Standing Strong

A Messianic Jewish Congregation with an outreach to Believers in Israel

Questions Answered

Dear Dr. Bristol,

 

....My knowledge is one of a six year Christian.  For the first 5 years I would read the Bible and go to church which was satisfactory for me.  About 8 months ago I started getting the bug to study the Bible instead of just read the Bible.  I started with revelation as I am an airline pilot and for us, it seems as if the world is getting closer to the end with 9-11 and all, so what the heck.

I had trouble understanding the scriptures so I went to my church and the internet to see if I can get some meanings.  Boy is there some opinions.  Everyone at my church that I ask a question of has as their answer, "because that was the way I was taught" or "because it has always been that way".  It seems that if you challenge doctrine you become something of an outcast.  I have not lived as a Christian long enough to have had doctrine crammed down my throat like many in my church.  I get the standard doctrine answers but with no substance behind it. So in this light I will offer my first questions for you. 

 

Are we required to follow and or keep the 10 commandments?

Many folks tell me that since Jesus Christ came this requirement was abolished and they have some good scriptural backing for their position.  However, when reading revelation and other books of the Bible I run into the scriptures that state only those with faith and those who keep the commandments will be allowed to enter the kingdom of G-d.

(All of these are from NKJ)

(Rev 12:17)  "those who keep the commandments of G-d and have the testimony of Jesus…"
(Rev 14:12)  "Keep the commandments of G-d & the faith of Jesus"
(James 2:8-12)  If you do not keep one commandment, you become a transgressor of the law.
(Mat 19;17)  If you would enter life, keep the commandments.
(1 John 5:2-3)  "…when we love G-d and keep His commandments.  "…the love of G-d, that we Keep his commandments.

(2 John 2:6)  "…that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning…"

I have only referred to those passages that are in the New Testament as we know that keeping the commandments before Jesus came was required.

If I am wrong in having to keep the commandments then what does the above passages mean?

It's not that I do not try to keep the commandments, this I do (physically that is, I do believe that it is impossible to keep the commandments mentally like hate, lust, and wants, just to name a few).  But what if I am required to keep a commandment and am keeping the wrong one?

If we are required to keep the 10 commandments given from G-d through Moses then my second question comes into play.  What day is the real Sabbath? 

Once, again I get answers that the Sabbath really is a Saturday and we must keep only the Saturday holy, the true Sabbath, the 7th day of the week, from Friday night until Saturday night.  Other's say that it does not matter which day you keep holy as long as you pick a day and follow it, and that Jesus does not require you to keep the Sabbath on a Saturday instead of a Sunday.

From what I am reading and the way I understand the Bible not only must we keep the commandments if we want to enter into heaven (the narrow road) but in order to keep all 10 commandments we must keep the fourth commandment on the day it is required to be kept which is a Saturday.

If you would like any of the arguments that I have please let me know.  My goal is to get the truth, not someone's doctrine.

Thanks,
XXXXXXX

 

Dear xxxxx,

 

Are we to keep the commandments of G-d?  It amazes me that the Christian Church has trouble with this question.  Jesus stated if you love me you will keep my commandments.  But what commandments are those?

If Jesus is G-d incarnate, and the belief he is this is part of the requirement to being a Christian, then it would mean all the commandments.  All of the ones from the old testament as well as those of the new.  Many of the new are restatements of the old but with a higher standard.  Don't commit adultery became don't even look at a woman with lust in your heart.   So are we to keep the ten commandments;  A very firm, YES, and there are a lot more than just 10.  Jesus knew and kept all the commandments of the Tanach, Old Testament, while he walked the earth and showed us how these were to be kept most perfectly.

I do believe it is possible to observe the mental commandments as you called them as well as the physical commandments.  It is harder, but it is possible.

So why doesn't the church keep the commandments?  I call it cheap grace.  Because we are saved by our acceptance of Jesus sacrificial death we don't have the penalty of our sins put upon us, as he took them upon himself.  Many people then state that we don't have to keep the commandments as our salvation is through Jesus.  They are part right.  Our salvation is through Jesus, but Jesus himself tells us to keep the commandments.  The more you keep breaking the commandments the more sin you are putting upon Jesus as the one who took the penalty upon Him for you.    How many people actually think that each sin they make by breaking commandments is putting additional penalty upon Jesus as the sacrifice.  Of course those sins are already upon him and out actions now fulfill what was already placed by an all knowing all loving G-d, but I still like to realize there are consequences for my actions, even if those consequences are paid by another.

Which day is Sabbath?  G-d states we are to keep the Sabbath as a memorial of the creation.  It is not kept to work ship Jesus, but for the purpose G-d gave us.  With that in mind the Sabbath is the 7th day.  The seventh day has been observed by the Jewish people as sundown Friday to sundown Saturday for thousands of years.   This was the Sabbath Jesus kept.  The reason for starting at sundown is the history of creation in Genesis stating, "it was evening and morning the first day."  Evening comes first. 

This is not taking any ones doctrine but taking the Bible as fact and following it fully.  I pray the Lord G-d show you more and more how you are to keep His commandments, not for salvation, but as an offering to be pleasing to him and a sign of your Love for Him.

The easy truth for Christians is not to ask what would Jesus do, but what DID Jesus do.  He kept the commandments and observe sabbath on Saturday.  If Christians chose to worship G-d in the person of Jesus on Sunday there is nothing against that day, but we can not chose to throw away the Sabbath to do so.

Shalom from Jerusalem,

Richard E. Bristol, PhD

www.standingstrong.org