Now on to the obey my Commandments texts:

John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.

Does the Bible in this verse say the "10 Commandments"?

A= No.

Who is speaking? Christ.

It is Christ’s Commandments that are spoken of here.

So what is Christ’s Commandments? There are many, but 1 or 2 highlights are:

"This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you."(John 15:12)

Which is very different from any of the 10 Commandments.

None of the 10 Commandments say that we are to love our neighbour, let alone love them by this standard "as Christ has loved us".

The closest that the 10 Commandments get to loving your neighbour is to say, do not give false testimony about your neighbour, and do not covet your neighbours wife or possessions.

In fact the text that says to love our neighbour as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18) is in the Ceremonial law which SDA doctrine agrees has been nailed to the Cross.

John 15:10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

So if we keep Christ commandments then we abide in Him and he abides in HIS Father because he Kept his Fathers Commandments.

That summaries the Gospel and what we’ve been saying the whole way along.

The righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled IN us IN Christ!

If we are IN Christ we’ve fulfilled the Old Covenant’s laws and requirements all of them IN CHRIST!

We have a freedom IN Christ but not that we can use that freedom as an opportunity for the fresh. [Galatians5:13]

Another Major Commandment that Jesus gave: Matthew 28: Go you therefore and make disciples of all nations.

However nearly all of the Saturday Sabbath persuasion quote Revelations and 1 John about keeping the 10 Commandments as an argument, so lets look at those (not that it can undo all the clear text already demonstrated or conflict with those clear text.)

Rev 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

How does the writer John compare these Scriptures? Again allowing Scripture to commentate on itself.

1 John 5:2-3, By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

1 John 3:21-24 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 3:22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him (God), because we keep His (God’s) commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this (not the Sabbath) we know that He abides in us,(how?) by the Spirit whom He has given us.

I see the answer as twofold:

1) The righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled IN us. (Romans 8:4) (John 15:10)

2)The Bible declares to the New Covenant believers that the keeping of God’s

Commandments is to believe in his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 3:23)

3) What is the sign that he abides in us? The Spirit! The Holy Spirit is the seal (not the Sabbath) as we will see later on.

Rightly dividing the word of Truth, the word in 1 John says

"Commands/ Commandments" not "10 Commandments".

Why do Sabbatarian circles insist that the word "Commandments" be interpreted to mean "10 Commandments" when it clearly says commandments?

John in the same letter gives us HIS definition of what he was meaning by God’s Commands: "believe in his Son Jesus Christ whom he sent".

God gave hundreds of Commandments. Commandments on a variety of things, all of which point forward to Christ, like circumcision, the Sabbath day, like the lamb sacrifice, like to tapping the rock for flowing water, all these commandments and the list goes on pointed forward to Christ. All the requirements of the Law showed that man couldn’t fulfill God’s requirements thus the Need for the Saviour.

Again all the laws including the 10 Commandments and requirements, types and Shadows pointed to Christ

The point being that God’s Commandments all of them not just the 10 on stone point to Christ. The whole law fits that bill it points us forward to Christ.

Now here’s the key: THUS John correctly says 1 John 3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ.

The Bible says Commandments not the 10 Commandments, with regard to the applying this seemingly biased self interpretation leads one into dilemma in light of the now familiar texts on the 10 Commandments that we have seen before, died to, cast out, set aside, adultery to combine old and new etc.

Sabbatarianism as an institution is guilty of biased interpretive reasoning on definitions of "commandment" to substantiate and protect their "Special Message doctrines" position.

If you feel that’s a bit harsh, I’m only telling the Truth from Scripture, I haven’t called you worshipping satan or deceived or Babylon, like Sabbatarianism has called me.

A classic example of biased reasoning is like the above. Another is….

Sabbatarian argument "Sin is transgression of the law". Their interpretation is that that means the 10 Commandments. But Scripture is clear that as Christians we are not under the Mosaic Law including the 10 Commandments, the 10 Commandments are cast out In Christ, Adultery to mix the Old and the New Covenant.

What Sabbatarian’s seem to ignore "that as Christians we are under the Law of Christ", not the Law of Moses. We are under the New Covenant not the Old Covenant. Yes sin is transgression of the law. THE LAW OF CHRIST!

Which is the law of the SPIRIT. The law of liberty.

That is to whom John was writing in 1 John Christians- Being Those who are not under the Old Covenant’s government but now under the New Covenant’s government.

Sin is transgression of the law.

John in (1 john) is talking to Christians!

How can that be the 10 Commandments as described by Sabbatarian’s?

The 10 Commandments don’t cover aspects like Drunkenness, a Bad temper, obscene language, pride, forgiveness, repentance, baptism, controlling the thought life, yielding to the Holy Spirits whisper and many more.

BUT THE NEW COVENANT BELIEVER IS!

What Law of the 10 Commandments did Peter break when he left the fellowship of the Gentiles? None! Indeed the Law of the Spirit demands more from us than the Letter of the written code but it is the Spirit that changes us, to be transformed from glory to glory in the image of Christ.

Thus Paul rightfully says "We serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code"

The New Covenant believer is held by a higher law than that of the Old Covenant. The key difference is that the New Covenant is able to, by the Spirit, to change man’s heart, something the Old Covenant could not do. The Old Covenant just condemns, see message 3 & 4 for further clarification.

It is John’s Gospel that tells us the Commandment of the Jesus "To love others as I have loved you".

It is in John’s writing of 1John that tells us New Covenant believer to obey God’s commandments. And John tells us what that command is. 1 John 3:23 "And this is His Commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment".

How can the Law of Moses (the 10 Commandments) be called the "law of liberty" and "not burdensome" when the Scripture itself describes the 10 Commandments as a law that kills, condemns, we die to it. It is adultery to combine the Old and the New, it is a yoke of slavery. And a yoke that our forefathers could not even bear. (2 Cor 3:6&9, Gal 5:1, Acts15:9 & Romans7;1-7)

When the word tell us to "cast down"-"take captive" every idol thought, we know what it means! No debate here, why when the Bible says, "cast out" the Old Covenant the10 Commandments is there such debate and the suggestion that it actually doesn’t mean that. Especially in respect & light of so many other texts similar in intent and final result as the "cast out the 10 Commandments" command.

It is an instruction for Christians an instruction for Discipleship to cast down/ take captive every idol though as is the command to cast out the Old Covenant the 10 Commandments.

If one is, "IN Christ", then one is governed by the laws that pertain to "that Covenant" which is found, "IN Christ".

To those that say but Jesus kept the Sabbath etc. They say, Jesus is my example therefore I will keep it!!, Yes Jesus is our example BUT:

Christ kept the "other Sabbath’s" that are put away & nailed to the Cross.

Jesus Christ kept a lot of things that are not obligatory today nor should they be.

Jesus also kept the Passover! (Matthew 26:17-18)

Jesus Christ as our example kept circumcision! Yet we as New Covenant -Born Again believers are not to, for Holy Spirit inspired "Biblical" reasons. "Christ will profit you nothing".

Jesus told them to follow the scribes and Pharisees (keep the ceremonial laws) Matthew 23:2-3

Jesus commanded animal sacrifices and ceremonial cleansing Luke 5:14 & Mark 1:44.

Jesus kept the WHOLE of the Mosaic laws including the Ceremonial.

Do some want to keep these also? Justifying not "TO BE SAVED" but…[Remember the Sabbatarian argument for 2 Cor 3, and Gal 4, cast out the 10 Commandments if you rely on them "to be saved" but you must still keep them including especially the Saturday Sabbath Day if you love God].

Some with this same reasoning, justify commanding others in keeping all the Ceremonial laws not "TO BE SAVED" but we must none the less keep them "If you love God".

Congratulations! You’ve just put yourself under the Old Covenant of LAW. Which was to lead us TO Christ and UNTIL Christ, we are no longer UNDER the supervision of the LAW! [Gal 3:24, Gal 3:19, Gal 3:25, Gal 3:23]

So why did Jesus keep the Sabbath and the Law?

The Bible answers this question itself:

Gal 4:1-8 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 4:2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 4:5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" 4:7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

"What must we do, they said to Jesus, "to do the work of God?" And Jesus said, "This is the work of God: believe on him who He has sent." (John 6:28-29).

What is Gods commandment? And this is His Commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ.

Do you want to do work for God, faith without works is dead? Jesus said, "This is the work of God: believe on him who He has sent." (John 6:28-29).

It is a finished work that Christ has accomplished for us. You can not add one thing to your Salvation.

He paid the price for my sins. He is the one who has made me righteous by my trust and faith in Him. It is a completed finished work. There is nothing I can add to it to complement it. It is once and for all accomplished for us BY Him.

THE TEXT IN MATTHEW 5:17-19

The first question I’d ask SDA is, does what they call the Ceremonial law constitute as more than a jot or a tittle? Are all those feasts and all those 300+ laws in the Ceremonial Law, do they equal more than 1 letter or the tiniest stroke of a pen?

Of course they do.

Sabbatarians then say "But this is the Moral law the 10 Commandments that is spoken of here!"

Is it really? Lets look to Scripture for the answers! However I suggest one looks again at message 7 and the Claim of Sabbatarians that the 10 Commandments are eternal and existed before Moses.

Scripture and God’s own words disagree with that Moral / Ceremonial Doctrine!

Before we look at any other Scripture lets first look at Matthew 5:17-19 again.

Note that it doesn’t just say the law, it correctly says the law and the prophets.

Now lets look at the Scriptures for clarification.

Romans 3:21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

Matthew 11:13 "For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John" (These are Jesus’ own words.)

Luke 24:44 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."

The fact remains that the whole Law including the 10 Commandments and the prophets all point forward to Christ as we have seen in this study Christ is the fulfillment of the Mosaic Law including the Sabbath Day. All the Law including what Sabbatarians say is the Moral and Ceremonial law all of these point us TO Christ.

The law brings us TO Christ.[Gal 3:23]

If some want to argue to the Luke 24:44 text that the "Law of Moses" is the Ceremonial law is not the 10 Commandments, again Scripture disagrees with this selective perspective.

John 7:23"If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the "Law of Moses" should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?

The "Law of Moses" is spoken of in regard to the 4^th Commandment by Jesus Christ himself!

Jesus did fulfill the Law and the Prophets as evidenced by after his Death and resurrection the Disciples showed how Christ is the Messiah. The Lamb who takes away the sin of the world! The fulfillment of all the Law, types, Shadows, and Signs!

Another verse Gal 4:4-5 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 4:5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

We are redeemed from? From being under the Law.

What Law? The 10 commandments as stated in this same Chapter of Gal 4. The cast out text.

And 1 Peter 2:22-24. "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth". 2:23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed.

Christ fulfilled the Law in his perfect sinless life, and by fulfilling all the types, shadows and signs.

I once saw this illustration and thought it interesting:

Illustration:

There are really 2 options with the Matt 5:17-19 text.

1. Either Christ fulfilled the Law and it therefore passes away for us to adhere to its regulations, IN Him. The righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us, We are now under a New Covenant/ government. Or
2. Christ did not fulfill the Law and it remains in existence until heaven and earth pass away. If this is the case then one must also keep the "Whole law" including all the Ceremonial laws, feasts, types and Shadows. We’re back to keeping the whole law that was to bring us TO Christ and Colossians 2 says these were fulfilled in Christ they are just a shadow of Him he is the substance! One then needs to read this whole study again because Christ is the end of the law for believers! [Romans10:4] That’s what Christ came to redeem us from [Gal 4-5]. Did Christ fail?

Which leads us onto another text Romans 3:31 "Do we make void the Law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary we establish the Law."

This fact remains Christ came to fulfill the law the Law.

We establish, the law is perfect in converting the Soul. [Psalm 19:7]

We establish, that Christ fulfilled the Law.

We establish, the Law and it’s righteous requirements are fulfilled in us through Christ.

We establish, that Christ is the fulfillment of the types and shadows and signs. So therefore:

We establish, that Christ ESTABLISHES the FULL revelation of the law, "its in HIM".

If one reads the following verses after Romans 3:31 so as to be in Context, Paul shows That Abraham was accredited righteous before Circumcision and that ,that righteousness in not for Abraham alone but for also those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. [Romans 4:21-25]. Jesus Christ is the revelation of the promise "seed."

John 1:17" the law came through Moses but Grace and TRUTH through Jesus Christ".

Thus Jesus Christ ESTABLISHED the truth about the law it‘s types shadows and signs and requirements. "Do we make void the Law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary we establish the Law." [Romans 3:31] Christ establishes the full truth to the law.

Despite the clear New Covenant teaching in Scripture some suggest that because God made the Sabbath HOLY we MUST therefore keep it.

Followed by "That’s why I’m keeping it"!

Well God made a lot of things HOLY;

Lets have a look at what God made Holy in the Scriptures and see if some want to keep these as well.

God also made holy :

The Aaron priestly order Exodus29:21

The Levitical priesthood 2 Chronicles 35:3

The Ark 2 Chronicles 35:3

The Sabbath day Exodus 20:11

And many more

1^st and 7^th month Leviticus 23:23-25, Nehemiah 8:9.11

14^th and 21st day of the 1^st month Exodus 12:6,16.

The Passover Exodus 12:14-17

The Day of Atonement Leviticus 23:27-32

15^th day of the 7^th month Leviticus 23:34-3

Most Holy altar Exodus 29:37

Most Holy offerings Leviticus 7:17

Most Holy articles Exodus 30:26-29

Proof text "Sabbath Day" Exodus 31:16-17

The "other" Sabbath day’s Exodus 31:13

The feast of unleavened bread Exodus 12:17

Grain offerings Leviticus: 6:15

Sin offering Exodus 30:10

Anointing oil Exodus 30:31

Priest washing Exodus 30:21

Feast of Tabernacles Leviticus 23:34-43

The Passover Exodus 12:14

Day of Atonement Leviticus 23:28-31

And the list goes on, Circumcision and other things…

Interestingly
the current standard for Sabbath keeping sunset to sunset is only found in
Leviticus 23:26 - 32 "the Lord said to Moses, the 10th day of this seventh
month is the day of ATTONEMENT. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves,
and present your offering made to the Lord by fire. Do no work on that day
because it is the day of "atonement", when "atonement" is made for you for the
Lord your God. Anyone who does not deny himself on that day must be cut off
from his people. I will destroy from among his people anyone who does any
work on that day. You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting
ordinance for the generations to come wherever you live. This is a Sabbath
of rest for you and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth
day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your Sabbath.


This is the ONLY Scripture where sunset to sunset INSTRUCTIONS is given and
they were given to a CEREMONIAL SABBATH. Is it CONSISTANT to insist on
Sabbath observance making SELECTIVE use of CEREMONIAL aspects of the law to
determine how the Sabbath is to be kept?

Especially since according to Sabbatarian teaching the Ceremonial law was nailed to the cross.

Again the confrontation between doctrines of what people really genuinely believe and what the word actually says.

To keep the Sabbath Day today and to command all other believers to keep it is to deny that Jesus Christ THE true rest has come. It would be like keeping the Passover and still slaying little lambs, which are a SIGN that HAS been fulfilled and were a shadow, but now we have the substance the real thing Jesus Christ.

Jesus cried out it is FINISHED on the Cross.

A more full definition is: Completely complete and perfectly perfect.

Some say BUT the Ten Commandments were made "With his own finger"!!!

Yes!! True!!!

And the New Covenant was made with his own SON!!

The Old Covenant made with his own finger - the New Covenant with his own Son’s life!

I fail to see the significance that Sabbatarians are trying to prove.

The Mosaic Covenant/law establishes the TYPES of sacrifices/offerings for sin, and fellowship offerings all however are a shadow of the TRUE sacrifice for sin and the TRUE sacrifice who establishes true fellowship with God.

By that meaning, the sacrifices types and signs, are fulfilled in Christ. Example the Passover etc.

The Command of circumcision HAS a REVEALED truth, from what WAS once external, to being NOW internal.

The command of Sabbath HAS a REVEALED truth from what WAS once external to being NOW internal.

To hold on to the Sabbath rest as a "DAY" is to miss the whole point.

To hold and adhere onto the Sabbath Day as in the Old Testament is to deny the revealed truth has come, the Sabbath and Church doctrine has THEN become an IDOL. One has now just broken then 2 Commandment! To use a Sabbatarian standard.

To hold onto the Saturday Sabbath as an identifying mark of Obedience to Christ is contrary to the Biblical example set out in the New Testament.

1 John 2:9-10 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 2:10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

1 John 3:14-15 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 3:15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

Paul said I know in whom I have believed and I am persuaded that he is able to keep me.

Paul does not say I know in WHAT I believe! (Doctrines –Special messages) It’s whom I believe –It is Jesus Everything.

For it is no longer I that live but Christ that lives in me.

Sabbatarians need to acknowledge that the identifying difference between them and the "Born Again" Christian body is a difference that is not confirmed or validated as Biblically true. We all must base our conclusions on the balance of Scripture. Although I’m sure the flesh delights inwardly of being different and more enlightened, is one going to allow the flesh override clear Scripture. The Sabbatarian doctrines and interpretations (Speculations) of the book of Revelations are based on the "Holy Golden Calf" of Saturday Sabbath observance. Although many are genuine and sincere in their belief’s the labeling of other Christians as "deceived" and the ensuing rhetoric of Sunday is satans Sabbath, "Sunday Keepers worship satan" is Biblically unfounded. Where is the Scripture backing the Sabbatarian perspective?

"Non Sabbatarians worship satan", Scripture? [none!]

"Non Sabbatarians are Babylon", Scripture? [None!]

The Sabbatarian "Special message" (their special mission) is in conflict to the "Great Com-"mission".

The focus of the "Special mission/message" is towards the already saved rather than the unsaved. We as Christians don’t know everything about our fathers business nor do we need to know everything about the father to be worthy of Salvation. All we need to be, to be worthy of Salvation, is a sinner.

The Sabbatarian Special mission /message is misguided simply because God says he want all to repent, all to come into a knowledge of him. Rather than focus on the unsaved the mission of the Sabbatarian community is to reveal this missing truth (which however is Biblically unfounded in the New Covenant). This "missing truth" is PRIMARILY to the already saved (who trust Jesus only as their Lord and Saviour) all while the unsaved go walking by on the slippery slope of sin who do not trust Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

I’m sure God wants more souls saved, than a tiny number of politically correct ones.

Which of us knows every true Doctrine , thought or desire of God? Are we only saved when one achieves this goal? [Works] No! God judges the thoughts and intents of the heart!

Furthermore the seal of God is Scripturally the "Holy Spirit" where Sabbatarians determine that it is the Sabbath is the seal remains outside of Scripture and furthermore in conflict with Scripture. Yet this unbiblical teaching is still taught and substantiated from writings outside of Scripture (EGW) despite being contrary to the Bible. Some seem to elevate these writings above clear specific text of the Bible.

Where is even one Bible verse that is a clear indication that the Sabbath is the seal of God? [None!]

Ephesians 4:30 "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by which you
were sealed for the day of redemption."

When is being sealed by the Holy Spirit not sufficient enough for redemption, these texts are clear it is for redemption, our inheritance, and the text is in the past tense it is already done!

When is sealed not complete. Did the Holy Spirit (God) do an improper job that a further sealing is required? That God’s seal did not actually seal?

Such reasoning to substantiate EGW writings leaves us with the Holy Spirit (God) did imperfect job of sealing. Therefore God is not perfect. (Not good theology).

You choose who you want to defend:

3x Clear Bible Scriptures – as opposed to- EGW with no clear Bible Scripture: (Holy Spirit inspired) (but a lot of speculative interpretation.)

Selected Messages Book 3, page 52, paragraph 2

Not One Heretical Sentence.--I am now looking over my diaries[* SEE FOOTNOTE, P.
32.] and copies of letters written for several years back. . . . I have the most
precious matter to reproduce and place before the people in testimony form. While
I am able to do this work, the people must have things to revive past history,
that they may see that there is one straight chain of truth, without one
heretical sentence, in that which I have written. This, I am instructed, is to be
a living letter to all in regard to my faith.--Letter 329a, E.G. WHITE 1905.

Sabbatarians preach that with the Ten Commandments, the first 4 Commandments are placed on the 1^st tablet and the following 6 Commandments are on the 2^nd tablet.

Scripture? [None!]

On the contrary the indication is that the Covenant was written on both sides of the tablets.

Exodus 32:15 And Moses turned and went down from the mountain, and the two tablets of the Testimony were in his hand. The tablets were written on both sides; on the one side and on the other they were written.

"Jesus opened them, and I saw the Ten Commandments written on them with the finger of God. On one table were Four and on the other six. The four on the first table shone brighter than the other six. But the fourth, the Sabbath commandment, shone above them all; for the Sabbath was set apart to be kept in honor of God's holy name. The holy Sabbath looked glorious­ a halo of glory was all around it. I saw that the Sabbath commandment was not nailed to the cross." (Early Writings of Ellen G. White, page 33, Official Adventist publication)

Would God really allow the 4^th to glow more than the 1^st ?