Keeping the Sabbath and Holy Days

Question/Comment: 

----- Original Message -----

From: Name Withheld

To: Paul Stringini

Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2013 9:27 PM

Subject: The Trinity

I have read your article about Mr. Murray from your Document from January 2007. and I couldn't agree more that Mr. Murray is not correct on many doctrines and teachings. He is leading the sheep a stray. We have 4 very close friends that have fallen for his garbage.

I do want to tell you there is a very good explanation of the God and God family. The Trinity is not true and no where is it in the Bible. We believe that God is a family. There is God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son and the Spirit is the power of God. We have an excellent booklet out called "Is God a Trinity" put out by United Church of God. Website Link Withheld

I feel that United Church of God is teaching Gods truth and from the Holy Scriptures. We follow Christ as Christ did keep the Sabbath Holy and following his Holy days in the Bible.

I can not tell you how irritated I get to hear my dear friends talk so highly of Mr. Murray.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.
 
You sister in Christ
Name Withheld

Comment: I didn't respond to this person's assertion that "God is a family."  I was not familiar with the United Church of God and their views on the nature of God and I was not interested in reading about them.  However, I recently read up on their views a little and found that they diminish the Holy Spirit, reducing Him to something less than the scriptures describe. 

My First Response:

----- Original Message -----

From: Paul Stringini

To: Name Withheld

Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 11:54 AM

Subject: Re: The Trinity

I read your message some time ago when I received it.  I thank you for taking the time to write and express your views.  I do not believe that Christians are required to respect any holy days.  The Apostle Paul said so himself,

 

Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Colossians 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

 

This is where I draw the line and I ask a simple question, is it sinful for man to esteem every day alike instead of honoring one day above another?  If it is not sinful, then what is the point?  If it is sinful, then the scriptures say otherwise.

 

Romans 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

 

Christ fulfilled the law and abolished it in the cross. Christ came to fulfill the law, and he DID fulfill it.

 

Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

 

"till all be fulfilled"  Implies that once all was fulfilled the law would "pass away" in some respect. Surely, you believe that the animal sacrifices have passed away?  Well, then Christ must have fulfilled all because not even that could pass away if he had not fulfilled all.

 

The law is the ministration of Death because that is ultimately where law leads us.  Christ brought something better for us, that we might obtain the righteousness of God without the law. For the purpose of making me righteous the laws (specifically the ten commandments) are abolished. 

 

2 Corinthians 3:7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
2 Corinthians 3:11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
2 Corinthians 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

 

"That which is abolished" and that "which is done away"  refers to the law "written and engraven in stones" This incident specifically refers to the time when Moses went up to receive the then commandments and returned with his face glowing from having been in the presence of God.  So there can be no mistaking the subject of 2 Corinthians 3.

 

 The law is not for me.  I cannot become just by following the law, I become just by following Christ, in the spirit and not in the letter. 

 

I think it is perfectly acceptable to worship God on Saturn's day, or Sunday, or Tuesday for that matter.  What I object to is any church that would teach contrary to the teachings of Christ and his Apostles concerning the Law and which compel and pressure others to do so.

Sincerely,

Paul Stringini