the coming of the Holy Spirit and…many many other rituals and symbols and shadows.

*Some sabatarians think that according to Is66:22-23 there will be Sabbath keeping in heaven,* but that passage speaks about the millennium as only then will there be dead bodies seen as v24 says, in heaven (eternity) there will be no dead bodies or hell to view as they will already be cast in the lake of fire Rev.20/14; in millennium there will be no rain upon those that don’t keep the Sabbath or don’t bring animal sacrifices (Ez46:4, Zach14:17); in the millennium there will be a temple again, see Ezekiel ch.40,41 but in the new heavens and the new earth in Rev21:1 there will be no temple, as God is the Temple v21. There can’t be rain, chastisement, disobedience or blood sacrifices in the new heavens and the new earth (see Rev21:4 ‘no more tears or death’), but they will be in the millennium on the earth. Remember that at the end of the Millennium Satan is released on the earth for a little time and many will follow him in rebellion Rev20:1,3.
Adventists agree that Jesus has fulfilled the Old Testament ceremonials with the exception of Sabbath and foods; they ”keep the Sabbath” on their terms, not on God’s terms, claiming that grace allows them to keep the Sabbath the way they want; they also claim unclean animals are still forbidden to us, while the Bible teaches we can eat anything: Acts 10:9-15, Mat15:11, Rom14:14,17,20, 1Cor10:25, 1Tim4:4, Tit1:15. Animal with cloven hoofs were allowed by Moses, it symbolized a precise walk, animals that chew the cud were allowed which speak of meditation and fish with scales were allowed, scales speak of protection: our protection as Christians is the breastplate of righteousness Eph6:14, also the Word of God is our wall of protection Zach2:5.
*First Christians were meeting on Sunday* (often every day Acts2:46) not on Sabbath (unless they went on Sabbath to synagogues to evangelize the Jews): Jn20:19,26, Acts 20:7; 1Cor16:2, 1Cor16:2, Rev1:10; Acts2:1 Pentecost was on Sunday; Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday; Ignatius wrote in ”Epistle to the Magnesians” in 100A.D. that Christians were meeting on Sunday, also wrote Justin the Martyr who lived 100-167A.D.
*Adventists accuse that Sunday was a pagan holiday, but in fact all the days of the week were some pagan holidays;* they also accuse that emperor Constantine in 325A.D. ordered worship to be done on Sundays, but in fact he made Sunday free day throughout the empire so that Christians could continue to gather freely on Sundays as until then they were gathering secretly on Sundays under persecution.
*Paul is rebuking the Galatians for keeping the Sabbath:* Gal4:9-11, see also Col2:16, Rom14:5. In Rom13:8-10 Paul mentions some of the 10 commandments but not the 4th commandment, Sabbath; if Sabbath was important for the Christian, he would have been mentioned it.
Jesus said in Matt11:28 ”come unto Me all of you who are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you REST.” *Sabbath day was a day of physical rest, but Jesus gives spiritual rest.*
Jesus said in Matt5:17 that he came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it; *Jesus did fulfill the law by living a perfect life and by dying on the cross*; that’s why we don’t sacrifice animals today as the law of Moses required, and the same that’s why we are not bound to keep the Sabbath because Jesus is our Sabbath; Jesus did not abolish the law by oral commandment but has brought the law to finality by dying on the cross, as the law was a shadow (symbol) for Jesus.
Adventists, next to a wrong understanding of the doctrine of Sabbath, have also other wrong doctrines:
–*adventists wrongly believe that Jesus only went to heaven with his blood in 1844 to do atonement* (Early Writings, p.253, also Testimonies, vol1, p.58) and started a work of investigation or judgment; Heb9:12 contradicts this error; in fact adventists made a false prophecy that the world will end in 1844, and when this prophecy was proven wrong they changed their view to say that in 1844 Jesus entered the heavenly sanctuary with his blood.
Name ”adventist” (*”advent” means ”arrival of an important person”*) comes from the false prophecy that Jesus was coming in a matter of a few month, in 1844, then little time after that when prophecy was proven wrong.
–*adventists believe Ellen G. White was inspired by God so that her writings are inspired just as the Bible is inspired*. All false prophets say this same lie. Beware: only the Bible is inspired by God: 2Tim3:16, 2Pet1:20-21; Prov30:6 and Rev22:18-19 says that we should not add to the Word of God or remove, Ellen G. White adds!! In fact she had seizures, not visions, just as Mohammed, and both believed the angel Gabriel spoke to them!
…see part 3
Pastor Daniel

*WHAT IS THE SABBATH?*
part 1 of 3
First of all, *salvation is by FAITH* (”believing”, ”trust”) only, please take the time to search out all these verses about faith:
–in Matt:21:32
–Mk: 5:36,9:23,42;11:24,16:17,9:23,16:16
–Luke8:12
–Jn.: 3:15-18,36;5:24; 6:29,35,40,47; 7:38; 8:24, 9:35, 10:26, 11:25-27,40; 12:36,44,46; 13:19, 14:1,12,29; 16:9, 17:20, 19:35, 20:31
–Acts: 3:16, 8:37, 10:43; 13:39,41; 14:9,22,27; 15:7,9,11, 16:5,31, 19:4, 20:21, 21:25, 26:18
–Rom: 1:5,8,12,16,17; 3:22,25,26,27,28,30,31; 4:5,9,11,12,13,14,16,19,20,24; 5:1,2; 6:8,23; 9:30,32,33; 10:4,6,8,9,10,11,14,17; 11:6,20, 16:26
–1Cor: 1:21, 2:5, 16:13
–2Cor: 4:4,13; 5:7, 13:5
–Gal: 2:16,20; 3:2,7,8,9,13,14,22,23,25,26; 5:5,6,22; 6:10
–Eph: 1:15,19, 2:8, 3:12,17; 4:13, 6:16
–Phil: 3:9
–Col: 1:v4,23
–1Thess: 2:13
–2Thess: 1:10
–1Tim: 1:16, 4:3
–2Tim: 2:13
–Heb:10:38,39; 11:6
–1Pet: 1:9,21; 2:6,7, 5:9
–1Jn: 3:23, 5:1,4,10-13
*Here are some statements from the above verses about faith and salvation:*
—Rom11:6 salvation ”is by faith, not by works”
—Eph2:8 we are not saved because of works, but we are saved for good works, also 2Tim1:9, Titus3:5
—Rom3:27 excludes the possibility of boasting before God with works for obtaining salvation
—Rom4:13,14 the promise made to Abraham was not made through the law but on the basis of faith, if it is by the law then faith is made void
—Rom6:23 salvation is a free gift through faith
—Rom9:30-33 righteousness is by faith, not by works
—Gal3:2-5,14 have you received the Spirit by faith or by the works of the law (Sabbath)? The answer is evidently ”by faith, not by works”
—Gal3:8,9 justification (to be declared just) and blessing are by faith
—Gal3:13 the law is not faith but the law is works; the law and faith are opposed systems; it is like the difference between a medal and a gift: a medal is deserved but a gift is free
—Col2:6 the same way you have received Jesus (by faith), so walk in Him (you don’t receive Jesus by faith and grace and then you continue by works)
*WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES:*
—Rom10:4 Christ is the end of the law
—Gal3:23-25  the law was a ”paidagogos” = (greek) a boy servant who takes children to school, when faith came we no longer are under a ”paidagogos” (most translations use word ”schoolmaster”)
—Gal5:4 those that seek justification through the law are falling from grace
—Gal5:18 we are not under law
—Rom7:1-25 v4 we are dead to the law so that now we belong to Christ
—Jn1:17 for the law was given by Moses, grace and truth came by Jesus Christ
—Eph2:15 the law was abolished (”katargeo” in Greek means ”abolished”, ”done away”), also Col2:14 blotting out the ordinances
—Heb8:6-10 old covenant through Moses is removed and replaced with a second covenant in the blood of Jesus; it is ”removed”, not ”improved” by adding Jesus to the law of Moses;
—Heb12 speaks of 2 different mountains: Horeb where the law of Moses was given – v18, mountain which we have not approached as Christians, but we have approached mount Sion where Jesus died and reigns forever v22-24
—Luke22:20 Jesus said: ”this cup is the new covenant in my blood” – this covenant (”diateke” in Greek) is between the Father and the Son, we are just beneficiaries of this covenant through faith; ”diateke” can also be translated ”testament” or ”will”, not ”contract”! The law of Moses was a contract between God and Israel and no Jew was able to fulfill their part of the contract perfectly, see Rom3:20-23
—James2:17 faith without works is dead = true faith produces fruit (see good works or fruit in Gal5:22,23); good works come after salvation, not before it Eph2:10
—Gal3:10 those that trust in the works of the law for their righteousness are under curse because nobody can continue perfectly in the works of the law; those who trust in Christ for righteousness have Christ remove the curse of the law because he has been cursed in our place Gal3:13; if you can continue perfectly in the works of the law then you don’t need Jesus!

*THERE ARE THREE SIGNS OF COVENANT* between God and Israel, none of them applies literally to the Christian but they have spiritual applications:
*1.CIRCUMCISION* a sign between God and Jews only: “And you shall be circumcised…it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you” Gen17:11
–Application: circumcision of the heart is putting off the body of sins of the flesh, Rom2:29, Phil3:3, Col2:11.In Acts15 the apostles told gentile Christians that they don’t have to be circumcised and they didn’t tell them to keep the Sabbath, neither how to keep it. Jesus was circumcised as a baby just as identification with the Jews
*2.PASSOVER BLOOD* a sign between God and Jews: “And the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live” Ex12:13,14, sacrifice was to be made ”throughout your generations” Ex29:42. Jesus is the Lamb of God, Jn1:29, therefore we don’t sacrifice lambs today
*3.SABBATH* a sign between God and Jews: Ex31:13-17; Ezek20:12 ”Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations”. Jesus is our Sabbath rest Matt11:28.The fact that Sabbath is listed in the 10 commandments given to Israel does not make it more important than the circumcision. All the laws of Moses are from God, not only the 10 commandments.

*SABBATH REQUIREMENTS ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF MOSES:*
*1.No work done at all* Ex20:10; Lev23: 3; Jer17:21-22. Not allowed to have a slave or and employee or an animal work for you on Sabbath.If you get in a car you have the driver work for you; if you use electricity you force the electricity company use workers to supply you with electricity (engineers, supervisors, staff).If you swim at the swimming pool you force the life guards to work to supervise you.No watering the lawn, no working in the yard, no hobbies, no surfing, no fixing flat tires, no luggages or other weights etc.By Moses’ law if a person did not stop all types of activity in honor of the Sabbath, he was breaking the law. In Num15:32-36 a man was caught collecting sticks on the Sabbath, and he received a rock concert from the people he knew.
*2.No kindling of a fire* Ex.35:3 No fellowship cookouts or barbecues.You can’t go into a restaurant and get a hamburger that’s been flame broiled, you can’t cook eggs, or pancakes in the morning because you’d be kindling a fire for cooking.To drive a car would be to “kindle a fire” In the combustion chamber of your engine.This command could kill Jews or adventists living at the North Pole without fire, where at 50 degrees under the freezing point adults can’t last too long, especially babies; I have experienced such colds.And by the way, no smoking allowed either on Sabbath!! 🙂
*3.No traveling* Ex16:29 Later the Jews added to this law, allowing only a half mile of travel on the Sabbath which we see observed in the NT (Acts1:12).But the pure law says “stay at home.” Actually, if you kept this part of the law, you could not travel to your church gathering unless it was less than one-quarter mile away from home.If you had an emergency you could not drive to the hospital.Matt24:20 Jesus says, ”pray that your flight will not occur in the winter nor Sabbath”, Jesus did not promote Sabbath this way to Christians but just stated that on winter it is difficult to leave far for a long trip and on Sabbath the neighbors might stone you for not keeping the Sabbath (by exceeding the allowed walking distance and for being loaded with personal belongings).Jesus in Matt12:1 crossed a grain field which was of course outside of the city and also allowed the disciples to clear grains, both of these actions were breaking the Sabbath, to which Jesus answered in his defense saying He is ‘Lord of Sabbath’ and therefore not under Sabbath, the same way as He is Lord of all Acts10:36 but above all, not under
*4.No trading* Amos8:5 If you happened to need gas to get to church service, you could not “trade” money for gasoline.You would not be allowed to buy a cassette tape of that morning’s message or a book at the store.There is to be no exchanging of money for goods.You could not exchange potatoes for tomatoes with your neighbor, for example
*5.No Marketing* Neh10:31; 13:15,19 Make sure you do no shopping whatsoever. You can’t buy any ice cream for dessert after dinner or anything else.If you run out of food or drink at home you can’t go out to purchase any, you can’t even buy a stick of gum
*6.A holy assembly* with double the daily offering along with the other offerings. In other words, you are to give twice as much on the Sabbath Num28:9 Do Sabbatarians really practice this law? I have yet to see people go to Shabbat and give twice as much each week
*7.New showbread* in the holy place Lev24:8 Of course this cannot be done today since there is no temple, so this part of the Sabbath cannot be followed by the sabbatarians
*The penalty for breaking the Sabbath is DEATH*

*Sabbatarians ‘keep’ the Sabbath the way they want and say grace allows them to keep it the way they do.* In fact, the only aspect of keeping the Sabbath is that they gather for assembly on Saturday (Sabbath day), they don’t respect any of the other aspects from the law of Moses.We also gather on Saturday, also on Sunday, also on Monday and so on all week for different Bible activities, Mat18:20 ”where there are 2 or 3 in My Name, I am there with them”. It does not say, ”gathered in My name on Sabbath”.
..end of part 1

*IS THE ”PROSPERITY GOSPEL” BIBLICAL?*

*ANSWER:* In the prosperity gospel, also known as the “WORD OF FAITH,” the believer is told to use God, instead of God using the believer. Word of Faith or prosperity theology sees the Holy Spirit AS A POWER to be put to use for whatever the believer wills, instead of a PERSON who enables the believer to do God’s will. The prosperity gospel movement closely resembles some of the destructive greed sects that infiltrated the early church. Paul and the other apostles identified them as dangerous false teachers and urged Christians to avoid them.

Paul warned Timothy about such men in 1Tim6:5,9-11. These men of “corrupt mind” supposed GODLINESS IS A MEANS OF GAIN and their desire for riches was a trap that brought them “into ruin and destruction” (v9). The pursuit of wealth is a dangerous path for Christians and one which God warns about: “For the LOVE OF MONEY is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (v10). If riches were a reasonable goal for the godly, Jesus would have pursued it, but He did not, preferring instead to have no place to lay His head (Matt8:20) and teaching His disciples to do the same. The only disciple concerned with wealth was Judas.

Paul said covetousness is idolatry (Eph5:5) and instructed the Ephesians to avoid anyone who brought a message of immorality or covetousness (Eph5:6-7). Prosperity teaching prohibits God from working on His own, meaning that God is not Lord of all because He cannot work until we release Him to do so. Faith, according to the Word of Faith doctrine, is not submissive trust in God but a formula by which we manipulate the spiritual laws that prosperity teachers believe govern the universe. As the name “Word of Faith” implies, this movement teaches that faith is a matter of what we say more than whom we trust or what truths we embrace and affirm in our hearts.
If they see someone poor or sick, they claim that person is cursed by God…Job was sick and poor, he was not cursed but tested. Jesus said, ”In this world you will have tribulations…” Jn16:33, see also 1Pet4:12, Jam1:2. And Paul says afflictions bring endurance and glory Rom5:3–5; 2Cor4:17.

A favorite term in the Word of Faith movement is “POSITIVE CONFESSION.” This refers to the teaching that words themselves have creative power. What you say, ‘Word of Faith’ teachers claim, determines everything that happens to you. Your confessions, especially the favors you demand of God, must all be stated positively and without wavering. Then God is required to answer (twist God’s arm??) Thus, God’s ability to bless us supposedly hangs on our faith only, not on His sovereignty. James4:13-16 clearly contradicts this teaching: “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life?”

Instead of stressing the importance of wealth, the Bible warns against pursuing it. Believers, especially leaders in the church (1Tim3:3), are to be free from the love of money (Heb13:5). The love of money leads to all kinds of evil (1Tim6:10). Jesus warned, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke12:15). In sharp contrast to the Word of Faith emphasis on gaining money and possessions in this life, Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…” (Matt6:19).
-Matt6:24, “You cannot serve both God and money (Mammon is the god of wealth).”
-Mat625 Jesus says, ”take no thought” – or do not worry and be stressed about your needs
-Mat19:29 Jesus says that if you give up earthly possessions or family FOR JESUS’ sake you will receive back 100 fold; false teachers from prosperity movement say to give TO THEM your possessions and they promise God will give you 100 fold (I am glad they don’t also ask you to give up your family members as Jesus does); if you don’t receive back 100 fold they blame your lack of faith or your sin.

-Jn14:14 ”Whatever you ask in My Name, I will do it” – false teachers misinterpret such verses to mean that you can ask anything, but they leave out ”in My name”, which means ”in the character, attributes, will, person, and work” of Jesus; also Jesus said He will do it, He didn’t say ”immediately”;
-Mark11:24 ”whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have already received it” is also used by false teachers outside of ”in My Name”; some ask for money to be able to live a lazy life, others ask for a second wife…is God bound to answer such prayers??
…therefore ”NAME IT AND CLAIM IT” doctrine is from hell, not from Jesus.

Prosperity preachers claim that Jesus was rich, but…
–2Cor8:9 and Phil2:6-8 says Jesus became poor to make us rich, here are some verses on true riches which are spiritual: Rom2:4, 9:23, 11:33, Eph1:7, 18, 2:7, 3:8,16, Phil.4:19, Col1:27, 2:2, 1Tim6:17, Heb11:26, Rev5:12

*Some errors of the prosperity movement:*
1. They believe the Abrahamic covenant is a means to material entitlement – they use Gal3:14, “the blessings of Abraham come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus”, but they ignore the second half of the verse: “that we might receive the promise of the SPIRIT through faith.” Paul is clearly reminding the Galatians of the spiritual blessing of salvation, not the material blessing of wealth.

2. They believe Jesus’s atonement extends to the “sin” of material poverty – they say you are poor because of sin, Job’s friends were rebuked by God for accusing Job of being chastised by God with poverty because of his sin which was not true, Job was just tested by God.

3. They believe Christians should give in order to gain material compensation from God – Mark10:30 says, ”receive back hundred fold” but it does not say ”money”, it says HOUSES (open houses of brethren for your visits or short stays in missions; show me a Christian that possesses hundreds of houses!! Those who preach such false doctrines might get hundreds of houses from those that follow them, but do their followers receive hundreds of houses??), BROTHERS and SISTERS in Christ, foreign LANDS of missions belong to us for the purpose of missions, not to build and sell. Harare town, 960 square km, belongs to me to evangelize!! And there are many other lands out there waiting for me and you to possess them, and of course finally there is an eternal land to come Rev21:1.

4. They believe Faith is a self-generated spiritual force that leads to prosperity – but the Bible teaches faith is trust in God, ”your will not mine be done” Luke22:42. They believe faith is a coin that you insert into the coke machine and out comes the coke, forgetting that God is a Person with a will and a plan, not a machine.

5. In the prosperity movement the pastor is said to be God’s voice to the congregation, and therefore has unquestioned authority. The leadership structure varies between a C.E.O. model and a monarchy or dictatorship. Often some are appointed as pastors or elders not based on biblical qualifications but because of their occupation and closeness to the pastor.
The pastor runs the church as a business in these movements, he appoints his family and friends to be in charge of finances; for the sake of the argument I will only give one name here (Paul gives names of wrongdoer church ministers: Diotrephus in 3Jn9, Hymanaeus and Philetus in 2Tim2:17): Joyce Mayer preaches the prosperity gospel and now has over 100million$, her family is in charge of church finances, the result is that she erred from the faith 1Tim6:21:
–she believes Jesus stopped being the Son of God on the cross
–she teaches that Jesus went to Hell and became the first-born again man
–she teaches that Jesus paid for our sins on the cross and in hell where he was tormented by demons (from ”The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make” p.35)
–she teaches words have power and you can release the power of Heaven through your words, but she does not explain: is it about my will or God’s will?
–she believes Jesus died spiritually on the cross
–she teaches that you need special revelation from God to understand what she teaches because it is NOT contained in the Bible; she adds dangerously to the Bible…Rev22:18
–she teaches she is no longer a sinner, contrary to 1Jn1:8;
To read more or to hear her above statements in audio format go to website below or search on youtube:
www.huffingtonpost.com/pastor-rick-henderson/osteen-meyer-prosperity-gospel_b_3790384.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhDBwJVQv_o
www.endtime-prophets.com/joycemeyer.html
www.deliveredbygrace.com/exposing-joyce-meyer/

God can take care of our needs and it might be God’s will for certain people to be rich, but it is not an automatic process: God does not desire that all Christians be rich in this life, but in the future life. God wants us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior Jesus 2Pet3:18.

The apostle Paul was often lacking food, clothes and was often in persecutions…according to the ‘prosperity Gospel’, Paul was a failure… Paul said, ‘follow me as I follow Christ’ 1Cor11:1, 1Cor4:16; Paul was not a ‘prosperity preacher’, he preached the true Jesus. To read a 12 pages pdf file on the sufferings of Paul, go to the website below (file is 0,04mb size):

www.biblecharts.org/apostlepaulcharts/15%20-%20The%20Sufferings%20of%20Paul.pdf

Pastor Daniel

*PROPHETS*

Here are a few thoughts about the subject of ”prophets”.

—*”Propheteuo” in Greek* means ”to speak forth under divine inspiration”.
–A prophet in the Old Testament obtained a message by DIVINE REVELATION and could predict certain events related to the future. In Deut18:18 a prophet is defined as one in whom God placed “MY WORDS.” Deut18:22 shows that there was also a PREDICTIVE element to prophecy but prophecy does not always relate to the future.
“I will raise up a PROPHET from among their countrymen like you, and I will put MY WORDS in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I commanded him” Deut.18:18. That prophet announced here by Moses is Jesus, see Acts3:21-22,7:37

–“When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him” Deut18:22

–Do not add to the words of God: Rev22:18,19, Deut4:2,12:32, Prov30:6. Many ”prophets” today put words in the mouth of God

–Not all predictions are from God: in Acts16:16 we see a girl that had a spirit of divination (”a spirit of Python”) who could foretell certain events, which events of course would be fulfilled by demons.
Deut13:1-3 God allows some false prophets’ signs to come true to see if the people of God would follow the false prophet by just being drawn by signs, even though knowing according to doctrine that they were false prophets

–God used Balaam, a false prophet, to give a message from God to Balak, see Num24 especially verse 17 that speaks about Jesus, more than 1.000 years before Jesus was born. Why has God used unsaved false prophet Balaam? Probably because Balak, the moabite king, approached Balaam to curse Israel and God wanted Balaam to tell king Balak that Israel is His people and to pronounce judgment on Israel’s enemies; see also Josh13:22 , Jude11

–Jesus warns in Matt7:22,23: ”Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not PROPHESIED in thy name? and in thy name have CAST OUT DEVILS? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU (”ginosko” means ”to know personally”, which implies personal relationship; these ‘prophets’ never got saved): depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”

–Agabus, a New Testament prophet, foretold a famine (Acts11:27-28) and that Paul would suffer in Jerusalem (Acts21:10-11). God used Agabus to give a message to Paul only for the purpose of Paul’s testimony before the church (see Acts21:13 ”why do you weep? I am ready even to die in Jerusalem for the Name of Jesus”…), otherwise God spoke to Paul directly, without needing a prophet as a mediator (Acts9:4;13:4;16:6,7,10; 18:9; 20:23; 22:18; 23:11; 27:24).

–Eph3:5 shows that prophets obtained revelation from God, when the New Testament was not yet finished. 1Cor14:29-30 gives instructions for using the gift of prophecy in the early church. It says that when the next prophet received a revelation, it was time for the previous speaker, to sit down and remain quiet, in order.
”And let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, let the first keep silent” 1Cor14:29-30 Some ‘prophets’ today jump up in the middle of a church service shouting that he has just received a divine revelation…this is in contrast with the Bible.

–”Which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit” Eph3:5
It is true that a prophet was a spokesman for God, but there is distinction between a prophet and a minister in the pulpit. A prophet obtained his message by direct divine revelation, not from the Scriptures. In fact, prophets wrote the Scriptures! When the written revelation was complete, there was no longer any need for the gift of prophecy, see Heb1:1-2:
” God, who at many times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the PROPHETS, has in these last days spoken unto us by His SON…”
If God spoke through His Son, why would you go back to Old Testament-style-prophets?? Many Christians today do not know the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, ask me for the study on this subject.

In the Old Testament God spoke through prophets acting as MEDIATORS between God and men, today our only mediator is Jesus Christ 1Tim.2:5; we have received the Holy Spirit to indwell us 1Cor3:16 and 6:19 and to guide us 1Jn2:27, we have received the Bible as guide (Ps119:105 ”Your Word is a lamp unto my feet…”), we have received pastors and teachers Eph4:11 and God guides us this way, not through prophets.

–We study prophecy whenever we read the Bible; in fact the Bible is called ”the prophecy”, see Mat13:14, 2Pet1:20,21, Rev1:3, 19:10, 22:18,19; and thus, it is still possible to be zealous for prophecy as 1 Corinthians 14 commands. However, Eph2:20 links the gift of prophecy with the apostles and the founding period of the church.
Eph2:19-20: ”So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone”.

–God does not bestow the gift of prophecy today. God can still speak to someone in an audible manner; He will not convey new revelations beyond the Bible but He points to the Bible. However, why would God speak to someone in an audible manner if the person does not want to listen to the voice of God in the Scriptures? (…unless to unsaved persons that live in a country where the Scriptures and Christians are rare; Muslims have often witnessed having received visions of Jesus).
Men of God have witnessed to have received a message from God in a mysterious way but that is rare and is always in relation to the Bible, never in a weird way, contradictory to the Bible.
Chase after the Bible and if God desires to speak to you audibly, He will…don’t chase after God’s audible voice and allow the dust to settle on the Bible and don’t turn your rear end (butt) to God’s Word Ps50:17.

–Many Christians are chasing after miracles, but Jesus rebuked Thomas for his unbelief and desire to see miracles Jn20:29. Blessed is the one that believes!

–Paul and the other apostles did not encourage us to chase after ”prophecies” from heaven; normal Christian life does not include Old Testament style of prophesying words received straight from God but reading the Bible and hearing the preaching of the Written Word of God that has become life in our hearth by faith, being changed from ”Logos” (”word”) into ”Rhema” (”a personal word”) and being led by the Holy Spirit Gal5:16 who has inspired the Bible 2Pet1:20-21.

–There is a healthy and good interest in Bible prophecies that involves the future, see Matt.25, but there is also an unhealthy interest in knowing the future to which Jesus has answered, ”It is not for you to know…the Father has put it under His authority…” Acts1/7. To an unhealthy interest in someone else’s future (Peter asking a prophecy about John’s future) Jesus has answered, ”What is that yo you? You follow Me!” John21:21. Keep yourself from unhealthy curiosity, none of your business. Don’t go to witches that read the stars or to ”horoscope/witch prophets”, God forbids such, see Deut18:9-12. A pastor that pretends to read the future for you is not any different from a witch

–1Cor4:6 says we should not think ”above that which is written”; Jesus in being tempted answered ”it is written” Mat4:4,7,10. Today’s many so-called ‘prophets’ claim: ”God said to me…” without being able to say, ”it is written”, as they don’t know the Bible

–One that chases after miracles and messages from angels but does not take heed at the Word of God, he might this way open the door to Satan who can appear as an angel of light 2Cor11:14. Paul is warning in Gal1:8 that an angel from heaven (a fallen angel that can appear in light) could bring a different Gospel. See also Col2:18

–Here are some verses that point the importance of teaching the prophecy of God, which is The Bible; if you desire to ”prophesy”, then study, teach and preach the Bible:
Acts2:42 they continued in the TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES…
Luke23:5 ”Jesus went about teaching throughout all Jewry”
Acts1:1, 5:25,42, 15:35, 18:11, 28:31
Rom12:7
1Cor4:17;14:19
Col1:28;3:16
1Tim1:3;3:2;4:11;6:2,3
2Tim2:2,24
Tit2:4
Heb5:12 and so on…

Pastor Daniel

*OLD COVENANT VS. NEW COVENANT*

–Old covenant replaced by New covenant Heb8:7
In Greek (the language of the New Testament) there are 2 words for ”NEW”: ”neos” it means ‘new’ as ‘another to add to previous one’, and ‘kainos’ which means ‘new/fresh that replaces the old’. In Luke22:20 ”new covenant” uses the word *’KAINOS’*, meaning that the new covenant in the blood of Jesus fulfills and replaces the old covenant made through the blood of animals; the old covenant included:
-the 10 commandments as the heart of the Old Covenant: Ex34:28; Deut4:13
– 680 ceremonial commandments – Leviticus
-sacrifices

*Word ”COVENANT” in Greek is ”DIATHEKE”* which means also ‘testament, will”. In the Old Covenant man had his part of responsibility which made the covenant weak as man could not fulfill perfectly his part and the way of forgiveness and thus salvation was faith in the blood of animals which pointed to the blood of Jesus; in the new covenant man through faith is the beneficiary of the testament or will of Jesus inheriting freely heaven and all God’s promises.

Adventists, masowe and others believe the 10 commandments were not part of the old covenant and therefore we are to keep the 10 commandments today in order to please God; however, the 10 commandments were given to prove to each of us that we are sinners and we need a Savior Gal3:24; you will not please God by trying to keep the 10 commandments since you do break them anyway: keeping them 95% is not better than keeping them 5%, you still deserve hell, James2:10. You please God by believing in Jesus Jn6:28-29 (thus being born again) and then walking in the Spirit Gal5:16 (spiritual growth), which results in not walking in the lusts of the flesh (flesh which breaks the 10 commandments).
See some verses that prove that Christians are not under the law: 2Cor3:6-13; Eph2:15; Rom10:4; 2Cor3:7; Heb10:5-9; Col2:14-16; Rom6:14; 7:4,6; Gal3:19,24-25; Acts15:1-24; Gal5:4; Rom3:21-22; 1Tim1:7-10. I will write soon more about this subject.

Here are some contrasts between the 2 covenants:
1. OLD COVENANT: *Moses and levites as Ministers* 2Cor3:13-15; Jn1:17; Heb3:5 – NEW COVENANT: *Jesus and His Disciples as Ministers* Jn1:17; 2Cor3:6; Jn16:12-15, Heb1:1
2. A Covenant of the *Letter* 2Cor3:6 – A Covenant of the *Spirit* 2Cor3:6-8
3.A Cov. which *Kills* 2Cor3:6  – A Cov. which *Gives Life* 2Cor3:6 – literally “makes alive”
4. A Ministry of *Death* 2Cor3:7  – A Ministry of *Life* 2Cor3:6
5.A Ministry of *Condemnation* 2Cor3:9 – A Ministry of *Reconciliation and Righteousness* 2Cor3:9
6.*Written with Ink* – the 680 ceremonial commandments 2Cor3:3 – *Written with the Spirit of the Living God* 2Cor3:3
7.*Written on Stone* (the 10 commandments 2Cor3:3-7) – *Written on the Heart of Man* (2Cor3:3;Jer31:33; Ez11:19-20;36:26)
8.*Came with fading Glory* 2Cor3:7; Ex34:29-35 – came with the Greatest Glory 2Cor3:8-11
9.*Glory was Passing/Fading* 2Cor3:7 – *Glory Continues to Shine* 2Cor3:18
10.*A Veiled* or Covered Glory 2Cor3:12-16 – An *Unveiled*, Ever-Increasing Glory 2Cor3:18
11.Destined *to be Done Away* 2Cor3:11; Heb7:12,8:13, 10:9 – Destined *to Last Forever* 2Cor3:11; Heb13:20
12.*Blood of animals* Heb9:19 – *blood of Christ* Heb9:14
13.*Shadow, image, symbol* Col2:17, Heb8:5,10:1– *Substance or real object* Col2:17
14.*Law of Moses* Acts13:39 – *law of Messiah* Rom8:2, Gal6:2
15.Law of works Rom.3:27,11:6 – *law of faith* Rom3:27
16.*Many Sacrifices* Heb9:7 – *one sacrifice* Heb9:12
17.Sprinkled with *blood of animals* Heb.9 – washed in the *blood of Jesus* Rev1:5, 1Jn1:7
18.*Provision for failure:* sacrifice of animals – Provision for failure: Christ’s sacrifice
19.*Earthly* tabernacle – *heavenly* tabernacle
20.*Outer* form, *flesh* –*inner reality, spirit*
21.*Righteousness of law* Rom10:5, Gal2:21– *righteousness of Christ* Phil3:9
22.*Imperfect* Heb8:7 – *perfect* Heb8:13
23.*Glorious* – *more glorious*
24.*Yoke of bondage* Gal5:1, Acts15:10 – *law of liberty* Gal2:4, Jam1:25
25.*Law of sin* Heb10:3 – *law of life* Rom8:2
26.*Remembers sins* Heb10:3 – *forgets sins* Heb8:12, 10:17
27.*Ineffective to save* Heb9:9,10:4 – *eternal redemption* Heb7:25
28.*Priests have sin* Heb5:1-4 – *Sinless priest* Heb7:26
29. *Aaronic priesthood* Heb.7:11 – *Melchizedek priesthood* (first mentioned priest in the Bible) Heb5:5-10
30.Priests *on the earth* – priest *in heaven* Heb8:4
31.Priests *made by law* Heb7:12,28 – Priest *through God’s oath*
32.*Unavailing* ministers Heb7:18 – *Able* ministers 2Cor3:6
33.*Perfected nothing* Heb7:19 – *Perfected believers* Heb7:19
34.*A good* covenant Rom7:12 – *A better* covenant Heb7:22, 8:6
35.*Earthly* things Heb9:1-5,24 – *Heavenly* things Heb9:24-24
36.Tent *built by man* – tent *built by God* Heb8:2
37.An old way Heb8:13 – New and living way Heb.10:19-20
38.Brings *bondage* Gal4:24-25 – Brings *liberty* 2Cor3:17
39. *Cannot* justify Gal2:16 – *Does* justify Acts13:38-39
40.Brings a *curse* Gal3:10 – *Redeems from the curse* Gal3:13
41.*Life by works* Gal3:10 – *Life by trust or faith* Gal3:11
42.*I obey, therefore I am accepted* – *I am accepted, therefore I obey*
43.Life as a *merit* through works Rom10:5 – Life as a *gift* through faith Rom6:23
44.*Exposes sin* Gal3:19 – *Covers sin* Rom4:1-8 and removes sin 1Jn1:7-9
45.*Under law* Rom6:14-15 – *Under grace* Gal3:22-25
46.*Done away* 2Cor3:7-14 – *Eternal* 2Cor3:11
47.*Abolished* 2Cor3:13 – *Continues* glorious 2Cor3:11
48.*Faulty* Heb.8:7 – *Perfect* Jam1:25
49.*Needs* reform Heb9:10-14 – Perfect 2Cor3:6,18
50.*If you do* (focused on self) Lev18:5 – *it is done* (focused on God) Jn19:30
51.*Slave* Deut34:5, Heb.3:5– *Son* Jn1:12, Gal4:7
52.*Unregenerated* – *new creation* 2Cor5:17
53.*Under a curse* Gal3:10, Jam2:10 – *Under blessing* Eph1:3
54.*Under works* Gal2:16 – *Under rest* in the work of Christ Mat11:28, Jn17:4, Heb4:10, Tit3:5
55.*You must bring* Lev2:4 – *Jesus brought himself* Heb7:27
56. *If you follow* you will be righteous Lev26:3 – *Through faith* Jesus is your righteousness 1Cor1:30
57.*If you make* Deut23:21 – *You are made* Eph2:10
58.*If you obey* Deut28:2 – *Jesus obeyed* in your place Rom5:19
59.*Harsh punishment* Heb10:28 – *Forgiveness and/or loving chastisement* Heb8:10;12:6-11
60.God *requires* a sacrifice Lev.1:10 – God *provides* the sacrifice Jn1:29, 3:16; Gen22:8,13
61.*Animal* sacrifices – *Christ’s* sacrifice Heb10:10
62.*Ten commandments plus 680 ritual rules* – *One commandment: to believe* in the Son Jn6:29,3:16,6:47
63.*Under the law* – *Under grace* Rom6:14
64.*Fear* Heb2:15 – *no fear* 1Jn4:18
65.*Fearsome mountain* Sinai Heb12:18 – Zion where Jesus died, also *heavenly Jerusalem* Heb12:22-24
66.*A good country*, Canaan Ex.3:8 – *a better country*, heaven Heb11:16, Phil3:20
67.Promises *impossible to reach* Heb8:7 – *Better promises* Heb8:6, 2Cor1:20, 2Pet1:3-4
68.Written with *ink* – written *with the Holy Spirit*
69.Letter which *kills* – Spirit which *gives life*
70.*Bondwoman* – *free woman* Gal4:22
71.Born *according to the flesh* Gal4:23 – Born *through promise*
72.*Persecutes* the one born according to the Spirit Gal4:29 – *Loves* the lost
73.*Is not heir* – *Is heir* together with Jesus Gal4:7
74.*Can’t come near* God Heb12:20 – *Draws near* with confidence
75.*Works* – *faith* Rom11:6
76.*Circumcision of the flesh* as sign of old covenant Lev.12:1-13 – *circumcision of the heart* Rom2:25
77.Sabbath keeping offered *physical rest* only – *spiritual rest* in Christ through faith not by keeping sabbath Mat11:28, Gal4:10, Col2:16,17, Heb4:3
78.Holy Spirit came *on the mountain* Ex24:16 – Holy Spirit *is in the believer* 1Cor3:16,6:19
79.God *spoke on the earth* – God *speaks from heaven* Heb12:25
80.*Earthly altar* Lev6:26 – *heavenly altar* (the cross) Jn6:54
81.*Animal sacrifice* – *sacrifice of praise* Heb13:15,16
82.*Behavior* (do not kill, do not steal, do not commit adultery…) – *thinking* (do not hate, do not lust) Col3:1-3
83.*Old heart* Jer19:9, Mat15:19 – *new heart* Ez36:26
84.*Works of the flesh* Gal5:19 – *Fruit of the Spirit* Gal5:22
85.*Friend of the Bridegroom* Jn3:29 – *Bride* of the Bridegroom Eph5:25-32, 2Cor11:2, Rev19:7-9

Pastor Daniel

*UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES?*

part2
*THE MEANING OF THE TERM “LAW”*
In the Old Testament, the word “law” is used to translated the Hebrew word *TORAH*, “instruction.”
In the progress of God’s revelation to man, we can see 7 different systems of law in the Scripture:
*1. THE LAW OF NATURE*
The law of nature is one which contains natural revelation of God’s eternal power and divine nature (Rom1:20,2:14)
*2. THE LAW OF EDEN*
Adam was instructed to “dress and keep” the garden, and to eat freely of all the trees except the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
*3. THE LAW OF THE PATRIARCHS*
Though very little detail of this is given, God’s instructions to the patriarchs still represent His law, the system of principles and rules designed to direct their lives. Gen.26:5 says, “Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.” Remember: Abraham lived hundreds of years before Moses.
*4. THE LAW OF MOSES GIVEN TO ISRAEL*
This consisted of 365 negative commands and 248 positive for a total of 613 commands
*5. HUMAN LAW AS PRESCRIBED BY MAN*
Human government is an institution ordained by God’s will, Lk20:22; Acts19:38,Rom.13:1-7. Of course, where human laws conflict with God’s laws, we are obligated to obey God instead (Acts4:19-20)
*6. THE LAW OF CHRIST, THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE*
The fact that the Mosaic law has been terminated does not mean that there is no law in this age of grace, though it is different. The epistles speak of ‘the perfect law of liberty’ (Jam1:25), ‘the royal law’ (Jam2:8), the ‘Law of Christ’ (Gal6:2), and ‘the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus’ (Rom8:2). This consists of the many imperatives found throughout the epistles which comprise this law
*7. THE LAW OF THE KINGDOM*
The New Testament clearly speaks of and anticipates the 1000 years reign of Christ on earth when He will rule in perfect righteousness and justice, with Kingdom laws, Is11:4-5, Is2:3.

*THE USE OF THE TERM “LAW” IN THE NEW TESTAMENT*
1.”LAW” is used for THE ENTIRE OLD TESTAMENT – Jn10:34 is a quotation from Ps82:6, and 1Cor14:21f is a quote from Is28:11-12. Neither the Psalms nor Isaiah are a part of the Old Testament “law,” but sometimes the term “law” was applied to the entire Old Testament because it constituted God’s special revelation of instruction for Israel and ultimately for man.
2.It is used with such terms as THE PROPHETS, AND WRITINGS, again as a title for the entire Old Testament Scripture, but in this way it looks at them in their division Lk24:27,44
3.It is especially used of the first FIVE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT OR THE MOSAIC LAW (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). Lk2:23;Jn8:5;1Cor9:9;Gal3:10
4.The term is used of the entire specific MOSAIC CODE given to the nation Israel to govern and guide their moral, religious and secular life, and covers parts of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy Deut4:8,44-45
5.The term is used of THE TEN COMMANDMENTS Ex20:3-17
6.Law is used of A PRINCIPLE, FORCE OR INFLUENCE that impels one to action Rom7:21,23a,25
7.It is used of LAW IN GENERAL Rom3:27 and possibly Rom5:13b

*THE NATURE AND CONTENT OF THE MOSAIC LAW*
It is common to divide the Mosaic Law into three parts as illustrated below for an easier study, but such a division is never stated as such in Scripture, rather it is seen as a unit.
–Part1: THE MORAL LAW OR THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. This part of the Law governed the moral life giving guidance to Israel in principles of right and wrong in relation to God and man Ex20:1-17
–Part2: THE JUDGMENTS, OR THE SOCIAL LAW. This part of the Law governed Israel in her secular, social, political, and economic life Ex21:1–23:13
–Part3: THE ORDINANCES OR THE CEREMONIAL LAW. This was the religious portion of Law which guided and provided for Israel in her worship and spiritual relationship and fellowship with God. It included the priesthood, tabernacle and sacrifices Ex25:-31 and Book of Lev.
*THE RECIPIENTS OF THE MOSAIC LAW*
The Law of Moses was given to Israel only, just as circumcision Gen17:11, passover blood Ex12:13-14;29:42 and Sabbath keeping Ex31:13-17, Ez20:12

*THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MOSAIC LAW*
(1) The foundation and basis of the Mosaic Law is the COVENANT GOD MADE WITH THE PATRIARCHS, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Ex.19:4-6; Deut4:4-8, Ex2:24-25; Deut4:36-38;29:31;1Chron16:15-19). God had promised to bless the descendants of Abraham and through them, the world (Gen12:1f; 15; 17:1ff; 26:24f; 28:13f). The Abrahamic covenant is a UNILATERAL COVENANT, dependent on God’s sovereign and steadfast faithfulness to His promises to Abraham regardless of Israel’s continued disobedience Ezek20:1-44
The Mosaic Covenant was a BILATERAL COVENANT. It was through obedience to the Mosaic Covenant (the Law) that Israel would be able to experience the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant in the promised land Deut. 28-30
(2) The Mosaic Law is HOLY, GOOD, AND SPIRITUAL Rom7:12,14. It was, however, only temporary as the book of Hebrews so clearly teaches (just as the sacrifices and the tabernacle were holy but temporary). As such, the Mosaic Law was designed to maintain a proper relationship between God and His people Israel (blessing versus cursing), but only until the coming of Messiah and the establishment of a NEW COVENANT in the blood of Christ
(3) The Mosaic Law is WEAK BECAUSE IT IS DEPENDENT ON MAN’S ABILITY. It was a system of merit Rom8:3
(4) The Mosaic Law was AN INDIVISIBLE UNIT, and is that which was terminated by the Lord Jesus. Though the Law is usually divided into three parts, as described above, it is important to see that it was an indivisible unit. Thus, when Paul stated that we are not under the Law, this included all three parts, including the Ten Commandments
It is a unit by the fact that the recognition of any of its features, as a meritorious system of righteousness with God, obligates the person to fulfill THE ENTIRE LAW, as we are taught by both Paul and James Gal3:10,12;5:3;Jam2:8-11
THE JEWS did not consider the three divisions of the Law. Also the penalty of death for disobedience is attached to all three parts of the Law
(5) THE MOSAIC LAW STANDS IN CONTRAST TO THE GRACE OF GOD as now manifested in the coming of Christ Rom6:14; 7:6; 8:3; Gal3:12

*THE EFFECTS OF THE MOSAIC LAW*
The reasons for the effects listed below lie in the wrong reaction of Israel and people today, approaching the Law as a system of merit, shifting from a faith basis to a works basis (Ex.19:8; Rom. 10:3). People often try to use the Law as a means of establishing their own standing before God. But Scripture teaches us that the Law:
-brings a curse Gal3:10-12
-brings death, it is a killer 2Cor3:6-7;Rom7:9-10
-brings condemnation 2Cor.3:9
-makes offenses abound Rom5:10;7:7-13
-declares all men guilty Rom3:19
-and holds men in bondage to sin and death Gal4:3-5,9,24; Rom7:10-14
-Paul says in 1Tim1:9 that he law is for the unrighteous, not for the righteous. Who is the righteous? The one who believes in Jesus 1Cor1:30
*THE END OF THE MOSAIC LAW AS A RULE OF LIFE*
Paul specifically says that “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” Rom10:4. This instituted a new law or principle of life, the law of the Spirit, the one of liberty and grace Rom8:2,13. This fact was also clearly settled by the Jerusalem Council in Acts15:6-11.
The book of Hebrews demonstrates that the old covenant of the Mosaic Law was only temporary and has been replaced by the coming of Christ whose ministry is based on (1) A BETTER PRIESTHOOD, one after the order of Melchizedek which is superior to Aaron’s, and (2) A BETTER COVENANT WITH BETTER PROMISES Heb7-10
Ask me for our study ”Old Covenant vs. New Covenant”.

*THE RELATIONSHIP OF NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVERS TO THE MOSAIC LAW*
1.He is never saved by keeping the Law Gal2:21
2.He is not under the Law as a rule of life: sacrifices, Sabbath keeping, tithing Gal.4:10,Col2:16
3.He does not walk by the Law but by the Spirit, which is the new law for the New Testament saint Rom8:4; Gal5:5,16. This is law of liberty through faith in the power of God.
4.He is dead to the Law Rom7:1-6; Gal2:19 by virtue of his union with Jesus Christ who fulfilled the Law.
5.He is under God’s new law, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus Rom8:2-4
1Jn2:3: ”And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep HIS COMMANDMENTS.” Which commandments? To love one another Jn13:34, to go preach the gospel and make disciples teaching them all that Jesus (not Moses) has commanded Mat28:18-20; to believe in Jesus 1Jn3:23.
6. He is righteous through faith, not through the works of the law Rom1:17,11:6;1Cor1:30;Phil.3:9

*CHRIST, THE FULFILLMENT OF THE MOSAIC LAW*
–CHRIST FULFILLED THE TEN COMMANDMENTS by living a perfect and sinless life. Thus, when man trusts in Christ, Christ’s righteousness is imputed to that individual so we have justification even without keeping the law. We have Christ’s righteousness so the Law can’t condemn us Rom8:1; 7:1-6;5:1;4:4-8
–CHRIST FULFILLED THE CEREMONIAL ORDINANCES, the shadows and types of His person and work, by dying on the cross for us and in our place. Again there is no condemnation because the believer is “in Christ” Col2:14; Rom3:24-25
–CHRIST ALSO FULFILLED THE SOCIAL LAW, but now He replaces it with a new way of life fitting to our new salvation. He gives provision for the inner man—the indwelling Holy Spirit—who enables us to experience true sanctification so that we may experience also the righteousness of the Law Rom8:2-4 just as if we kept the law perfectly
Mat5:17: ”Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” See also Luke24:44. See the list with 365 prophecies fulfilled by Jesus.
Pastor Daniel

*THE CHRISTIAN UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES?*
part1

Christians are no longer under the rule of the Mosaic law (see Rom6:14;7:1-14;Gal3:10-13,24-25; 4:21;5:1,13; 2Cor3:7-18,Eph2:15), but there have always been those who insist that the Mosaic Law, at least the Ten Commandments, are still in force for the Christian, saying that once we have been justified by faith, then the Mosaic law becomes our rule of life for sanctification or the way to please God: that is wrong, here are SOURCES OF SANCTIFICATION FOR THE BELIEVER IN JESUS:
–1Cor1:30 CHRIST IS OUR SANCTIFICATION and our righteousness
–2Thes2:13;1Pet1:2 THE SPIRIT of CHRIST PRODUCES SANCTIFICATION IN US
–THE WORD OF GOD SANCTIFIES US: Jn17:17;v19 Jesus says He also sanctifies Himself, sanctification means to be set aside for God, it does not mean to stop sinning. Moses sanctified the temple and objects of the temple as a sign that these were set aside for God’s purpose. See also Eph5:26;
–1Thes.5:23 GOD SANCTIFIES
–Heb.13:12 JESUS SANCTIFIES US WITH HIS BLOOD
–1Pet.3:15 Peter says that we should SANCTIFY THE LORD GOD IN OUR HEARTS, which means to set our hearts aside of God; heart here means thinking process, volition (will), meditation, self-consciousness (identity), conscience, emotions
–we please God by trusting in Jesus: Jn6:29,Mat17:5;Heb11:6
All of the above points exclude keeping the law as a means of sanctification or of pleasing God.
Those saying we are under the law make a division of the Mosaic law into two parts: MORAL AND THE CEREMONIAL. The ceremonial portion they agree as having found its fulfillment in Christ at His first advent (coming), and thus as having now passed away. But the moral portion of the Mosaic law, say they, is still in force as the believer’s rule of life.
The New Testament makes it clear that the believer in Christ is not any longer under the Mosaic law in its entirety.
After having been delivered from the law, to deliberately place ourselves once again under its control is said to be “falling from grace” Gal5:4.
That does not mean we should kill, steal, bear false witness. Long before the law was given through Moses, it was known as wrong to do such evil things; just as the age in which we live, the church age, is called the age of grace: this is not because God’s grace has not been manifested in other ages, but because in the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ we have the full manifestation of God’s grace Jn1:14-17
TIT2:11-12: ”for the GRACE OF GOD HAS APPEARED, bringing salvation to all people and it teaches us (trains us) to reject ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age”; GRACE (NOT THE 10 COMMANDMENTS) TEACHES CHRISTIANS TO DENY SIN;
–Christ showed us that the 10 COMMANDMENTS WERE SUPERFICIAL, based only on external behavior and thus not really sufficient to identify sin to all its extent, therefore even if you keep the 10 commandments (which nobody ever did 100%) you can still be sinning IN YOUR MIND: Mat5.21 ‘you heard it say, do not kill’ (Jesus didn’t even mention where and whom you have heard it from, if the 10 commandments were so important for us to keep today then Jesus would have mentioned them and Moses clearly), ‘but I say’: if you even get angry you are a criminal; even if you lust you have committed adultery; swear not by heaven of earth but your yes be yes.
The teachings of Jesus and of the apostles go far beyond the 10 commandments:

*Duties toward God*
*Positive*
1.Trust Him Mk11:22; Jn14:1; Heb11:6
2.Love Him and seek to know Him better 1Jn5:2;Phil3:10,15;Jas4:8
3.Be thankful to Him; worship and praise Him Jn4:23;Col3:15;Heb13:15
4.Serve Him Rom12:6-8,11;1Cor15:58
5.Pray to Him Lk18:1;Rom12:12;Eph6:18;Phil4:6;Col4:2;1Tim2:2
6.Live in accordance with His will Rom12:1;Heb13:21;Jas4:7
7.Walk in the Spirit Gal5:16,25;Eph5:18
8.Hold fast to sound doctrine and contend for the faith 2Tim1:13;Heb13:9; Jude3
9.Witness for Christ Jn15:27;Acts1:8;1Pet3:15
10. Do everything as unto Him 1Cor10:31;Eph6:7-8; Col3:17,23-24
11. Be diligent in devotion and study of His Word Jn5:39; Col3:16; 2Tim2:15; Jas4:8; 1Pet2:2
*Negative*
1.Do not have idols 1Cor10:7,14;Eph5:3;Phil3:19;Col3:5;1Tim6:17;Heb13:15;1Jn5:21
2.Do not receive false teachers 2Jn10
3.Do not mock or speak against God Gal6:7;Col3:8

*Duties toward Other Human Beings*
*Positive*
1.Love all, especially our brethren Jn15:17; Rom12:10; 1Cor16:14; 1Pet1:22; 1Jn3:23; 4:7,1Jn4:7
2.Be sympathetic and compassionate Eph4:32; Phil2:4; Col3:12
3.Forgive and forbear Rom12:19; Eph4:32; Col3:13
4.Deal honestly and fairly Rom12:17b;13:7;13:13;1Thess4:12; Jas2:1
5.Do good to all and help all Rom12:13;Gal 6:2,10;1Thess5:15;Tit3:1;Heb13:16;Jas4:17;3 Jn11
6.Tell the truth Eph4:25
7.Be courteous and live peaceably with all Rom12:18;1Pet2:17;3:8;1Pet3:8
8.Treat others as we would like for them to treat us Lk6:31; Rom12:17a
9.Provide a good example for others 1Cor8:9,13;Phil2:15
10.Urge brethren to good works and seek to restore backsliders Gal6:1;Heb10:24
*Negative*
1.Do not lie or bear false witness Eph4:25;Col3:9;Tit2:3
2.Do not steal Eph4:28;1Pet4:15
3.Do not murder 1Pet4:15
4.Do not commit adultery or fornication 1Cor6:18; 1Thess4:13
5.Do not judge others or speak evil of them Rom14:13;Tit3:2;Jas4:11;Jn7:24
6.Do not be unequally yoked with an unbeliever 2Cor6:14
7.Do not have fellowship with professing Christians who live in scandalous sin 1Cor5:11;2Thess3:14
8.Do not go to law with other believers 1Cor6:l
9.Do not glory in men 1Cor3:21
10.Avoid troublemakers and useless disputes Rom16:17; 2Tim2:23;Tit3:12
11.Do not have unpaid debts Rom13:8

*Duties toward Self*
*Positive*
1.Be holy 1Pet1:15;2:11,1Pet2:11; 2Pet3:1
2.Cleave to the good and do good to all Rom12:9; 1Thess5:15
3.Study the Word of God and meditate on sacred things 1Thess4:11;2Tim2:15
4.Grow spiritually 2Pet3:18
5.Think on good things Phil4:8
6.Think soberly of yourself Rom12:3
7.Be ambitious in the right way 1Cor12:31;14:1,1Cor14:1; 2Cor5:4
8.Be content with what God gives you Heb 13:5
9.Rejoice in the Lord Rom 12:12; Phil 3:1; 4:4,Phil4:4; 1Thess5:16
10.Live in the light of the judgment seat of Christ 1Cor 9:24
11.Judge yourself and confess sins to God 1Cor11:31;2Cor13:5;1Jn1:9
12.Conserve time for good purposes Eph5:11;Col4:5
13.Cultivate your mind 1Pet1:13
14.Do useful work Eph4:28; 2Thess3:12
15.Keep your body clean and in good health 1Cor 6:15;6:19,20;1Cor6;10:31;1Cor10:31; Rom12:1
*Negative*
1.Abhor evil Rom12:9;1Thess5:22
2.Avoid pride Rom12:3;Jas4:10;1Pet5:6
3.Do not conform to or love the world Rom12:2;1Jn2:15
4.Do not fellowship with evil Eph5:11
5.Do not sin through anger Eph4:26
6.Do not worry Phil4:6;1Pet5:7;1Jn14:1,27
7.Do not be lazy Rom12:1
8.Do not use filthy speech Eph4:29; 5:4,Eph 5:4
9.Do not become drunk Eph5:18
10.Do not complain 1Cor10:10;Phil 2:14
Paul said in Gal.5:14 that if you love your neighbor as yourself you have fulfilled the 10 commandments, see also James2:8, Rom.13:9-10

*PURPOSE OF THE LAW OF MOSES:*
–*1.To provide A certain STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS* (Deut4:8;Ps19:7-9). The Mosaic Law revealed the righteousness, holiness, and goodness of God (Deut4:8;Lev11:44-45;19:2;20:7; Rom7:12-14) but only to a certain measure, full measure is in Christ. The Law at Sinai was given to Israel to reveal to a certain measure who God is, as full revelation is in Christ, and to shed light on the reality of an infinite gulf that separates God from man.
Rom3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that EVERY MOUTH MAY BE SILENCED and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
–*2.The Law was given TO IDENTIFY SIN AND REVEAL MAN’S SIN AND BANKRUPT CONDITION* as guilty before God (Rom3:19f,23;7:7-8;5:20;Gal3:19). God’s holy Law reveals to man just who and what he is—sinful and separated from God by an infinite gulf that he is unable to bridge in his own human strength.
However, Jesus comes to punish not those that disobey the 10 commandments but those that disobey the Gospel of Jesus, 2Thes1:8, Gospel which does not have the 10 commandments at its center but the death and resurrection of Jesus 1Cor15:1-4. Those who reject Jesus will be sent to hell and their degree of punishment in hell will be according to their sins: Lk12:47, Acts20:12, Mat25:31-46; just as those who go to heaven go there for free because of faith Rom.6:23, but in heaven they will have rewards based on their faith-works: 1Cor3:10-15.
Rom3:20 FOR NO ONE IS DECLARED RIGHTEOUS BEFORE HIM BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW, for THROUGH THE LAW COMES THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN.
–*3.The Law was given TO SHUT MAN UP TO FAITH,* to exclude the works of the Law as a system of merit for either salvation or sanctification and thereby lead him to Christ as the only means of righteousness: Gal3:19-20, 20-24; 1Tim1:8-9; Rom3:21-24. The ceremonial portion of the Law did this by pointing to the coming of a suffering Savior, “for without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness” Heb9:22
-Rom3:21-24 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God, which is attested by the law and the prophets, has been disclosed, namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe…they are JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
-Gal3:24-26 Thus THE LAW HAD BECOME OUR GUARDIAN UNTIL CHRIST, so that we could be declared righteous by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.” Greek word ”PAIDAGOGOS’ translated ‘guardian’ or schoolmaster literally means ”child leader”, it was a slave accompanying a child to school: he was not the teacher of the child.

*THE LIMITATIONS OF THE MOSAIC LAW*
When approached as a meritorious system, the Law cannot:
-can’t justify Gal2:16
-can’t give life Gal3:21
-can’t give the Holy Spirit Gal3:2,14
-can’t sanctify Gal3:21;5:5; Rom8:3
-can’t make perfect or permanently deal with sin Heb7:19
-can’t give rest through Sabbath Mat11:28-29
-can’t give righteousness Rom9:31,Gal3:21,Phil3:9
…see part2
Pastor Daniel