Third Letter – Are you saved if you do not observe Sabbath?
Dear Jake,
Before addressing your question about Sabbath we should look at John 7:17.
The Amplified Bible reads, “If any man desires to do His will (God’s pleasure), he will know (have the needed illumination to recognize, and can tell for himself) whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking from Myself and of My own accord and on My own authority.”
This Scripture is saying that we have to want to do the will of God before we will know the will of God. In other words our hearts must first be in a place where we purpose to do His will, and then we will recognize whether it is from God. The implication is that if we know it is from God we will know the will of God. The opposite is true as well, if we lack the desire to do God’s will we will never see it.
According to Y’shua, doing the will of God is a pre-requisite to entering the Kingdom (John 7:21). What is the will of God? It is practicing the “Law” (John 7:22-23) i.e. walking in Torah, following His instructions.
Psalms 1, " Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the way of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers;2 But his delight is in Yahweh's Torah; On his Torah he meditates day and night.3 He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper.4 The wicked are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.6 For Yahweh knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked shall perish.
Your question is, “Are you saved if you do not observe Sabbath?”
The Philippian jailer in Acts chapter 16 asked a similar question when he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30)
Paul and Silas replied to the jailer, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)
So the short answer to the question of what is required for salvation is to “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
But what follows salvation?
In Acts chapter 8:35-40 Philip shares the gospel with the Ethiopian Eunuch.” The eunuch asks, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
Philip replies, “If you believe (in the Lord Jesus) with all your heart, you may.” And so Philip baptized him and was caught up and transported to Azotus.
So what follows salvation? Baptism.
Is baptism required for salvation? Some would argue “yes,” yet others teach that it is an “act” of obedience or outward confession of a professed faith in Y’shua. Isn’t it interesting that this act of heart obedience to the Lord also has become a theological debate?
But what precedes salvation? The answer – repentance. “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation.” (2 Cor. 7:10)
So according to Scripture to enter the Kingdom of God, to be saved, we must repent and believe. Does salvation end here? No, our faith in Y’shua is expressed outwardly, visibly as James says, “Someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18)
Paul explains it this way, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)
So how do we walk in the newness of life? According to Romans 8 we walk in newness of life by walking in the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4 "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh; 4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Walking in the Spirit then means first we are freed from the penalty of sin (which is death) by the crucifixion of Messiah. Second we no longer walk according to our flesh (our will), but walk according to the Spirit (God’s will). As we do this, the righteous requirement of the law (still in effect) is fulfilled in us.
The Helper (Comforter), or the Spirit was given to lead and guide us into all truth.
John 16:7-15, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don't go away, the Counselor won't come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment; 9 about sin, because they don't believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won't see me any more; 11 about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged. 12 "I have yet many things to tell you, but you can't bear them now. 13 However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you. 15 All things whatever the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine, and will declare it to you."
Psalms 119:142 gives a concise definition for truth: “Your law (Hebrew - Torah) is truth.”
According to Scripture to walk in Spirit is to walk in Torah:
Ezekiel 36:27, "I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my ordinances, and do them."
Y’shua means essentially the same thing when He said, “If you love me you will keep my commandments.” How are we to walk with Him? By loving Him and keeping His commandments. This admonition occurs many times from Genesis to Revelation.
Y’shua said the great commandment of the Torah is, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38) Y’shua is quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 to the Pharisees. Clearly He has the whole passage (Deuteronomy 6:1-25) in mind. It is important to realize that at this point in the historical time line that zero New Testament documents existed. Paul was not a believer yet, and had not written letters to any church. Y’shua’s audience would have understood that He was talking about the commandments, statutes and ordinances of God that were given through Moses. Y’shua was not instituting an alternate set of commandments.
As believers we know that as we love Him we choose to abide in Him. This abiding is the continual progressive walk with Y’shua. Y’shua’s life pattern is abiding in love and keeping the commandments. Aren’t we supposed to follow Him? Yes we are! And so this should be our life pattern as well.
John 15:9-11, "9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and remain in his love.11 I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full."
This definition of abiding in Y’shua is further described in 1 John 2:3-6.
"This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments. 4 One who says, "I know him," and doesn't keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn't in him. 5 But whoever keeps his word, God's love has most assuredly been perfected in him. This is how we know that we are in him: 6 he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked." (1 John 2:3-6)
As we abide in a loving relationship with Y’shua we will walk in the manner that He walked, which includes walking in the commandments and keeping the Sabbaths. Y’shua is the “Lord of the Sabbath.” (Luke 6:5)
Clearly, this is the goal Messiah has in mind for every believer – that we should love Him with all of our heart, soul and mind – sacrificing our own fleshly minds for His transformation.
"Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 2 Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2)
In John 4:19-26 we find a parallel concept expressed by Messiah to the Samaritan woman at the well. The topic is worship. She says to Y’shua (my paraphrase), “we worship here, on this mountain in this way, while the Jews say we MUST worship in Jerusalem their way.” Y’shua responds by saying (my paraphrase), “A time is coming when you will neither worship on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.” In other words He was telling her that a time is coming when Israel as a nation would cease to exist. And it was certainly so, for in 70 AD The Temple was destroyed, and by 132-135 AD because of the Bar-Kokhba Revolt and a Roman edict, Israel (Judea and Samaria) ceased to exist.
Y’shua continues by saying a time is coming when those who truly desire to worship Him will worship in Spirit and in Truth, and this is His desire – to be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth.
We learn from these passages that we should love Him with all of our heart, mind and soul; and to truly please Him we must worship in Spirit and in Truth. So where do we learn how to do these things? The answer according to John 4:22 is Judah for it says, “You worship what you do not know; we (Judah) know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.” I find this fascinating when compared to Zechariah 8:23 which says, “In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”” (Zechariah 8 is about the re-gathering, an end time event)
So what is the correlation between salvation, loving, abiding in Him and worshipping Him in Spirit and truth, and Sabbath? It is the progression from initial belief, to learning to love Him, to worship Him, to doing the things that please Him out of love for Him. There are many Scriptures that make the connection between loving Him and obedience to His commands.
And now on to the topic of Sabbath. As you know, Sabbath is the day that He (God) has set aside for worship. Leviticus 23 says these are “the set feasts of Yahweh” that are to be proclaimed as holy convocations, they are, “His feasts.” (not Jewish feasts) The first feast mentioned in Leviticus 23 is Sabbath.
Leviticus 23:1-3, "Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, 'The set feasts of Yahweh, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my set feasts. 3 "'Six days shall work be done: but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no manner of work. It is a Sabbath to Yahweh in all your dwellings."
If we love the Lord our God, and desire to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth, according to His Word the time that He has set aside for us to meet (worship) with Him is Sabbath.
Isaiah 58:13-14 says it this way, "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, and the holy of Yahweh honorable; and shall honor it, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words: 14 then shall you delight yourself in Yahweh; and I will make you to ride on the high places of the earth; and I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father: for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it."
The Lord is clear on this topic. The Sabbaths are vital! The Sabbaths are firmly connected to our relationship with Him, and more importantly our love of Him. If we love Him we will have hearts that delight in doing what pleases Him.
So why do churches meet on Sunday? That’s another topic for another time, but I would encourage you to do a little research on this topic for yourself and discover on your own the history of calling Sunday His Sabbath and the implications of changing the appointed times of the Lord. (Dan 2:21-22; 9:25)
Scriptures speak for themselves regarding the importance of Sabbath:
Isaiah 56:1-7, "56 Thus says Yahweh, Keep you justice, and do righteousness; for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast; who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil. 3 Neither let the foreigner, who has joined himself to Yahweh, speak, saying, Yahweh will surely separate me from his people; neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 4 For thus says Yahweh of the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and hold fast my covenant: 5 To them will I give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 6 Also the foreigners who join themselves to Yahweh, to minister to him, and to love the name of Yahweh, to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and holds fast my covenant; 7 even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."
Ezekiel 20:10-12, "So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. 11 I gave them my statutes, and shown them my ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live in them. 12 Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them."
Isaiah 66:22-24, "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, says Yahweh, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23 It shall happen, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, says Yahweh. 24 They shall go forth, and look on the dead bodies of the men who have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring to all flesh."
Exodus 31:12-16, "Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 13 "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, 'Most assuredly you shall keep my Sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you. 14 You shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Yahweh. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death. 16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant."
I suppose this passage in Exodus might be the source for the original question regarding Sabbath and salvation, for clearly this passage indicates that the person or persons who fail to honor the Lord’s Sabbaths will be cut off.
We must keep in mind that we are free from the law of sin and death. We are under grace. Y’shua’s death paid the penalty for our transgression of the law. By His death we are able to walk in Torah without condemnation. This is the point Paul makes in Romans 8:1-4. (Mentioned above)
As we walk in His life, rather than in our flesh we are changed to be more like Him. Part of this process of being set-apart (made holy) for Him includes a sign. This sign is given that we might know that He is the Lord that sets us apart for His purposes. See Ezekiel 20:12 and Exodus 31:13 (above.)
Ezekiel 20:12, "Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies (sets) them (apart)."
Knowing this, would we not want to keep His Sabbaths? Would we not want this sign from Him on us?
Some would argue that the blessing of Sabbath does not apply to believers in Y’shua today. Are we included in the command in Exodus 31:16, “Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant?”
The answer is “Yes – and we want to be.”
“Yes” – Ephesians 2:11-13 explains that we are brought near and become part of the commonwealth of Israel by the blood of Messiah. If you are in Christ you are no longer outside or strangers to the covenant.
“And we want to be” in covenant. In both Hebrew 8:8-10 and Jeremiah 31:31-34 the Lord says that He will make a new covenant with the house of Judah (Jews) and the house of Israel (non-Jews). If we are not born into Judah, then in order to participate in the covenant our only option is becoming a part of Israel in order to receive the blessing of His new covenant.
Y’shua affirms the ceaselessness everlasting unending imperishableness of the covenant as expressed in Exodus 31:16 (mentioned above) when He said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 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. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-19)
This Scripture clearly states that until heaven and earth pass away not one letter will pass from the law until all is fulfilled. Heaven and earth have not passed away, thus His Torah remains.
Matthew 5:19 shows the result of not walking in His commandments. This truth is reverberated in Deuteronomy 27:26 and Jeremiah 11:3.
Paul affirms this in Romans as well when he says that the law (Torah) is good:
· Romans 7:12 “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.”
· Romans 7:16 “I agree with the law that it is good.”
· Romans 7:22 “For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.”
As there are consequences for not following His commands, there are also blessings and abundant life promised for those who guard (Hebrew – Shamar) His commands. Deuteronomy 28 vividly describes living inside or outside the blessings of obeying His commands. May we daily choose life by obeying!
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 sums up this “round the mountain” look at the question of salvation, baptism, walking in the Spirit in Torah, abiding in Him, and keeping His commands (including Sabbath.)
"I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your seed; 20 to love Yahweh your God, to obey his voice, and to cleave to him; for he is your life, and the length of your days; that you may dwell in the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."
We are to love Him, obey Him and cling to Him – for He is our life. All He gives us is good – and yet He allows us to choose what we will receive or decline.
James 1:17, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow."
Salvation comes by repentance and belief in Y’shua, and clinging to Him as our Messiah. Obedience to His commands, which are critically important to Him, brings abundant blessings.
Shalom!
Eli
Dear Jake,
Before addressing your question about Sabbath we should look at John 7:17.
The Amplified Bible reads, “If any man desires to do His will (God’s pleasure), he will know (have the needed illumination to recognize, and can tell for himself) whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking from Myself and of My own accord and on My own authority.”
This Scripture is saying that we have to want to do the will of God before we will know the will of God. In other words our hearts must first be in a place where we purpose to do His will, and then we will recognize whether it is from God. The implication is that if we know it is from God we will know the will of God. The opposite is true as well, if we lack the desire to do God’s will we will never see it.
According to Y’shua, doing the will of God is a pre-requisite to entering the Kingdom (John 7:21). What is the will of God? It is practicing the “Law” (John 7:22-23) i.e. walking in Torah, following His instructions.
Psalms 1, " Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the way of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers;2 But his delight is in Yahweh's Torah; On his Torah he meditates day and night.3 He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper.4 The wicked are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.6 For Yahweh knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked shall perish.
Your question is, “Are you saved if you do not observe Sabbath?”
The Philippian jailer in Acts chapter 16 asked a similar question when he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30)
Paul and Silas replied to the jailer, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)
So the short answer to the question of what is required for salvation is to “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
But what follows salvation?
In Acts chapter 8:35-40 Philip shares the gospel with the Ethiopian Eunuch.” The eunuch asks, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
Philip replies, “If you believe (in the Lord Jesus) with all your heart, you may.” And so Philip baptized him and was caught up and transported to Azotus.
So what follows salvation? Baptism.
Is baptism required for salvation? Some would argue “yes,” yet others teach that it is an “act” of obedience or outward confession of a professed faith in Y’shua. Isn’t it interesting that this act of heart obedience to the Lord also has become a theological debate?
But what precedes salvation? The answer – repentance. “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation.” (2 Cor. 7:10)
So according to Scripture to enter the Kingdom of God, to be saved, we must repent and believe. Does salvation end here? No, our faith in Y’shua is expressed outwardly, visibly as James says, “Someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18)
Paul explains it this way, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)
So how do we walk in the newness of life? According to Romans 8 we walk in newness of life by walking in the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4 "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh; 4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Walking in the Spirit then means first we are freed from the penalty of sin (which is death) by the crucifixion of Messiah. Second we no longer walk according to our flesh (our will), but walk according to the Spirit (God’s will). As we do this, the righteous requirement of the law (still in effect) is fulfilled in us.
The Helper (Comforter), or the Spirit was given to lead and guide us into all truth.
John 16:7-15, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don't go away, the Counselor won't come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment; 9 about sin, because they don't believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won't see me any more; 11 about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged. 12 "I have yet many things to tell you, but you can't bear them now. 13 However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you. 15 All things whatever the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine, and will declare it to you."
Psalms 119:142 gives a concise definition for truth: “Your law (Hebrew - Torah) is truth.”
According to Scripture to walk in Spirit is to walk in Torah:
Ezekiel 36:27, "I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my ordinances, and do them."
Y’shua means essentially the same thing when He said, “If you love me you will keep my commandments.” How are we to walk with Him? By loving Him and keeping His commandments. This admonition occurs many times from Genesis to Revelation.
Y’shua said the great commandment of the Torah is, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38) Y’shua is quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 to the Pharisees. Clearly He has the whole passage (Deuteronomy 6:1-25) in mind. It is important to realize that at this point in the historical time line that zero New Testament documents existed. Paul was not a believer yet, and had not written letters to any church. Y’shua’s audience would have understood that He was talking about the commandments, statutes and ordinances of God that were given through Moses. Y’shua was not instituting an alternate set of commandments.
As believers we know that as we love Him we choose to abide in Him. This abiding is the continual progressive walk with Y’shua. Y’shua’s life pattern is abiding in love and keeping the commandments. Aren’t we supposed to follow Him? Yes we are! And so this should be our life pattern as well.
John 15:9-11, "9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and remain in his love.11 I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full."
This definition of abiding in Y’shua is further described in 1 John 2:3-6.
"This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments. 4 One who says, "I know him," and doesn't keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn't in him. 5 But whoever keeps his word, God's love has most assuredly been perfected in him. This is how we know that we are in him: 6 he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked." (1 John 2:3-6)
As we abide in a loving relationship with Y’shua we will walk in the manner that He walked, which includes walking in the commandments and keeping the Sabbaths. Y’shua is the “Lord of the Sabbath.” (Luke 6:5)
Clearly, this is the goal Messiah has in mind for every believer – that we should love Him with all of our heart, soul and mind – sacrificing our own fleshly minds for His transformation.
"Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 2 Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2)
In John 4:19-26 we find a parallel concept expressed by Messiah to the Samaritan woman at the well. The topic is worship. She says to Y’shua (my paraphrase), “we worship here, on this mountain in this way, while the Jews say we MUST worship in Jerusalem their way.” Y’shua responds by saying (my paraphrase), “A time is coming when you will neither worship on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.” In other words He was telling her that a time is coming when Israel as a nation would cease to exist. And it was certainly so, for in 70 AD The Temple was destroyed, and by 132-135 AD because of the Bar-Kokhba Revolt and a Roman edict, Israel (Judea and Samaria) ceased to exist.
Y’shua continues by saying a time is coming when those who truly desire to worship Him will worship in Spirit and in Truth, and this is His desire – to be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth.
We learn from these passages that we should love Him with all of our heart, mind and soul; and to truly please Him we must worship in Spirit and in Truth. So where do we learn how to do these things? The answer according to John 4:22 is Judah for it says, “You worship what you do not know; we (Judah) know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.” I find this fascinating when compared to Zechariah 8:23 which says, “In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”” (Zechariah 8 is about the re-gathering, an end time event)
So what is the correlation between salvation, loving, abiding in Him and worshipping Him in Spirit and truth, and Sabbath? It is the progression from initial belief, to learning to love Him, to worship Him, to doing the things that please Him out of love for Him. There are many Scriptures that make the connection between loving Him and obedience to His commands.
And now on to the topic of Sabbath. As you know, Sabbath is the day that He (God) has set aside for worship. Leviticus 23 says these are “the set feasts of Yahweh” that are to be proclaimed as holy convocations, they are, “His feasts.” (not Jewish feasts) The first feast mentioned in Leviticus 23 is Sabbath.
Leviticus 23:1-3, "Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, 'The set feasts of Yahweh, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my set feasts. 3 "'Six days shall work be done: but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no manner of work. It is a Sabbath to Yahweh in all your dwellings."
If we love the Lord our God, and desire to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth, according to His Word the time that He has set aside for us to meet (worship) with Him is Sabbath.
Isaiah 58:13-14 says it this way, "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, and the holy of Yahweh honorable; and shall honor it, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words: 14 then shall you delight yourself in Yahweh; and I will make you to ride on the high places of the earth; and I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father: for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it."
The Lord is clear on this topic. The Sabbaths are vital! The Sabbaths are firmly connected to our relationship with Him, and more importantly our love of Him. If we love Him we will have hearts that delight in doing what pleases Him.
So why do churches meet on Sunday? That’s another topic for another time, but I would encourage you to do a little research on this topic for yourself and discover on your own the history of calling Sunday His Sabbath and the implications of changing the appointed times of the Lord. (Dan 2:21-22; 9:25)
Scriptures speak for themselves regarding the importance of Sabbath:
Isaiah 56:1-7, "56 Thus says Yahweh, Keep you justice, and do righteousness; for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast; who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil. 3 Neither let the foreigner, who has joined himself to Yahweh, speak, saying, Yahweh will surely separate me from his people; neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 4 For thus says Yahweh of the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and hold fast my covenant: 5 To them will I give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 6 Also the foreigners who join themselves to Yahweh, to minister to him, and to love the name of Yahweh, to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and holds fast my covenant; 7 even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."
Ezekiel 20:10-12, "So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. 11 I gave them my statutes, and shown them my ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live in them. 12 Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them."
Isaiah 66:22-24, "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, says Yahweh, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23 It shall happen, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, says Yahweh. 24 They shall go forth, and look on the dead bodies of the men who have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring to all flesh."
Exodus 31:12-16, "Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 13 "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, 'Most assuredly you shall keep my Sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you. 14 You shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Yahweh. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death. 16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant."
I suppose this passage in Exodus might be the source for the original question regarding Sabbath and salvation, for clearly this passage indicates that the person or persons who fail to honor the Lord’s Sabbaths will be cut off.
We must keep in mind that we are free from the law of sin and death. We are under grace. Y’shua’s death paid the penalty for our transgression of the law. By His death we are able to walk in Torah without condemnation. This is the point Paul makes in Romans 8:1-4. (Mentioned above)
As we walk in His life, rather than in our flesh we are changed to be more like Him. Part of this process of being set-apart (made holy) for Him includes a sign. This sign is given that we might know that He is the Lord that sets us apart for His purposes. See Ezekiel 20:12 and Exodus 31:13 (above.)
Ezekiel 20:12, "Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies (sets) them (apart)."
Knowing this, would we not want to keep His Sabbaths? Would we not want this sign from Him on us?
Some would argue that the blessing of Sabbath does not apply to believers in Y’shua today. Are we included in the command in Exodus 31:16, “Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant?”
The answer is “Yes – and we want to be.”
“Yes” – Ephesians 2:11-13 explains that we are brought near and become part of the commonwealth of Israel by the blood of Messiah. If you are in Christ you are no longer outside or strangers to the covenant.
“And we want to be” in covenant. In both Hebrew 8:8-10 and Jeremiah 31:31-34 the Lord says that He will make a new covenant with the house of Judah (Jews) and the house of Israel (non-Jews). If we are not born into Judah, then in order to participate in the covenant our only option is becoming a part of Israel in order to receive the blessing of His new covenant.
Y’shua affirms the ceaselessness everlasting unending imperishableness of the covenant as expressed in Exodus 31:16 (mentioned above) when He said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 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. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-19)
This Scripture clearly states that until heaven and earth pass away not one letter will pass from the law until all is fulfilled. Heaven and earth have not passed away, thus His Torah remains.
Matthew 5:19 shows the result of not walking in His commandments. This truth is reverberated in Deuteronomy 27:26 and Jeremiah 11:3.
Paul affirms this in Romans as well when he says that the law (Torah) is good:
· Romans 7:12 “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.”
· Romans 7:16 “I agree with the law that it is good.”
· Romans 7:22 “For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.”
As there are consequences for not following His commands, there are also blessings and abundant life promised for those who guard (Hebrew – Shamar) His commands. Deuteronomy 28 vividly describes living inside or outside the blessings of obeying His commands. May we daily choose life by obeying!
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 sums up this “round the mountain” look at the question of salvation, baptism, walking in the Spirit in Torah, abiding in Him, and keeping His commands (including Sabbath.)
"I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your seed; 20 to love Yahweh your God, to obey his voice, and to cleave to him; for he is your life, and the length of your days; that you may dwell in the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."
We are to love Him, obey Him and cling to Him – for He is our life. All He gives us is good – and yet He allows us to choose what we will receive or decline.
James 1:17, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow."
Salvation comes by repentance and belief in Y’shua, and clinging to Him as our Messiah. Obedience to His commands, which are critically important to Him, brings abundant blessings.
Shalom!
Eli