“Convicting Those Who Contradict”

“Convicting Those Who Contradict” Helping Saints Prepare to Answer and Persuade Those in Error

Seventh Day Churches • Seventh Day Adventists • Seventh Day Baptists • Church Of God, 7th Day • Worldwide Church Of God(Herbert W. Armstrong) • Et al. • The Law of Moses—with the 10 Commandments—was nailed to the cross of Christ

Seventh Day Sabbath Keepers Supremacy of Christ over Moses

A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.—Proverbs 15:1 NKJV • Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.—Colossians 4:5, 6 NKJV

Barrier #1 – Perceived Motive • Concerned about moral decay • Emphasize obedience to God’s Law • Connect love and obedience (John 14:15) • No Ten Commandments => • No law? Loose living? • Undermining God’s authority? • Make your intentions clear

Barrier #2 – Nomenclature • Ten Commandments • Venerated, elevated • Moral law, universal • Law of Moses • Relegated, diminished • Ceremonial law, temporary, shadow • Let Scripture define the terms

“How can you say that we should not keep the Sabbath? It’s one of the Ten Commandments! John 14:15 says, ‘If you love me, keep My commandments.’ Just what commandments do you think he’s talking about?” • Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.—1st John 2:3, 4 NKJV

Which Commandments? • In the Sabbatarian mind … • Commandment(s) almost a technical term • Commandments = Ten Commandments • Law of God • Universal, eternal Moral Law • Everything else: Ceremonial Law • Law of Moses • Statutes, judgments, ordinances

Which Commandments? • Does commandment(s) always equal the Ten Commandments? • Great commandment in the law? (Matthew 22:36) • “Love the Lord …” (Deuteronomy 6:5) • “Love your neighbor …” (Leviticus 19:18) • Not one of the Ten • Leviticus & Numbers = Commandments • Leviticus 27:34 (final verse) • Numbers 36:13 (final verse) • Ten Commandments nowhere in Leviticus/Numbers

Which Commandments? • Do statutes, judgments, etc., never refer to the Ten Commandments? • Ezekiel 20:15, 16, 21 • “Statutes” and “judgments” include the Sabbath • Leviticus 26:15 • “Statutes”, “judgments”, “commandments”, and “covenant” • Synonyms • All one law

Which Commandments? • Covenant: Another synonym • “Tablets of the Covenant” • Exodus 34:1, 4, 28 – “… words of the covenant” • Specifically the Ten Commandments • Deuteronomy 9:9, 11, 15 • Hebrews 9:1–4 • What would God make with Israel & Judah? • Jeremiah 31:31–34 • New covenant

Which Commandments? • Law of the Lordvs. Law of Moses • Technical terms or keywords • “Law of God” = moral law (the Ten) • “Law of Moses” = ceremonial law • Law of God attributed to Moses • Mark 7:9, 10 – “Moses said …” • 2nd Chr. 34:14; Neh. 10:29 – “Given by Moses” • Sabbath: Nations/Gentiles never rebuked

Which Commandments? • Law of the Lordvs. Law of Moses • “Ceremonial” laws called “Law of the Lord” • Luke 2:23 – cf. Exodus 13:2, 12, 15 • 2nd Chronicles 31:3 – burnt offerings • Ezra 7:6 – “the Lord God … had given” • Moral laws in “ceremonial” sections • Leviticus 18 – Sex • Exodus 21–23 – Various moral laws

Which Commandments? • Law of the Lordvs. Law of Moses • Nehemiah 8 – The definitive word • “Book of the Law of Moses” • “The Law” • “Book of the Law” • “Law of God” • “Book of the Law of God” • All one Law

Review • Barriers • Perceived motive • Arguing against any law in favor of cheap grace • Undermining God’s authority: Changing things God has not • Dispel these notions: Make your intentions clear • Nomenclature • Moral Law: Law of the Lord/God, commandments (the Ten)vs. • Ceremonial Law: Law of Moses, statutes, judgments, etc. • Go to the Bible: Let Scripture define the terms

Review • “How can you say that we should not keep the Sabbath? It’s one of the Ten Commandments! John 14:15 says, ‘If you love me, keep My commandments.’ Just what commandments do you think he’s talking about?” • Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.—1st John 2:3, 4 NKJV

Review

Which Commandments? The Law = the Old Testament

Which Commandments? • The Old Law is No More • We are dead to the Law • Romans 7:1–7 • “You shall not covet.” (one of the Ten) • No middle wall of separation • Ephesians 2:11–16 • The Law = Enmity • “abolished … the law of commandments”

Which Commandments? • The Old Law is No More • No more handwriting of requirements • Colossians 2:13–17 • “let no one judge you in … sabbaths” • We are under the New Covenant • Hebrews 8:7–13 – Old Covenant obsolete • 2nd Corinthians 3:7–11 – “ministry of death” • New Covenant more glorious than Old • Old Covenant written on stones

Which Commandments? • Words of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Apostles • John 14:15 – “Keep my commandments” • Luke 6:46 – “… the things which I say?” • 2nd John 9 – “Doctrine of Christ” • Matthew 5 & 19 – “But I say to you …” • Matthew 28:18 – “All authority … given to Me” • John 16:13 – “Spirit… guide you intoalltruth” • 1st Corinthians 14:37 – Paul wrote the “commandments of the Lord”

“But God wrote the Ten Commandments in stone with His own finger (Exodus 31:18)! Why would God change the Sabbath, which He clearly intended to be permanent?” • And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.—Exodus 31:18 NKJV

The Finger Of God • God can repeal His own writing • Fallacies: Appeal to authority; nonsequitur • Jeremiah 31:31–34 • Who is making the new covenant? God! • Hebrews 8:7–13 – “obsolete”, “vanishing” • 2nd Corinthians 3:7–11 • “Ministry of death” • Written on stones

“Genesis makes it very clear that God established the Sabbath at creation: He blessed and sanctified it (Genesis 2:3). The Sabbath is for all time!” • Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.—Genesis 2:3 NKJV

When was the Sabbath Revealed? • God revealed/commanded the Sabbath at Sinai • Fallacy: Equivocation; red herring • Revealed at Sinai – Nehemiah 9:13, 14 • Exodus 16:23 – First appearance of “Sabbath” • Exodus 16:1 – Month 2, day 15 out of Egypt • Exodus 19:1 – Arrived at Sinai in 3rd month • Exodus 20:8 – Formally codified

When was the Sabbath Revealed? • God revealed/commanded the Sabbath at Sinai • Anything else ordained long beforehand,but not revealed until much later? • Salvation in Jesus • 1st Peter 1:18–20 • Ephesians 1:4–10

When was the Sabbath Revealed? • God revealed/commanded the Sabbath at Sinai • “But Adam/Abraham kept the Sabbath” • “Abraham … kept … My commandments” – Genesis 26:5 • Point to be proven assumed (gratuitous assertion) • Previous bullets prove otherwise • No recorded commandments? • Genesis 12:1 – Leave Ur • Genesis 17:9ff – Circumcision • Genesis 22:2 – Sacrifice Isaac

When was the Sabbath Revealed? • God revealed/commanded the Sabbath at Sinai • Prolepsis (possibly?) • Genesis 23:2 – KirjathArba (Hebron) • Joshua 18:28 – Jebus (Jerusalem) • Genesis 7:2? – Clean/unclean animals • Not likely: Genesis 2:3 – “Then …”

“God does not change (Hebrews 13:8); therefore His law does not change!” • Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.—Hebrews 13:8 NKJV

Has God’s Law Never Changed? • A necessary change in the Law • Fallacy: Non sequitur • Jeremiah 31:31–34 – New Covenant • Hebrews 7:12 – New priesthood  New Law

“God Himself said that the Sabbath was ‘perpetual’ and ‘forever’ for all generations (Exodus 31:16, 17). Last time I checked, ‘forever’ means ‘until the end of time’!” • “Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”—Exodus 31:16, 17NKJV

Is “Perpetual” “Without End”? • “Perpetual”, “everlasting”, “forever” not ad infinitum

Is “Perpetual” “Without End”? • “Perpetual”, “everlasting”, “forever” not ad infinitum • The explanation is in the passage (Exodus 31:16, 17) • “the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath” • “sign between Me and the children of Israel” • “throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant” • In effect … • For Israel (not all nations) • For the duration of the covenant

“Jesus didn’t destroy the Law; He fulfilled it. He even said that the Law would last ‘till heaven and earth pass away’ (Matthew 5:17, 18). It’s ridiculous to suggest that we are not obligated to rest on the Sabbath!” • “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”—Matthew 5:17, 18 NKJV

Till Heaven And Earth Pass Away? • “Heaven”, “earth” not sole termination clause • “Till all is fulfilled” • Jesus fulfilled the Law – Luke 24:44–48 • Christ: the end/goal of the Law • Romans 10:4 • Galatians 3:24

Till Heaven And Earth Pass Away? • “Heaven”, “earth” not sole termination clause • Not destroyed, but fulfilled • Contracts/covenants can end by … • Being broken • Being fulfilled/completed • Jesus fulfilled • Deuteronomy 18:15, 18,19 • Cf. Acts 3:22–26

Till Heaven And Earth Pass Away? • “Heaven”, “earth” not sole termination clause • Only “heaven”, “earth” – Luke 16:17 • “Fail” not “pass away” • Jesus fulfilled • The Law did not fail • See also v. 16

“Not only are we to keep the Sabbath until the end of time, but Isaiah says we’ll be keeping it in heaven (Isaiah 66:22, 23)! If we’re to keep the Sabbath throughout eternity, you can’t possibly think it’s right for us to just ignore it now!” • “For as the new heavens and the new earthWhich I will make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord,“So shall your descendants and your name remain.And it shall come to passThat from one New Moon to another,And from one Sabbath to another,All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord.—Isaiah 66:22, 23 NKJV

Sabbath Keeping In Heaven? • New heavens, new earth are New Covenant • Consistency: Observe New Moon, too? v. 23 • New Covenant; figurative language • “I will gather all nations and tongues” – v. 18(Cf. Isaiah 2:2–4) • “your brethren for an offering” – v. 20 (Cf. Rom 12:1, 2) • “take some … for priests and Levites” – v. 21 • No moon in heaven – Revelation 21:23

“What about Matthew 24? (See v. 20) Christians will be keeping the Sabbath to the very end!” • “And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.”—Matthew 24:20 NKJV

End Time Sabbath Keeping? • AD 70, not the end of time • Took place during Jesus’s generation – v. 34 • Hindrances to flight – vv. 15–20 • Pregnant & nursing – v. 19 • Why would Sabbath hinder flight? • Cities of Israel observing Sabbath in AD 70 • City gates closed – Nehemiah 13:19

“Even Paul rested on the Sabbath during his preaching journeys (Acts 17:2). How can you think we should not do the same thing today?” • Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures—Acts 17:2 NKJV

Paul Observed The Sabbath? • Not Sabbath rest; low hanging fruit • What was Paul’s Sabbath custom? • Preaching to those present – Acts 13:14ff • “spoke to the women who met there” – Acts 16:13 • “reasoned … from the Scriptures” – Acts 17:2 • No mention of rest or worship

“The Greek word in Colossians 2:16 is sabbaton (σαββάτων). That means “Sabbaths” (plural), not “Sabbath” (singular). Read Leviticus 23:23–38; God calls the yearly feast days “Sabbath days”. Paul is making no reference whatsoever to the weekly Sabbath!” • So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths(σαββάτων),—Colossians 2:16 NKJV

Yearly Sabbath, Not Weekly? • Yearly, monthly, weekly special days • “Sabbath” singularity/plurality irrelevant • “Festival” is yearly, not “Sabbaths” • Paul employed OT idiom • Yearly • Monthly • Weekly • Daily

Yearly Sabbath, Not Weekly? • Yearly, monthly, weekly special days

“Nothing in Paul’s writings or anything in the New Testament can erase the Old Testament. That would make God a liar!”

Is God a Liar? • Not an argument, but desperation • Emotional appeal; addresses no argument • Fallacy: Straw man • We do not argue that the OT is erased • “written for our learning” – Romans 15:4 • Reflects attitude toward apostles’ authority • Matt 18:18 – bind/loose on earth also in heaven • 1stCor 14:37 – Paul wrote Lord’s commandments

“Convicting Those Who Contradict”