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THE SABBATH QUESTION?:

(Some of the Bible verses quoted in this study have had comments added in brackets. The sole purpose of this study technique is to emphasise or introduce a line of thought. All verses NKJV unless otherwise stated).

If asked, "what must I do to be saved"; as a Christian, what would you reply?

Perhaps Believe?

Well true, but James indicates that something more is required, because;
...Even the demons believe-and tremble! (Jas 2:19).

James goes on to explain that actions (or works) must accompany our faith;
But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (Jas 2:20).

Perhaps Repent?

Yes; John the Baptist, the Apostles and Jesus all preached 'repent'.
Jesus said; I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish (Luk 13:3; see also Act 17:30 and 2Pe 3:9).
But repent of what?

To repent is to turn from sin;
Jesus said; ...go, and sin no more (Joh 8:11; see also Joh 5:14).

But how do we know what sin is?

John explains; Whosoever commits sin transgresses the law: for sin is the transgression of the law (1Jn 3:4).

Jesus also speaks about a law being transgressed that prevents people from entering his kingdom;
Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
(Please note that Jesus is addressing Christians here. How many non-Christians are going around doing these wonderful things in Jesus' name?)
And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Mat 7:22-23).

These Christians claim to know God; yet Jesus says "I never knew you";
He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him
(1Jn 2:4).

So what law are these Christians transgressing that prevents them entering the kingdom?
Paul states;
...I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET." (Rom 7:7).

The only law containing the command "YOU SHALL NOT COVET", is the Ten Commandments.

Conviction

Does knowledge of sin also come through conviction?
Paul did not say, "I would not have known sin except by conviction";
he said, "I would not have known sin except through the law".

Although God can use conviction to bring guilt of sin, it is every Christian's duty to read God's law to know what sin is.
For example, many 'Christians' are committing adultery and claim, "I haven't been convicted that it is wrong".
Does that mean adultery is not sin, if they have not experienced any conviction?

A time is coming when those who refuse to accept the truth, won't be sent a conviction; but will rather be sent a strong delusion that they will believe the lie (2Th 2:10-11).

Legalism

Jesus said; ...if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments (Mat 19:17).

But isn't it legalism (ie, earning your own salvation through works), if you keep the commandments today?

Would it be legalism to stop stealing from others?
Would it be legalism to stop murdering?
Would it be legalism to stop working on the 7th day?

It's not called legalism, but love. Jesus said;
If you love me keep my commandments (John 14:15).

It is also called obedience; Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? (Rom 6:16).

Because the Ten Commandments identify sin, then repenting would involve doing all we can to sin no more
(against all Ten Commands);
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, "DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said, "DO NOT MURDER." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law (Jas 2:10-11).

So logically we could also say; if you do not commit adultery, but you work the 7th day, you have become a transgressor of the law.

If God appeared today and said, unless you stop breaking my 4th commandment you will perish, what would you do?
Close business Sunday?
The 4th commandment states to not work the 7th day.
Is Sunday the 7th day?
After Jesus' body was laid in the tomb;
...they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment (Luk 23:56).

Then Jesus rose the day after the Sabbath;
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb...(Luk 24:1).

Jesus rose on Sunday, the First day of the week, so Saturday is the 7th day.

The Catholic Church agrees...


[You will also notice that this Catholic book refers to the Sabbath as the 3rd commandment, and not the 4th as given by God. This is because the Catholic system is the 'little horn' power (which followed the Roman empire), and it was prophesied that it would make these changes to God's set time (Sabbath) and laws (commandments); (Dan 7:25). Anyway, that is a whole other can of worms, which we won't go into here].

Can't we just keep any day as our Sabbath?

If we did, it would be just that; "our Sabbath", and not God's Sabbath.
Can we say to God,
"look, you may be the boss in heaven, but we'll make the rules down here on earth; we think the first day is a better Sabbath for us".

If we decide which day is the Sabbath, who is our God?
We take the place of God if we make up the rules ourselves.
Satan wanted to be God and make the rules, and look at the mess his rules have made on this earth.

God pronounced a death penalty on Sabbath breaking (Num 15:32-36).
If it was OK to make any day our Sabbath, couldn't the condemned man have said,
"well my Sabbath is tomorrow, the 1st day, not the 7th, so I wasn't actually breaking the Commandment; you can't condemn me".

It is an interesting concept that if we started work on a Monday; worked six days; then the 7th day could be a Sabbath to us. Or if we started work on Tuesday; worked six days, then Monday could be our Sabbath.
Unfortunately, that's just what it would be, 'our Sabbath', and not 'God's Sabbath'.

If the concept of honouring any 7th day held any truth, we would have seen ancient Israel honouring different days according to the will of the individual.
There is no evidence of this occurring in any of the Biblical writings.
When we look back to where the Sabbath originated, during creation week; God only blessed the 7th day;
Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made (Gen 2:3).

The synchrony of the Sabbath can again be seen in the Wilderness, before Israel reached Mt Sinai. Israel didn't choose their own day; God told them the day based on the ongoing synchrony which He established at creation;
Then he said to them, "This is what the LORD has said: 'Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. ...(Exo 16:23).

Again, when Jesus walked on earth, we see He kept the same Sabbath, which Israel had been keeping throughout their generations.
Some mistakenly think that the Sabbath was only for Jews, but Jesus said the Sabbath was made for 'Man', not Jews (Mar 2:27).
Also, there was no such thing as Jews when the Sabbath was given to man (Adam and Eve) at creation.

So did this Sabbath pattern change at the cross?

There is zero Scriptural evidence of such an occurrance.
In fact, a group has a Million-Dollar reward still on offer for any such Scriptural evidence.

If the individual could now choose which day to keep as the Sabbath, then some of Jesus' words would become quite pointless.
Remember when Jesus was describing the events leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem.
He said that those in the city would need to flee into the mountains. He also said;
And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath (Mat 24:20).

This would be a pointless statement if it were now going to be up to the individual, as to which day to keep as Sabbath.
Jesus knew that only one of the seven are Holy to God, not any of the seven.

Another pointless statement would be the prophecy about the New Kingdom;
And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD (Isa 66:23).
God did not say that the saved would be divided into several groups, based on personal preference, each group coming before God on successive days.
No, ALL flesh will worship before Him on His Holy 7th day Sabbath.

Blessing and Curses

We only need to look at the many Old Testament examples, to see that as long as God's people obeyed His commandments, things would go well; but as soon as they began to stray, things would go bad;
"But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: (Deu 28:15).

And reading on through Deu 28, God lists the bad things that would come upon them as a result of their disobedience;
eg, their livestock would be cursed, locusts would consume their crops, etc.

But surely the 'commandment' being broken, that was going to result in all this disaster, does not include the insignificant Sabbath commandment;
In those days I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions. Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, "What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath." (Neh 13:15-18).

The Sabbath holds a blessing for those who acknowledge it;
" If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the LORD honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,... (Isa 58:13-14).

If I invited you to my place on the 7th day to a great banquet and great blessings; but you turned up a day late, would you be entitled to the blessings?
No, because you didn't meet the specifications given.

Commandments verses Traditions

Jesus gives an important lesson about 'meeting specifications' with regards to the 5th commandment;
For Moses said, 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER'; and, 'HE WHO CURSES FATHER OR MOTHER, LET HIM BE PUT TO DEATH.' But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban"-' (that is, a gift to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down (Mar 7:10-13).

Jesus clearly does not approve of a man-made tradition altering God's commandment.
We might be worshipping the right God, but if we worship Him using our own traditions, that worship becomes useless;
...IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME (ie, the right God), TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.' For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men... He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition
(Mar 7:7-9).

As we have seen, the Catholic Church claims that keeping the 1st day Holy is a tradition introduced by the church.
Searching the history on this matter confirms that sun worshippers kept Sun-day Holy, many centuries before Christ.
Is God OK with us adopting pagan traditions and using them toward Him?;
"When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, ...take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, ... and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.' You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; (Deu 12:29-31).

So do we follow a tradition of man, or the commandment of God?
... "We ought to obey God rather than men (Act 5:29).

Sabbath unchanged

Paul says there remains a Sabbath for the people of God;
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.
(Heb 4:9-10).

So what rest is this speaking of?

Verse 10 gives us the example... as God did from his; we are to look to His example.
Verse 4 confirms which day he is speaking of;
...For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: "AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS"; (Heb 4:4).

But didn't Jesus introduce a new level of understanding to the commandments; are we not to keep them at a new spiritual level?;
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Mat 5:27-28).

It is true that Jesus took the commandments to another level; and we should keep His Sabbath in our hearts daily.
But clearly we cannot literally keep the Sabbath daily; otherwise we would cease working 7 days per week.
Because we are keeping His Sabbath in our hearts daily; would that not lead us to keep it literally when the 7th day arrives?

If Hebrews 4 is speaking of a new spiritual level of keeping the Sabbath in our hearts every day; does that nullify the command to literally rest the 7th day?

If so, by applying this new level to the other commandments also, it would mean as long as we refrain from looking upon a woman with lust,
it will now be allowable to literally commit adultery.

Clearly this is not what Jesus meant. Jesus was simply teaching that the heart is the source of all sin;
...For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies (Mat 15:19).

We can only gain victory over sin through the sinless Spirit of Christ dwelling in our heart.
If you are a thief, and repent from the heart to steal no more, Jesus can bring us the victory over that sin.
If we acknowledge from the heart that working the 7th day is sin in God's eyes; then through our will to stop work on Saturday, He will help us gain victory over that sin.

Jesus kept over 1700 seventh day Sabbath's during His time on earth, for He was without sin (Heb 4:15).

In whose company do you want to be counted?

Colossians 2

But doesn't Col 2:16 say that no one can judge you on whether you keep the Sabbath or not?

As a result of things which Jesus accomplished, it says that, He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, nailing it to his cross; and goes on to say; Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: (Col 2:16).

So what is this saying?

We find an important parallel verse to this in Ezekiel;
...it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel:... (Eze 45:17).

It is important to understand that the reference to the Sabbath in Col 2:16,
is not speaking about the 4th commandment requirement of not working on the 7th day.
The 4th commandment is not a hand written ordinance, nor is it against us (Jesus said it is for us;Mar 2:27);
but it is rather a commandment written by the finger of God, on stone.

However, there was a handwritten ordinance given in the Law of Moses relating to offerings that were required each weekly Sabbath;
This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering (Num 28:10).

Colossions 2:17 says the things of verse 16 ... are a shadow of things to come.
The book of Hebrews is the only other place the phrase "shadow of things to come" is mentioned, which happens to be by the same author, Paul;
For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect (Heb 10:1).

So which 'law' involved offering sacrifices?;
...to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses,... (2Ch 23:18).

The Ten Commandments contain NO commands relating to making burnt offerings.

It is important to understand that the Law of Moses is a totally separate and distinct covenant to the Ten Commandments.
The Ten Commandments had not even been given to Israel, when the sprinkling of blood ratified the Mosaic covenant;
And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD has said will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD has made with you concerning all these words (which are written in the book). (Exo 24:7-8).
Moses sprinkled the book also; (Heb 9:19).

Then notice how the Ten Commandments covenant was given 4 verses later;
And the LORD said to Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give you tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that you may teach them (Exo 24:12).

The Ten Commandments are God's covenant;
...And he wrote upon the tables the words of THE COVENANT, the ten commandments (Exo 34:28).

The Ten Commandments are the Covenant.
This covenant was not an 'add on' to the Mosaic covenant. Deu 5:7 to 5:21 lists the Ten Commandments, then it goes on to say;
These words (the Ten Commandment covenant) the LORD spoke to all your assembly in the mount...and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them to me (Deu 5:22).

Nowhere in Scripture are the Ten Commandments referred to as being "against us" or "contrary to us" (as seen in Col 2:14).
We do however find the Book of the Law being referred to as " against us";
Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there as a witness AGAINST YOU... (Deu 31:26).
...the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him. And He has confirmed His words (contained in Law of Moses), which He spoke AGAINST US...(Dan 9:11-12).

[Read our full study on Colossians 2 here: Colossians 2 ] 

Grace versus Law

Some quote Galatians to show that attempting to keep the 'works of the law' today is a curse, and that you are in fact fallen from Grace;
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: (Gal 3:10).
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace (Gal 5:4).

Are these verses really saying that if we keep the Ten Commandments today, we are under a curse and fallen from Grace?
If we stop murdering, have we fallen from Grace?
If we stop stealing, have we fallen from Grace?
That sounds like the gospel of Satan!

Reading the remaining half of Gal 3:10; we find the context of these verses is actually the 'Book of the Law' (Mosaic Law);
...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.

Attempting to be justified by keeping the Mosaic Law frustrates God's grace;
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain (Gal 2:21).

Attempting to keep God's Law, by sinning no more, is what Jesus expects of us; go, and sin no more
(John 8:11).

So can the claim be true, that we do not need to carry out the works of 'not stealing', 'not murdering', 'not committing adultery', 'not working the 7th day', etc?

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, (Tit 2:11).

If Grace has been offered to all mankind, and no 'works' are required, is everyone saved regardless?
If a thief continues to steal, or a murderer continues to murder after learning of this Grace, is he saved regardless?

Many would say that as long as they ask for forgiveness, they are saved; but does asking for forgiveness for repetitive sin, really demonstrate a genuine repentance?
Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him (1Jn 3:6).

Clearly the offer of Grace must be accompanied by an appropriate response from the sinner.
God has offered the free gift of Grace, but if you do not respond appropriately to that offer, it is of no value to you.

An illustration may be helpful.

Texas USA; Rod, a murderer is in court where the Law requires the death sentence. To Rod's surprise and relief; and for reasons unclear to him, the Judge puts Rod under Grace, and he is freed from his charges. Rod did not do anything to earn this Grace, neither did he deserve this Grace. The judge informed Rod that he would be monitoring his behaviour, and did not want to see him back in his courtroom again.

Grace was given, but Rod's response to this Grace determines the outcome of his life.
1/ Rod is repentant, and doesn't murder again, and lives his life never facing the death sentence again.
2/ Rod is unrepentant, and murders again, and then finds himself back on death row.

Do you think the judge would show Grace over and over again, forgiving Rod of his murders every time it happened?
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment,... (Heb 10:26-27).
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past,... (Rom 3:25).

God's Grace is forwarded to all mankind, because the penalty for sin is death (Rom 6:23).

We WILL be judged by our response to that Grace;
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works (Mat 16:27).
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad (2Co 5:10).
...I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works (Rev 2:23).

More Sabbath facts

Just as the rainbow is the 'sign' of God's unilateral covenant to never again destroy man with a global flood;
the Sabbath is the 'sign' of God's unilateral covenant, the Ten Commandments.

This day was made as a 'sign' between the 'true God', the creator, AND those who acknowledge the authority of His covenant;
...'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you (Exo 31:13; see also Eze 20:12).

God takes this covenant seriously;
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 on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people (Exo 31:14).

Just out of interest, circumcision was the 'sign' of God's bilateral covenant with Israel.
People neglecting the 'sign' of this covenant, were treated likewise;
And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant." (Gen 17:14).

The Sabbath is all about faith. For many people, there is no visible or logical reason why we need to cease from work on the 7th day each week.
The common mentality is "Who does it hurt if we work?"
Because the Sabbath is the 'sign' of God's covenant, God can clearly see from our intent and actions, who has willingly submitted to the authority of His covenant - by faith!!!

As a commandment of faith, God used the Sabbath to test His people (in the wilderness of Sin; Exo 16:1) before they entered the Promised Land.
We are in the 'wilderness of sin' today, and at the threshold of eternal life.

God is about to bring an
...hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth (Rev 3:10).

Due to God's consistency, it would be just like Him to again use the Sabbath to test the faith of His remnant; just as He did at the first Exodus;
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not (Exo 16:4).

The stage is set.

Which day does the majority of Christianity honour today?

Is majority belief a reliable indicator of truth?
No.

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it (Mat 7:13-14).

Keeping the commandments of God will be the central issue during the great tribulation;
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 (Rev 12:17).
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (Rev 14:12).
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city (Rev 22:14).

A change of heart

What are the implications of having the Holy Spirit of Christ dwell in our hearts;
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, ...(Gal 4:6).
...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;...(Eph 3:17).

We know that the heart is capable of being deceitful and wicked;
The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? (Jer 17:9).

Biblically speaking, our thoughts originate from our heart;
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? (Mat 9:4).

In Noah's day, mans thoughts became beyond recovery;
... every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (Gen 6:5).

Many years after Noah, God established a covenant with Abraham; the sign of which was circumcision;
and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you (Gen 17:11).

Although God established physical circumcision; His intent was for it to be accompanied by Spiritual circumcision.
This is what God was actually seeking, circumcision of the heart;
Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer (Deu 10:16).

So what does circumcision represent?
Well, physical circumcision could be thought of as a change in outward or physical appearance.
Spiritual circumcision (ie, circumcision of the heart) would represent a change of heart, or from the Biblical meaning of heart; a change in the way we think.
This is also known as repentance.
Circumcision of the heart (or repentance) would result in a change in the outward appearance of our character.

So you see, God was seeking a heart change from Israel;
...if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled,... (Lev 26:41).

So, was being physically circumcised, automatically accompanied by circumcision of the heart?
No.
Just as today; baptism in water, is not automatically accompanied by baptism with the Holy Spirit (being born again)!!!
The Holy Spirit can only be given to dwell in those with a genuinely repentant heart;
So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit,... (Act 15:8).
...the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him
(Act 5:32).

God has always wanted mankind to have His law in our hearts;
Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, You people in whose heart is My law:... (Isa 51:7).

And what 'law' did God want in our hearts;
And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart (Deu 6:6).

In the previous chapter (Deut 5), Moses had read out the Ten Commandments.
God wanted the Ten Commandments in everyone's heart.
So does He still want this law in our hearts today?
Yes;
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 in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people (Heb 8:10).

How do we know which law this is referring to?
...written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart (2Co 3:3).

So, the law written on stone is to be written on our hearts.
Which law was written on stone?
So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone (Deu 4:13).

The new covenant promise is to "put my laws in their mind, and write them on their hearts".
Having His laws in our hearts will give us victory over sin.
According to Jesus, the heart is the source of all sin;
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies (Mat 15:19).

Victory over sin has to begin at the heart. Inviting Christ into your heart, and wanting to cease from sin against all Ten Commandments (from the heart), is how Christ can then provide us with the victory over sin.

So, would it be possible to gain this victory, if we do not even acknowledge the law that identifies sin?
No.
The carnal mind rejects God's law;
... Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Rom 8:6-8).
He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him (1Jn 2:4).

Some look at the Sabbath as an inconvenience.
Keeping the Sabbath is only a burden if not done out of love;
"If you love Me, keep My commandments (Joh 14:15).
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (1Jo 5:3).

[Read our full study about the heart here: A Heart for God ]
 

APPENDIX


More Sabbath comments from The Roman Catholic Church

"Sunday is a Catholic institution, and its claims to observance can be defended only on Catholic principles... From beginning to end of Scripture there is not a single passage that warrants the transfer of weekly public worship from the last day of the week to the first." Catholic Press, Sydney, Australia, August, 1900.

"Protestantism, in disgarding the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, has no good reasons for it's Sunday theory, and ought logically to keep Saturday as the Sabbath." John Gilmary Shea, in the 'American Catholic Quarterly Review', January 1883.

"Reason and common sense demand the acceptance of one or the other of these alternatives: either Protestantism and keeping holy of Saturday, or Catholicity and keeping holy of Sunday. Compromise is impossible." 'The Catholic Mirror', December 23, 1893.

"Protestants...accept Sunday rather than Saturday as the day for public worship after the Catholic Church made the change... But the Protestant mind does not seem to realize that in accepting the Bible, in observing the Sunday, they are accepting the authority of the spokesman for the church, the Pope." 'Our Sunday Visitor', February 5, 1950.

"It is well to remind the Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and all other Christians, that the Bible does not support them anywhere in their observance of Sunday. Sunday is an institution of the Roman Catholic Church, and those who observe the day observe the commandment of the Catholic Church." Priest Brady, in an address, reported in the Elizabeth, New Jersey, News, March 18, 1903.

"The Protestant claiming the Bible to be the only guide of faith, has no warrant for observing Sunday. In this matter the Seventh Day Adventist is the only consistent Protestant". The Catholic Universe Bulletin, Aug 14, 1942, p4.

"The observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the Catholic Church". Monsignor Louis Segur, Plain Talk About the Protestantism of Today, 1868, p.213.

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