Remember the SabbathWritten by David Ben-Ariel
Did you ever stop to think why Christians keep Sunday? Did they get it from Bible? Is there a clear-cut command that says, "Thou shalt keep Sunday?" Why did Jesus worship on Saturday? Was it only because He was a good Jew? Or does it go beyond that? Does it make any difference which day we observe, as long as we keep one day in seven? What does Bible actually say? "And on seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on seventh day....Then God blessed seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all work He had created and made" (Gen. 2:2- 3). Go grab a calendar. See which day is seventh day and then you'll know Biblical Sabbath. And remember, GOD GAVE MANKIND gift of Sabbath from creation. Adam and Eve weren't Jewish! And yet God expected them to remember seventh day Sabbath as a memorial of creation. When we assemble on our God-given Sabbath, we know we're worshipping King of Creation. Any other "sabbath" is simply man-made! The Great Creator God only blessed seventh day with His Presence, and therefore set it apart as special. We shouldn't accept any cheap imitations or substitutes, whether it's Muslim Friday or traditional Sunday! Since mankind lost or neglected truth about God's Sabbath, Creator chose to reveal it again when He was in process of making Israel into His Servant-Nation. God instructed them, in order that they could teach others: "Remember Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but seventh day is Sabbath of LORD your God. In it you shall do no work.... For in six days LORD made heavens and earth, sea, and all that is in them, and rested seventh day. Therefore LORD blessed Sabbath day and hallowed it" (Ex. 20:8-11). Notice: God claims Sabbath as His. He doesn't refer to it as "Jewish Sabbath." Though it became known as that to distinguish it from various pagan days of worship (Ga. 4:10). "The Lord's day" was meant for all mankind to enjoy and appreciate (Mat. 12:8; Isa. 56:6). And early Church, composed of both Jews and Gentiles, did celebrate proper Sabbath together for over THREE HUNDRED YEARS! That's longer than U.S. has known independence! When GODrestored Sabbath to Israel, it was same SEVENTH DAY SABBATH instituted at Creation. It wasn't changed to a different day. And its purpose remained same: to reveal CREATOR and commemorate His majestic works of art! Jesus honored His Father by keeping God's commandments. The fourth commandment is to remember Sabbath day. Christ didn't forget importance of attending Sabbath services (Lk. 4:16) - NEVER ON A SUNDAY- and apostle Paul encourages us to avoid habit of skipping Church services (Heb. 10:25). After all, it is a commanded assembly (Lev. 23:3) that offers us a chance to better understand Scriptures (Acts 19:8). Why miss out?
| | God-Beings in the Making!Written by David Ben-Ariel
Jesus was sent to Earth to deliver a Message to mankind. A startling message from Outer Space - third Heaven - from our CREATOR GOD. A correct understanding of what that REVELATION is - one and only true Gospel - separates God's Church from all others, and exalts pure religion above every false way! (John. 17:17). There is only one way to enter God's Kingdom - and that is through Christ! (Acts 4:12). He is Key that unlocks God's Royal House, Open Door to Universe, Gateway to Eternity, Immortal Pioneer who has led way! All other ways are dead ends and will self-destruct (John. 10:1). GOD IS REPRODUCING HIMSELF! That's glorious Good News that Jesus boldly proclaimed! The Gospel of KINGDOM OF GOD announces GOD KINGDOM: a Spirit-Born Kingdom of God-Beings! A Royal Family that we can enter! (Rev. 3:21). A Divine Family that will administer God's Government throughout universe and eternity! (Isa. 9:7; Dan. 7:18). God became man, so man could become God! (John. 1:14; Matt. 10:25). Mankind has been created after GODKIND, and after a life of conversion, of changing for better, of going through process of purification (becoming more God-like, more Christ-like, more Kingdom-like) we can be BORN AGAIN BY A RESURRECTION - just like Jesus was, firstborn of MANY brethren! (Rom. 1:4; 8:29). Presently, we're far too human, but soon we're to be transformed into glorious, immortal Spirit! (John. 10:34-35; Ephes. 4:24). This is what Jesus told Nicodemus, Jewish religious leader. He didn't beat around bush, He got straight to point and told him: "You must be born again!" (John. 3:3). Jesus elaborated on this bombshell, seeing Nicodemus was dumbstruck (just like so many religious people today!), and explained that if your parents are flesh and blood humans, it's only natural that you're also human. "That which is born of flesh IS flesh." You're nothing more or less. Kind after kind (Gen. 1:27). And if you're born again by a Spirit-composed GOD, it's only supernatural that you'll become a Spirit-composed God! "That which is born of Spirit IS Spirit" (John 3:3-8). Human-beings can become GOD-BEINGS! But first we must be BORN AGAIN! Unless we're born again - by a RESURRECTION - we can't even see or enter God's Royal Family! The apostle Paul clearly taught same as Jesus: "And as we have borne image of earthy (flesh and blood), we shall also bear image of heavenly (Spirit). Now this I say, brethren, FLESH AND BLOOD CANNOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD...but we shall all be CHANGED... raised incorruptible... and...put on immortality" (I Cor. 15:48-53). When will mortals become immortal? (Proving we're not now!). When will we change our composition and character? "...at last trump" (vs.52) - NOT during this life, but at Christ's Coming and our resurrection (Rev. 11:15; 20:6)! How plain and simple!
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