Imagine living in a country without laws, where everyone does what seems best to them without a definitive standard. If there is no law, that society will crumble into chaos. Even the most radical nations have their own laws, without which the nation will not stand.
Everyone is subject to the law of the country of their residence. Even lawmakers and judges are subject to the same law. A foreigner visiting the country is also bound to that law which if he breaks, the same consequences apply (ignorance does not exempt one from the penalties of his transgression). In ignorance, we all have broken the Laws of Yahweh, but He overlooked our ignorance as mentioned in Acts 17:30:
Although Yahweh overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all men everywhere to repent.
Abrahamic Religions
The roots of Judaism, Christianity and Islam are called Abrahamic faiths. Judaism and Islam circumcise their males in the same manner (on the 8th day) Abraham and his children were circumcised, but Christians do not regard the ordinance of circumcision. Common among these three religions, is their claim of Abraham as their father, but in worship each differs. Jews consider the 7th day as the set apart day; Islam regards the 6th day as the day to worship; and mainstream Christians believe the 1st day is the day to worship. If all three proceeded from one, how is it possible that all three have different worship practices? If all three religions claim Abraham as their father, shouldn’t they be following their father’s way?
Among Christianity itself there are so many denominations, most congregate on the 1st day of the week (Sunday) for worship, but a few on the 7th day Sabbath (Saturday). For some, all days are equal so there is no right or wrong day assigned for worship. The question is, who makes the decision on which day to worship? Is the decision based on Biblical instructions or people’s convenience? Is it people or the Almighty Elohim deciding how and when we worship Him?
Many believe as long as they gather together one day in a week, it is sufficient regardless which day. The general consensus about murder, adultery and theft is that these are morally wrong, though many do not know that these are forbidden by the Ten Commandments. If these are still relevant for mankind today, this would then imply that the 4th command (Sabbath observance) is also relevant, since they all proceed from One.
So, if one decides to worship six days in a week yet not on the 7th, according to the law of Yahweh, they are still guilty of breaking the law. This is not referring to personal prayer time, but about when communal worship is prescribed, to present ourselves before the Creator of the heavens and the earth according to His Command.
The answer lies in the Ten Commandments which were given long before even Judaism, Christianity and Islam ever existed. The 4th Command clearly declares what the Creator of the heaven and the earth requires as a day for men to present before Him. That is the 7th day of the week, not the 6th day (Friday) nor the 1st (Sunday). If there was no command, then everyone could make their own decision when to come and worship, as then no one would be breaking the commands. But since there is a specific command regarding which day to worship, a true believer must acknowledge that this is still applicable to them.
Worshippers of Yahweh Identified
Those who worship on the 7th day, and keep the day holy are not the breakers of the law. Different faiths are distinguished by whom they worship, when they worship and how they worship. A primary, important trait in true worship is obedience. Through disobedience, we cannot please Him we are worshipping. John 4:22 affirms true worship:
You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. This verse was spoken by the very Messiah Yahshua Himself.
The Test Commandment
When the Israelites came out of Egypt, Sabbath observance was the first command Yahweh used to test their obedience. When they were in the wilderness, Yahweh provided manna as food for 40 years. They were commanded to gather manna six days and not to store up from day to day. But on the 6th day, they were provided a double portion for the 6th day and the Sabbath, and commanded to prepare their food for both days so that on the 7th day Sabbath, they could rest.
However, some rejected these commandments and kept Manna overnight the first five days, but it bred worms and stank on the following day. Others went out to look for the Manna on the 7th day and were not able to find it. (Note that this test for the Sabbath obedience happened even before the Israelites received the Ten Commandments, which means they knew about the Sabbath even before it was given to them in on Mount Sinai.) Because of their unbelieving heart and disobedient nature, Yahweh was not pleased with them. Hence, He punished them for their disobedience and stubbornness, and allowed them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years (see Numbers 14:26-34). He did not allow the rebellious people to cross the Jordan to enter into the Promised Land.
Only One Law in the Kingdom
When Yochanan (the baptizer) and the Messiah started preaching, their message was the same: Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, Matthew 3:2 (see also 4:17b). Even today, we hear this message from preachers. But hardly ever, do they go deeper to talk of what we are to repent. Repent means to “think differently and do differently.” Of what do we have to think differently? Here, the context is about the coming Kingdom of Heaven, about what we must be thinking and do.
A new Reign is coming to this earth, of which if we are to be a part, we need to understand the requirements and live accordingly. It is a new, Messianic Government (Kingdom of Yahweh) with which we are not familiar. In Matthew 5:3-16, Yahshua Messiah teaches the requirements or the character of those who desire to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Then in Matthew 5:17-19, He affirms the Law, saying, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 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. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
When Messiah said that He did not come to abolish the Law or prophets, but to fulfill (i.e. establish), what law was He referring to? Through the rest of Matthew 5, it becomes evident that the law referred here is the same law Yahweh gave through the hand of Moshe. If Yahshua Himself said He did not come to abolish the law, then how could people say that Paul has abolished the law? What right does Paul or any other of the Apostles have in this matter, exercising authority which the Messiah Himself never had?
In this passage, you can see that the law and teachings of the prophets are important, but what is the Law of the Kingdom? The Law of the Kingdom of Heaven is built upon the Ten Commandments that was given through Moshe. So, the Ten Commandments are the basics of the Law, hence the Ten Commandments (written on two stone tablets) were placed in the Ark of the Covenant within the Holy of Holies inside the Tabernacle, which represented the throne of Yahweh. In the remaining verses of chapter 5, Yahshua explains in detail the importance of these laws and their Spiritual intent.
Globally Ignored Command
Of the Ten Commandments listed in Exodus 20:1-17, the most elaborated upon is the 4th Command of Sabbath observance (verses 8-11). Yet, this is the one Command most people ignore and reject. What is the reason for this? Did the Messiah ever say that this Command is no longer valid? Did the Apostles ever teach we do not need to keep this Command anymore? Were we ever commanded to keep another day, and make it holy? Has the Law-Giver changed His commands because the majority are not keeping it? The answer to all these questions is, “NO.” Yahweh says, “I am Yahweh, I change not,” so we are the ones needing to change.
When Did Abraham Worship?
The scripture does not specifically say on what day(s) Abraham worshipped. But in Genesis 26:5, Yahweh Himself declares that Abraham kept His laws, statutes, commandments and charges and he also obeyed His voice. From this verse, we can confidently conclude that Abraham kept the Commandments of Yahweh and was not a law breaker. We can worship the Creator of heaven and earth on any day and time, there is no doubt about it. But there is a specific day on which He commands us to keep holy and to do no work.
Abraham is known as “the father of faith”, through his obedience. Those who claim to be part of that Abrahamic faith should be following his footsteps.
Messiah’s Expectation for His Disciples
Yahshua the Messiah expects His followers to be righteous - even exceeding the righteousness of the Pharisees. Righteousness is conduct that pleases Yahweh. No one can be in line with Yahweh unless he does the things that Yahweh asks. Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Amos 3:3. Yahweh called Abraham His friend, because Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws, Genesis 26:5. No two people can become friends unless they are in agreement. Noah was considered a righteous person. Job was perfect and upright before Yahweh. Daniel was reckoned as righteous before Yahweh. They all were obedient to the will of Yahweh as defined by His Commandments.
The Pharisees and Sadducees regarded themselves more righteous than Yahweh. They added more laws to those Yahweh gave, making it a burden for the people to keep. Not receiving correction, they spent their energy correcting others and parading themselves as righteous before men. Their only concern was about maintaining their position and authority, rather than humbling themselves to the word of Yahweh. These religious leaders killed the prophets who were sent to instruct them in how to walk righteously. They hated John the Baptist and Yahshua.
When one of the lawyers asked the question, Teacher, which [is] the greatest commandment in the law? Matthew 22:36. Yahshua replied, You shall love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. This is the first and greatest commandment, Matthew 22:37-38.
The order in which the Ten Commandments are given to mankind shows the priorities Yahweh expects in our lives. The first four are our duties to Yahweh because He must come first. The last six are our duties to our fellow beings. Those who disobey the Sabbath Commandment fail to acknowledge Yahweh Who created the world in six days and from creation, sanctified the seventh day for all mankind.
Misinterpretation Leads to False Doctrine
Many Christian denominations teach that the Messiah came and voided the Commandments and the Laws found in the Old Testament. By Yahshua keeping the Law (fulfilling it), believers are liberated from its rule, they claim. The fact is, the Messiah Himself said He did not come to abolish the Commandments and the Law.
But if we are ‘keeping the law’, then we are ‘not bound to the law’ … that is, the law is purposed to set (correct) law breakers straight. In order to keep the Law of Yahweh, one needs to have a deep desire to obey the Creator. Misinterpreting Scripture in favor of man’s teaching is false doctrine, and this is against the will of Yahweh and against the Messiah.
Sincere obedience can only come from the heart. If we know the will of Yahweh and do not do it, it is disobedience. Through disobedience comes rebellion, which is as bad as performing ‘witchcraft’. Continuing in disobedience is called stubbornness, which is defined as ‘idolatry’ - worship of idols.
The original Ten Commandments are different from what mainstream Christianity teaches. In the Catholic Catechism, the original Ten Commandments have been deliberately modified. The chart on this page shows how the Ten Commandments have been modified and adjusted.
Today, the Catholic “version” of the Command-ments are accepted and followed universally by Catholics and Protestants alike. But do Christians
have more authority than the Messiah to boldly change the very Commandments Yahweh Himself wrote and gave to His people? If so, who gave this authority to nullify the Creator’s Word?
Malachi’s Message - Serious Warning for the End-Time Generation.
The last book in the Old Testament is Malachi, a Hebrew name which means “My messenger.” In the Malayalam language, Malachi is equivalent to “Angel,” a messenger of the Almighty Elohim. The very last chapter in the book comes with a serious warning for those who live in the end times. This is how it starts in chapter 4:
For, behold, the day comes, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that comes shall burn them up, says Yahweh of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
This verse mentions the terribleness of “the day,” but what is “the day?” It is explained more in verse 5: “the great and dreadful day of Yahweh.” In verse 4, Yahweh commands this again, saying, Remember the law of Moshe My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, [with] statutes and judgments.
In verse 5, Yahweh clearly says He is going to send EliYah the prophet before that dreadful day. In Matthew 17:10-12a, it is written, And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then say the scribes that EliYah must first come?” And Yahshua answered and said to them, “EliYah truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say to you, That EliYah is come already, and they knew him not, but have done to him whatsoever they wished.”
Yahshua is talking about the appearance of EliYah (or one like Yochanan the Immerser) coming again before the return of the Messiah. Just as Yochanan the Immerser was sent to preach the message of repentance from sin, similarly someone else will come in the same mind as that of EliYah. Do you remember what EliYah did, how he proved to Israel that there is no other Elohim except Yahweh? He then ordered all the prophets of Baal to be killed (see 1 Kings 18).
The core of Malachi’s message is a warning against ‘the Law’ breaking. Mainstream Christianity teaches that the Law is done away, but this is contrary to the warning from the prophet Malachi. Some teach that keeping the Sabbath is Jewish, but the truth is “the Sabbath was made for man” (Mark 2:27) by Yahweh.
Conclusion
My appeal to you is this, if your church or organization teaches that “the Law is done away” then understand that they are teaching against the will of Yahweh. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all, James 2:10 (see also Matt. 5:19). If we break one commandment, we are guilty of breaking all of them. So how much worse, if we purposely reject the ‘test commandment’ that is the 4th Commandment, Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
We are bound to the law of the country in which we live. We are bound to the Law of the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Do you wish to faithfully obey the Creator, or do you simply want to follow a religion? You alone can decide and make that choice. Know this, that our actions are accountable before the Creator when all must stand before Messiah on the day of the judgement. No church organization or its leaders or pastors or priests are able to stand beside us to justify the way we lived.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. It is a Command and not an option for mankind, especially for the true believers.
-Brother Mathew John (Australia)
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