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返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 让我的子民思考 让我的子民思考 （第一部分) 让我的子民思考。让他们清楚地阅读这道，以便他们可以相信。我们身处末时，因此应当赎回光阴，不再闲懒散漫。 我们的救恩是在于我们所认识的神，而不是我们所做的事。将来会有一个审判。我们的行为现今正被称在天平里，以显明我们是否要遵行上帝的话，即是我们所自称相信的。 这是生死攸关的 。我们应该是与“父并祂儿子耶稣基督”相交的。 只有一位上帝。祂和祂的独生子一起生活。 申命记 6:4“以色列啊，你要听！耶和华我们上帝是独一的主。 申命记 4:35，39 35 这是显给你看，要使你知道，惟有耶和华他是上帝，除他以外，再无别神。39 所以今日你要知道，也要记在心上，天上地下惟有耶和华他是上帝，除他以外，再无别神。 惟有一位是上帝。祂不是由多位所组成的。这里所用的所有代词都是单数代词“他”。 申命记 6:5-7 5 你要尽心、尽性、尽力爱耶和华你的上帝。6 我今日所吩咐你的话都要记在心上，7 也要殷勤教训你的儿女，无论你坐在家里，行在路上，躺下，起来，都要谈论； 申命记 10:20你要敬畏耶和华你的 上帝，侍奉他，专靠他，也要指着他的名起誓。 我们要爱祂。我们要敬畏祂。祂叫什么名字？ 出埃及记 15:3耶和华是战士，他的名是耶和华。 出埃及记 6:3我从前向亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各显现为全能的上帝，至于我名耶和华，他们未曾知道。 诗篇 68:4你们当向上帝唱诗，歌颂他的名，为那坐车行过旷野的修平大路。他的名是耶和华，要在他面前欢乐。 诗篇 83:18使他们知道，惟独你名为耶和华的，是全地以上的至高者。 上帝说祂不是三位一体。惟独祂是上帝。祂有一个真实的名字。祂的儿子不是三位一体的一部分，也不是三位一体信徒。耶稣显明祂的父为独一的真神。 马可福音12:32-34 32 那文士对耶稣说：“夫子说，上帝是一位，实在不错。除了他以外，再没有别的 神。33 并且尽心、尽智、尽力爱他，又爱人如己，就比一切燔祭和各样祭祀好得多。”34 耶稣见他回答的有智慧，就对他说：“你离上帝的国不远了。”从此以后，没有人敢再问他什么。 让我的子民思考 （第二部分） 约翰福音 17:3认识你独一的真神，并且认识你所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生。 约翰福音 3:16“上帝爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。 上帝没有差派祂自己。祂差派祂独生儿子。上帝的儿子是祂亲生的，并被上帝所差到世间来。祂肯定是在被差派以先为上帝所生。祂不是被差派了之后才变成亲生儿子的。这是经上记着说的。耶稣说祂是”从上帝出来的。” 祂是“从父出来的。” 门徒们都相信耶稣的见证，即祂是从上帝出来的。门徒们都不是三位一体信徒。 约翰福音16:27-30 27 父自己爱你们，因为你们已经爱我，又信我是从父出来的。28 我从父出来，到了世界；我又离开世界，往父那里去。”29 门徒说：“如今你是明说，并不用比喻了。30 现在我们晓得你凡事都知道，也不用人问你，因此我们信你是从上帝出来的。” 约翰福音 8:42耶稣说：“倘若上帝是你们的父，你们就必爱我；因为我本是出于上帝，也是从上帝而来，并不是由着自己来，乃是他差我来。 箴言 8:22-25 22 “在耶和华造化的起头，在太初创造万物之先，就有了我。23 从亘古，从太初，未有世界以前，我已被立。24 没有深渊，没有大水的泉源，我已生出。25 大山未曾奠定，小山未有之先，我已生出。 箴言8:27-31 27 他立高天，我在那里；他在渊面的周围划出圆圈，28 上使穹苍坚硬，下使渊源稳固，29 为沧海定出界限，使水不越过他的命令，立定大地的根基。30 那时，我在他那里为工师，日日为他所喜爱，常常在他面前踊跃，31 踊跃在他为人预备可住之地，也喜悦住在世人之间。 耶稣有一位父亲。耶和华是祂的上帝和祂的父亲。祂们在本质上是同等的。他们有共同的目标。惟独父是比儿子大的。 约翰福音 5:18所以犹太人越发想要杀他，因他不但犯了安息日，并且称上帝为他的父，将自己和上帝当作平等。 让我的子民思考 （第三部分） 约翰福音 10:30我与父原为一。 约翰福音 14:28你们听见我对你们说了，我去还要到你们这里来。你们若爱我，因我到父那里去，就必喜乐，因为父是比我大的。 约翰福音 20:17耶稣说：“不要摸我，因为我还没有升上去见我的父。你往我弟兄那里去，告诉他们说：我要升上去见我的父，也是你们的父；见我的上帝，也是你们的上帝。” 哥林多前书15:24，27-28 24 再后，末期到了，那时基督既将一切执政的、掌权的、有能的都毁灭了，就把国交与父 神。27 因为经上说：“上帝叫万物都服在他的脚下。”既说万物都服了他，明显那叫万物服他的，不在其内了。28 万物既服了他，那时，子也要自己服那叫万物服他的，叫上帝在万物之上，为万物之主。 哥林多前书 8:4，6 4 论到吃祭偶像之物，我们知道偶像在世上算不得什么；也知道上帝只有一位，再没有别的上帝。6 然而我们只有一位上帝，就是父，万物都本于他，我们也归于他；并有一位主，就是耶稣基督，万物都是藉着他有的，我们也是藉着他有的。 以弗所书 4:4-6 4 身体只有一个，圣灵只有一个，正如你们蒙召，同有一个指望；5 一主，一信，一洗，6 一上帝，就是众人的父，超乎众人之上，贯乎众人之中，也住在众人之内。 哥林多前书 1:9上帝是信实的，你们原是被他所召，好与他儿子我们的主耶稣基督一同得份。 约翰一书 1:3我们将所看见、所听见的传给你们，使你们与我们相交。我们乃是与父并他儿子耶稣基督相交的。 约翰一书 3:23上帝的命令就是叫我们信他儿子耶稣基督的名，且照他所赐给我们的命令彼此相爱。 约翰一书 4:8-10 8没有爱心的，就不认识上帝，因为上帝就是爱。9 上帝差他独生子到世间来，使我们藉着他得生，上帝爱我们的心在此就显明了。10 不是我们爱上帝，乃是上帝爱我们，差他的儿子，为我们的罪作了挽回祭，这就是爱了。 约翰一书 4:14父差子作世人的救主，这是我们所看见且作见证的。 约翰一书 4:15凡认耶稣为上帝儿子的， 上帝就住在他里面， 约翰一书 5:5胜过世界的是谁呢？不是那信耶稣是上帝儿子的吗？ 约翰一书 5:13我将这些话写给你们信奉上帝儿子之名的人，要叫你们知道自己有永生。 约翰一书 2:21-23 我写信给你们，不是因你们不知道真理，正是因你们知道，并且知道没有虚谎是从真理出来的。22 谁是说谎话的呢？不是那不认耶稣为基督的吗？不认父与子的，这就是敌基督的。23 凡不认子的，就没有父；认子的，连父也有了。 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 根据圣经只有两位实体生物而不是三位 根据圣经只有两位实体生物而不是三位 箴言 30:4 “ 谁升天又降下来？谁聚风在掌中？谁包水在衣服里？谁立定地的四极？他名叫什么？他儿子叫名叫什么？你知道吗？” 只有两位生物 哥林多前书 8:6 “ 然而我们只有一位上帝，就是父，万物都本于他，我们也归于他；并有一位主，就是耶稣基督，万物都是藉着他有的，我们也是藉着他有的。” 只有两位生物 马太福音 27:46 “ 约在申初，耶稣大声喊着说：“以利，以利！拉马撒巴各大尼？”就是说：“我的上帝，我的上帝！为什么离弃我？” 只有两位生物 马可福音 13:32/ 马太福音 24 ： 36 “ 但那日子、那时辰，没有人知道，连天上的使者也不知道，子也不知道，惟有父知道。” 只有两位生物 哥林多前书 1:9“ 上帝是信实的，你们原是被他所召，好与他儿子我们的主耶稣基督一同得份。” 只有两位生物 哥林多前书 11:3“ 我愿意你们知道，基督是各人的头，男人是女人的头，上帝是基督的头。” 只有两位生物 哥林多后书 5:19“ 这就是上帝在基督里叫世人与自己和好，不将他们的过犯归到他们身上，并且将这和好的道理托付了我们。” 只有两位生物 约翰福音 1:14 ， 18 14 “ 道成了肉身，住在我们中间，充充满满地有恩典，有真理。我们也见过他的荣光，正是父独生子的荣光。 18 从来没有人看见上帝，只有在父怀里的独生子将他表明出来。” 只有两位生物 约翰福音 3:16 ， 18 16 “ 上帝爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。 18 信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信上帝独生子的名。” 只有两位生物 约翰福音 5:26 “ 因为父怎样在自己有生命，就赐给他儿子也照样在自己有生命；” 只有两位生物 约翰福音 8:16, 28, 42 16“ 就是判断人，我的判断也是真的，因为不是我独自在这里，还有差我来的父与我同在。” 28 所以耶稣说：“你们举起人子以后，必知道我是基督，并且知道我没有一件事是凭着自己作的。我说这些话，乃是照着父所教训我的。 42 耶稣说：“倘若上帝是你们的父，你们就必爱我；因为我本是出于上帝，也是从上帝而来，并不是由着自己来，乃是他差我来。只有两位生物 约翰福音 12:44-45 ， 49 44 “ 耶稣大声说：“信我的，不是信我，乃是信那差我来的。 45 人看见我，就是看见那差我来的。 49 因为我没有凭着自己讲，惟有差我来的父已经给我命令，叫我说什么，讲什么。” 只有两位生物 约翰福音 14 ： 10 ， 20 ， 23 ， 24 10 “ 我在父里面，父在我里面，你不信吗？我对你们所说的话，不是凭着自己说的，乃是住在我里面的父作他自己的事。 20 到那日你们就知道我在父里面，你们在我里面，我也在你们里面。 23 耶稣回答说：“人若爱我，就必遵守我的道，我父也必爱他，并且我们要到他那里去，与他同住。 24 不爱我的人就不遵守我的道；你们所听见的道不是我的，乃是差我来之父的道。” 只有两位生物 约翰福音 17:3 “ 认识你独一的真神，并且认识你所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生。” 只有两位生物 约翰福音 17:8 “ 因为你所赐给我的道，我已经赐给他们。他们也领受了，又确实知道，我是从你出来的，并且信你差了我来。” 只有两位生物 约翰福音 20:17 “ 耶稣说：“不要摸我，因为我还没有升上去见我的父。你往我弟兄那里去，告诉他们说：我要升上去见我的父，也是你们的父；见我上帝，也是你们的上帝。” 只有两位生物 罗马书 8:3 “ 。。。上帝就差遣自己的儿子成为罪身的形状。。。” 只有两位生物 约翰一书 1:3 “ 我们将所看见、所听见的传给你们，使你们与我们相交。我们乃是与父并他儿子耶稣基督相交的。” 只有两位生物 约翰一书 2:22 ， 23 22 “ 谁是说谎话的呢？不是那不认耶稣为基督的吗？不认父与子的，这就是敌基督的。 23 凡不认子的，就没有父；认子的，连父也有了。” 只有两位生物 约翰一书 5:10 ， 11 10 “ 信上帝儿子的，就有这见证在他心里；不信上帝的，就是将上帝当作说谎的，因不信上帝为他儿子作的见证。 11 这见证就是上帝赐给我们永生，这永生也是在他儿子里面。” 只有两位神性生物 【钦定本】以弗所书 3:9 “ 又使众人都明白，这从世界的起头以来，隐藏在借着耶稣基督创造万物之神里的奥秘，是如何安排的。” 只有两位生物 希伯来书 1:1-2 上帝既在古时藉着众先知多次多方地晓谕列祖； 2 就在这末世藉着他儿子晓谕我们，又早已立他为承受万有的；也曾藉着他创造诸世界。” 只有两位生物 这就是为什么约翰福音 1:3 说： “万物是藉着他造的；凡被造的，没有一样不是藉着他造的。”其他版本说：“万物是藉着耶稣基督被造的”，因为“上帝藉着祂创造万物”。 只有两位生物 彼得前书 3:18“ 因基督也曾一次为罪受苦（“受苦”有古卷作“受死”），就是义的代替不义的，为要引我们到上帝面前。按着肉体说，他被治死；按着灵性说，他复活了。” 只有两位生物 启示录 1:1“ 耶稣基督的启示，就是上帝赐给他，叫他将必要成的事指示他的仆人。他就差遣使者晓谕他的仆人约翰。” 只有两位生物 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

All trinity studies Previous Download Next SDA giving up the testimonies and SOP SDA giving up the testimonies and SOP One thing is certain: Those Seventh-day Adventists who take their stand under Satan's banner will first give up their faith in the warnings and reproofs contained in the Testimonies of God's Spirit.--3SM 84 (1903). {LDE 177.4} The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18). Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God's remnant people in the true testimony.--1SM48 (1890). {LDE 177.5} The enemy has made his masterly efforts to unsettle the faith of our own people in the Testimonies. . . . This is just as Satan designed it should be, and those who have been preparing the way for the people to pay no heed to the warnings and reproofs of the Testimonies of the Spirit of God will see that a tide of errors of all kinds will spring into life.--3SM 83 (1890). {LDE 178.1} It is Satan's plan to weaken the faith of God's people in the Testimonies. Next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our faith, the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures, and then the downward march to perdition. When the Testimonies, which were once believed, are doubted and given up, Satan knows the deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his efforts till he launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends in destruction.--4T 211. {LDE 178.2} Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

Back to Contents Previous Download 看中文 Next The Top Fifteen Excuses Used to Avoid the Sabbath(Part 2) Was the Sabbath abolished? Many Christians believe that Colossians 2:16, Galatians 4:10 and Romans 14:5 are referring to the Seventh day Sabbath and even some believe that Colossians 2:16 refers to the Ten Commandments rather than the referenced ceremonial law. Before continuing with these three very misunderstood verses, let’s give a quick explanation on how the Ten Commandments and the Ceremonial law relate to each other. If a man sinned, he broke LAW No. 1 - the moral law of the Ten Commandments. So then he brought his offering, according to LAW No. 2 - the law of sacrifices, and he received forgiveness. LAW No. 1 defines sin, for sin is the transgression of the moral law. (1 John 3:4) LAW No. 2 defined sacrifices, the Ceremonial law which was the remedy for sin. When the Israelite sinned, he broke the first law. To secure forgiveness he had to obey the second law. So here are two very distinct laws. This is the biggest area of confusion when it comes to concluding the Sabbath or Ten Commandments were abolished. Law No. 2 was ONLY for the Children of Israel and Jews until the cross while Law No. 1 is eternal and for EVERYONE. Colossians 2:16 reads, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat (offering), or in drink (offering), or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:” and so the argument is the fourth Commandment was deleted from stone. What was done away with here was called the ordinances (Ceremonial Law). This is seen by noting what Paul said two verses earlier. Colossians 2:14 states, “blotting out the handwriting (Moses) of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.” Paul then goes on to say, so “Let no man therefore judge you…of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:” Luke 1:6 KJV shows that the ordinances and the Commandments are two totally different things. It states, “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the Commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” And Hebrews 9:1 explains that the ordinances of this ceremonial sanctuary system are now gone leaving only the Ten Commandments, “Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.” It was the ordinances that were nailed to the cross, “not one jot or one tittle” of the law. The main differences between the Commandments and the ordinances are that the Commandments were written by God’s finger, written in stone, placed inside the Ark of the Covenant, are love, eternal, for everyone and it is sin to break them. The ordinances were in Moses’ handwriting, written in a book, placed on the outside of the Ark of the Covenant, are not love, not eternal and were only for the Jews and practised because of sin. The One great and perfect Sacrifice was offered that Friday afternoon, when the true Passover Lamb bowed His head and died. When He cried out, “It is finished”, the old ceremonial law that pointed the people to His sacrificial death was nailed to the cross. Note how every part of these verses in Colossians 2:14-17 refers to the ceremonial law. Unfortunately, most modern Bible translations have translated the phrase meat or in drink in verse sixteen incorrectly. The King James Bible is one of the few translations that has translated these words correctly and is therefore recommended in these studies. So much gets lost at times when translators don’t have a good understanding of Jewish culture and terminology. To be referring to clean or unclean foods here would be totally out of context for the passage but when it is kept in context, every single point here refers to the various feast days that belonged to the sacrificial sanctuary system. Further clarification is found in the book of Hebrews which is believed by most to be written by Paul. You will note that the context of this passage is undoubtedly the sanctuary service in regards to sacrifices and offerings, of which Christ became the One and final perfect sacrifice for us. The meat and drink described in this passage has to be meat and drink offerings by the unmistakable context of this passage in Hebrews 9:7-14 below. Paul speaks of meat and drink offerings and carnal ordinances which were imposed until the time of reformation, being Jesus Christ who obtained eternal redemption for us and brought an end to the sacrifices prescribed by the ordinances of the ceremonial law once and for all. This continues to illustrate the perfect context of Colossians 2:16 and as per Colossians 2:14, we see that everything referenced belongs to the ordinances of the ceremonial law which Paul said was against us and contrary to us and it was taken out the way and nailed to the cross by Jesus’ perfect sacrifice. Extra verses are given to show context. Hebrews 9:7-14 “But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 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; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Nowhere in this passage are clean and unclean foods referred to and there never were unclean drinks, only unclean foods and these had no relationship to the ordinances that were nailed to the cross. What is spoken of here in both Colossians and Hebrews are references to meat and drink offerings that were part of the sanctuary service that are in the ordinances of the ceremonial law. This is all that can possibly be referred to and when done so it fits absolutely perfectly into the context of both passages as it remains totally in context with the sanctuary service. So let’s look at Colossians 2:14-17 again to see if everything does actually refer to the ceremonial law by the fact that the context of the passage remains the same throughout. “Blotting out the handwriting”, the ceremonial law was written in Moses handwriting. “Ordinances”, Strong’s dictionary also directly translates this word to ceremonial law, “that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way”, the ceremonial law is now against us and contrary to us, as Christ has become that One and perfect sacrifice for us. “Nailing it to his cross”, and of course now that Christ has become that perfect sacrifice for us, no longer are meat and drink offerings and animal sacrifices and all associated Holy days necessary, so the ceremonial law was nailed to the cross. Moving onto verse sixteen, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink”, and as we have now seen were part of the ceremonial law. “Or in respect of an holyday”, these Holy days included such days as Passover, Feast of Weeks and many others. “Or of the new moon”, new moon celebrations were also part of the ordinances. “Or of the sabbath days”, Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Weeks, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles and many others were all sabbath days. When spoken of in plural and the context of the passage is the ceremonial law, then the sabbaths referred to can be nothing else but ceremonial. Verse seventeen goes on to say, “Which are a shadow of things to come.” These sabbaths were called a shadow because Passover was a shadow of the crucifixion and Feast of Weeks was a shadow of Pentecost. These Old Testament feasts and holy days were shadows of what was to come and once those things had come and gone then the shadows disappeared. Here is one verse from Leviticus that refers to such feasts and Holy days, which involves meat and drink, that is meat and drink offerings. Leviticus 23:37, “These are the feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything upon his day.” You can also find the perfect parallel between Colossians 2:16 and Ezekiel 45:17. You will note in Ezekiel 45:17 that this was a sin offering, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel for breaking God’s Commandments as prescribed by the ceremonial law until such time that Jesus nailed this law to the cross. Parentheses are added. This is what Israel had to do to make atonement for sin, which is the breaking of God’s Ten Commandments and of course includes the Seventh Day Sabbath. This clearly demonstrates the issue and leaves no doubt as to what Paul was explaining to the Colossians. Note first the Strong’s dictionary definition for holyday used in Colossians 2:16. You will note that the words “feast” and “holyday” are synonymous and so the following two verses are a perfect match. G1859 heorte, Of uncertain affinity; a festival: - feast, holyday. Colossians 2:16 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat [offerings], or in drink [offerings], or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:” Ezekiel 45:17 “And it shall be the prince’s part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, [holydays] and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.” Here is a table comparison for those who prefer this format. Colossians 2:16 Ezekiel 45:17 meat, or in drink, meat offerings, and drink offerings, of an holyday, Strong's - feast, holyday in the feasts, or of the new moon and in the new moons, or of the sabbath days: and in the sabbaths, These various Holy days or festivals concerned days that took place at various times of the year as well as yearly Holy days such as the Day of Atonement and monthly like the New Moon celebrations already discussed. As these were a shadow of things to come and those things have past and the shadows are now gone, to still observe these days would be putting us back into unnecessary bondage. This is what Paul is talking about in Galatians 4:9-10 which says, “But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days, and months, and times, and years.” Paul is definitely not saying you can ignore anything that is a day, month or year in the Bible. He is referring to something that includes all of these things, which is and can only be the ceremonial law. Compare with Colossians 2:16. See what is the law in Galatians for more clarity on this very misunderstood book. The ordinances of the ceremonial law was a law of servitude and bondage. Galatians 4:3 “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:” Paul continues telling the Galatians that they are no longer servants in Galatians 4:7 “Wherefore you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” God’s Commandments on the other hand are a law of liberty. James 1:25 “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” And for further clarity James 2:11-12 reads, “For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if you commit no adultery, yet if you kill, you are become a transgressor of the law. So speak you, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” If we keep these points in mind and explore the context of the chapter when studying the Bible it will help us see what law is being spoken of. See Colossians 2:16 and Galatians 4:10 Commentaries. While still on this very misunderstood topic of the ceremonial law, let’s cover another scripture that is frequently misinterpreted. Such misunderstandings are common with God’s Ten Commandment law and this temporary law which pointed the way to Christ. I have chosen to use some Bible Commentaries for this scripture, as I believe they explain it very well. The scripture concerned, is mainly Romans 14:5, but I have given the surrounding verses so the context of the passage can be seen. Romans 14:1-5, “Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God has received him. 4 Who are you that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yes, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 5 One man esteemeth one [feast] day above another: another esteemeth every [feast] day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” Note that the word “alike” in verse 5 does not exist in the Greek text and is an added word, which tends to convey an idea which the apostle never designed or intended. Parentheses are added. To begin with, it must be admitted that the word “Sabbath” is very significantly not even found once in this entire chapter. People assume Paul is talking about the Sabbath. But is he really? The chapter begins, “Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations.” Romans 14:1. The NKJV reads, “disputes over doubtful things.” This chapter concerns “doubtful things” and is not a discussion of the Ten Commandments. God’s “Big Ten” are not “doubtful,” but exceedingly dear and written personally with the finger of God on two tables of stone. It becomes clear from Romans 14 and 15, that many misunderstandings existed between Jewish and Gentile Christians in relation to certain customs, which were sacredly observed by one but disregarded by the other. The main subject of dispute was concerning meats and days and the day issue is not over the Seventh day Sabbath but over the various feast days of the ceremonial law. The converted Jew retaining respect for the Law of Moses abstained from certain meats and observed ceremonial days while the converted Gentile understood that Christianity put him under no such obligation or regard to ceremonial points. It also appears that mutual and heartless judgments existed among them and that brotherly love and reciprocal tolerance did not always prevail. Paul exhorts that in such things no longer essential to Christianity, that even though both parties had a different way of thinking they might still have an honest and serious regard for God. Paul further explains they should not therefore, let different sentiments hinder Christian fellowship and love, but they should mutually refrain and withhold and make allowance for each other and especially not carry their Gospel liberty so far as to prejudice a weak brother or a Jewish Christian. The “weak” brother “eats” some things and “esteems one day above another” while the strong brother believes that he may “eat all things” and “esteems every day alike.” Romans 14:2, 5. The early Church was made up of Jewish believers and Gentile converts. Although Paul did not specify what “days” he was referring to, he could only be talking about the “esteeming” or “not esteeming” of certain Jewish fast or feast days and certain pagan feast days when people were especially “eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols.” 1 Corinthians 8:4. A “strong” Jew who knew that “an idol is nothing” would have no scruples about eating “meat in an idols temple” on a pagan feast day. 1 Corinthians 8-4, 10. Paul warned these “strong” Jewish believers, “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. [the Gentile convert from idolatry]. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple [on a pagan feast day], shall not the conscience of him that is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; and through your knowledge shall the weak brother perish [if he is drawn back to idolatry], for whom Christ died? But when you sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth.” 1 Corinthians 8:9-13. There is NO evidence that the discussion about “the weak and the strong” in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 has anything to do with the Sabbath. God has never said “one man may choose to esteem MY Sabbath, while another man may choose to esteem Sunday, or every day alike.” He has NOT left it up to us to “pick a day.” Rather, God has commanded, “Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy ... the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God.” Exodus 20:8-10. The book of Romans is very clear, “by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20; 7:7, 12 When the context of the passage is about foods or various days and especially things associated with the sanctuary service, then we must realize that it is not possible that the Ten Commandments are being referred to. When God’s Moral law is being referenced, you will always know as the context of the passage will be centred around love, as that is what God’s law is. The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:8, “He that loves not, knows not God; for God Is Love.” As God is eternal, then Love also must be eternal. 1 John 4:16 says, “And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.” Love and obedience are inseparable from God and the true Christian, as God is Love and Love is God. This is why the Ten Commandments are eternal and unchanging, as God changes not, and Love changes not. The Sabbath is a love Commandment! The remainder of this topic will now be left to some of the world’s best theologians so no doubt can be left as to what the meaning of this passage is all about. John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, Romans 14:5 - One day above another - As new moons, and other Jewish festivals. Let every man be fully persuaded - That a thing is lawful, before he does it. Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, Romans 14:5 - One man esteemeth one day above another - Perhaps the word ημεραν, day, is here taken for time, festival, and such like, in which sense it is frequently used. Reference is made here to the Jewish institutions, and especially their festivals; such as the Passover, Pentecost, feast of tabernacles, new moons, jubilee, etc. The converted Jew still thought these of moral obligation; the Gentile Christian not having been bred up in this way had no such prejudices. And as those who were the instruments of bringing him to the knowledge of God gave him no such injunctions, consequently he paid to these no religious regard. Another - The converted Gentile esteemeth every day - considers that all time is the Lord’s, and that each day should be devoted to the glory of God; and that those festivals are not binding on him. We add here alike, and make the text say what I am sure was never intended, viz. that there is no distinction of days, not even of the Sabbath: and that every Christian is at liberty to consider even this day to be holy or not holy, as he happens to be persuaded in his own mind. That the Sabbath is of lasting obligation may be reasonably concluded from its institution (see the note on Genesis 2:3) and from its typical reference. All allow that the Sabbath is a type of that rest in glory which remains for the people of God. Now, all types are intended to continue in full force till the antitype, or thing signified, take place; consequently, the Sabbath will continue in force till the consummation of all things. The word alike should not be added; nor is it acknowledged by any MS. or ancient version. Let every man be fully persuaded - With respect to the propriety or non-propriety of keeping the above festivals, let every man act from the plenary conviction of his own mind; there is a sufficient latitude allowed. Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, Romans 14:5 - One man esteemeth - Greek “judgeth” krinei. The word is here properly translated “esteemeth;” compare Acts 13:46; Acts 16:15. The word originally has the idea of “separating,” and then “discerning,” in the act of judging. The expression means that one would set a higher value on one day than on another, or would regard it as more sacred than others. This was the case with the “Jews” uniformly, who regarded the days of their festivals, and fasts, and Sabbaths (i.e. ceremonial Sabbaths) as especially sacred, and who would retain, to no inconsiderable degree, their former views, even after they became converted to Christianity. Another “esteemeth - That is, the “Gentile” Christian. Not having been brought up amidst the Jewish customs, and not having imbibed their opinions and prejudices, they would not regard these days as having any special sacredness. The appointment of those days had a special reference “to the Jews.” They were designed to keep them as a separate people, and to prepare the nation for the “reality,” of which their rites were but the shadow. When the Messiah came, the Passover, the feast of tabernacles, and the other special festivals of the Jews, of course vanished, and it is perfectly clear that the apostles never intended to inculcate their observance on the Gentile converts. See this subject discussed in the second chapter of the Epistle to the Galatians. Every day alike - The word “alike” is not in the original, and it may convey an idea which the apostle did not design. The passage means that he regards “every day” as consecrated to the Lord; Romans 14:6. The question has been agitated whether the apostle intends in this to include the Christian Sabbath. Does he mean to say that it is a matter of “indifference” whether this day be observed, or whether it be devoted to ordinary business or amusements? This is a very important question in regard to the Lord’s day. That the apostle did not mean to say that it was a matter of indifference whether it should be kept as holy, or devoted to business or amusement, is plain from the following considerations. (1) the discussion had reference only to the special customs of the “Jews,” to the rites and practices which “they” would attempt to impose on the Gentiles, and not to any questions which might arise among Christians as “Christians.” The inquiry pertained to “meats,” and festival observances among the Jews, and to their scruples about partaking of the food offered to idols, etc.; and there is no more propriety in supposing that the subject of the Lord’s day is introduced here than that he advances principles respecting “baptism” and “the Lord’s supper.” (2) the “Lord’s day” was doubtless observed by “all” Christians, whether converted from Jews or Gentiles; see 1Corinthians 16:2; Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10; compare the notes at John 20:26. The propriety of observing “that day” does not appear to have been a matter of controversy. The only inquiry was, whether it was proper to add to that the observance of the Jewish Sabbaths, and days of festivals and fasts. (3) it is expressly said that those who did not regard the day regarded it as not to God, or to honor God; Romans 14:6. They did it as a matter of respect to him and his institutions, to promote his glory, and to advance his kingdom. Was this ever done by those who disregard the Christian Sabbath? Is their design ever to promote his honor, and to advance in the knowledge of him, by “neglecting” his holy day? Who knows not that the Christian Sabbath has never been neglected or profaned by any design to glorify the Lord Jesus, or to promote his kingdom? It is for purposes of business, gain, war, amusement, dissipation, visiting, crime. Let the heart be filled with a sincere desire to “honor the Lord Jesus,” and the Christian Sabbath will be reverenced, and devoted to the purposes of piety. And if any man is disposed to plead “this passage” as an excuse for violating the Sabbath, and devoting it to pleasure or gain, let him quote it “just as it is,” that is, let “him neglect the Sabbath from a conscientious desire to honor Jesus Christ.” Unless this is his motive, the passage cannot avail him. But this motive never yet influenced a Sabbath-breaker. Let every man... - That is, subjects of this kind are not to be pressed as matters of conscience. Every man is to examine them for himself, and act accordingly. This direction pertains to the subject under discussion, and not to any other. It does not refer to subjects that were “morally” wrong, but to ceremonial observances. If the “Jew” esteemed it wrong to eat meat, he was to abstain from it; if the Gentile esteemed it right, he was to act accordingly. The word “be fully persuaded” denotes the highest conviction, not a matter of opinion or prejudice, but a matter on which the mind is made up by examination; see Romans 4:21; 2Timothy 4:5. This is the general principle on which Christians are called to act in relation to festival days and fasts in the church. If some Christians deem them to be for edification, and suppose that their piety will be promoted by observing the days which commemorate the birth, and death, and temptations of the Lord Jesus, they are not to be reproached or opposed in their celebration. Nor are they to attempt to impose them on others as a matter of conscience, or to reproach others because they do not observe them. Notice how the Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, which primarily references other verses that are referring to the same topic, has referenced the passages that Paul discussed with the Romans, Galatians and Colossians regarding the ceremonial law also. This as we have now seen is because these verses are all referring to the ceremonial law. Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge. Romans 14:5 - esteemeth: Gal 4:9, Gal 4:10; Col 2:16, Col 2:17 People’s New Testament By B. W. Johnson. One man esteemeth one day above another. A second difference of opinion is now cited. Some, Jewish converts or Gentiles who did not understand that the old covenant was ended, believed that the Jewish Sabbaths and new moons should be kept sacred. Compare Colossians 2:16, and Galatians 4:10. This ends the Commentaries on Romans 14:5. You will note that the People’s New Testament commentary above also references Colossians 2:16 and Galatians 4:10. There can be no doubt that the context and the meaning of all these passages is the ceremonial law with all its various holyday festivals, new moons and ceremonial sabbaths. The following table should clear up any remaining misunderstanding between the ceremonial sabbaths and the Sabbath of our Lord. Please look at this table carefully and give the statements that follow some serious thought. Sabbath of the Lord Ceremonial Sabbaths Spoken by God personally (Exodus 20:1, 8-11) Spoken by Moses (Exodus 24:3) Written in stone by God Himself (Exodus 31:18) Written by Moses hand on paper (Exodus 24:4) Placed inside the Ark of the covenant (Deuteronomy 10:5) Stored on the outside of the Ark (Deuteronomy 31:26) Breaking the Sabbath is sin (1 John 3:4) These were kept because of sin (See Leviticus) It is a law of love (Matthew 22:35-40, Isaiah 58:13-14) They were not love (Colossians 2:14, Galatians 4:9-10) It is a law of liberty (freedom) (James 1:25; 2:10-12) They were bondage (Galatians 4:9-10, Colossians 2:14) Was established before sin (Genesis 2:1-3) Were established after sin (Exodus 20:24) Was made at creation (Genesis 2:1-3) Were made after Sinai (Exodus 20:24) The Sabbath is for everyone (Mark 2:27) Only for the children of Israel & Jews (Read Old Testament) God calls it MY Sabbath (Exodus 31:13, Ezekiel 20:20) God calls it HER sabbaths (Hosea 2:11, Lamentations 1:7) The Sabbath is eternal (Exodus 31:16-17, Isaiah 66:22-23) Were nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14, Ephesians 2:15) The Facts: God is all knowing. (Omniscience) He is a God of infinite wisdom. God is love. (1 John 4:8, 16) God’s Ten Commandments are a law of love. (Moral law) The ceremonial sabbaths were observed as a result of sin. (Are not love) The Sabbath of the Lord is for personal quality time with our Creator. (A love Commandment) The Questions: Why would our omniscient God put His Sabbath in His eternal law of love if it is not eternal? Why would our God of infinite wisdom put His Sabbath in His law of love if it is not a law of love? Why didn’t God put His Sabbath with all the ceremonial Sabbaths if it was to end at the cross? Why didn’t God put His Sabbath with the Jewish ceremonial Sabbaths if His Sabbath was only for the Jews? The Sabbath truth: God did not include His Sabbath with the ceremonial sabbaths that ended at the cross because His Sabbath is not a ceremonial Sabbath. And God did not include His Sabbath with the ceremonial sabbaths that were only for the Jews because His Sabbath is for EVERYONE. Why would our God of infinite wisdom place a temporary law in an eternal law or a law that is not love in a law that is love? Our God “is not the author of confusion…” 1 Corinthians 14:33. God put His Sabbath in His moral law because it is a law of Love and a very special one that is a sign that it is God we Love and Worship and that we are His children. It is also a sign that it is God that sanctifies us. What person who truly loves God would not want to be under this sign? It is NOT a sign when we keep another day. To do so is to profane the Holy and to try and make Holy the profane. Only God can make a day Holy. We are not under Law but under Grace We often hear this argument in an effort to belittle God’s law, “Well, since we are not under the law but under grace, we do not need to keep the Ten Commandments any longer.” Is this a valid point? The Bible certainly does say that we are not under the law, but does that imply that we are free from the obligation to obey it? The text is found in Romans 6:14-15, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” How easily we could prevent confusion if we accepted exactly what the Bible says. Paul gives a clear explanation of his statement. After stating that we are not under law but grace, he asks, “What then?” This simply means, “How are we to understand this?” Then notice his answer. In anticipation that some will construe his words to mean that you can break the law because you are under grace, he says, “Shall we sin (break the law) because we are not under the law but under grace? God forbid.” In the strongest possible language Paul states that being under grace does not give a license to break the law. Yet this is exactly what millions believe today, and they totally ignore Paul’s specific warning. Most do not seem to understand that God’s grace is His unmerited, undeserved favour that is preceded by the act of genuine repentance when we do sin. If there were no law, there would actually be no need for God’s grace. Suppose a murderer has been sentenced to death in the electric chair. Waiting for the execution the man would truly be under the law in every sense of the word, under the guilt, under the condemnation, under the sentence of death, etc. Just before the execution date the governor reviews the condemned man’s case and decides to pardon him. In the light of extenuating circumstances the governor exercises his prerogative and sends a full pardon to the prisoner. Now he is no longer under the law but under grace. The law no longer condemns him. He is considered totally justified as far as the charges of the law are concerned. He is free to walk out of the prison and not a policeman can lay hands upon him. But now that he is under grace and no longer under the law, can we say that he is free to break the law? Indeed not! In fact, that pardoned man will be doubly obligated to obey the law because he has found grace from the governor. In gratitude and love he will be very careful to keep the law of the state which granted him grace. Is that what the Bible says about pardoned sinners? “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” Romans 3:31. Here is the most explicit answer to the entire problem. Paul asks if the law is nullified for us just because we have had faith in Christ’s saving grace. His answer is that the law is established and reinforced in the life of a grace saved Christian. The truth of this is so simple and obvious that it should require no repetition, but the devious reasoning of those who try to avoid obedience makes it necessary to press this point a bit further. Have you ever been stopped by a policeman for exceeding the speed limit? It is an embarrassing experience, especially if you know you are guilty. But suppose you really were hurrying to meet a valid emergency, and you pour out your convincing explanation to the policeman as he writes your ticket. Slowly he folds the ticket and tears it up. Then he says, “All right, I’m going to pardon you this time, but...” Now what do you think he means by that word “but”? Surely he means, “but I don’t want to ever catch you speeding again.” Does this pardon (grace) open the way for you to disobey the law? On the contrary, it adds compelling urgency to your decision not to disobey the law again. Why then should any true Christian try to rationalize his way out of obeying the law of God? Consider carefully also what 1 John 3:4 says, “Whoever sins is guilty of breaking God’s law, because sin is a breaking of the law.” Are we sinners? If we are not sinners, then why was Jesus nailed to the cross? Did Jesus break the Sabbath? Some say Jesus broke the Sabbath so it was not one of the Ten Commandments but a ceremonial law (Mosaic Law) but the Sabbath was never practised because of sin and this was also before the cross where that law ended and so is irrelevant anyway. 1 John 3:4 says that sin is transgression of the law and if Jesus broke the Sabbath then he would have broken His own law and sinned and hence those making this statement obviously have no idea of the implications of their accusation. Be thankful that Jesus only broke the Pharisees rules as breaking the Sabbath is sin and was also made before sin existed. Jesus was there when the Ten Commandments were given, but that does not mean that He can murder or break any one of the Ten Commandments. As a sinner He could not have been our one and final perfect sacrifice and redeemer. Let's look at the verses in contention just to clear up this fallacy anyway. The main passage is found in the book of John where Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath, and so the Pharisees accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath. Note that John is quoting the words of the Pharisees in this passage and are not John's personal opinion. We will see evidence of this soon. This is what Jesus said about the Pharisees in Matthew 5:20, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” These are those who also had Jesus crucified. Whose words do you think we should listen to? The words of Jesus or the words of the Pharisees? John 5:5-18 “And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. … 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up your bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the Sabbath. … 15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. 16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day. 17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.” The Pharisees also accused Jesus of blasphemy because He made Himself equal with the Father. Were the Pharisees correct? They were no more correct on this allegation than they were on their accusation of Jesus breaking the Sabbath. In the book of Matthew, we have another account of Jesus healing someone and the Pharisees once again accused Him of breaking the Sabbath. However, this time we have the words of Jesus to establish if doing good deeds or things of absolute necessity are lawful on the Sabbath. Matthew 12:10-12 “And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days.” Why do the proponents quote the Pharisees but ignore the words of their own Lord and Saviour? Why would they put their faith in the Pharisees rather than Jesus Christ? Why do they quote John 5:5-18 but never mention Matthew 12:10-12 where Jesus says it was NOT unlawful to heal and do good on the Sabbath? Jesus thankfully did not sin and so did not break any of the Ten Commandments as He clarifies in this passage when He says “that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath,” such as healing people or pulling an animal out of a hole. Is the Sabbath in the New Covenant? Jesus said that He did not come to destroy the law OR the prophets, yet some say that you are putting us back under the Old Covenant and that the Sabbath changed to Sunday with the New Covenant. Not so. Basically, the only change to the New Covenant is the sacrificial Law of Moses ended (Hebrews 9:1) and where God writes His law. God’s law changes not, for He is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) God also said the fault was with the people in they did not obey it, so He now writes His law in our hearts. (Hebrews 8:8-10) See also “Who is Israel Today and the New Covenant.” I had just finished preaching on the subject of the Sabbath in one of my evangelistic crusades. As I stepped off the platform to greet people as they left, three young men blocked my way in the aisle. One of them addressed me in quite a loud voice… loud enough to cause about fifty people near the front of the auditorium to stop and listen. “Dear brother” he said, “we were disappointed tonight with the way you put us back under the Old Covenant. Don’t you realize that we are living under the New Covenant now, and should keep Sunday instead of the Sabbath?” Although most of the congregation were leaving the Church, the group near the front gathered closer to hear all that the young men were saying. It was obvious that I would have to take the time to answer this trio’s challenging question. As I suspected, they turned out to be young seminarians in training at a local Bible college. Eagerly they held their Bibles in their hands and waited triumphantly for me to answer. Usually, I do not like to debate controversial matters in a public forum for fear of stirring combative natures, but there seemed no way to avoid dealing with these ministerial students. Anyway, they had my path completely blocked and the circle of listeners looked at me expectantly for some explanation. “Well, it seems as though you have studied the subject of the covenants quite deeply,” I suggested. “Oh, yes,” they affirmed, “we know all about the covenants.” “Good,” I replied. “You undoubtedly know when the Old Covenant was instituted.” One of them spoke up quickly, “It was instituted at Mt. Sinai.” “And how was it ratified?” I asked. Without a moment’s hesitation one of them answered, “By the sprinkling of the blood of an ox.” “Very good,” I commented, “and how was the New Covenant ratified?” All three chorused the answer, “By the blood of Jesus on the cross.” I commended the young men for their knowledge of the Scriptures and asked them to read me two verses out of their own Bibles. Galatians 3:15 and Hebrews 9:16-17. They responded eagerly to the invitation, and read the verses, commenting on each one after reading. “We agree that the New Covenant did not go into effect until after Christ died, and nothing can be added or taken away after He ratified it on the cross,” the spokesman for the group asserted. All three nodded their heads emphatically over this point. I said, “Now you must answer two more questions for me. Here is the first one, and you must think carefully to give me the correct answer: When did Sunday-keeping begin?” There was a moment of shocked silence, and then another, and another. The boys looked at each other, and then down at their feet, and then back at me. I gently prodded them for the answer, “Surely you can tell me the answer to this question. You have known all the others, and have answered correctly. When and why do you think people began keeping Sunday?” Finally, one of them said, “We keep Sunday in honour of the resurrection of Jesus.” I said, “Then I must ask you my last question. How could Sunday keeping be a part of the New Covenant? You just stated that nothing could be added after the death of Christ. He died on Friday and was resurrected on Sunday. If Sunday was added after Jesus died, it could never be a part of the New Covenant could it?” The three young men shuffled their feet, looked helplessly around, and one of them said, “We will study into that and talk to you later.” They then fled from that auditorium as fast as they could go. I can assure you that they never returned to talk further about the covenants. How could the majority be wrong about the Sabbath? The simple answer is because Satan nearly wiped out the fourth Commandment during the dark ages through the death of millions. And by the time Protestant reformation began, all the Protestant Churches continued keeping Sunday in ignorance. It is always harder to restore a lost truth and even more so when people do not want to know because it would disrupt their Church or lifestyle. See a true story on how the Sabbath was nearly lost. And in Christianity especially, the majority is hardly ever right. How many were right in the time of Noah? Only eight! Revelation says that God is going to destroy a Church for its abominations and yet the majority of Christians belong to this Church. The majority are wrong because Satan works hard to keep this truth from Christians and this is his BEST accomplishment on the Christian Church and the majority have no idea. Why? Because Satan has the majority busy making excuses or perpetuating the last persons excuse instead of studying this out. Sadly, the majority are not searchers of truth and don’t study the Word or see only what they want to see. 2 Timothy 4:3 says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” After the Sabbath and other truths were revealed to me in my search, I attempted to share these truths with large numbers of people and was astounded to find more than 98% would not even consider the possibility because they said how could so many be wrong or they just simply did not want to know. This is sad when you consider God created us, sent His Son to die for us and we can’t be obedient to Him in love as it would mean some sacrifice on our part. It is no longer a mystery to me why the majority are wrong. It is because our adversary still has Christians perpetuating those same excuses they were previously told because it means changes they don’t want to consider or they are ignorant of the fact that Satan accomplished the change by the death of millions of Christians over several centuries. Hence the majority continue to stay wrong and only five hundred plus Sabbath keeping Churches of different denominations remain obedient to God in love. Until the majority stop making excuses and start saying let’s investigate this, the majority will remain wrong. Many also do not know that the attack on this Commandment and Sun-day worship actually began with the worship of Satan as early as 2000 B.C. See the Sabbath to Sunday change or who changed the Sabbath to Sunday and how 666 relates to this change. Was the Sabbath changed to Sunday in the Bible? Read the Sabbath to Sunday change for a very detailed account on how and who changed the Sabbath to Sunday. Did God amend the original stone tablets Sabbath Changedthat John saw in heaven in Revelation 11:19 to, “Remember to keep the first day”? Never. You can’t change a memorial day of creation. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:19, “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but obeying God’s Commandments is everything.” Paul plainly identifies here how important God’s Commandments are in comparison to circumcision. Yet this law of circumcision that was changed, and does not have the importance of the Ten Commandments, Paul mentioned more than 33 times and up to 10 verses at a time, and they were not verses you were left to make assumptions on. Yet there is not one clear verse in the whole Bible that says the Sabbath was changed to Sunday. Paul’s letters always had plenty to say when people needed correcting or misunderstood the scriptures but the Sabbath was so ingrained in the culture that Paul never had to correct them. Observing the Pharisees reaction to breaking the Sabbath clearly shows this also but they went overboard and turned the day into a burden instead of a blessing, which Jesus found need to correct them on several times. In John 5:18 they accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath by healing a man on the Sabbath. Jesus said that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whose words should we trust and listen to? The Pharisees or Jesus? In Matthew 12:10-12 Jesus heals a man and He says to them, “…it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Jesus shows that they misunderstood the intent of the Sabbath day, not the day to keep it. Imagine if Jesus had proposed changing the Sabbath, what a dreadful uproar would have ensued by the Jews that would be heard in several books of the Bible. View a short video of a Sabbath miracle. When Christ was in the flesh, and lived on this earth, how did He regard the Sabbath? Luke 4:16, “So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as HIS CUSTOM was, He went into the synagogue on the SABBATH DAY, and stood up to read.” Jesus made the seventh day Sabbath and He also kept the seventh day Sabbath. He is our perfect example. We also find after the cross that Sabbath observance continued as we see by Paul’s example. In Acts 13:42-44 there is no conflict between Jews and Gentiles over the day to keep the Sabbath. The Jews of course still continue to keep the seventh day Sabbath today. What a perfect opportunity for the Jews to bring a valid accusation against Paul. But the allegations against Paul were always false and never involved an accusation for breaking the Sabbath such as those the Pharisees falsely brought against Jesus. Acts 13:42-44 “And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44 And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.” Again in this example, we find no conflict between the Jews (who still keep Saturday today) or Greeks in regard to the day. Paul “came to Corinth ... he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks” Acts 18:1, 4. “He continued a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them” (verse 11). Paul did not preach the traditions of men, but only “the word of God.” “Many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized,” including “Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue” (verse 8). Crispus was a Sabbath keeper who probably became one of the leaders (see 1 Corinthians 1:14) of the early New Testament Sabbath keeping Church of Jesus Christ in Corinth. Paul’s letters, First and Second Corinthians, were written to this Church. After Paul was finally arrested in the Temple in Jerusalem, in his trial before the Sanhedrin, even the Pharisees said, “we find no evil in this man” Acts 23:9. Before Felix, Paul declared, “so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets” Acts 24:14. Before Festus, “Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all...to the Jews have I done no wrong” Acts 25:8, 10. Before Agrippa, “I continue unto this day ... saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come” Acts 26:22. The prophets and Moses did not say that “Sunday keeping should come.” Finally, Paul spoke to the Jews in Rome, “persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening” Acts 28:23. During all his trials, the Jews NEVER once accused Paul of breaking the Sabbath. Why? Because he NEVER did! Paul was a Pharisee since his childhood. We also see Paul going into a Jewish synagogue in Thessalonica and “as his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the scriptures…” Acts 17:1-4. As already stated, all practicing Jews still keep the seventh day Sabbath today, always have and undeniably did then and so there is no mistake as to what day Paul kept the Sabbath on as was “HIS CUSTOM” as this was a Jewish synagogue. As for his custom, Paul was a Jew and a Pharisee since childhood. Acts 26:5-6 “The Jews all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee.” Jesus also said in Matthew 5:18, “…Till the heaven and the earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the Law...” Not even a comma of the law will be altered. We never have to make assumptions when it comes to important issues in God’s Word. When anything significant changed we were always told. The Ten Commandments are the only thing that God personally added to the Bible. There is no way in this universe that God would not unmistakably tell us in His Word if He were to alter the Ten Commandments by even the smallest amount. Now for that one verse assumption that some use to argue that the Sabbath was changed to Sunday. In Acts 20:7 we find a religious meeting on the first day of the week but it was not a Sunday meeting. It was after sunset, prior to midnight on the first day of the week. At that time in history the first day of the week did not start at midnight but at sunset. All Bible days begin and end at sunset. Therefore this meeting and Paul’s preaching took place on what we call Saturday night. It was not a Sunday meeting at all. Regardless of this fact anyway, breaking bread is commonly understood by the Jews as having a meal together and was not the Lord’s Supper. Note how the Good News Bible translates it “The fellowship meal.” Here are examples using the King James, Good News and the New English Bible. (Acts 20:7 King James) “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” (Acts 20:7 Good News Bible) “On Saturday evening we gathered together for the fellowship meal. Paul spoke to the people and kept on speaking until midnight, since he was going to leave the next day.” (Acts 20:7 New English Bible) “On the Saturday night, in our assembly for the breaking of bread, Paul, who was to leave next day, addressed them, and went on speaking until midnight.” (Acts 2:42 King James) “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42 Good News Bible) “They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in the fellowship, and sharing in the fellowship meals and the prayers.” The following verse shows not only that breaking of bread was having a fellowship meal but also demonstrates that this breaking of bread was done every day of the week! Therefore, even if it was the Lord’s Supper, which it is not, it was done every day of the week making the argument of the Saturday night meeting irrelevant anyway. (Acts 2:46 King James) “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,” (Acts 2:46 Good News Bible) “Day after day they met as a group in the Temple, and they had their meals together in their homes, eating with glad and humble hearts,” Sunday keeping in Corinth? In 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Paul wrote: “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come...whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.” Please carefully notice what the apostle said, and also, what he did not say. Many have assumed that a religious meeting was held and a collection plate passed. This is not the case. Paul was writing special appeals to the churches in Asia Minor, because many of the Christians in Jerusalem were suffering greatly for lack of food and daily necessities. Paul asked the church at Corinth to gather food, clothing, etc., and store it up at home until he could send men to transport it to Jerusalem. The expression “lay by him in store” in the original Greek gives the clear connotation of putting aside at home. Even Sunday advocates agree to this. There was no service held on the first day of the week. The gathering up and storing was to be done on that day. Why did Paul suggest that this work be done on Sunday, and what was involved in getting it done? First of all, the letter would have been shared with the church on the Sabbath when they were all gathered for worship. The first opportunity to do the work would be the next day - the first day of the week. Keep in mind that there was an apparent food shortage in Jerusalem, and the need was not primarily for money. Such famine conditions were not unusual in areas of the Middle East, as Luke reminds us in Acts 11:28-30. Paul urges them to return carnal, or material, gifts in appreciation of the spiritual truths received from them. This throws light on Paul’s counsel to the Corinthian Christians to do their work on the first day of the week, “so that there be no gatherings when I come.” Such work as gathering and storing up produce from the field would certainly not be appropriate on the Sabbath. Sunday is identified again as a day for secular activities and gives no indication of religious observance. Besides the two assumptions that are used to try and justify Sunday keeping, the Bible and history show them not to be correct. We have already seen that both Jesus and Paul kept the Sabbath and there can be no doubt that it was the seventh day Sabbath that Paul kept as he was a Jew and a Pharisee and kept it as was his custom since childhood. It has also been established by many historians and theologians holding PhD’s in their field that Matthew and Luke were written between 60 and 80 A.D. and there was never a better time for Luke to tell us of a day change but instead he states in Luke 23:56, “…And they rested on the Sabbath according to the Commandment.” Jesus also showed that the Sabbath would still be kept after the cross and speaks of no day change when He is talking to the Apostles about the destruction of the temple in about 70 A.D. Jesus says in Matthew 24:20, “And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.” Read Sabbath in the New Covenant for more information on this verse and topic. World leading historians also confirm this and that the Sabbath was kept by Jews and Gentiles till about 90-120 A.D. where persecution of the Jews became so great that some Christians changed to Sunday using the justification that it was in honour of the resurrection in order to avoid persecution and death. Later you will find out how the Sabbath got changed to Sunday and was made law about 364 A.D. As a result it was early in the fourth century when Sunday was officially named the Lord’s Day. Previous Back to Contents Next Top

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 应当敬拜谁 应当敬拜谁？ 第一天使的信息 圣经研究 1。第一天使的信息是什么？ 启示录 1:3 “念这书上预言的和那些听见又遵守其中所记载的，都是有福的，因为日期近了。” 启示录14：6-7 6 我又看见另一位天使飞在空中，有永远的福音要传给住在地上的人，就是各国、各族、各方、各民。7 他大声说：“应当敬畏上帝，将荣耀归给他，因他施行审判的时候已经到了，应当敬拜那创造天、地、海和众水泉源的。” 2。审判者是谁？ 希伯来书12：22-24 “22 你们乃是来到锡安山、永生上帝的城邑，就是天上的耶路撒冷。那里有千万的天使，23 有名录在天上诸长子之会所共聚的总会，有审判众人的上帝和被成全之义人的灵魂，24 并新约的中保耶稣，以及所洒的血。这血所说的比亚伯的血所说的更美。” 3。上帝会藉着谁审判众人？ 罗马书 2:16 就在上帝藉耶稣基督审判人隐秘事的日子，照着我的福音所言。 约翰福音5：22-23 22 父不审判什么人，乃将审判的事全交与子，23 叫人都尊敬子如同尊敬父一样。不尊敬子的，就是不尊敬差子来的父。 约翰福音 5:30 “我凭着自己不能作什么，我怎么听见，就怎么审判。我的审判也是公平的，因为我不求自己的意思，只求那差我来者的意思。 4。创造者是谁？ 使徒行传4：24-27 24 他们听见了，就同心合意地高声向上帝说：“主啊，你是造天、地、海和其中万物的，25 你曾藉着圣灵托你仆人、我们祖宗大卫的口说：‘外邦为什么争闹？万民为什么谋算虚妄的事？26 世上的君王一齐起来，臣宰也聚集，要敌挡主，并主的受膏者（或作“基督”）。’27 希律和本丢彼拉多、外邦人和以色列民果然在这城里聚集，要攻打你所膏的圣仆耶稣（“仆”或作“子”）， 5。父上帝藉着谁创造万物？ 哥林多前书 8:6 然而我们只有一位上帝，就是父，万物都本于他，我们也归于他；并有一位主，就是耶稣基督，万物都是藉着他有的，我们也是藉着他有的。 箴言 30:4 “谁升天又降下来？谁聚风在掌中？谁包水在衣服里？谁立定地的四极？他名叫什么？他儿子名叫什么？你知道吗？” 【钦定本】以弗所书 3:9 “又使众人都明白，这从世界的起头以来，隐藏在借着耶稣基督创造万物之上帝里的奥秘，是如何安排的。” 6。父上帝怎么藉着耶稣基督创造万物？ 约翰福音1：1-4 1 太初有道，道与神同在，道就是神。2 这道太初与神同在。3 万物是藉着他造的；凡被造的，没有一样不是藉着他造的。4 生命在他里头，这生命就是人的光。 约翰福音 5:26 “因为父怎样在自己有生命，就赐给他儿子也照样在自己有生命；” 7。“神”在约翰福音1：1里是什么含义？ 约翰福音1：1，14，18 1 太初有道，道与神同在，道就是神。14 道成了肉身，住在我们中间，充充满满地有恩典，有真理。我们也见过他的荣光，正是父独生子的荣光。18 从来没有人看见上帝，只有在父怀里的独生子将他表明出来。 8。基督是否承受了祂父的名字？ 希伯来书1：1-5 1 上帝既在古时藉着众先知多次多方地晓谕列祖；2 就在这末世藉着他儿子晓谕我们，又早已立他为承受万有的；也曾藉着他创造诸世界。3 他是上帝荣耀所发的光辉，是上帝本体的真像，常用他权能的命令托住万有。他洗净了人的罪，就坐在高天至大者的右边。4 他所承受的名既比天使的名更尊贵，就远超过天使。5 所有的天使， 上帝从来对哪一个说，“你是我的儿子，我今日生你”？又指着哪一个说，“我要作他的父，他要作我的子”？ 创世纪 1:26 上帝说：“我们要照着我们的形像，按着我们的样式造人，使他们管理海里的鱼、空中的鸟、地上的牲畜和全地，并地上所爬的一切昆虫。” 约翰福音 5:43 “我奉我父的名来，你们并不接待我；若有别人奉自己的名来，你们倒要接待他。” 9。圣灵如何参与创造 约伯记 33:4 上帝的灵造我，全能者的气使我得生。 约翰福音20:22 说了这话，就向他们吹一口气，说：“你们受圣灵。 约翰福音3：34-35 34上帝所差来的，就说是谁的话；因为上帝赐圣灵给他，是没有限量的。35 父爱子，已将万有交在他手里。 10。我们该敬拜的是谁？ 约翰福音4：22-24 “22 你们所拜的，你们不知道；我们所拜的，我们知道，因为救恩是从犹太人出来的。23 时候将到，如今就是了，那真正拜父的，要用心灵和诚实拜他，因为父要这样的人拜他。”24上帝是个灵（或无“个”字），所以拜他的，必须用心灵和诚实拜他。” 11。我们应该如何归荣耀给我们的父上帝？ 约翰福音 5：22-24 22 父不审判什么人，乃将审判的事全交与子，23 叫人都尊敬子如同尊敬父一样。不尊敬子的，就是不尊敬差子来的父。24 我实实在在地告诉你们：那听我话、又信差我来者的，就有永生，不至于定罪，是已经出死入生了。 腓立比书2：10-11 “10 叫一切在天上的、地上的和地底下的，因耶稣的名无不屈膝，11 无不口称耶稣基督为主，使荣耀归与父上帝。” 12。我们单单要高举的是谁？ 约翰福音 17:3 认识你独一的真神，并且认识你所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生。 13。我们是否应该重视约翰福音17：3？ 约翰一书2：22-25 22 谁是说谎话的呢？不是那不认耶稣为基督的吗？不认父与子的，这就是敌基督的。23 凡不认子的，就没有父；认子的，连父也有了。24 论到你们，务要将那从起初所听见的常存在心里；若将从起初所听见的存在心里，你们就必住在子里面，也必住在父里面。25 主所应许我们的就是永生。 14。启示录里被敬拜的是谁？ 启示录 5:13 “我又听见在天上、地上、地底下、沧海里和天地间一切所有被造之物都说：“但愿颂赞、尊贵、荣耀、权势都归给坐宝座的和羔羊，直到永永远远。” 启示录 7：9-10 9 此后，我观看，见有许多的人，没有人能数过来，是从各国、各族、各民、各方来的，站在宝座和羔羊面前，身穿白衣，手拿棕树枝，10 大声喊着说：“愿救恩归与坐在宝座上我们的上帝，也归与羔羊。” 15。天上的国是谁的国？ 启示录 11:15 “第七位天使吹号，天上就有大声音说：“世上的国成了我主和主基督的国；他要作王，直到永永远远。” 以弗所书 5:5 “因为你们确实地知道，无论是淫乱的，是污秽的，是有贪心的，在基督和上帝的国里，都是无份的。有贪心的，就与拜偶像的一样。” 启示录 22:1 “天使又指示我在城内街道当中一道生命水的河，明亮如水晶，从上帝和羔羊的宝座流出来。” 16。我们为什么没有被指示敬拜圣灵？ 启示录 5:6 “我又看见宝座与四活物并长老之中，有羔羊站立，像是被杀过的，有七角七眼，就是上帝的七灵，奉差遣往普天下去的。” 加拉太书 4:6 “我们既为儿子，上帝就差（他儿子的灵）进入我们的心，呼叫：“阿爸，父！” 约翰福音 14：16-22 耶稣说：“我就是道路、真理、生命；若不藉着我，没有人能到父那里去。。。我要求父，父就另外赐给你们一位保惠师（或作“训慰师”。下同），叫他。。。 （1）永远与你们同在， 就是真理的圣灵， （2）乃世人不能接受的。因为不见他，也不认识他；你们却认识他， （3）因他常与你们同在，也要在你们里面。 （1）我不撇下你们为孤儿，我必到你们这里来。 （2） 还有不多的时候，世人不再看见我，你们却看见我，因为我活着，你们也要活着。 （3）到那日你们就知道我在父里面，你们在我里面，我也在你们里面。 有了我的命令又遵守的，这人就是爱我的；爱我的必蒙我父爱他，我也要爱他，并且要向他显现。” 犹大（不是加略人犹大）问耶稣说：“主啊，为什么要向我们显现，不向世人显现呢？” 加拉太书 2:20 “我已经与基督同钉十字架，现在活着的不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活着；并且我如今在肉身活着，是因信上帝的儿子而活，他是爱我，为我舍己。” 诗篇 139:7 “我往哪里去，躲避你的灵？我往哪里逃，躲避你的面？” 17。什么是亵渎圣灵？ 马可福音 3:22，29-30 22 “从耶路撒冷下来的文士说：“他是被别西卜附着。”又说：“他是靠着鬼王赶鬼。” 29 凡亵渎圣灵的，却永不得赦免，乃要担当永远的罪。” 30 这话是因为他们说：“他是被污鬼附着的。” 路加福音11：19-20 “我若靠着别西卜赶鬼，你们的子弟赶鬼又靠着谁呢？这样，他们就要断定你们的是非。20 我若靠着上帝的能力赶鬼，这就是上帝的国临到你们了。” 约翰福音 14:10 “我在父里面，父在我里面，你不信吗？我对你们所说的话，不是凭着”自己说的，乃是住在我里面的父作他自己的事。 18。我们能否假定有其他被敬拜的对象？ 约翰福音 14：1，6 1 “你们心里不要忧愁，你们信上帝，也当信我。6 耶稣说：“我就是道路、真理、生命；若不藉着我，没有人能到父那里去。 约翰一书 1:3 “我们将所看见、所听见的传给你们，使你们与我们相交。我们乃是与父并他儿子耶稣基督相交的。” 启示录 22：18-19 18我向一切听见这书上预言的作见证，若有人在这预言上加添什么，上帝必将在这书上的灾祸加在他身上；19 这书上的预言，若有人删去什么， 神必从这书上所写的生命树和圣城，删去他的份。 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next Two Beings and Not Three According to the Bible TWO BEINGS not three according to the BIBLE Proverbs 30:4 "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?" ONLY TWO BEINGS 1 Corinthians 8:6 "But to us there is but ONE God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and ONE Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." ONLY TWO BEINGS Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? ONLY TWO BEINGS Mark 13:32 / Matthew 24:36 "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." ONLY TWO BEINGS 1 Corinthians 1:9 "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."ONLY TWO BEINGS 1 Corinthians 11:3 "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." ONLY TWO BEINGS 2 Corinthians 5:19 "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." ONLY TWO BEINGS John 1:14, 18 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. ... v18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." ONLY TWO BEINGS John 3:16, 18 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. v18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." ONLY TWO BEINGS John 5:26 "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;" ONLY TWO BEINGS John 8:16, 28, 42 "And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. v28 When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am he, and that I DO NOTHING OF MYSELF; but as my FATHER has taught me, I speak these things. v42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." ONLY TWO BEINGS John 12:44-45, 49 "Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. v45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. v49 FOR I HAVE NOT SPOKEN OF MYSELF; but the FATHER which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” ONLY TWO BEINGS John 14:10, 20, 23, 24 "The words that I speak unto you I SPEAK NOT OF MYSELF: but the FATHER that dwelleth in me v20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. v23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. v24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me." ONLY TWO BEINGS John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” ONLY TWO BEINGS John 17:8 "For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me." ONLY TWO BEINGS John 20:17 "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." ONLY TWO BEINGS Romans 8:3 "……God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh…." ONLY TWO BEINGS 1 John 1:3 "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." ONLY TWO BEINGS 1 John 2:22, 23 "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. v23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also." ONLY TWO BEINGS 1 John 5:10, 11 "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. v11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." ONLY TWO BEINGS Ephesians 3:9 “God….created all things by Jesus Christ.” ONLY TWO BEINGS Hebrews 1:1-2 "God....spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;" ONLY TWO BEINGS This is why John 1:3 says: “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Other translations say, “Through him (Jesus) all things were made” (NIV) because “God created everything through him” (NLT). ONLY TWO BEINGS 1 Peter 3:18 "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:" ONLY TWO BEINGS Revelation 1:1 “The Revelation of JESUS CHRIST, WHICH GOD GAVE UNTO HIM, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.” ONLY TWO BEINGS Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

All trinity studies Previous Download Next Why is the Holy Spirit Left Out of Every Greeting Why is the Holy Spirit Left Out of Every Greeting? The Trinity doctrine teaches that the Holy Spirit is a literal being that is CO-EQUAL with the Father and Son. CO-EQUAL means equal in every single way possible. So what an inexplicable oversight for Paul if the Spirit were indeed a literal being CO-EQUAL with the Father and Son, because Paul excluded the Holy Spirit in EVERY SINGLE ONE of his greetings in EVERY SINGLE LETTER he wrote! And Peter and John did the same. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 1:7 “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:3 “Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:2 “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,” Galatians 1:3 “Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:2 “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:2 “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Colossians 1:2 “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:1 “Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 1:2 “Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Timothy 1:2 “Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” 2 Timothy 1:2 “Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.” Titus 1:4 “Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philemon 1:3 “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,” 2 Peter 1:2 “Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father,” 2 John 1:3 How can the Holy Spirit be a literal co-equal being when it is consistently left out of every greeting? If the Spirit was an individual being co-equal with the Father and Son, then this consistent omission is incomprehensible. It would have been effrontery and insubordination by the apostles at the highest level. This would be like having a country with three presidents but only ever acknowledging two of them. In fact, not once is the Holy Spirit ever uplifted or praised in the Scriptures. It is always just God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. And why is that? Because “there is but ONE God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and ONE Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” 1 Corinthians 8:6. That's why! The Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of God,” not something called “god the spirit” which is a phrase that does not exist in the Bible and came from the Catholic Church to match the Trinity doctrine they created over 200 years AFTER the Bible was written. Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 破解十五个拒绝安息日的理由(下) 10. 安息日已被废除了吗？ 第十，安息日是不是已经被废除了？其实，之前我们已经研究过了十条诫命的律法并没有被废除，也不可能被废除。今天我们就要更详细地来探讨安息日是否被废除这一点，特别是搞清楚几段经常被人误解和误用来支持这个假道理的经文。 有许多基督徒相信歌罗西书 2：16，加拉太书 4:10 和 罗马书 14：5 所指的是第七日安息日，也有很多人相信歌罗西书 2：16所指的是十诫，而不是仪文律法。 这些人滥用了这些经文来证明安息日已经被废除。其实，事实是完全相反的。在进入这些经文之前，我们先来简单地谈一谈十条诫命的道德律法和摩西的仪文律法之间的关系。 在上一期我们已经分析过了这两者之间的区别，所以今天我们只稍微谈一谈。当有人犯罪，表示他违背了十诫的道德律法，因为违背律法就是罪。 因此，他必须根据仪文律法来献祭，使他的罪得赦。所以仪文律法提供了献祭的制度，即赎罪的方法。 当以色列人民犯罪时，他们即违背了道德律法。为了获得宽恕，他们必须遵守仪文律法。所以这两套律法是截然不同的。最大的区别就是，仪文律法在耶稣基督被钉的时候就宣告结束了，因为上帝的羔羊耶稣就是古代献祭制度的羔羊所代表的。 但是十条诫命的道德律法是永恒的，是不会改变或结束的。而且仪文律法只给以色列人或犹太人遵守，但上帝的十条诫命是给全人类的，是适用于所有人的。那好，现在我们来看歌罗西书 2：16。 歌罗西书 2：16 所以不拘在饮食上，或节期、月朔、安息日，都不可让人论断你们。 这些反对安息日的人，他们的论点是第四条诫命在十字架上已经从十诫中删除，因为他们误解了第14节所说的话。让我们来看看这一节。 歌罗西书 2：14 14又涂抹了在律例上所写攻击我们有碍于我们的字据，把它撤去，钉在十字架上。 事实上，第14节所说在十字架上被除去的律例并非十条诫命的道德律法，而是摩西的仪文律法。这就是为什么保罗在两节之后说了这段话。 歌罗西书 2：16 所以不拘在饮食上，或节期、月朔、安息日，都不可让人论断你们。 这里他所提到的都是与摩西的仪文律法有关的，而并非十条诫命。我们只要对照英文圣经就一目了然了。第14节的律例在钦定本是读 ordinances。 歌罗西书 2：14 14又涂抹了在律例上所写攻击我们有碍于我们的字据，把它撤去，钉在十字架上。 Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 再看路加福音如何明显地区分commandments，即诫命和ordinances，即礼仪。 路加福音 1：6 他们二人在上帝面前都是义人，遵行主的一切诫命礼仪，没有可指摘的。 Luke 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 希伯来书 9:1也解释说，仪文律法中的礼仪ordinances现在已经消失成为过去了，只剩下十诫永远坚定不移。 希伯来书 9：1 原来前约有礼拜的条例和属世界的圣幕。 Hebrews 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 各位弟兄姐妹，我们必须搞清楚，钉在十架上的是仪文律法的礼仪，但十条诫命律法的一点一画都不能废去。 十条诫命与仪文律法之间的主要区别在于，诫命是由上帝的指头所写的，它刻在石版上，然后放在约柜里面。它是爱的标志，是永恒的，是赐给每一个人的，违背它就是犯罪。 仪文律法是摩西的手写的，写在书卷上，是放在约柜旁边而不是里面的。它不是爱的标志，也不是永恒的，单单为犹太人而设立的，它是因为罪才设立的。 在那个星期五下午，当真正的逾越节羔羊垂头断气时，基督就为我们献上了伟大而完美的祭物。当他呼喊“成了”时，那给人类指向祂的牺牲的古老仪文律法就此被钉在了十字架上。 所以歌罗西书所论到的安息日明显不是指每周第七日的安息日，而是指犹太人年度节期的安息日。比如说逾越节、五旬节、赎罪日、住棚节等等。看到第17节时，这就变得更加明显了。 歌罗西书 2：17 这些原是后事的影儿，那形体却是基督。 这些年度安息日和整个献祭制度都是后事的影儿，给世人指出基督和祂的牺牲来。所以这明显不是论到第四条诫命的安息日，因为那不是任何后事的影儿，而是永不改变的律法，和上帝与人立约的标记。 我们还有一个更强的证据来支持这个道理，就是圣经的另一节与歌罗西书 2：16相似的经文，证明当中的内容是否如我刚才所说的那样，那就是以西结书 45：17 。 你肯定发现以西结书的这段经文论到的是赎罪祭，为以色列家赎罪，因为他们违背了上帝的十诫律法。这就是他们犯了罪之后所要做的。 那好，现在我们来看这两段几乎同样的经文来作个对照。 歌罗西书 2：16 所以不拘在饮食上，或节期、月朔、安息日，都不可让人论断你们。 以西结书 45：17 王的本分，是在节期、月朔、安息日，就是以色列家一切的节期，奉上燔祭、素祭、奠祭。他要预备赎罪祭、素祭、燔祭和平安祭，为以色列家赎罪。” 我把一些重点放进下面的列表中，方便我们对照。 歌罗西书 2：16 以西结书 45：17 饮食 素祭、奠祭 节期 节期 月朔 月朔 安息日 安息日 真相非常清楚了吧，所以大家不要再误解和滥用歌罗西书 2：16来证明第四条诫命的安息日已被废除或不需要遵守了。现在上帝的子民不需要守的是仪文律法包括犹太人的节期。 这就是为什么保罗说了以下这段话。 加拉太书 4：9-10 9 现在你们既然认识上帝，更可说是被上帝所认识的，怎么还要归回那懦弱无用的小学，情愿再给他作奴仆呢？10 你们谨守日子、月份、节期、年份。 保罗的意思不是让我们无视圣经所有相关的日子、月份、节期和年份，而是特别指着一件事而言，那就是包含所有节期的仪文律法。 现在我们来简单地概括一下另一段具争议性的经文，就是罗马书 14：5。 罗马书 14：5 有人看这日比那日强，有人看日日都是一样；只是各人心里要确信不疑。 有人就拿这节经文来狡辩说，我们个人守自己认为正确的日子就行了，何必争论哪一日才是安息日呢？在我们探讨这种论调之前，我们先看完其上下文，以便更了解经文的语境和背景。 罗马书 14：1-5 1 信心软弱的，你们要接纳，但不要辩论所疑惑的事。2 有人信凡物都可吃；但那软弱的，只吃蔬菜。3 吃的人不可轻看不吃的人；不吃的人不可论断吃的人，因为神已经接纳他了。4 你是谁，竟论断别人的仆人呢？他或站住，或跌倒，自有他的主人在；而且他也必要站住，因为上帝能使他站住。5 有人看这日比那日强，有人看日日都是一样；只是各人心里要确信不疑。 首先，我想提出一个明显的事实，就是说，这段经文不曾出现过安息日一词，就连整章都找不到。所以我们可以假定说保罗必定是指着安息日而言吗？绝对不可以。 这是带着偏见来解读圣经。有心人就是故意寻找这些模棱两可，含糊不清的经文来支持他们的假道理，却拿不出任何确凿的证据来推翻安息日的真理。 看看这段经文的开头就有提到： 罗马书 14：1 信心软弱的，你们要接纳，但不要辩论所疑惑的事。 这里他所讨论的是疑惑的事，而不是上帝的十条诫命。上帝神圣的十诫是极其珍贵的，是无比清楚的，是上帝亲手写下的。 事实上，从罗马书14和15章就可以清楚地看出，犹太人和外邦人之间存在着许多与某些习俗相关的误解。这些习俗被一些人看作神圣，却被另一些人所忽视。所以当时备受争议的话题都是围绕着吃肉和守特定日子转的。 他所提到的日子不是十诫的安息日，而是仪文律法的特定节期。犹太人非常注重摩西的律法，所以他们特别谨慎避免吃某些肉，即祭拜过偶像的肉，并且严格遵守节期，但刚归入基督的外邦人就没有重视这些礼仪或规条。 而且不难看出，他们之间充满着无情的指责和论断，并且没有爱弟兄的心和宽容的心。于是保罗鼓励他们，劝他们不要因这些分歧而影响爱上帝的心，也不要叫信心软弱的人跌倒。 虽然保罗没有详细地指出他在这里所论到的肉和守的日子是指什么，但是根据当时的文化背景和保罗其他的著作，我们不难看出他所指的是吃祭偶像之肉和犹太人的禁食日和节期圣日等。 比如说，保罗在哥林多前书 8：4谈到吃祭偶像之肉，并且同样提醒他们不要叫信心软弱的人跌倒。 哥林多前书 8：4 论到吃祭偶像之物，我们知道偶像在世上算不得什么；也知道上帝只有一位，再没有别的上帝。 再看第9-13节。 哥林多前书 8：9-13 9 只是你们要谨慎，恐怕你们这自由竟成了那软弱人的绊脚石。10 若有人见你这有知识的在偶像的庙里坐席，这人的良心若是软弱，岂不放胆去吃那祭偶像之物吗？11 因此，基督为他死的那软弱弟兄，也就因你的知识沉沦了。12 你们这样得罪弟兄们，伤了他们软弱的良心，就是得罪基督。13 所以，食物若叫我弟兄跌倒，我就永远不吃肉，免得叫我弟兄跌倒了。 这里的内容与罗马书的经文非常吻合，显然所提到的肉就是祭偶像的肉。 话说回来，完全没有证据指明罗马书或哥林多前书所论到的信心强大或软弱的人之课题与第七日安息日有任何关联，也不可能扯上十条诫命的道德律法。 上帝不曾说过：“你们有一些人也许看安息日比其他日子强，有些人则看星期日比其他日子强，，或看另一日比较强，甚至是看每一日都一样强，只是各人心里要确信不疑，自己选定自己所看好的日子就够了。” 朋友，上帝并没有交代我们可以随意挑选任何一日作为安息日。祂吩咐我们的是：“当纪念安息日，守为圣日。第七日是向耶和华你上帝当守的安息日。” 如果我们对耶和华上帝的安息日和仪文律法的节期安息日之间还存有什么疑惑不解的话，下面的列表应该可以清楚地为我们除去这些误解。 耶和华的安息日 节期安息日 1 为上帝亲口所说。出埃及记 20：1-22 为摩西所说。出埃及记 24：3 2 为上帝指头所写。出埃及记 31：18 为摩西所写。出埃及记 24：4 3 刻在石版上。出埃及记 31：18 写在书上。出埃及记 24：4 4 存放在约柜中。申命记 10：5 存放在约柜旁。申命记 31：26 5 违犯安息日就是罪。约翰一书 3：4 因为有罪而需要遵守。（见利未记） 6 是爱的诫命。马太福音 22：35-40；以赛亚书 58：13-14 不是爱。歌罗西书 2：14；加拉太书 4：9-10 7 使人自由之律法。雅各书 1：25 （参阅雅各书 2：12） 奴仆的轭。加拉太书 5：1；4：3, 9（看使徒行传 15：10） 8 在人类犯罪之前就设立了。创世纪 2：1-3 犯罪之后才设立。出埃及记 20：24 9 在创世时设立的。创世纪 2：1-3 西奈山之后设立的。出埃及记 20：24 10 给全人类的。马可福音 2：27 单单给以色列民。（旧约圣经） 11 上帝称之为“我的安息日”。出埃及记 31：13；以西结书 20：20 上帝称之为“她［耶路撒冷］的安息日”。何西阿书 2：11；耶利米哀歌 1：7［钦定本］ 12 是永恒的。出埃及记 31：16-17；以赛亚书 66：22-23 在十字架上废除了。歌罗西书 2：14；以弗所书 2：15 希望大家已经清楚明白了这两类安息日的区别。他们是完全不同的，所以我们不能把他们混为一谈，而且我们也必须搞清楚圣经中一些经常被人误解的经文到底是指着哪一类安息日而言。 我们也必须知道以下几个事项。 事项 -我们的耶和华父上帝是全知的上帝。 -祂是满有智慧的上帝。 -上帝就是爱。 -祂的十条诫命或道德律法是爱的律法。 -反之，节期安息日是因人犯了罪才必须遵守的，它并不是爱的标志。 -耶和华的安息日是给我们与创造主上帝共度美好时光之爱的诫命。 那么我们就必须问问自己以下这些问题。 问题 -如果安息日不是永恒的，那为什么我们全知的上帝将祂的安息日放在祂永恒的律法之中呢？ -如果安息日不是爱的律法，那为什么无穷智慧的上帝把祂的安息日放在爱的律法之中？ -如果安息日在十字架上也跟着废除了，那为什么上帝不把祂的安息日和仪文律法的节期安息日放在一起呢？ -如果上帝的安息日是单为犹太人设立的，那为什么上帝不把祂的安息日和犹太人的节期安息日放在一起呢？ 事实上，上帝并没有把祂的安息日与节期安息日放在一起，原因就是因为两者是完全不同的两码事，因为祂永恒的安息日和在十字架上结束的节期安息日简直是天差地别。 节期安息日是单给犹太人守的，而上帝的安息日则是给全人类守的。我们的上帝不是混乱的上帝，祂的所作所为就已经显明了一切，在祂里头并没有矛盾和不一致的元素。 所以我们不能再颠倒是非黑白，把上帝的真理变成谬论，却把撒但的谬论变成真理。 11. 我们不是在律法之下，而是在恩典之下，因此就不必守律法了吗？ 来到了第11点，我们不是在律法之下，而是在恩典之下，因此就不必守律法了吗？ 我相信大家对这种说法不会感到陌生。我也听过不少这样的说法。有些人试图贬低上帝的律法，为了寻找借口以便可以不用守安息日，就说：“我们既然不是在律法之下，而是活在恩典之下，那么我们自然就不必再遵守十条诫命了。 这是一个合理的说法吗？圣经确实说过，我们不是在律法之下，但这是否表示我们就不需要遵守律法了呢？不在律法之下意味着什么呢？我们先来看一段相关的经文。 罗马书 6：14 罪必不能作你们的主，因你们不在律法之下，乃在恩典之下。 没错，我们是在恩典之下，而不是在律法之下。所以呢？然后怎么样？人们普遍的观念就是，我们不是在律法之下，而是在恩典之下，所以我们就可以不遵守律法了。 说直白一点，我们可以随意违背律法犯罪了。这真的是保罗的教导吗？我们让他自己来回答，为他自己所说的话做进一步的解释，免得有人误解。 罗马书 6：15 这却怎么样呢？我们在恩典之下，不在律法之下，就可以犯罪吗？断乎不可！ 这也太清楚了，他用最强烈的言词说道，活在恩典之下并没有给我们随意违背律法的犯罪许可证。然而这正是今天数百万人所相信的，他们完全无视保罗的具体警告。 他们只取了保罗的上半段话语，再加上自己扭曲经文的解释，然后避开下一节不看。他们并不是诚心想了解上帝藉着保罗所说的话，而是想断章取义来支持自己的教导。 大多数人都没有意识到和真正明白上帝的恩典。上帝的恩典是我们不配得的恩惠，是在我们犯了罪而还没有真正悔改之前所赐下给我们的宽容。如果没有律法的话，实际上就没有罪人可言了，而我们也就不需要上帝的恩典了。 打个比方，有个罪犯因违背了国家法律而被判死刑。这个等待被处决的罪犯可以说在任何意义上都是处于律法之下的，即处在罪恶感中，在法律之下被定罪，被绑在死刑之下等等。 然而，就在他被处决之前的前一刻，州长审查了被处死的人之案件，并决定赦免他的罪。在特殊的情况之下，州长行使他的特权，对死囚进行全面宽赦。现在他不再是处于律法之下，而是处于恩典之下了。 法律不再定他过去所犯的罪。现今在法律的面前，他被视为完全无辜的自由人。他可以大摇大摆地走出监狱，也没有警察可以对他下手。 但现在他已经是在恩典之下，而不再处于法律之下了，因此，今后他可以自由地违犯律法了吗？当然不可以！这是非常简单的道理。 事实上，他有双重义务去遵守法律，因为他从州长得到了恩典，使得他过去所犯的罪得以赦免。在感激之下，他会非常小心地遵守给予他恩典的国家法律。 这不就是圣经所说关于被宽赦的罪人吗？这不就是我们活在恩典之下的意义吗？我们再来看一段保罗所写的话，以清晰地解决我们眼前的问题。 罗马书 3：31 这样，我们因信废了律法吗？断乎不是！更是坚固律法。 感谢天父，这节经文已经给了我们十分清楚的答案。保罗自问自答地说：“我们是否因信基督的救赎恩典而使律法无效了呢？” 他接着回答说：“不但没有，反而律法在一个蒙恩得救的基督徒生活中更得到确立和加强。” 事实如此简单明了，根本不需要重复，但是那些试图避免顺从律法之人的狡猾推理使得我们有必要进一步地强调这一点。 我再分享一个例子，好让大家看清事实。你有没有曾经因为超速而被交警拦截？这是一种令人尴尬的局面，尤其是当你知道自己已经违规的时候。 假设这位警员大发慈悲，把原来要给你开的罚单撕掉，再给你一次改过的机会。他就会说：“好吧，这次我放过你，但是。。。” 朋友，你认为他所说的“但是”一词是什么意思呢？他的意思肯定是说：“但是你以后就不要再超速了。” 这次的宽恕或恩典是否给了我们不必守律法的许可证呢？ 肯定不是这样。相反的，它还加强了您的决心，叫自己以后不再干犯律法。为什么基督徒硬要不断试图合理化自己不遵守上帝律法的行为呢？ 为什么那么多人完全曲解了活在恩典之下的意义呢？可见仇敌所进行的工作非常成功。然而，最后得胜的一方将会是属于上帝的一方。 我强调，活在恩典之下的人因接受了耶稣救赎的恩典而不受律法的定罪和制裁，但接受了耶稣不代表他从此就可以随意违背律法了，而是更应当遵守律法，行上帝眼中看为正的事。 撒但的谬论虽然荒谬无理，但却极具迷惑性，大家务必要小心谨慎，免得掉进他的陷阱中去。 12. 耶稣是否违犯了安息日？ 我们要探讨的下一个论点就是，耶稣是否违犯了安息日，因此我们也不需要遵守安息日了呢？ 大家不晓得有没有听过这样的说法，就是说耶稣本身都干犯安息日，所以这证明守安息日不是十条诫命的一条，而是属于摩西的仪文律法。 但是这种说法太过牵强了。首先，安息日不是因为人类犯罪才变得有必要遵守的，它在人类犯罪之前就已经被设立了的。 我们在上一期已经谈过十诫的安息日和仪文律法的节期安息日，两者是完全不同的两码事，所以大家不要把它们混淆。 再说，反安息日的人宣称耶稣违犯安息日的事是在祂被钉十字架而结束仪文律法之前发生的。这种说法根本就是无中生有。大家必须记住，约翰一书 3：4说： 约翰一书 3：4 凡犯罪的，就是违背律法；违背律法，就是罪。 既然安息日是律法中的第四条诫命，那么如果耶稣真的违犯安息日的话，那祂就是违犯律法而犯罪了，这样的话，祂就不能成为无罪圣洁的羔羊了。我们也就没有救赎主了。 因此这些宣称耶稣违犯安息日的人显然不知道他们所指控的是什么含义。他们没有仔细思考自己所发表的声明有何意义，就仅仅是为了找个借口来让自己不必遵守安息日罢了。 所以他们就找到了这个非常方便的借口，说耶稣自己也没有守安息日，所以我们身为耶稣的跟从者也自然不需要遵守了。 感恩的是，耶稣并没有违犯安息日，祂只是违犯了法利赛人自定的规则。十诫的两块石版是耶稣亲自颁布给摩西的，但这不代表祂自己就得豁免可以随意杀人或违背十诫中的任何一条。 正如我刚才所说的，若作为一个罪人，耶稣就不能成为完美的赎罪祭了。这项争议的事主要是记载在约翰福音，我们待会儿就会查考一下。 请大家注意，约翰在这节经文中所引用的是法利赛人的话，而不是他个人的观点。我们很快就会看到这方面的证据。 我先说一说，这就是为什么耶稣在马太福音 5：20说了以下这段话。 马太福音 5：20 我告诉你们：你们的义若不胜于文士和法利赛人的义，断不能进天国。” 这些文士和法利赛人也同样将耶稣钉死在十字架上。你认为我们应该听谁的话呢？耶稣的话还是法利赛人的话？现在我们来看一则相关的圣经故事。 约翰福音 5：5-18 5 在那里有一个人，病了三十八年。6 耶稣看见他躺着，知道他病了许久，就问他说：“你要痊愈吗？”7 病人回答说：“先生，水动的时候，没有人把我放在池子里；我正去的时候，就有别人比我先下去。”8 耶稣对他说：“起来，拿你的褥子走吧！”9 那人立刻痊愈，就拿起褥子来走了。 10 那天是安息日，所以犹太人对那医好的人说：“今天是安息日，你拿褥子是不可的。”11 他却回答说：“那使我痊愈的对我说，‘拿你的褥子走吧！’”12 他们问他说：“对你说‘拿褥子走’的是什么人？”13 那医好的人不知道是谁，因为那里的人多，耶稣已经躲开了。14 后来耶稣在殿里遇见他，对他说：“你已经痊愈了，不要再犯罪，恐怕你遭遇的更加厉害。”15 那人就去告诉犹太人，使他痊愈的是耶稣。16 所以犹太人逼迫耶稣，因为他在安息日作了这事。17 耶稣就对他们说：“我父作事直到如今，我也作事。”18 所以犹太人越发想要杀他，因他不但犯了安息日，并且称上帝为他的父，将自己和上帝当作平等。 其实耶稣并没有违犯安息日，在安息日治病和行善是没有错的。只是法利赛人想根据自己的规条来寻找耶稣的错处。另外我们还注意到，法利赛人指责耶稣亵渎上帝，因为祂称自己与天父平等。 那么法利赛人的指控是否正确呢？肯定不正确。他们这项指控不比他们对耶稣违犯安息日的指控来得更正确。 在马太福音中，我们有另一则关于耶稣医治病人的记载，法利赛人再次指控他违犯了安息日。然而，这一次我们有耶稣的话来确定在安息日做善事或绝对必要的事情是否符合上帝的律法。 马太福音 12：10-12 10 那里有一个人枯干了一只手。有人问耶稣说：“安息日治病，可以不可以？”意思是要控告他。11 耶稣说：“你们中间谁有一只羊，当安息日掉在坑里，不把它抓住拉上来呢？12 人比羊何等贵重呢！所以，在安息日作善事是可以的。” 反安息日的人为什么引用法利赛人的话，却忽略了他们自己救主的话呢？他们为什么会相信法利赛人而不相信耶稣基督呢？他们为什么引用约翰福音 5:5-18 却从未提及马太福音 12:10-12的话，说在安息日医治和行善是不违法的呢？ 感恩的是，耶稣并没有犯罪，祂没有违犯任何一条诫命，包括第四条诫命的安息日，正如祂在经文中所阐明的那样，例如治病和救自己的牲畜等等。那些伪基督徒的指控是虚无的，他们的论点也没有任何证据予以支持。 耶稣说了很多遍，祂已经遵守了祂父的诫命。所以请不要扭曲祂的言行。 13. 安息日在新约之下吗？ 我们要讨论的下一个问题就是，安息日是不是在新约之下呢？很多人说，我们现在是活在新约之下，但是安息日和整套律法都是属于旧约的，已经过时了。当我们谈到安息日时，他们甚至激动地说：“你们为什么要把我们带回到旧约之下去呢？我们现在是在新约之下了，已经不必守律法了。” 有些人甚至说，安息日在新约时代下已经从第七日变成了第一日。但是耶稣曾说过，祂来不是要修改律法。上帝的十条律法是永不改变的。我们在上几期视频中已经多次清楚地奠定了这些真理了。 上帝是永不改变的。上帝的律法既是祂旨意的启示，又是祂品德的写真，也就必定存到永远。只要上帝还活着，祂的律法就不会更改或废掉。 上帝与祂的子民所立的新约并不是除去律法，而是将律法写在我们的心上，使我们更加遵守祂的诫命。 希伯来书 8:8-10 8 所以主指责他的百姓说（或作“所以主指前约的缺欠说”）： “日子将到，我要与以色列家和犹大家另立新约，9 不像我拉着他们祖宗的手领他们出埃及的时候，与他们所立的约，因为他们不恒心守我的约，我也不理他们。这是主说的。”10 主又说：“那些日子以后，我与以色列家所立的约乃是这样：我要将我的律法放在他们里面，写在他们心上；我要作他们的上帝，他们要作我的子民。 当你得知在新约圣经的写作期间，整个基督教界都在遵守第七日安息日时，你会感到惊讶吗？然而，有些基督徒错误地声称新约中不存在安息日的诫命，因此不需要再遵守了。 这种逻辑是有致命缺陷的，因为它没有任何明确经文予以支持。任何在旧约和新约之间发生变化的重大事件都清楚地记载在圣经中。如果它是关于上帝的诫命，那么我们需要的就是一个明确无误且极为清楚的指示，告诉我们安息日已被废除或转移到星期日了。 这么重大的事件必须要有确凿的证据予以证明才是，不能任凭你一张嘴说了算，否则的话就不是出于上帝而是从撒但而来的谬论。 我还发现许多基督徒都有这样的心态，即一切都在新约中重新开始。但是同样的，这与事实也相去甚远。是最初的圣经译者而不是上帝将圣经分成两部约，因此除了我们被特别告知的事之外，一切都绝对是从旧约开始一直延续到新约，就如一本未被分割的书一样。 因此，人们不能藉着在新约里寻找，看这诫命是否有被重复宣告，来决定它是否依然有效，而是应该寻找一条明确无误的指示，说明它已经被修改或废除了。 我们的上帝不会以假设来做事的，尤其是像祂的道德律法这样重要的事上，比如祂的安息日。如果上帝的诫命有所变更，那么圣经就会向我们大声疾呼这项消息。 他们假设说，虽然新约没有提到律法已被废除，但是也没有像旧约那样清楚地宣告十条诫命，那么它可能或也许已经被废除了吧。这是无中生有，极其幼稚的想法。这等人没有把信仰建立在经上记着说或耶和华如此说，而是建立在自己的思想上。 有些人还声称，摩西在出埃及记 20 章中首次领受十诫之后，安息日的诫命才开始存在的，因为在此之前没有论到诫命被赐给人的书面记录。这很肯定是一种非常错误的观念。 在出埃及记 16 章中，我们发现上帝在测试以色列，看他们是否会按照祂的诫命在第七天遵守他的安息日。当他们没有这样做时，上帝便指责他们不顺从祂的诫命和律法。 但是，如果在出埃及记 20 章之前从未揭晓诫命的话，他们又怎么会违犯安息日和所有其他诫命呢？圣经也许没有书面记录，但有不可否认的证据表明，他们已经认识并遵守了这些诫命。 该隐和亚伯呢？我们发现上帝在创世记 4:3-7 中对该隐生气，因为他从地里带来了象征因行为称义的祭物，但亚伯带来了头生的羔羊作为赎罪祭，象征因信称义。 要有赎罪祭，就必须有律法。上帝也在第 7 节对该隐说，罪就伏fu2在门口。 约翰一书 3：4告诉我们： 约翰一书 3：4 凡犯罪的，就是违背律法；违背律法，就是罪。 违背了律法就是犯罪，因此才需要献祭。罗马书也叙述了同一个道理。 罗马书 4：15 因为律法是惹动忿怒的（或作“叫人受刑的”），哪里没有律法，那里就没有过犯。 没有律法的话，就没有犯罪，也就不需要赎罪祭了。所以摩西领十诫之前没有十诫的说法是错误的。 尽管十条诫命尚未被写下来，但它们是一直都存在的，而且自从创世以来上帝就已晓瑜了人类的始祖，否则该隐就不会犯谋杀罪了。 那么亚伯拉罕呢？如果在创世记或出埃及记 20 章之前没有给出诫命或律法，那么当上帝在创世记 26:5中说，亚伯拉罕遵守祂的诫命、律例和法度时，究竟是什么诫命呢？ 因此，即使没有任何诫命或律法的书面记录，我们也知道它们是早已存在的，因为有人认识和遵守诫命的证据。同样的情况也存在于新约关于安息日的议题上，一会我们就来看看几个证据。 其实新约充满了信徒们遵守诫命，包括遵守安息日的证据，也一再教导人必须遵守，只是很多人视而不见，不愿意放下偏见来接受事实。 大家必须明白，新约没有以完全相同的字句来记载第四条诫命，这项事实不代表这教导或概念不存在。比如说，新约圣经也没有记载：“除了我以外，你不可有别的神”这句话，即第一条诫命。但是这项事实不代表这条诫命已经被废掉了。 只是作者用了不同的方式和字眼来表达同一个概念，例如：“当拜主你的上帝，单要侍奉他。” 相信大家都明白这一点。安息日的诫命也是一样。事实上，新约圣经里仅仅提到信徒在安息日聚会或敬拜，却从不曾提过有任何信徒在星期日敬拜，因为那是异教拜太阳神的日子，所以不可能为上帝的子民所接受。 我们今天就来探讨几个守安息日的新约证据。 守安息日的新约证据（一） 第一个证据，耶稣在地上与门徒同在的最后一段时间里，祂给他们发出了一道警告，说耶路撒冷城和殿都要遭受毁灭，并嘱咐他们必须在看到预兆时就往山上逃跑，免得一同遭殃。大家可参阅马太福音24章。 我想专注的重点就是耶稣在论到逃难时所说的其中一段话。 马太福音 24：20 你们应当祈求，叫你们逃走的时候，不遇见冬天或是安息日。 明显地，信徒们在耶稣被钉十字架之后还是必须遵守安息日的，没有人能说安息日不存在于新约之下。 有些人却狡辩说，耶稣上述的一番话是对犹太人说的，与其他人无关。这实在是离谱。首先，这里根本就没有这么说，耶稣也没有这样的意思。再说了，这段预言除了在当时已经应验了之外，主要是应用在末时基督第二次降临之前的事上。 那么难道说耶稣只为犹太人回来吗？其他人都不能作耶稣的子民而将会被抛弃吗？ 守安息日的新约证据（二） 第二个显明安息日在新约时代耶稣被钉死之后依然坚定的证据，就是路加的著作。你知不知道路加福音是在耶稣死而复活以后过了几十年才写下来的？注意路加在这么多年以后都写了什么相关的信息。 路加福音 23：56 她们就回去，预备了香料香膏。她们在安息日，便遵着诫命安息了。 路加在此提到了第四条诫命的安息日。在耶稣死而复活之后过了数十年以后，路加依然提及上帝的诫命，并且见证说，信徒们在耶稣死后的安息日那天按照诫命安息了。 除了信徒们守安息日之外，耶稣本身也在坟墓里守了安息日，等到过了安息日，上帝才叫耶稣从死里复活，然后升天。 请注意，路加没有说他们在曾经是第四条诫命的安息日安息了，因为第七日已经不再是安息日了。他也没有说他们在安息日，也就是一周的第一日安息了，因为安息日已经更改了，不再是第七日而是第一日了。 如果安息日已经被废除或更改的话，这绝对是个黄金机会来让路加揭晓这一点。但是这都没有发生，原因可想而知。 所以十条诫命在耶稣死后依然有效，并没有被修改或废除。从亘古直到永远都不会改变。 守安息日的新约证据（三） 第三个证明安息日存在于新约的证据，就是希伯来书 4：9-10。在旧约中我们有出埃及记20：8-11和申命记 5：12-15清楚地叙述安息日的诫命。然而我们在新约中也有一节非常相似的经文，论到安息日诫命的相关内容。 【钦定本】希伯来书 4：9-10 9 因此，必有一个安息为上帝的子民存留。10 因为那进入安息的，乃是歇了自己的工，正如上帝歇了他的工一样。 这里说得非常清楚，安息日必为上帝的子民存留。下一节还说我们进入安息，乃是歇下一切的工，正如上帝用了六日创造后在第七日歇了祂的工一样。这简直就是完全呼应了第四条诫命并创世记有关安息日的记载。 守安息日的新约证据（四） 我们来看第四个铁证，即新约有守安息日的证据。此证据来自这样的一个事实，就是遵守安息日已经融入了整个新约圣经的结构中。因此，我们不断看到经文论到，耶稣遵守了安息日，而且祂是我们完美的榜样。 还有使徒们、保罗、跟整个早期教会都在遵守安息日。新约中所记载的每一位信徒都遵守了第四条诫命的安息日。我们没有任何证据显明任何人遵守了第七日以外的任何一日，就连一节经文都没有。 保罗是法利赛人，他从小就信从犹太人的信仰，并且从来没有改变过。 使徒行传 26：4-5 4 我从起初在本国的民中，并在耶路撒冷，自幼为人如何，犹太人都知道。5 他们若肯作见证就晓得，我从起初是按着我们宗教最严紧的教门作了法利赛人。 现在请注意，在下面的经文中，我们发现这是一个犹太会堂，并记住犹太人在历史上一直都没有改变过，一直在我们所谓的星期六也就是第七日聚集敬拜，就像他们今天仍然做的那样。圣经显示保罗只在安息日这一天在会堂里传道，这是他的习惯，其他日子他都没有这么做。这里以三个连续的安息日为例。 使徒行传 17：1-2 1 他们经过暗妃波里、亚波罗尼亚，来到帖撒罗尼迦，在那里有犹太人的会堂。2 保罗照他的规矩进到他们那里，一连三个安息日，本着经文与他们辩论。 下面的经文揭示了如果安息日真的有更改的话，那么保罗当时有绝佳的机会在一周的第一日即星期天作讲道。但是圣经说保罗做了什么呢？ 使徒行传 13：42 犹太人出会堂的时候，外邦人恳求他们到下安息日再传讲这话给他们听。 保罗刚刚在第七日安息日即星期六讲完道，我们发现外邦人就恳求保罗在下一个安息日也向他们讲道。如果安息日已经改为星期日的话，那保罗大可以在第二天就与他们一同聚集和传道，并且传讲安息日已经改为第一日的课题。 但是他并没有这么做，信耶稣的外邦人也都清楚地知道这一事实，所以直接恳求他在下个安息日继续讲真理给他们听。而且我们看到安息日不仅仅是给犹太人的。凡接受救恩的外邦信徒也都必须遵守。过两节之后，圣经说： 使徒行传 13：44 到下个安息日，全城的人几乎都来聚集，要听上帝的道。 事实上，没有一节经文显示任何信徒在一周的第一日聚集敬拜。若有的话也是其他的聚会或因其它的原因聚集，与安息日和敬拜的日子无关，但却被有心人滥用来支持他们的谬论。 新约圣经实在有太多太多的证据显明新约的安息日，我们今天暂且不看更多。我呼吁大家自行研究，查考所有关于安息日的经文。不要被假道理给迷惑。 14. 大多数人怎么可能对安息日有所误解？ 接下来是第14点，问，大多数人怎么可能对安息日有所误解呢？这是一种非常普遍的论调，宣称大多数人相信的必定是真理。 那么这种说法正确吗？守安息日的人占全球人口的极少数而已，这就表示安息日肯定不是真理吗？今天我们就来探讨一下这个问题。 先说一说为什么大多数人对安息日都有误解。简单的答案是，借着数百万人的死亡，仇敌几乎消灭了第四条诫命。当改革运动开始时，所有改革教派都继续无知地守着星期日。 恢复失去的真理总是一件很艰难的事。当人们不想知道真理时，情况更是如此。他们若接受真理，就会破坏他们教会的信仰或个人的生活习惯。 在基督教界中，大多数人所相信的道理从来都不是真理。启示录警告我们说，上帝会因一个教会堕落成可憎之物而将她摧毁，但大多数人都属于某个教会，他们却未看清事实，还未觉醒以致离开巴比伦。 没错，事实就是，大多数人都错了，因为撒但竭尽所能并且成功地向基督徒隐瞒这个真理。这就是他在基督教界中最大的成就之一。 这些人忙着找借口以维护自己的教导，编造谎言来迷惑他人，却忽略花时间探讨圣经在这课题上的真理。他们就算查考圣经也只是为了寻找证据来支持自己的理论。所找到的，也是自己想要看的，而不是圣经所教导的。 提摩太后书 4：3-4 3 因为时候要到，人必厌烦纯正的道理，耳朵发痒，就随从自己的情欲，增添好些师傅，4 并且掩耳不听真道，偏向荒渺的言语。 很多时候，我们在与他人分享安息日的真理时，绝大多数人都会拒绝考虑这种可能性，坚决宣称大多数人所相信的不可能会错。有的还讽刺说：“少数人怎么可能比多数人更聪明呢？” 很多人简直闭耳不听，完全不想讨论相关课题。这是非常可悲的事实。特别是当你想到上帝创造了我们，然后差遣祂儿子来为我们罪人而死，但是我们却不肯以爱来顺服祂，不肯为祂做出一点点的牺牲。为什么大多数人都属于错误的一方，对我而言，这些都不是什么奥秘了。这些都是圣经早已预言会发生的事，也是这罪恶世界的现实状况。 仇敌促使基督徒继续持守和宣扬他们先前被告知的相同借口。再加上他们不想改变，或者他们不知道历史事实，不晓得撒但如何企图毁掉上帝的律法，也不晓得圣经的真理。 马太福音 7：13-14 13 “你们要进窄门。因为引到灭亡，那门是宽的，路是大的，进去的人也多；14 引到永生，那门是窄的，路是小的，找着的人也少。” 接受真理的人从来都是少数的，最后得救的人也会是占少数的，因为大多数人都会选择容易走的灭亡之路。所以不要以为大多数人相信的道理就肯定是对的。 相反的，大多数人所相信的有很大可能是错的。我要引用著名作家马克吐温所说的一段话，是我非常喜爱的。他说：“当你发现自己站在大多数人的一方时，就必须停下来思考和进行改革了。” 大家可以思考一下，有什么普遍的教义或信仰是大多数教会所相信的？那就是非源自圣经的谬论，而我们就必须拒绝。比方说星期日崇拜、三位一体论、圣诞节、灵魂不死之道、秘密被提、永火的地狱等等。这几个较为常见的谬论，都是从鬼魔而来但却被大多数人所接受的。 另外，启示录也预言了末时作为兽印记的星期日法令大逼迫来到时，会出现什么情况。 启示录 13：3-4 3 我看见兽的七头中，有一个似乎受了死伤，那死伤却医好了。全地的人都希奇跟从那兽，4又拜那龙，因为它将自己的权柄给了兽，也拜兽，说：“谁能比这兽，谁能与它交战呢？” 这里说，全地的人都会跟从那兽，顺从她所制定与敬拜有关的法令，这样做就等于敬拜那龙，就是撒但。 所以肯定的是，全球大多数人都会掉入撒但的网罗，去跟从虚假的道理。朋友们，我们必须纠正这种错谬的概念，不要再误以为多人信的东西就必定是真理。事实往往是倒反过来的。 我们若听见有传道人或任何教会领袖宣称一个道理是大多数人所同意和信奉的，因此肯定是真的，那么我们就可以断定他所说的肯定不是来自圣经的。 圣经里也有好几个例子让我们参考并明白这个概念。比如说，洪水与诺亚方舟的故事、罗得与所多玛城的故事、但以理和他三个伙伴的故事等等，都带出了这个概念。 简单来说，真理从来就不在大多数人中间，而是在少数人中间。 15. 圣经是否记录了安息日改成了星期日的历史事件？ 接下来是我们要回答的最后一个论点，就是，圣经是否记录了安息日改成了星期日的历史事件？其实经过了那么多课的研究，这个问题的答案已经显而易见了。 但是我们还是要探讨一下，並彻底揭穿撒但在这方面的骗局。 启示录 11：19 当时，上帝天上的殿开了，在他殿中现出他的约柜，随后有闪电、声音、雷轰、地震、大雹。 那么上帝有没有更改约翰所看见藏在天上约柜里刻着十条诫命的石版呢？上帝有没有改口说：“当纪念第一日，忘掉先前的第七日吧。” 当然没有。 一个纪念创造的日子是不可能更改的。上帝的律法也是永远长存的。保罗在哥林多前书 7：19 有一段非常重要的话，表明了诫命的重要性。 哥林多前书 7：19 受割礼算不得什么，不受割礼也算不得什么，只要守上帝的诫命就是了。 保罗在这里清楚地表明了十条诫命的道德律法和仪文律法之间的区别以及两者分别的重要性。仪文律法已经废除，不需要再守了。相反的，诫命依然是必须遵守的，它并没有废除或更改。 这些真理在圣经中重复又重复地被提及，然而圣经从未说过安息日改成了星期日。所以我们不能做出任何假设，而是必须拿出真凭实据来支持我们的论点。 我们一再看见使徒们，信徒们，甚至是耶稣自己，也遵守了安息日，从未改变过，即使是在耶稣死后也是如此。别忘记，耶稣还说过以下这段话。 马太福音 5：18 我实在告诉你们，就是到天地都废去了，律法的一点一画也不能废去，都要成全。 律法上的字句，哪怕是一个字，或一个标点符号，都不会改变。当涉及上帝话语的重要性时，我们永远不需要做出假设。如果有任何重大的改变，我们肯定会被告知的。 倘若上帝在诫命中改变了哪怕是最小或最不起眼的内容，祂都必定在祂的话语中明确地阐明，而且还会把重要的话重复好几遍，免得任何人有借口说他不知道这回事。 可惜根本就没有这样的事情，因为律法不像那些人所期望的那样已经改变了，而是永远坚定不移的。现在我们就来看一节经文的假设，看看那些有心人如何用这节经文来争辩说安息日已经改成了星期日。 使徒行传 20：7 七日的第一日，我们聚会擘饼的时候，保罗因为要次日起行，就与他们讲论，直讲到半夜。 这里说七日的第一日，也就是星期日，门徒聚会擘饼。因此，他们宣称这就证明安息日已经转移到了星期日。但是事实真的是如此吗？ 明显不是，他们看到了一点点迹象就急忙断章取义，却没有调查清楚时代的背景和作者的用意。保罗根本不是想表达安息日已经从第七日改变成了第一日。 这里只简单地提到一次的聚会，没有说明是安息日的聚会或崇拜。同一节却有说明，保罗在第二天要启程离开该地方了，所以那是他离别前的一次聚会，可以说是一场送别会。 这与第四条诫命安息日完全扯不上关系。更有意思的是，下面的经文还证明，其实擘饼不仅是在安息日进行的团契聚餐，而是在一周中的每一日都可以进行的。所以当圣经提到人们在某一日聚会擘饼时，这事实上根本证明不了什么，因为这是信徒每一天都做的事，就像我们每天吃饭一样。 使徒行传 2：42 都恒心遵守使徒的教训，彼此交接、擘饼、祈祷。 使徒行传 2：46 他们天天同心合意恒切地在殿里，且在家中擘饼，存着欢喜诚实的心用饭， 再说，使徒行传 20：7 所提到的七日的第一日，其实是指星期六晚间，因为按照圣经的日子定义，一日是从日落到日落的。如果他是指星期日晚上的话，那就不是七日的第一日了，而是七日的第二日了。许多现代圣经版本甚至还把这节中七日的第一日直接翻译成星期六晚间。 所以简单来说，这场聚会其实是结束安息日的黄昏聚会，但由于保罗到天亮就要启程离开了，所以聚会时间便延长了，甚至到了深夜大伙依然难舍难分，意犹未尽，大家都兴致勃勃地坐着听保罗讲圣经的道理。 第9节甚至告诉我们说，有个年轻人因为听道听得太久太累而打盹睡着了，意外从窗台上跌下来。 因此，使徒行传 20：7 不能证明安息日已从第七日转移到了第一日。人们是因为误解了经文并忽视了门徒当代的文化背景而曲解了经文。事实上，圣经并没有明文可用以支持他们的教导。 只要我们找不到一节经文明确地指出：“安息日已经被废除或改成了星期日，” 那么我们就必须接受事实，就是说安息日从未改变，也永远不会改变。 安息日的更改是撒但企图想藉着他的爪牙去完成，但却一直无法成就的事。他企图把上帝的安息日改成崇拜日头或太阳神的日子，即星期日。 我们必须知道，星期日不可能成为安息日。若我们参考圣经中每一日的名称就晓得了。在圣经时代，一周的日子基本上被称为第一日、第二日、第三日、第四日、第五日、预备日和安息日。 如上所述，日子的名称实际上都是围绕着安息日以命名的。一周的第一日，换句话说就是安息日之后的第一日。单单这一点就可以证明安息日不可能是第七日以外的任何一日。 星期日是安息日之后的第一日，所以它永远都不可能成为安息日，这是怎么改都改不了的事实。相信这是一个非常简单明了的道理，连小朋友都能轻易明白。 撒但在面对这个挑战时可能又会给出另一个借口，说：“是的没错，安息日依然是第七日/星期六，但是我们现在改在星期日敬拜！” 这简直是强词夺理。如果把第七日被称为安息日的原因归给另一日的话，那么第七日还能被称为安息日吗？ 很明显那是不可能的。用以敬拜上帝，纪念创造和安息的日子都是同一日，都是分不开的。很多人也许接受了这种荒谬的推理，但是上帝和祂的真子民绝对不会接纳这样的鬼话。 我们开门见山地说，守星期日的教导是非常缺乏证据的，因为他们在圣经里根本找不到一节经文来支持这项非源自圣经的谬论，所以他们才会那么迫切地企图寻找一些能被扭曲以支持他们的经文。 他们所谓的证据来来去去都是那几个，没有什么新鲜的。只要我们熟悉圣经，撒但的谎言就自然不攻自破。 回顾历史，星期日敬拜是什么时候渗入基督教的呢？这就是君士坦丁大帝所干的好事。简单来说，作为一个精明的政治天才，他的计划是将基督教和异教联合起来，以巩固他那正在瓦解的帝国。 君士坦丁知道整个帝国的异教徒在“一周的第一日” 崇拜太阳神。他还发现有基督徒，特别是罗马和亚历山大港的基督徒也因基督在星期日从死里复活而纪念那一日。 所以君士坦丁大帝就制定了一个计划，在守星期日的共同平台上联合两大宗教信仰。在公元 321 年 3 月 7 日，他通过了著名的首个全国星期日法令。我们来看一段论到该历史的引言。 “……在可敬的太阳日，让县长和居住在城市的人们休息，让所有的工作坊关闭。 然而，在乡下，从事农业活动的乡民可以自由合法地继续他们的事业； 因为经常发生这样的情况：另一天不太适合播种或种植葡萄； 以免疏忽了进行此类工作的适当时机而失去上天的恩惠。 （于 3 月 7 号颁布，克里斯普斯和康斯坦丁各人第二次担任领事 ［公元 321 年］。）” 来源：查士丁尼法典。译于：菲利普沙夫著，《基督教会历史》，第 3 卷（第 5 版，1902 年），第 380 页，注 1。 虽然君士坦丁在当时接纳了基督教信仰，并自称为基督徒，但他骨子里仍然是个虔诚的太阳神崇拜者。历史学家宣称，太阳被普遍认为是君士坦丁的无敌向导和保护神。 他甚至还印制了一面印有基督名字，另一面则印有太阳神形象的硬币。从那时起，星期日就被引入了基督教，而所有人都是被强迫遵守那一日的。现今有许多人仍然无知地持守着星期日，却不晓得其背后的历史由来。 顺便一提，星期日被采纳四年之后，星期日的神，那三位一体太阳神也同样被纳入了基督教。这不是巧合，而是撒但的爪牙为方便将来执行兽印记时的全球大逼迫而铺平道路。 在不久的将来，全世界将在星期日敬拜和三位一体敬拜的共同基础上联合起来。他们还要特别逼迫凡遵守安息日和敬拜独一真神的真基督徒。这将会是善恶之争的最后高潮，也是世界末日之前最激烈的一战。 现今整个基督教界中各个基督教派都是在他们敬拜的共同日子上，更是在他们所敬拜的三一神的共同基础上团结一致，携手合作称兄道弟了。我相信星期日法令的推出也会在不久的将来落实。 所有接受星期日法令的人都是拜兽的，兽即罗马天主教，他们彻底拒绝了上帝和祂的权柄。我们必须及时明白这些真理并且选择站在正确的一方，免得陷入万劫不复之地。 在结束前，我们再来看几段引言，以提醒大家一个确凿的事实，那就是星期日崇拜从来都不是圣经所认可的，而是罗马天主教仗着自己的权柄规定的。 “例如，我们在圣经中没有任何一处发现基督或使徒下令将安息日从星期六改为星期日。 我们有上帝颁布给摩西的诫命，吩咐我们遵守安息日，也就是一周的第 7 日，星期六，守为圣日。 今天，大多数基督徒都遵守星期日，因为它是由 ［罗马天主教］教会在圣经之外向我们启示的。” ——《天主教维吉尼亚报》，1947 年 10 月 3 日，第 9 页，“告诉你真相”。 “问：安息日是哪一天？ “答：星期六是安息日。 “问：为什么我们遵守星期日而不是星期六？ “答：我们遵守星期日而不是星期六，因为天主教会在老底嘉会议（公元 364 年）中将安息日的神圣庄严从星期六转移到了星期日。” ——彼得葛依尔曼（Peter Geiermann），《皈依者的天主教要理问答》，第 50 页，第 3 版，1957 年。 “我要好好提醒长老会、浸信会、卫理公会和所有其他基督徒，圣经在任何地方都不能支持他们遵守星期日。 星期日是罗马天主教的制度，遵守这一日的人是在遵守天主教的一条诫命。” ——布雷迪神父，1903 年 3 月 18 日在新泽西州伊丽莎白的新闻报道中发表的讲话。 别忘记，如果我们选择接受虚假的安息日而故意违犯上帝真安息日的诫命的话，那我们就是选择灭亡了。这样我们就不能进入上帝永恒美好的国度了，因为完美的天国容不下任何违背律法的叛逆者。 更何况，我们若爱上帝和祂儿子，就必须遵守祂们的诫命。正如耶稣所说： 约翰福音 14：15 你们若爱我，就必遵守我的命令。 我们不是靠着守律法的行为来得救的，而是因为爱上帝而乐意遵守祂一切的诫命和话语。世界虽然恶人当道，而谬论一方为大众所接受，但是我们必须忠于上帝，不效法世界，不向恶势力低头，不向撒但妥协。务要记住使徒讲过的一句话： 使徒行传 5：29 “顺从上帝，不顺从人，是应当的。” 朋友，我们今天已经完成了全部破解十五个拒绝安息日的理由之圣经研究系列。我们想必已经意识到，十条诫命，包括安息日是永不改变的，它没有被基督的十架所废除，而是立定到永永远远的。 它也没有因着任何理由而变成另一日。它不仅仅是赐给犹太人的安息日，而是赐给全人类的安息日。我们没有任何借口逃避或拒绝安息日。圣经在这个课题上也提供了非常充足的证据，让我们无从抵赖。 仇敌想方设法想利用一些人的推理和逻辑来拒绝安息日，但这些理由一律都没有获得任何经文的支持和认证，因此它们都是鬼魔的谬道，我们必须坚决撇弃之。 这就结束了这一系列的研究，希望这几讲能给大家在安息日的课题上带来一个完整清晰的画面，以奠定安息日真理的每一个要点和基础，并且将撒但拒绝安息日的借口一一识破，让仇敌不再有任何理由说服人们去拒绝遵守安息日。 星期日法令即将到来之际，我们必须以安息日的真理装备好自己，以便能抵抗来势汹汹的魔军。愿每一位上帝的子民都能站稳脚跟，对真神上帝和祂的真儿子并他们的安息圣日至死忠心。愿平安喜乐充满每一位，阿们。 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

Back to Contents Previous Download 看中文 Next Sabbath Day Truth What day is the Sabbath Day? One very controversial subject among Christians today is God’s Seventh Day Sabbath. Some Christians are not even aware that the Sabbath is Saturday. The Bible tells us in Daniel that a persecuting power would change God’s laws which it did – the Seventh Day Sabbath became the first day sabbath without God’s approval. The book of Daniel also refers to this change of God’s law by the antichrist power as reaching to the host of heaven and trampling the heavenly sanctuary under foot. We find the same expression used in Hebrews chapter ten in reference to wilful sin. Hebrews 10:26-29 “For if we sin WILFULLY after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, … He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” This passage warns us that there remains no sacrifice to cover wilful sin and to continue in wilful sin is to trample the Son of God under foot and to treat Christ's work on the cross as an unholy thing despite being under grace. This is a warning we should take very seriously. The change to the Sabbath day came about over hundreds of years and by the death of millions of Christians. This is another fact that most Christians are unaware of. Select the following to watch a typical true story of the death of a Sabbath keeper by burning. Why is the Sabbath truth rarely taught? If these points are true, why don’t we hear more pastors teaching them? If the Sabbath is Saturday, then why don’t the majority keep the true Sabbath day? How could the majority be wrong and even more to the point, do we still have to keep the Seventh day Sabbath at all? Revelation 13 tells us that Satan would give position and authority to the persecuting power described in Daniel that changed God’s law. Why do you think Satan did this? This power that persecuted the saints for 1260 dark years murdered anyone found keeping the Seventh day Sabbath according to the Commandment of God. Anyone that had a different view to this persecuting power was considered a heretic and heretics were to be burned. As a result, the Sabbath truth was nearly murdered out of existence and since most Churches originated from this persecuting power, most Churches now ignorantly keep the wrong day they instituted. The final change to the Sabbath day was in the fourth century but note that the change originated from Satanic and pagan sun worship as early as 2000 B.C. Remember that Satan was responsible for all of this and did not go to all this effort for no reason. Since the majority grow up with Sunday worship as their custom, it becomes very much a mind set and people are also very reluctant to accept change or alter their lifestyle. Saturday is also a day that is not convenient for most Christians and so sadly, most would rather not know truth and go into denial. Because of these factors, even when a pastor is presented with the Sabbath truth, it becomes difficult to both accept and see. This instantly gives the enemy the upper hand as he now just whispers in your mind, “the day does not matter. If it mattered everyone would know about it and would be keeping Saturday.” Sadly, all too many listen and never investigate and Satan continues to be victorious in keeping Christians ignorantly breaking one of the Commandments of God. Billy Graham was said to have acknowledged the Sabbath truth but stated, “If I were to teach this truth, I would lose most of my listeners.” Jesus said we are to both obey and teach the law and one cannot sacrifice truth at any cost. The enemy has gone to extreme lengths to make sure the Sabbath truth is not taught or believed and continues to go to extreme lengths and deceptions to keep us ignorant of this truth. Knowing he has done this, Christians should realise that it is very relevant and extremely important we know why. For example, how important is sin to God? Many say the Sabbath was changed to Sunday in honour of the resurrection and others say it was nailed to the cross. Others will tell you any day can be kept as the Sabbath day as long as you keep one. And still others say as long as you do everything to the glory of God the Sabbath is as good as kept. And yet still others will say it is legalism. Worst of all, and this is becoming more popular by the decade, some say the Ten Commandments are gone. Never underestimate the enemy’s ability to slowly and subtly bring heresy into the Church and make those with the most Biblical truth to get labelled falsely as cults or legalists. It should be obvious that Satan will always attack truth the hardest and sadly he has no trouble finding those he can deceive to accomplish his task very convincingly. The fact of the matter is that what is popular is not always truth and what is truth is not always popular. Since the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments that defines what sin is, why wouldn't Satan attack this one Commandment that is the easiest one to attack and do everything in his power to ensure that it does not get recognized or taught so he can get many to live in lawlessness? If one truly studies this and checks it with unbiased history, you will in fact find that Satan has achieved this goal and because most Christians do not study the Word and tend to rely on what their friends or pastor tells them, the lie continues to be perpetuated. What is the Sabbath Day about? Our Creator God starts off the fourth Commandment with the word “Remember.” This is because He knew it would be lost and forgotten. God asks that we keep the Sabbath set apart for Holy purposes so we can draw nearer to Him. The Fourth Commandment to remember the Sabbath concludes the section of the Ten Commandments that specifically helps define a proper relationship with God, how we are to love, worship and relate to Him. It explains why and when we need to take special time to draw closer to our Creator. It is also a special sign between us and God forever, that it is Him that sanctifies us; Him alone who we belong to and worship. The Sabbath, the Seventh day of the week was set apart by God as a time of rest and spiritual rejuvenation. So why is this Commandment so frequently ignored, attacked and explained away by so many Christians? Could it be because the challenges to the Sabbath Commandment are views generated by the ruler of this present evil world? After all, this being wants us to accept these views because he hates God’s law. He does all he can to influence us to ignore, avoid and reason our way around it. On our calendar the Sabbath begins at sunset Friday evening and ends at sunset Saturday evening. Those that keep the true Sabbath day say that it is a blessing and their favourite day of the week. The Sabbath is quality time with family and relaxing and fellowshipping with God and other Christians. Jesus said we are to not only obey the Ten Commandments but teach them also yet some people are doing the opposite. Why are these people so determined to take this blessing from those who keep the Sabbath properly, and in the way Jesus intended and not like the Pharisees who turned it into a legalistic burden? What spirit is behind this? Why do so many professed Christians try so desperately hard to avoid this special time with their Creator God on His Holy day? The Sabbath should be our favourite day of the week and it is for those who have searched for the truth on the Sabbath and found it. God says we are to find this day a delight and a blessing. God did not say we should call it legalism or a burden! Isaiah 58:13-14 “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 of the LORD, honourable; and shall honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shall you delight thyself in the LORD...” Like all the other nine Commandments, IT IS a Commandment of love and thus loving God with all your heart includes all the first four Commandments. We know this for a fact because right after the second reading of the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy chapter 5, we are shown in Deuteronomy 6:5 that LOVING God with all our heart, might and soul is to keep ALL the Ten Commandments that had just been read in the previous chapter only 17 verses earlier. That of course makes ALL Ten Commandments eternal. Our God is not a God of confusion that mixes a law that defines what love and sin is with something that is not love or not sin. Whether we understand it or not, to try and find reasons as to why the Sabbath is changed or ended is no different from trying to find excuses as to why it is now acceptable to worship idols or commit murder etc. There is another law found in the Old Testament that was only for the Jews and had ceremonial sabbaths but God did not place His Sabbath in this law. He placed it in the Ten Commandments because that is where it belongs. The Ten Commandments were written in stone while the ceremonial law was written in a book and hence it was also called the “Book of the Covenant.” Have you ever heard the expression “it is not written in stone?” Written in stone means forever. On paper and in a book is temporary. So basically God had two specific laws. One was temporary, written in a book, was not love, only for the Jews, practised because of sin before Christ and why it was nailed to the cross. The other was eternal, written in stone, was love, for everyone, was sin to break and hence was NOT nailed to the cross. Now consider this question very carefully. If the Sabbath of the Lord was temporary and only for the Jews, which law would you place it in? In the temporary law or the eternal law? And is that where God placed His Sabbath? No! God placed His Sabbath exactly where it belonged. He placed it in the law that was love and eternal and for everyone along with the other Nine Commandments that obviously will never and can never end. Since God is not a fool or the author of confusion, then this alone reveals the truth. God makes a distinction between the ceremonial sabbaths and His Sabbath found in the Ten Commandments by exhorting, “But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God:” (Exodus 20:10, Deuteronomy 5:14). It is the Lord’s Sabbath! It did not belong to Israel. God further clarifies this by calling His Sabbath, “My Sabbaths,” as in His weekly Sabbaths, (Exodus 31:13, Ezekiel 20:20) while calling the ceremonial sabbaths that were only for Israel, “Her Sabbaths.” Her as in Israel. (Hosea 2:11, Lamentations 1:7) If God sent an Angel to tell you that He loves you and sent His only Son to die for you and that He wants you to spend quality time with Him on a specific day that He blessed and sanctified, would you send the Angel back to God with the message, “sorry God, that day is not convenient for me” or “no God, I can't spend that time with you on your Holy day, that's legalism” or even, “tell God that it does not have to be on His Holy day and I will spend time with Him on that day that was used for sun worship that He detested instead.” Is that what we would really say? Why is it so hard for us to rest and worship Him on His Holy day? Many believe that there are only one or two denominations or groups that keep the true Sabbath day when there are in fact over five hundred different denominations of Sabbath keeping Churches that that keep the true 7th day Sabbath and the count is growing. Whole chains of Churches are changing back after attending Prophecy seminars run by people that have not been deceived by Satan's attempt to keep Christians in the dark on the Sabbath truth or Bible prophecy believing it cannot be understood. Do these hundreds of different Church denominations with millions and millions of members know something that we don’t? Why is the Sabbath important to God? We have already noted that God intended the Sabbath to be a blessing to us and has asked us to call His Sabbath a DELIGHT, but what else makes the Sabbath so important to God? Most people understand that it is morally wrong to lie, steal, murder and to worship idols or take the Lord's name in vain etc, but the reason Satan is so successful in keeping so many from the Sabbath truth is because it is easy for him to convince the multitudes it is not important. Sadly, most do not see the Sabbath as important as on the surface breaking the Sabbath does not appear to be morally wrong. The question is; does God see the Sabbath day as being important? If it is important to God then it has to be important to us. Since God made His Sabbath part of the Ten Commandments, it becomes sin to break the Sabbath as sin is breaking any of the Ten Commandments. Sin is the reason Jesus died on the cross for us and it does not get more serious than that. We should know how much God detests sin but what are some other reasons that make the Sabbath so significant? Exodus 31:13-17 “Speak you also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily 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 that does SANCTIFY you. … 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. 16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a PERPETUAL covenant. 17 It is a SIGN between me and the children of Israel FOR EVER: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the Seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” Ezekiel 20:20 “And hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a SIGN between me and you, that you may know that I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD.” The Sabbath is a special SIGN that defines that we are God’s children and He is our God that sanctifies us and makes us Holy. It also defines therefore that it is God who we worship and love and give our allegiance to. It is not a SIGN when we keep a secular day and profane God’s Sabbath. There is a lot more that could be cited but this should be enough to help you understand why this day is important to God and why it is a sin against God for us to not keep His Sabbath day Holy. Is there anyone who does not want to be part of this SIGN? Some will say that this perpetual covenant that is a SIGN forever, (Exodus 31:13-17) applies only to the Israel of God and this is correct. The question is; who is the Israel of God? Today there is an Israel of the flesh (1 Corinthians 10:18) and an Israel of God, Galatians 6:16. The Israel of the flesh consists of those who are Jews by birth. The Israel of God is anyone who belongs to Christ and is under the New Covenant. Many do not understand that if we are Christ’s then we are spiritual Jews and the Israel of God. If we reject this truth then we cannot be under the New Covenant. Observe who the New Covenant was ONLY made with. This came into effect when the Jews rejected God’s message from Stephen (Acts 6:8-7:60) and stoned him. See also Romans 2:28-29, Romans 9:6-8 and Galatians 3:28-29. See also Daniel's 70 weeks and 2300 days. Hebrews 8:10 “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:” Since the Sabbath is a SIGN that we are God's children, if we reject His Sabbath, then aren’t we rejecting God as our Father? And since the Sabbath is a SIGN that it is God that sanctifies us, if we reject His Sabbath, then aren’t we also rejecting His sanctification? All God asks from us is one single solitary day in seven. We still have the other six secular days to do as we please. Is one day an unreasonable request from our Creator God? Christians claim to love God with all their heart, might and soul, yet how do most respond? The number seven represents completion and perfection to God and this is the only reason we do have a seven day week. If not for this very special Sabbath day God has given us, we would only have a six day week. If we do not use this Seventh day Sabbath which God blessed and sanctified for this one and only use, what point is there in having this Seventh day of the week? God added this one and only day with this one and only purpose, so we could spend Holy time with our Holy God that is a most beautiful SIGN that He is our God and we are His children. Again, despite this blessing, how do most respond? Believe it or not, I have had enough excuses now to fill an entire book. An appropriate name for this book would be, “The book of excuses for not having to spend time with your Creator God on His Holy day.” How God must grieve every time someone chooses one of these 1001 excuses. Does God know our heart? If we use one of these excuses will God know? Does God know if we don’t want the truth about His day because it would be an inconvenience to us? If we use one of these 1001 excuses, can we truly say we love God with all our heart, might and soul? If we do not love God with all our heart, will God accept us into His kingdom? What are the consequences for not keeping the Sabbath? The book of James tells us if we break one Commandment we have broken them all. So if the Sabbath is Saturday and if we are supposed to be keeping the true Sabbath day then most Christians are guilty of breaking God’s law. The Bible tells us that only a few will find the straight and narrow gate. Was this referring to Christians specifically? Noah preached for 120 years that a great flood was coming and only 8 were saved. Jesus said that at the time of His second coming it is going to be like in the days of Noah. Why do we only acknowledge what we want to see? God pleads with us as to why we would perish. Hosea prophesied that God’s people would perish for a lack of knowledge which does not sound fair but then he explains it is because they would reject knowledge in regards to the Commandments of God, so He in return would reject them. Considering how many people have rejected knowledge on the Sabbath Commandment, this sadly makes perfect sense. Hebrews 10:26-29 says there is no sacrifice to cover wilful sin and it is to trample the Son of God underfoot and count the blood of the New Covenant as an unholy thing despite being under God’s grace. Jesus says to those who practice lawlessness, He will deny access to the kingdom. So if we are supposed to keep the Sabbath day and are ignorant of this fact, how will we be judged? Would God burn someone in Hell for being ignorant? What about denial? It appears that everyone has different ideas about the Seventh day Sabbath. When there is so much confusion and conflicting information you know that deception reigns and one seriously needs to investigate to find what the truth really is and especially when the consequences for deliberate sin is to be left out of the kingdom. Are the Ten Commandments still relevant today? If something as important as the Ten Commandments were to change by even the smallest amount we would be told with crystal clear scriptures. Most Christians will not debate that nine of the Ten Commandments need to be obeyed but so many freely sweep one under the carpet that becomes too much of an effort for them. Denial of truth of any of the Ten Commandments has only one outcome as far as God is concerned and we do not want that path. Unless black and white scriptures can be produced that says the day has changed or been abolished, then the Sabbath is just as valid as the other nine Commandments and the consequences are the same for deliberately breaking any one of them. Does anyone believe they can freely murder as they please and still enter the kingdom of God? So do all the Ten Commandments still stand or does the Bible indicate that we can live in wilful deliberate sin? We certainly are saved by God’s Grace through faith in Christ, but is this a license to continue in sin? Did Jesus die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin or so we could go on living in sin? What does the only source of truth that we can trust have to say on this very important topic that nailed our loving Saviour to the cross? Here are the answers put simply by scripture alone while covering the main areas of confusion. What is the Bible definition of sin? 1 John 3:4. So where there is sin, there has to be a law. Romans 4:15. If there is no law then there can be no sin and if there is no sin then there is no need for a Saviour. Did Paul say we can sin now that we are under Grace which would therefore show the law had ended? Romans 6:1-2, Romans 6:14-15. Paul taught on the law and Galatians in chapters 2, 3 and 4 and Romans 3 that no flesh is justified by the works of the law and that righteousness comes by FAITH. Does this therefore mean that the Ten Commandments are made null and void through FAITH? Romans 3:31. So who is justified before God? Romans 2:13. Did Jesus say He came to do away with the law? Matthew 5:17. Did Jesus say He was going to change the law by even so much as one single letter? Matthew 5:18, Luke 16:17. Did Jesus say we have to teach the law as well as obey it? Matthew 5:19. Does Jesus say that those who practise lawlessness, which is the breaking of the Ten Commandments, will enter the kingdom? Matthew 7:21-23, 1 John 2:4. So what does Jesus say that one has to do to inherit eternal life? Matthew 19:16-19. Can we keep just nine of the Ten Commandments and are we judged by obedience to the law? James 2:10-12, Matthew 5:18, Luke 16:17. So what are the consequences for wilful sin, which is wilfully disobeying even ONE of the Ten Commandments? Hebrews 10:26-29, Ephesians 5:3, 5. What are the blessings for not living in wilful sin, which is obeying the Ten Commandments in loving obedience? Revelation 22:14. The passage in Matthew chapter 5 alone proves that not one letter of the law has changed which means that all scriptures used as arguments for ending or changing the Sabbath are being abused or misunderstood. The answers are indisputable and any other arguments would be in total contradiction to the words of Jesus, Paul and James just to name a few. I think Solomon summed it up well with his final conclusion in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. Did Jesus and the early Church keep the Sabbath? If the Sabbath is an unchanged Commandment, then we should find Paul and the early Church keeping the Seventh day Sabbath. If this can be demonstrated, this would also prove that the Sabbath was not changed or abolished. So can we demonstrate this? We can of course and do in fact find Paul keeping the Sabbath as his CUSTOM was since childhood in a Jewish Synagogue. A custom is something you do religiously and without failure. What was Paul’s CUSTOM and EXAMPLE while establishing the early Christian Church? Notice in the following verse that this is a Jewish synagogue and that Jews have all through history, without change, worshipped on Saturday as they still do today. Acts 17:1-2. The Jews and Pharisees which Paul was since CHILDHOOD have ALWAYS kept Saturday as the Sabbath. Acts 26:4-5. This is proof conclusive of Saturday Sabbath keeping AFTER the cross and undoubtedly applies to both Jews and Gentiles if wondering. Acts 13:42-44; Acts 18:4. It was not only Paul’s custom and example but that of Jesus also and He is our perfect example. Luke 4:16. And unless Jesus is into making meaningless and nonsensical statements, He also clarified beyond all doubt that the Sabbath would definitely NOT end at the cross by His reference to the future destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, when he said, “And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath” Matthew 24:20. See also Sabbath in the New Testament. What day is the Sabbath Day according to the Bible? Below are statements from the Roman Catholic Church which give the simple answer as to why most Churches now keep Sunday as the Sabbath. Most Christians have no idea that this even happened or how it happened. Revelation 13 tells us that Satan gave his power and authority to the Catholic Church. Why? It was Satan's plan to have this Church change the Sabbath to Sunday. Why did Satan do this? The Sabbath is about who we give our allegiance to. If we obey God and keep His Sabbath day Holy, we give our allegiance to God. If we obey the Commandment of the Catholic Church and keep their day Holy, who do we give our allegiance to then? The Catholic Church answers this question below with two of their quotes. But looking deeper, who gave this Church power so God’s true day of worship could be changed? Read Catholic Church Statements about the Sabbath or Roman Catholic Church Seventh Day Sabbath Quotes for more. Does the Bible support the change to Sunday? “Most Christians assume that Sunday is the biblically approved day of worship. The Catholic Church protests that it transferred Christian worship from the biblical Sabbath (Saturday) to Sunday, and that to try to argue that the change was made in the Bible is both dishonest and a denial of Catholic authority. If Protestantism wants to base its teachings only on the Bible, it should worship on Saturday.” Rome’s Challenge www.immaculateheart.com/maryonline Dec 2003 “For example, nowhere in the Bible do we find that Christ or the Apostles ordered that the Sabbath be changed from Saturday to Sunday. We have the commandment of God given to Moses to keep holy the Sabbath day, that is the 7th day of the week, Saturday. Today most Christians keep Sunday because it has been revealed to us by the [Roman Catholic] church outside the Bible.” Catholic Virginian, October 3, 1947, p. 9, article “To Tell You the Truth.” Who Made Sunday Holy? “Perhaps the boldest thing, the most revolutionary change the Church ever did, happened in the first century. The holy day, the Sabbath, was changed from Saturday to Sunday. ‘The day of the Lord’ was chosen, not from any direction noted in the Scriptures, but from the (Catholic) Church’s sense of its own power...People who think that the Scriptures should be the sole authority, should logically become 7th Day Adventists, and keep Saturday holy.” St. Catherine Church Sentinel, Algonac, Michigan, May 21, 1995. “Question - Which is the Sabbath day? “Answer - Saturday is the Sabbath day. “Question - Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday? “Answer - We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea (A.D. 364), transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.” Peter Geiermann, C.S.S.R., The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, p. 50, 3rd edition, 1957. Whose Day of Worship is Sunday? “They [the Protestants] deem it their duty to keep the Sunday holy. Why? Because the Catholic Church tells them to do so. They have no other reason...The observance of Sunday thus comes to be an ecclesiastical law entirely distinct from the divine law of Sabbath observance...The author of the Sunday law...is the Catholic Church.” Ecclesiastical Review, February 1914. “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 a commandment of the Catholic Church.” Priest Brady, in an address reported in The News, Elizabeth, New Jersey, March 18, 1903. Who Do We Reverence by Keeping Sunday Holy? “It was the Catholic church which...has transferred this rest to Sunday in remembrance of the resurrection of our Lord. Therefore 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, p. 213. “I have repeatedly offered $1,000 to anyone who can prove to me from the Bible alone that I am bound to keep Sunday holy. There is no such law in the Bible. It is a law of the holy Catholic Church alone. The Bible says, ‘Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.’ The Catholic Church says: ‘No. By my divine power I abolish the Sabbath day and command you to keep holy the first day of the week.’ And lo! The entire civilized world bows down in a reverent obedience to the command of the holy Catholic Church.” father T. Enright, C.S.S.R. of the Redemptoral College, Kansas City, in a lecture at Hartford, Kansas, February 18, 1884, printed in History of the Sabbath, p. 802. Hover here for a document clip< or select for full original image. Who really changed the Sabbath? We know the final change to the Sabbath was by the Roman Catholic Church, but who was really responsible and why? Many of you have probably already worked this out but let’s go through it anyway. Beginning with the early Church, Satan failed in his attempt at stopping the Son of God so he turned his attention to the Church. He initially tried to destroy the Church by having all Christians killed, but martyrdom just made the Church grow faster and stronger. Satan soon realised that he could do more damage from within the Church, so he gave the Papacy its power, seat and position. Even though most Christians do not know the importance of the Sabbath day, Satan knows the Sabbath truth all too well and he also knew that it was the easiest of the Ten Commandments to attack, and so put his long term plan into effect. How successful was his plan and who is responsible for his success? Satan fell from his position because of pride and because he wanted to be worshipped as God. Since no one in their right mind would worship Satan, he knew he could only obtain this worship from within the Church. The Seventh day Sabbath is about whom we worship and it is not a sign that we worship God or belong to Him when we keep the wrong day. Satan’s goal was therefore to have his own day of worship instituted in place of God’s and while achieving the primary goal of getting Christians away from a very significant Commandment and living in lawlessness. Using the Papacy as his agent, Satan changed God’s Seventh day Sabbath to a day in honour of pagan sun worship, hence the pagan name Sunday. Satan also knew that sun worship was something that God detested and was one of the reasons why God allowed His people to fall into the hands of the Babylonians. Satan no doubt had great pleasure in this accomplishment as he would have Christians breaking God’s law and not fulfilling the sign of the Sabbath, as well as further upsetting God by taking away His day of worship in place of Satan’s and in favour of sun worship which is idolatry. How Satan must clap his hands in glee over this victory that so many have given him. Christians now assume that Sunday is the correct day and it becomes a mind set as this is what their custom was growing up, and anything different does not feel right and seems foreign. This was Satan’s plan from the beginning and sadly, he has been very successful. Today the ruler of this world works very hard at feeding our minds with thoughts that this Commandment is insignificant and Christians who are not wanting to be inconvenienced by change are all too happy to listen. It’s time for Christians to stop being deceived and wake up to the fact that Satan was responsible and return to all Ten Commandments of God and this precious SIGN that we are His children and it is our Creator God that we worship. Jesus laid down His life for you, how much of a sacrifice is it for you to change your day of worship? For a very detailed account of the Sabbath to Sunday change, and how it actually begun 2000 years B.C. with the worship of Satan and the sun, and involves the origin of that mysterious number 666, see who changed the Sabbath to Sunday. The Sabbath kept from creation to eternity The Sabbath has existed since creation when God added the Seventh day to the week with the one and only purpose of a Sabbath rest. This is the only reason we have a seven day week today. God also blessed and sanctified this day for Holy use. This was done before sin had entered the World and was part of God’s perfect plan. Most Christians do not know that the word translated “rested” in our English Bibles in Genesis 2:3 is actually “shabath” in the Hebrew and means Sabbath. Here is the word Sabbath right at creation. In reference to the future destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, Jesus states in Matthew 24:20, “And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.” This ONE statement alone PROVES that Jesus expected the Sabbath to be kept subsequent to His death. The gospel of Luke states in Luke 23:56 that when the body of Christ was being prepared, “they rested the Sabbath day according to the Commandment.” Luke’s gospel was written 30 to 50 years after the cross and Luke still shows that the Commandment is unchanged. If it were changed, Luke would have undoubtedly told us since it is one of the Commandments. Isaiah also prophesied in Isaiah 66:22-23 that, “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make … and from one Sabbath to another, shall ALL flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.” In Genesis 4:3-7, Cain brought an offering from the ground which represents righteousness by works and so God was angry with him but Abel brought the firstborn of his flock as a sin offering which represents righteousness by faith. You cannot have a sin offering unless there is a law. (1 John 3:4) In verse 7, we also see God speak to Cain about sin lying at the door. The Bible also says where there is no law there is no transgression (Romans 4:15) so the Commandments although not yet codified had to exist from the very beginning or Cain could also not have been guilty of murder. See also Genesis 26:5. Besides the Seventh day being called the Sabbath in the Hebrew in Genesis 2:3, God also said the Sabbath “is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever” because “in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” Exodus 31:17. Here God further confirms that the Sabbath existed from the beginning when it was added as the Seventh day of the week at creation. For even more proof, we also know that the Sabbath existed back in Genesis chapter 11. In over 105 languages in the world where the Sabbath has not taken on the Pagan name Saturday, it is still called the Sabbath in each of these languages as it was named at creation. This proves that when these 105 languages originated at Babel in Genesis 11, Saturday was recognized as the Sabbath day and was incorporated into the very name of the day. Since the Sabbath was sanctified and made Holy before sin at creation and the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments which is also seen being kept before the giving of the Commandments, it had to be kept by Adam and Eve. It was also kept by Abraham, it was kept in the exodus from Egypt before the Ten Commandments were given when God tested His children to see if they would keep THE Seventh day as per the Commandment. It was kept by the Jews, it was kept by Jesus, it was kept by Paul, it was kept by the Apostles, it was kept by the early Church by both Jews and Gentiles, and this is also verified by Jesus who showed it would be kept in 70 AD when the temple was destroyed. History also further proves this by the fact that reliable unbiased history sources show that it was still being kept until around 90-120 AD where some Christians first changed to Sunday to avoid persecution for Judaism. History shows that the final part of the day change began with Constantine in 321 AD in favour of sun worship, and was made law by the Catholic Church around 363-364 AD. The Sabbath was almost murdered out of existence through the dark ages when the Roman Catholic Church ruled as Church and state for those terrible 1260 dark years, and Revelation 12:17 speaks of a remnant of God’s original Church that would arise after these dark ages that Satan would hate and make war with because it would start keeping all of the Ten Commandments of God once again. To finish this all off, God showed Isaiah that we will still be keeping the Sabbath in the new Heaven and the New Earth. Here is the Sabbath being kept from creation beginning and throughout all eternity. The Sabbath is eternal as the other nine. We should desire the Sabbath truth Would it surprise you to know that Jesus never once even mentioned the first day of the week? As Christians, we should always be seeking after the truth, as Jesus is the truth. If we really love Jesus with all our heart, soul and might, we will always strive to find what the truth is at absolutely any cost. However, with so many people saying so many different things, how can we possibly know what the truth really is? There is only one guaranteed way, and that is the inspired Word of God – The Holy Bible. The Bible is and should always be our final authority and not the advice of our Pastor or our most trusted friend. If we can find unbiased information on man’s knowledge of History on the Seventh day Sabbath, that can also be used to help us determine the truth but ultimately, we need to go by the Word of God. The intention of this web site was not to cover all the excuses and truth about the Sabbath but to point you to a choice of sites that will help you find more on what the truth really is. In the top left column and at the bottom of this page, you will find links to many good web sites, not only on the Sabbath, but also on other topics that relate to the Sabbath day such as the ceremonial law and the Ten Commandments. For all the facts on the Sabbath, please read Sabbath and Antichrist truth and who is the real Antichrist for the Biblical and historical truth on Antichrist. For real eye-opening information that reveals that sun worship started with Satan worship, see the history of Sun-Day worship and how it entered the Church. Previous Back to Contents Next Top

All trinity studies Previous Download Next Was LeRoy Froom the Main Person Responsible for the Change of the SDA Church Was LeRoy Froom the Main Person Responsible for the Change of the SDA Church to the Trinity Doctrine? So how did the central doctrine of the Catholic Church end up as a doctrine of the Seventh day Adventist faith? It may come as a surprise to many that LeRoy Froom was primarily responsible for introducing the Trinitarian doctrine to the Adventist Church, and purposefully set about to promote its acceptance and institute it into the beliefs of the Church. LeRoy Froom set out to search over 100,000 pages of her writings (25,000,000 words) for anything that could be mistaken as being Trinitarian and managed to find a small handful of quotes that he rightly figured could. He then placed these quotes into his book Evangelism. Most think that the quotes called “EV” or “Evangelism” are from a book written by Ellen White. But it was written and compiled by Froom in 1946 which was 30 years after the death of Ellen White. With the intent to deceive, Froom placed these quotes from Ellen White in his book Evangelism where she had said “third person”, “three great powers” and “Heavenly trio” etc. But all of these in fact refer to the Spirit of Christ and not another being. This is how Froom eventually managed to lead the entire Adventist Church astray because people did not take the time to research what else Ellen White wrote in this regard. She in fact wrote non-Trinitarian statements right through to her death which is very easy to confirm if people would only take the time to look without prejudice. Looking at all her writings we find she was consistent in all that she wrote. She said the Comforter is the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of truth is the Spirit of Christ, the third person is the Spirit of Christ, the third great power is the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit given at Pentecost was the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit Jesus breathed on His disciples was His own Spirit, the Holy Spirit Christ sent to represent Himself was His own Spirit, the heavenly dignitaries are the Father, Son and Spirit of Christ, the Heavenly trio is the Father, Son and Spirit of Christ, and she reveals over and over again that there are only two beings. All you have to do is want the truth and to stop reading the quotes from LeRoy Froom with the mindset of a Trinitarian. The early pioneers had no problem with these few quotes that Froom searched for because they knew who the Holy Spirit is and would never read them the wrong way. But if your belief is that the Holy Spirit is another being, then that is what you will see when you read them. It is also notable that LeRoy Froom did not start with the Bible and then move on to the writings of Ellen White. Instead he did the exact opposite. He actually began with the writings of Ellen White in order to try and find support for his belief. The fact is that Froom's belief in the trinity and the Holy Spirit came from outside of the Seventh day Adventist faith, and he set out to try and support it with statements from the Spirit of Prophecy. The reason LeRoy Froom had to go to outside sources, rather than use writings from our Pioneers is because none of the early pioneers were Trinitarians and therefore did not agree with Froom's opinions. This is also why Froom had to wait until Ellen White and the pioneers had all passed away before he could try and achieve his goal. How could this be a greater light as they called it a hundred years later? “I was compelled to search out a score of valuable books written by men outside of our faith--those previously noted--for initial clues and suggestions.” — (LeRoy Froom, Movement of Destiny, p. 322) In his book “Movement of Destiny”, which was published in 1971, he tells us how he came to write about the Holy Spirit and believe in the trinity. How much of what he wrote is truth as he understood is unknown considering other facts. He states that what he calls the “Truth of the Trinity” was an inevitable evolution in our theology stemming from the 1888 Conference and message. He concludes his brief account by claiming that the book “The Desire of Ages” presented an “inspired depiction” of the trinity doctrine and because of this it has become our denominations' “accepted position.” And yet the Desire of Ages is filled with non-Trinitarian statements. LeRoy Froom boasts that the “Desire of Ages” was even publicized in a prominent Catholic journal. Here are his own words, “...The Desire of Ages, of course, presented an inspired depiction, and was consequently destined to become the denominationally accepted position.... The Desire of Ages.... is one of the most highly esteemed books of the Denomination-a recognized classic, even publicized in such a Catholic journal as the “Universal Fatima News” for September 1965.” — (Movement of Destiny; pp. 323, 324). As a professed Seventh day Adventist, why would he be so proud of its endorsement and publicity in a Catholic Journal? That is what you would expect from a Catholic, not an Adventist. The video Jesuits in the SDA Church has a testimony “alleging” that LeRoy Froom and Roy Anderson were seen working as Catholic Priests before entering the SDA Church. This would explain Froom's enthusiasm about the Catholic journal. Then we have the issue of the book Truth Triumphant written by Adventist theologian Dr. B.G. Wilkinson. This book is an exhaustive study of the history of God's Church in the wilderness and contained statements against the Catholic Church. Froom was angry about the book and ordered the destruction of the offset press plates so the book could not be reprinted. Wilkinson was 80 years of age at this point and could not afford to have the plates made again. Why would an Adventist do such a thing unless of course he was a Catholic? Something is very wrong here and I am inclined to believe the testimony. On the 14 December 1955, Leroy Froom in a letter to Reuben Figuhr wrote, “I was publicly denounced in the chapel at the Washington Missionary College by Dr. B. G. Wilkinson as the most dangerous man in this denomination.” This took place in the mid 1940's. I believe Dr. B.G. Wilkinson had very good reason for saying this, much to the disgruntlement of Froom. Note that the “old timers” described in Froom's letter below are our pioneers. They are the ones who knew what the Church believed while Ellen White was alive and they denied the doctrine of the trinity Froom was pushing. So who was left to oppose Froom once Ellen white and the pioneers had passed on? “May I state that my book, The Coming of the Comforter was the result of a series of studies that I gave in 1927-28, to ministerial institutes throughout North America. You cannot imagine how I was pummeled by some of the old timers because I pressed on the personality of the Holy Spirit as the Third Person of the Godhead. Some men denied that –still deny it. But the book has come to be generally accepted as standard.” — (Letter of LeRoy Froom to Otto H. Christensen, Oct 27, 1960) The following letter from Froom reveals his agenda was to try and convince others that Ellen White was a Trinitarian for the sole purpose of getting the Church to follow his direction. Here is the letter to Roy Allen Anderson revealing its intent and purpose. The abused and misunderstood quotes from Ellen White are still being used to pervert the truth today. “I am sure that we are agreed in evaluating the book, Evangelism as one of the great contributions in which the Ministerial Association had a part back in those days. You know what it did with men in the Columbia Union who came face to face with the clear, unequivocal statements of the Spirit of Prophecy on the Deity of Christ, personality of the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, and the like. They either had to lay down their arms and accept those statements, or else they had to reject the Spirit of Prophecy. I know that you and Miss Kleuser and I had considerable to do with the selection of these things under the encouragement of men like Elder Branson who felt that the earlier concept of the White Estate brethren on this book Evangelism was not adequate.” — (Letter from LeRoy Froom to Roy A. Anderson, January 18, 1966) Froom found “every” major statement from Ellen White that could be abused and misunderstood which means he literally had to look at everything she wrote. Could he be so deceived that he could not tell the difference between a non-Trinitarian and Trinitarian statement? Highly unlikely. He had no trouble finding every single statement that could be misunderstood so he had to know the difference. That means Froom saw the tens of thousands of non-Trinitarian statements that she wrote throughout her entire life. And he would also know that she wrote non-Trinitarian statements right through to her death. So LeRoy Froom had to know Ellen White never became a Trinitarian. How could all that he did not be intentional? Ask yourself what the following points reveal about LeRoy Froom and his agenda: 1) He looked to sources outside the Adventist Church because he couldn't find anything within our writings to fit his agenda. 2) He searched 100,000 pages (25,000,000 words) of Ellen White's writings for anything that could be misunderstood. 3) He wrote his book Evangelism after a trip to the Vatican in which he placed the misunderstood quotes he found. 4) When Adventists use these quotes they almost always have Froom's book as the source and yet he did not write them. 5) Hence most Adventist Trinitarians believe that Evangelism was written by Ellen White further revealing the deception. 6) Froom boasted that the “Desire of Ages” was even publicized in a prominent Catholic journal. 7) He wrote that the Desire of Ages was an inspired depiction of the trinity doctrine and why it is now accepted by the Church. 8) Yet the Desire of Ages is a non-Trinitarian book proven by all the non-Trinitarian statements again revealing the deception. 9) Froom wrote a letter stating that the pioneers in their old age strongly opposed the trinity doctrine that he was pushing. 10) Froom had the printing plates of a book destroyed that was not his that revealed many truths about the Catholic Church. 11) It is “alleged” that Froom was seen functioning as a Catholic priest prior entering the Adventist Church. 12) Dr. B.G. Wilkinson publicly denounced Froom as being the most dangerous man in the Adventist Church. 13) Froom wrote a letter stating how he was able to change the Church by the Spirit of Prophecy quotes he searched for. Ellen White said serious error would be brought into the Adventist Church after her death and Revelation 12:17 states that Satan would make war with God's remnant. So how far can and would Satan go? Could some Adventist Pastors have the spirit of Satan while thinking they have the Holy Spirit? Most would say no. Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

All trinity studies Previous Download Next Roswell F. Cottrell on the Trinity Roswell F. Cottrell on the Trinity More words from one of the founding members of the Seventh day Adventist Church and the truth the Adventist Church was founded on. “He proceeded to affirm that “man is a triune being,” consisting of body, soul and spirit. I never heard a Disciple confess faith in the doctrine of the trinity; but why not, if man consists of three persons in one person? especially, since man was made in the image of God? But the image he said, was a moral likeness. So man may be a triune being without proving that God is. But does he mean that one man is three men? I might say that a tree consists of body, bark and leaves, and no one perhaps would dispute it. But if I should affirm that each tree consists of three trees, the assertion would possibly be doubted by some. But if all admitted that one tree is three trees, I might then affirm that there were ninety trees in my orchard, when no one could count but thirty. I might then proceed and say, I have ninety trees in my orchard, and as each tree consists of three trees, I have two hundred and seventy. So if one man is three men, you may multiply him by three as often as you please. But if it takes body, soul and spirit to make one perfect, living man; then separate these, and the man is unmade.” — (R.F. Cottrell, Review and Herald, November 19, 1857) “The Trinity, or the triune God, is unknown to the Bible; and I have entertained the idea that doctrines which require words coined in the human mind to express them, are coined doctrines.” — (R.F. Cottrell, Review and Herald, June 1, 1869) “That one person is three persons, and that three persons are only one person, is the doctrine which we claim is contrary to reason and common sense. The being and attributes of God are above, beyond, out of reach of my sense and reason, yet I believe them: But the doctrine I object to is contrary, yes, that is the word, to the very sense and reason that God has himself implanted in us. Such a doctrine he does not ask us to believe. A miracle is beyond our comprehension, but we all believe in miracles who believe our own senses. What we see and hear convinces us that there is a power that effected the most wonderful miracle of creation. But our Creator has made it an absurdity to us that one person should be three persons, and three persons but one person; and in his revealed word he has never asked us to believe it. This our friend thinks objectionable... But to hold the doctrine of the Trinity is not so much an evidence of evil intention as of intoxication from that wine of which all the nations have drunk. The fact that this was one of the leading doctrines, if not the very chief, upon which the bishop of Rome was exalted to popedom, does not say much in its favor. This should cause men to investigate it for themselves; as when the spirits of devils working miracles undertake the advocacy of the immortality of the soul. Had I never doubted it before, I would now probe it to the bottom, by that word which modern Spiritualism sets at nought.… Revelation goes beyond us; but in no instance does it go contrary to right reason and common sense. God has not claimed, as the popes have, that he could “make justice of injustice,” nor has he, after teaching us to count, told us that there is no difference between the singular and plural numbers. Let us believe all he has revealed, and add nothing to it.” — (R.F. Cottrell, Review and Herald, July 6, 1869) “But if I am asked what I think of Jesus Christ, my reply is, I believe all that the Scriptures say of him. If the testimony represents him as being in glory with the Father before the world was, I believe it. If it is said that he was in the beginning with God, that he was God, that all things were made by him and for him, and that without him was not anything made that was made, I believe it. If the Scriptures say he is the Son of God, I believe it. If it is declared that the Father sent his Son into the world, I believe he had a Son to send. ... Children inherit the name of their father. The Son of God “hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than the angels.” — (R.F. Cottrell, Review and Herald, June 1, 1869) Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 一上帝和一主 一上帝和一主 哥林多前书 8:6 然而我们只有一位上帝，就是父，万物都本于他，我们也归于他；并有一位主，就是耶稣基督，万物都是藉着他有的，我们也是藉着他有的。 这章节明显列出父上帝和祂儿子耶稣的分别。天父是那独一的一位神，也是宇宙万物的本源，一切都从祂而来。主耶稣是管道，万物都是藉着他有的，他把来自父的生命传给宇宙众生。 一切都是属于父上帝的，包括基督。 哥林多前书 3:23 并且你们是属基督的；基督又是属上帝的。 哥林多前书 1:24 。。。基督总为上帝的能力，上帝的智慧。 箴言 8:22 “在耶和华造化的起头，在太初创造万物之先，就有了我。 使徒行传 17:25 也不用人手服侍，好像缺少什么；自己倒将生命、气息、万物，赐给万人。 约翰福音 5:26 因为父怎样在自己有生命，就赐给他儿子也照样在自己有生命； 因此，我们只有一位上帝，就是父，也是宇宙万物生命的本源。 以弗所书 4:6 一上帝，就是众人的父，超乎众人之上，贯乎众人之中，也住在众人之内。 并有一位主，就是耶稣基督，万物都是藉着他有的。 使徒行传 2:36 “故此，以色列全家当确实地知道，你们钉在十字架上的这位耶稣，上帝已经立他为主、为基督了。” 天父赐予祂儿子耶稣至高的权威，并立他为“主”，也就是希腊文的“kurios”。 这至高权威是在耶稣升天得荣耀后坐在上帝的右边而被赐予的，这荣耀是未有世界之前耶稣同他父所有的荣耀。（约翰福音17：5） 所以未有世界之前，上帝“立”祂儿子为“主”。这表示在那之前他并不是“主”。耶稣是在未有世界之前被赋予至高权威。 哥林多前书 8：6 。。。并有一位主，就是耶稣基督，万物都是藉着他有的，我们也是藉着他有的。 这章节为我们揭晓了为什么基督被赋予至高权威，因为“万物都是藉着他有的”。 在以弗所书3:9中我们读到：“又使众人都明白，这历代以来隐藏在【编按：英王钦定本圣经有：藉着耶稣基督】创造万物之神里的奥秘，是如何安排的。 歌罗西书 1:16 因为万有都是靠他造的，无论是天上的、地上的、能看见的、不能看见的，或是有位的、主治的、执政的、掌权的，一概都是藉着他造的，又是为他造的。 这就是为什么我们有一位上帝，就是父，因为祂是至高无上的，并且是一切的本源。 这也是为什么我们有一位主，就是耶稣基督，因为父上帝立他为一切被造物之上，并让他成为我们伟大的的创造主。 基督被赋予至高权威这个事实意味着什么呢？ 腓立比书 2:9-11 2:9 所以上帝将他升为至高，又赐给他那超乎万名之上的名， 2:10 叫一切在天上的、地上的和地底下的，因耶稣的名无不屈膝， 2:11 无不口称耶稣基督为主，使荣耀归与父上帝。 若敬拜儿子是使荣耀归于父上帝，那么这自然包括在启示录14：6-7节中第一天使信息所宣告永远的福音。 启示录 14:6-7 14:6 我又看见另一位天使飞在空中，有永远的福音要传给住在地上的人，就是各国、各族、各方、各民。 14:7 他大声说：“应当敬畏上帝，将荣耀归给他，因他施行审判的时候已经到了，应当敬拜那创造天、地、海和众水泉源的。” 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂