How to Keep A Proper Sabbath Observance

Keeping the Sabbath

      As modern Christians we considered our desire to please God and observance of the 7^th day of the week, the Sabbath, has come to our attention on more than one occasion.
The day came and a  thoughtful reading of Sabbath scriptures was due. 
For a time we even attended a Friday night service hosted by a Messianic Jewish brother, and considered purchasing a talith prayer shawl like Jesus wore.

But our traditional church meeting time was Sunday morning and we really had no clear Biblical teaching while in our old church, we only had a minimal understanding about the Sabbath observance. (in contrast to weekly exhortations to tithe, attend church, and the latest growth program).

In the Evangelical Christian world we were part of, we did not “observe the Sabbath because we were under “grace.”  We knew of 7^th Day Adventists and Baptists, Messianic Jewish Christians, and others who strongly emphasized “keeping the Sabbath” like they were. 

But we were not clear…  we saw where Jesus sort of observed the Sabbath and Paul was observed going to Synagogues to witness to his Jewish brethren that Jesus was Messiah. 

The scriptures say that a proper and Biblical Seventh day, as literally defined by God in the Old Testament, begins at sunset. 

In Genesis 1:13 for example, God said:

 “There was evening and there was morning, a third day”, and the other 6 days of creation are spoken of likewise. 
So a proper Biblical day began at sunset and a new day began the following day at sunset (on our Saturday evening)

There is no specific mention of the “Sabbath” until Exodus 16:23, which was about 2,500 years after creation.
 God did not give Abraham Sabbath observance when making Covenant with him. (However Abe was commanded circumcision)

We fast forward to Exodus and the deliverance of Israel from the bondage of Egypt.  After 430 years of serving the rulers of Egypt as slaves, the Lord told Moses and Aaron it was high time to get out of Goshen.  (Exodus 12).

The Lord God called the month they were called out of Egypt “the FIRST month (aka Abib)” (Ex.12:2), and they were given instructions for the next 14 days (which included two sabbaths).

The Lord commanded the mandatory requirement of sacrificing a lamb without blemish, and applying the lamb’s blood to the doorposts of their homes so the death angel would “Passover” and spare their lives.

This was to be observed and diligently kept as “an ORDINANCE FOR EVER”.

The Lord ordained also a mandatory feast called “Unleavened Bread” of “seven days” as an observance “an ordinance FOREVER":

And in verse 16 “And in the first day there shall be an holy *convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be a holy *convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.”
 (*convocation: means a public meeting, rehearsal, assembly)

Here God gave them the weekend off, and no work. Hooray!

 He also gave command to eat unleavened bread for seven days, in fact, the Lord ABSOLUTELY required that “there be no leaven found in your houses” or “eaten that which was leavened”  under penalty of death!   -Exo.12:3). 

God was very particular how and what they ate or it might be their last meal. 

The children of Israel were doing well so far, the Lord giving them specific instructions regarding the observances of the Passover and the seven days of Unleavened Bread, including a FEAST on the 7^th day, and admonishing them that when they went back into the Promised Land of the Canaanites they were to keep these observances “FOREVER”. 

Seems they were happy with this arrangement and God was with them:
“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light”.

Many “oohs” and “ahhs” were heard at this time in the camp of Israel, and the word “WOW!” was invented to express awe.

Shortly after this, evil King Pharaoh decided to do some “ethnic cleansing” but God intervened by permanently baptizing the Egyptian army in the Red Sea (not to be confused with the Dead Sea). 
 “PRAISE GOD!!” –cried the Israelites and they celebrated joyously as the final bubbles surfaced over the watery grave of Pharaoh and Co.  

For three months the folks of Israel were given a desert tour by God, being fed, watered, and given specially anointed footwear guaranteed by God not to wear out

Unfortunately, those sorry excuses for victorious believers murmured and complained about how God was treating them.
So in Exodus chapter 16, God gave them some loving correction, and got a little more direct with them about the sabbath too:
Ex 16:23 And he said to them, This is that which the LORD has said, To morrow is the Rest of the holy sabbath to the LORD: bake or boil that which you will bake to day.

And the Sabbath gift was introduced.
Exodus 16:29 “See, for that the LORD has given you the SABBATH”.

Life was good, no taxes, a nice day of rest, God was feeding them, leading them, and they were getting real comfy with their walking tour through the countryside.

By chapter 19 of Exodus, it was time for God to give Moses more complete rules for His people, so He called Moses to come meet Him up on Mt. Sinai, and bring the people so they could fellowship and find out about God’s plan for their lives. 
 The Lord mentioned them being so special and how He wanted to bless them.  

But then in chapter 20, God stopped being “seeker-sensitive” while giving them His “Best Life Now” agenda for prosperity.
When “all the people saw the thunderings, and lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. “  

Then it happened: “WHOAA!! –we’re outa here!” they said when they saw and heard God was really awesome, serious, and they skee-daddled away from the mount where Moses was receiving the LAW.. 

“Ten’s enough for me!!!” - they hollered over their  shoulders as they “removed”.  -“Next thing ya know, He’s gonna bring up tithing!”

God had only got as far as giving the Ten Commandments when this happened. After the dust settled, He and Moses got back to work up there on Mt. Sinai, and the rest of the folks got back to their sports, games, and small talk about their neighbors and the weather. 

So The Lord and Moses worked out the rest of the details regarding God’s contract with Israel including things like “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” (Ex. 21:24), smiting those that broke it, 
and… the SABBATH.

Sabbath times…

God was very picky when it came to His orders about the Sabbath.

It began on sunset Friday, (that was before Friday was invented, back then they only had numbers).  And the new interpretation (from God Himself) of the 3 month old Sabbath rules went like this:

Ex 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Ex 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

Everyone, even slaves and animals had chores, no tasks for your employees, and no dishes or laundry.  No honey-do’s, no campfires, no stove cooking. 
And please do not make sabbath breakers of the “waitress”, or the chef in the restaurant that you used to visit after Sabbath before you read this.

Ex 31:14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy to you: every one that defiles it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Ex 31:15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 
 Now there’s some strong incentive to be Sabbath-careful! 
Keep that in mind when you read the next one!:

Ex 35:3 Ye shall *kindle no fire throughout your living quarters on the sabbath day.
  (*means consume, to burn, or heat.) 
You know, like the heater or house furnace, your car’s engine that burns gas, or the blow dryer for your hair. 

Now here’s a super Sabbath for you, it lasted a whole year!
Lev 25:4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest to the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard. 

No plowing, planting, pruning so with that death penalty, we recommend not pruning the lawn either, just in case.  Even the ground itself got a vacation.

Suddenly, keeping the true Sabbath becomes challenging, and don’t forget that death penalty in Exodus 31:15.  

If you are going to keep the Sabbath now, you just can’t pick and choose verses, you know.

Num 28:9  on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof: (was also commanded for the Passover Sabbath)

According to the law of the Passover Sabbath, you must remember to kill two spotless lambs, give two tithes of wheat flour with oil, and a drink offering to the priest.

Lev 16:31 It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall *afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.  *humble, submit, weaken, abase. 
Sports fans and football play-off watchers…beware!

Lev 23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. 

 Now here’s a special little Sabbath you probably never heard about…  And a bit more about that:

Lev 23:32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even to even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

Lev 23:39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. 

Now hold on, God just said there was a special SABBATH on 7-1, 7-9, and 7-15 of the Jewish calendar??!  

Hmmm, how about that, God snuck another Sabbath or three in on the folks just to make sure they were paying attention!  

Lord have mercy, this Sabbath keeping just got complicated and you have us on a different calendar to boot!

And just to make sure they got the Sabbath correct, this happened in Numbers 15:
32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.

34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.  They put him in JAIL for sticks on the Sabbath?

35 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.

36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Whoaa, you mean the church had to take that guy out and let him have it with the rocks?  Yes, that’s what God told them to do because he violated the Sabbath law.

About this time you may be thinking, “this Sabbath thing is pretty scary and they sure didn’t explain all those OTHER Sabbath scriptures to me very well.” 
 If you thought that you are CORRECT! 
And if you thought observing the Sabbath only meant driving over to a meeting Friday night or Saturday morning you were WRONG!

We could stop now with just those verses from the OT Law, and you would have plenty to think about.
 Remember, when Christ and the early church apostles came along, they knew those verses. 
All of them, death penalty and taking a year off from farming included.

So when someone tries to put you under the Sabbath, chances are 100% he does not keep the Sabbath law the way it was given either.

 Let’s see, to summarize a few points about really keeping the Sabbath:

-It was a mandatory observance upon penalty of death.

-In the 7^th year Sabbath, no planting or pruning. 

-No fire.  Period. Not the one in your cars engine, the house heating system, nor the stovetop.

-No work. Not for you, your kids, your employees, or your servants like the waitress and cook at the restaurant.

-No travel.  Whoops! –there goes the trip to church in the car whose engine burns gasoline for fuel.

-Observance of those tricky 7-1, 7-9, and 7-15 Sabbaths of the Jewish calendar you forgot to buy, and then there is that Passover Sabbath with the two lamb-sacrifice to watch out for.

Please don’t stone me, go back and re-read those Sabbath verses for yourself.
 About now you may be thinking:     "we got us us sabbath problems here"

Why even the apostle Paul said to the church in Galatians: 3:¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all  which are written in the book of the law to do them.

But not to worry, dear reader, the NEW Covenant is called a “BETTER covenant” than the Old Covenant which Paul said “was done away in Christ”, and “Christ is the END of the Law to all that believeth”, and “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace –Eph. 2:15; you can have peace with God and be free of the obligation of trying to keep the law of the Sabbath as given in the Old Covenant. 

See article "Tell Me, You Who Desire to be Under The Law"  

for a more thorough Scriptural explanation of our relationship to the OT law.  

You Who Desire the Law

Gal 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law....
by rory moore

Here now is a test for those who are prophets and/or spiritual from 1 Cor 14:37: "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." -written to the saints at Corinth by Paul, a Jewish apostle.

Does it come as a surprise that Jesus continued speaking through the apostles?
The scriptures did not cease with the Old Testament, but many people think we should observe many of the laws, statutes, and ordinances God gave to Israel as they went into the promised land.
**ALL** of the words of God are His Law, and that there are commands in the New Testament that are to be observed and there are commands and ordinances in the Old we are free from.

Acts 1:2 (ASV) until the day in which he was received up, after that (day),

he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

Jesus prayed for you and me to believe on Him through the words given by His apostles:
John 17:20 Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word
Jesus continued speaking by the Holy Ghost through the apostles in giving his commands to the church

Paul delivered God's commands when he wrote the church letters in 1 Cor 14:37 and in 2 Thes 3:4. Peter affirmed this in 2 Pet 3:2 & 16, as did Jude in verse 17 of his letter.

2 Pet 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior:

1 Cor 14:37 If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.

• Are Christians to keep the ordinances, laws, and commandments of the Old Testament?
• Is it righteous to keep the feasts of the Lord, the Sabbath, and what of the Ten Commandments?
• Should Gentile (non-Jewish) Christians do all?
• Did Peter, Paul, or Jesus instruct any church to keep the OT laws?
• If so, what verses SPECIFICALLY say so?

What follows is a long list of Holy Spirit directed New Testament scriptures that speak directly to the Christians relationship to the Old Covenant laws and commands.

Print out this list of verses and next time you hear a prophet, Hebrew Roots,  or "Torah keeper" tell you we must continue doing certain practices to please God, remember what was written in "the faith once delivered" that God gave us.

"Tell me, You THAT DESIRE TO BE UNDER THE LAW" Gal 4:21

80 PROOFS THE LAW OF MOSES WAS DONE AWAY IN CHRIST

Gal 3:10-11 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Gal 5:18 But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Rom 10: 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes.

Col 3:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances? (referring to the law)

Col 2:14 <upon Christ's death>   Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances [contained in the Law] that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it [the Law] out of the way, nailing it [the Law] to his cross;

Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; in order to make in himself of the two (people groups)  one new man, so making peace;

Heb 7:18 For there is VERILY (indeed-truly)  A DISANNULLING OF THE COMMANDMENT going before the weakness and unprofitableness thereof, (
19) for the law MADE NOTHING PERFECT, but the bringing in OF a BETTER HOPE, by which we draw nigh unto God.

Heb 9: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
10) Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink [from the Law], or in respect of an holyday [from the Law], or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days [from the Law]:

17) Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Col 2:17 [speaking of the days and feasts of the law] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
 (These verses interpret the scripture in Luke about the shadow and the Light)

Col 2: 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (referring to the Old Testament laws)  after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23) Which things have an appearance of wisdom in will-worship

I like the Complete Jewish Bible rendering of Colossians 2:20
They do indeed have the outward appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed religious observances, false humility and asceticism; but they have no value at all in restraining people from indulging their old nature.

Acts 21:20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, you see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:  
21)  And they are informed of you, that you teach all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
22)  How shall we deal with this? because the multitude will assemble and they will hear that you are here.
23)  therefore do this, we say to you as we have four men which have a vow on them;
24) Them take, and purify yourself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that you also walk orderly, and keep the law.
25) but As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing [the OT laws], save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

LET'S NOTE a couple of important points here about Acts 21: Prior to 70 AD Israel still existed as a nation, and a central temple, God’s “house”.  The final destruction prophesied by Jesus was not yet fulfilled. And under the law, animal sacrifice was still practiced, the Levitical and High Priest offices still functioned,  but only as an outward observance (in the eyes of God).  Jesus was the final sacrifice and Jesus is our One and only High Priest, as it is written. Desolation had been pronounced upon the harlot house of the Jews by Jesus. Mat 23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. (This does not mean Jewish people cannot be saved.  The NT church began as a 100% Jewish ekklesia and gentiles added later.  Salvation is given to "both Jew and Greek" and both Jews and gentiles are one in Christ.)

Regarding the early church debate over the works of the law, in Acts 15, the apostle James told the church leadership in Jerusalem:

22) Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas..........;

23) and they wrote to them, The apostles and the elders, brethren, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:

24) For as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment;

25) it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

27) We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth.

28) For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary:

29)  abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. 

But those who would "trouble", "burden" and "subvert" your souls might say,
"Paul meant for you to keep the letter of the law, keep the sabbath and the feasts, circumcision, ordinances, and/or the tithe."

BUT the law HAS been changed:

Heb 7:12  For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

Heb 7:22  By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
Heb 8:6  But now has he obtained a more excellent ministry,
by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8) For finding fault with them, the LORD, Behold, the days come, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9) Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt [the law]; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, says the Lord.

10) For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord;
 I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11) And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more
13) In that he says, A new covenant, he has made the first old [the law]. Now that which is decaying and waxing old [the ordinances of the law] is ready to vanish away.

Did we hear correctly?

"In that He says,  A new covenant,  he has made the first old.
 Now that which decays and becomes old is ready to vanish away."

-HOW did it decay and vanish away? Simple. After Christ the decay began as no more blood sacrifices could remove sin. The Jewish Levite priest's sacrifices were no longer necessary, and when the Lord sent the Romans to obliterate the ancient Jewish nation, the whole Levite priest system vanished with the destruction of the nation and the temple itself.

Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ ,
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes.

Gal 2:15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ,
and not by the works of the law:  for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.


Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (the same phrase Peter used in Acts 15:10 referring to the law and Gentile Christians)

Gal 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?

Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and poor elements, so that you desire again to be in bondage? ("weak and beggarly" means unable to save and lacking in power.)

Gal 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

Gal 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised (i.e. one who tithes, keeps the sabbath and  the feasts, is circumcised, sacrifices animals, or keeps other points of the law) that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Gal 5:9 A little leaven (from the law) leavens (pollutes) the whole lump (body).

Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse:
 for it is written (IN THE LAW!),
  Cursed is every one that continues not in all which are written in the book of the law to do them. 
And a little law (tithe/sabbath/etc.) leavens, vails, makes Christ no effect, brings one under the curse, etc....

Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us (in the law), which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way,  nailing it to his cross;
16) Let no man therefore judge (to condemn) you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days [as given in the law]:
17) Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
(When Christ, the LIGHT comes, the shadow goes away.)

Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect to you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5) For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6) For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. (Observing the law avails nothing, it is faith which justifies. Faith in Christ makes you complete and righteous, not the outward keeping of the law).

2 Cor. 3:7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones (the law), was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8) How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9) For if the ministration of condemnation be glory (the law) , much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

Phil 3:6  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7) But what were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung,

 that I may win Christ
9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law,
 but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith

10) For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect (no glory by the works of the law) , by reason of the glory that excels (the glory that is of faith).

11) For if that which is done away (the law) was glorious, much more that which remains is glorious.

12) Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

13) And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: (the law)

14) But their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; (law) which vail is done away in Christ.
 (By observing an OT law we veil the face of Christ)

Phil. 3:5 (Paul was) Circumcised on the eighth day (according to the law),
 of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; 
as touching the law, a Pharisee; 

1Tim. 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers...

?? The law was made for who??

You see, for those who will be righteous in Christ, trying to keep a covenant that was done away makes Christ "of none effect".

And when we look at the sum of what scripture says about the OT law, we find words: "abolished", "disannulled", "done away", "counted loss", "Christ the end of the law", "that which decays", "vanish away", "blotting out the ordinances...", "to whom we gave no such command", "dead to the law through the body of Christ", "canceled" ....

The new covenant is for a spiritual people of God, not a letter people. "They that are led of the Spirit are the sons of God", not them that are led of the letter. "The letter killeth but the Spirit maketh alive."
We are righteous by faith in the scriptures and obedience to the terms of the New Covenant unto obedience.
To follow Christ is to learn of the Covenant He gave us as given through His holy apostles.

No one is to add to it or diminish ought from it under severe penalty. see our article
 "Only One Covenant" to learn more about what is given in our "better covenant".

(Some believe the Jews still have a relationship with God via the Old Testament and are saved by the Old Covenant)

---

On the authority of the testimony of Paul who preached the same Gospel to BOTH Jews and gentiles:

   to the elders of the church at Ephesus he said:
Acts 20:19 Serving the LORD with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

20) And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, (and he never once telling them they had to observe the law, keep sabbaths, tithing, feast attendance, hiring a pastor,  etc.) but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,

21) Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (without putting either group back under the law)

There is ONE faith, and it is the same gospel to the same body made up of both Jews and gentiles.

Eph. 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Peter bore witness that Paul's writing to the churches was also scripture in 2 Peter 3:15,16. Luke, James, Peter, the church in Jerusalem all bore witness to Paul’s ministry, and verified his word to the church. 

1 Corinthians 14:37
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

They will try to persuade you with crafty wrestling of scripture, if you are in doubt, please re-read these with PRAYER.

The Old Testament Law and Us in 78 Verses

Galatians 5:9 - A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
          The leaven here is adding a little law.

3  I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole (OT) law.

     4  Ye are severed from Christ, ye would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.

Simply put:

In case some are not clear on the New Testament in regard to the Old Testament laws and ordinances please carefully read what we are bound to and what we are loosed from. For many this is not an issue. For many, there is much confusion and some sects would bring you back under the law and a covenant God never made with Christians, either Jewish ones or gentile.

The following are NT verses to clarify Christians relationship to the laws of God as given in the Old Testament:
 (OT is used and abbreviated from the words, "OLD TESTAMENT")

Galatians 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law......

What follows is verse after verse that the Spirit of God spoke through Jewish apostles.

How serious is this?   Do you want to be under curse?

Galatians 3:10-11
 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse:
for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written
in the book of the (OT) law to do them.
^5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the (OT) law.

Romans 10: 4   For Christ is the end of the (OT) law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Romans 7:6     But now we have been discharged from the (OT) law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the (OT) letter.

Col. 2:20  Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to (the OT LAW) ordinances?
¹⁴ Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances (contained in the law)
that was against us, which was contrary to us,
and took it (the law) out of the way,  (OUT of the way.)
 nailing it (the law) to his cross;

Eph 2:¹⁵ Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;  for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

Hebrews
7:12 - For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

8:7  For if that first covenant had been faultless (the OT law), then should no place have been sought for the second (Covenant).
  :8   For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
  :9  Not according to the covenant (contained in the law)  that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt;

:13  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old.
Now that (the OT law) which decays and waxes old is ready to vanish away.

Why was it getting ready to to vanish away?
At the time the NT scriptures were written, the nation of Israel, the temple, and the OT priesthood still stood and outwardly functioned.  But Christ had already pronounced Jerusalem and the House of God there "desolate" and the Romans would come and wipe national Israel and the temple, off the map in 70 ad.

When that took place, it became IMPOSSIBLE to observe even a form of the OT law that required a temple, priesthood, sacrifices, feasts, tithing, and many other ordinances specifically required by God's OT laws, statutes, ordinances, and commands.

And so we read regarding the priesthood and sacrifices under the law:

Hebrews
9:9  Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
^:10  Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances,
        imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Col. 2: 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink (from the law) , or in respect of an holy day(from the Law), or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days (from the Law):
 17  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. "

The law was "the shadow", The Body of Christ is LIGHT.
 

Col 2: ²⁰ Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
²¹ (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
²² Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
²³ Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in (self-) will worship

Paul appeared to go back to the law in Acts 21. (remember, the OT temple was still standing)

Acts 21:²⁰ And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the(OT)  law:
²¹ And they are informed of thee, that thou teach all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
²² What is it therefore?  the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
²³ Do therefore this that we say to thee:  We have four men which have a vow on them;
²⁴ Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walk orderly, and keep the (OT)  law.

(which was in the process of “decaying” and “vanishing away” as the Jewish temple and nation had been “desolated” by Christ, but still existed at the time scripture was written)

 ²⁵ As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing (the OT laws) , save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

But why would Paul appear to go back under the OT law?
He told us!
1st Corinthians 9:19     For though I was free from all men, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
Here it is:
:20      

And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews;
to them that are under the law, as under the law,
not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

He went back under the OT law in order to lead his Jewish brethren out from it to Christ!

Gal. 2:
15  We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,
and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.  (to the law)

:21  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Gal.3:3
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit,
are ye now made perfect by the flesh?  ("perfect" meaning complete,in works of the flesh, by keeping the OT law the Lord abolished)

4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God
 how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements,  (the OT law)
 whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?  (the OT law)

5: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.   (to the OT laws)

2Cor 3:7
But if the ministration of death (the OT law), written and engraven in stones (the law), was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 
⁸ How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
 ⁹ For if the ministration of condemnation (th OT law)  be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

¹⁰ For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. ¹¹ For if that which is done away (the law) was glorious, much more that which remaineth (NT faith) is glorious.
 ¹² Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
 ¹³ And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:  (the OT law)
 ¹⁴ But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail  (the OT law)
   untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.              (By observing an OT law we veil the face of Christ)

Gal. 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised (or tithes, or keeps sabbath, or other points of the law)  that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Do you really want to be a debtor to do the *WHOLE law, as the law itself commanded?





5:9    A little leaven (from OT law) leaveneth the whole lump.
3:10  For as many as are of the works of the (OT law) are under the curse:
for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Just a little law such as tithing/sabbath/ dietary /feasts, etc., leavens, it veils, it makes Christ no effect, it brings us  under the curse, etc....

Paul testified of his very Jewish pedigree:

Phil. 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me (the righteousness of the OT law),  those I counted loss for Christ.

Why would he count the OT law “loss”?
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law,
 but that which is through the faith of Christ,  (is) the righteousness which is of God by faith

Therefore Christ, in Col. 2:14
 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us  (in the law),
which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16  Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days (as given in the law):
17  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

When Christ, the LIGHT comes, the shadow goes away.

Hebrews and the “BETTER COVENANT” than the Old one.

7:22   By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.  (the NEW one)
8:6     But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry,
by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Heb. 8:7
For if that first covenant  (the OT law) had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant (the law) that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt (the law) ;
because they continued not in my (OT) covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old  (the law) .
Now that which decayeth and waxeth old (the law) is ready to vanish away.

GAl. 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law;

 ye are fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

If any part of the law does not justify us, and was: Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances,"  then
WHY CONTINUE DOING THAT WHICH WAS ABOLISHED IN HIS FLESH,
which will cause you to be “fallen from grace”, brings you into  a “yoke of bondage”,   by which “shall NO flesh be justified”, and brings you “under a curse” for not “doing ALL things that are written in the law to do them”?
addendum for those that may doubt me yet:

*the WHOLE law:
If you have even a FLICKER of doubt in your ability to keep, observe, and do ALL that is written in the law, please read carefully the following:

Does all really mean "all", when God said "do all", "keep all", "observe all"?

H3605 כּול כּל^o

^{kôl kôl kole, kole From H3634; properly the whole; hence all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense): - (in) all (manner, [ye]), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, [no-] thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso (-ever).}

^{Let's be clear about "all". כּול כּלo}

^{I used the Gesinius lexicon.
Definition: all, the whole all, the whole of, any, each, every, anything, totality, everything}
 

<sup>It was used in 4,221 verses.
 -No splitting hairs on this one, God meant "all" when He commanded "all".

And the penalty for breaking and not doing "all" the way He gave "all" in the laws, staututes, commandments, and ordinances" was often death and being "cut off" from Israel.</sup>

^{Exodus 15:26 and he said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of Jehovah thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his eyes, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon thee, which I have put upon the Egyptians: for I am Jehovah that healeth thee.}

^{Leviticus 20:22 Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all mine ordinances, and do them; that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, vomit you not out.}

^{Deuteronomy 5:29 Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!}

^{Deuteronomy 6:2 that thou mightest fear Jehovah thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.}

^{Deuteronomy 11:8 Therefore shall ye keep all the commandment which I command thee this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go over to possess it;}

^{Deuteronomy 11:22 For if ye shall diligently keep all this commandment which I command you, to do it, to love Jehovah your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;}

^{Deuteronomy 13:18 when thou shalt hearken to the voice of Jehovah thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah thy God.}

^{Deuteronomy 17:19 and it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life; that he may learn to fear Jehovah his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them;}