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originally posted by: TAECOLE7
a reply to: Matrixsurvivor
I apologize, my question was not a trick question, your statement about Paul, was that a true statement?
A Christian Requirement?
Since Christ fulfilled the Law, are Christians obligated to keep the weekly Sabbath? Under inspiration, the apostle Paul answers: “Therefore let no man judge you in eating and drinking or in respect of a festival or of an observance of the new moon or of a sabbath; for those things are a shadow of the things to come, but the reality belongs to the Christ.”—Colossians 2:16, 17.
Those inspired words suggest quite a change in God’s requirements for his servants. Why the change? Because Christians are under a new law, “the law of the Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) The former Law covenant given through Moses to Israel came to an end when Jesus’ death fulfilled it. (Romans 10:4; Ephesians 2:15) Did the commandment about keeping the Sabbath also come to an end? Yes. After saying that “we have been discharged from the Law,” Paul went on to refer to one of the Ten Commandments. (Romans 7:6, 7) So the Ten Commandments—including the Sabbath law—are part of the Law that came to an end. God’s worshippers, therefore, are no longer required to observe a weekly Sabbath.
The change from the Israelite to the Christian system of worship could be illustrated this way: A nation may change its constitution. Once the new constitution is legally in place, people are no longer required to obey the former one. Even though some of the laws in the new constitution may be the same as those in the former constitution, others may be different. So a person would need to study the new constitution carefully to see what laws now apply. Additionally, a loyal citizen would want to know when the new constitution went into effect.
In like manner, Jehovah God provided over 600 laws, including 10 main ones, for the nation of Israel. These included laws about morals, sacrifices, health matters, and Sabbath-keeping. However, Jesus said that his anointed followers would constitute a new “nation.” (Matthew 21:43) From 33 C.E. onward, this nation has had a new “constitution,” founded on two basic laws—love of God and love of neighbor. (Matthew 22:36-40) Although “the law of the Christ” includes instructions that are similar to those in the Law given to Israel, we should not be surprised that some laws are very different and that others are no longer required. The law requiring the observance of a weekly Sabbath is one of those that are no longer binding.
Has God Changed His Standards?
Does this change from the Law of Moses to the law of the Christ mean that God has changed his standards? No. Just as a parent will adjust the rules he makes for his children, taking into consideration their ages and circumstances, Jehovah has adjusted the laws his people are required to obey. The apostle Paul explains the matter this way: “Before the faith arrived, we were being guarded under law, being delivered up together into custody, looking to the faith that was destined to be revealed. Consequently the Law has become our tutor leading to Christ, that we might be declared righteous due to faith. But now that the faith has arrived, we are no longer under a tutor.”—Galatians 3:23-25.
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Facts to Remember About the Sabbath [whereislogic: most of which also worthy of your consideration regarding the other laws in Leviticus]:
Although a Bible verse may speak of the need to observe a weekly Sabbath, we need to ascertain the time when these words were stated.
4026 B.C.E. BEFORE THE TIME OF MOSES
ADAM CREATED: The law regarding the Sabbath was not given prior to the time of Moses and the Israelites.—Deuteronomy 5:1-3,12-14.
1513 B.C.E. GOD’S LAW TO ISRAEL
LAW GIVEN TO ISRAEL: The law concerning the Sabbath was not given to other nations. (Psalm 147:19,20) It was given as “a sign” between Jehovah and the sons of Israel.—Exodus 31:16, 17.
The weekly Sabbath day was just one of many sabbaths that the Israelites were commanded to observe.—Leviticus 16:29-31; 23:4-8; 25:4, 11; Numbers 28:26.
33 C.E. THE LAW OF THE CHRIST
END OF LAW GIVEN TO ISRAEL: When deciding what God requires of Christians, in 49 C.E., the apostles and older men in Jerusalem made no mention of the need to observe a weekly Sabbath.—Acts 15:28, 29.
The apostle Paul was concerned about Christians who put emphasis on observing special days.—Galatians 4:9-11.