Beit Tzion The Torah Life Where Jew and Gentile are one in ...beit-tzion.org/uploads/3/4/0/2/34026448/shabbat_rev_1.pdfnor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days

Beit Tzion

House of Zion Messianic Congregation "Where Jew and Gentile are one in Messiah"

Rev 1, © 2012 Page 1 of 12

The Torah Life

Series

PO Box 212243 Chula Vista, CA 91921

E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.Beit-Tzion.org

Phone: (619) 518-5802

Shabbat The Remembering and Keeping of God’s Law concerning the Seventh

Day of the Week for both Israelites and Believing Gentiles

Messianic Rabbi Richard Kennedy Tevet 14, 5773 (December 27, 2012)

Of all the days on the Hebrew calendar, the weekly Sabbath stands as a sign to the

world that God has chosen His elect people and set them apart for Himself. The

Hebrew word for Sabbath is Shabbat. Shabbat means to cease or to stop. It is the

name given to the seventh day of the week, which is commonly known as Saturday.

In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. During the six days of

creation, as revealed in Genesis, God created all that is in the heavens above, on the

earth below, and in the sea beneath. At the end of the six days of creation, God

finished His work of creating and rested on the seventh day. God then blessed the

seventh day and made it holy. The word holy means to set apart; therefore, God set the

seventh day apart from the other six days to be a special day.

1 ¶ Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of

them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had

made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had

made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because

that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

(Ge 2:1-3 AV)1

Fifty days after God lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt, and while Moses was upon

Mount Sinai; God gave Moses the first of the commandments found in Torah.2 Of these

commandments, those known as the Ten Commandments were written by the finger of

God into tablets of stone.3

And he [God] gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of

communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony,

1 The Authorized Version (AV), commonly known as the King James Version (KJV) is used herein as it is

considered the normative manuscript accepted by a majority of individuals. 2 Torah is the Hebrew word meaning instruction and specifically refers to the first five books of the

Hebrew and Christian Bibles. It contains that which is commonly called “the Law.” 3 The Ten Commandments begin in Exodus 20.

Beit Tzion


Rev 1, © 2012 Page 2 of 12

The Torah Life

Series



Phone: (619) 518-5802

tables of stone, written with the finger of God. (Ex 31:18 AV)

(Bracketed text added for clarity)

Upon these tables we find the fourth commandment to remember and to keep Shabbat.

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou

labor4, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of

the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son,

nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle,

nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD

made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the

seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and

hallowed it. (Ex 20:8-11 AV)

The inclusion of the Shabbat in the Ten Commandments is a clear sign of the

importance God places on this law. Moreover, its position within the Ten

Commandments (the fourth command) further emphasis its standing.

The command contains two key words: remember and keep. These two words teach us

that not only are we to remember the Shabbat, but we are to keep the Shabbat.

Remembrance only is insufficient to keeping the commandment. To remember the

commandment, one must place it upon one’s mind and heart. To keep the Shabbat,

one must set it apart from the other six days of the week by abstaining from work. The

requirement to abstain from work is so important that not only must one abstain from

work on Shabbat, one must also not allow his son or daughter, maidservant or

manservants, cattle or stranger within the city gates, do any work.

The strangers within the city gates pertained to the gentiles who were within the cities of

Israel. If God did not even allow the gentiles within the city gates of Israel to work on

Shabbat, then this is our first witness that this command is not just for the Israelites, but

also for the gentiles.

In verse 11, from our text above, God provides the reason we are to remember and

keep Shabbat; He created the heavens and the earth in six days, but on the seventh

day He rested, blessed the Shabbat, and made it holy. Since the reason for

remembering and keeping the Shabbat is tied to the finishing of the work of creation,

and since all mankind, whether Jew or gentile, exist because of creation, the Shabbat

4 Corrected spelling from “labour” to “labor.”

Beit Tzion


Rev 1, © 2012 Page 3 of 12

The Torah Life

Series



Phone: (619) 518-5802

command is not simply for the Jew, but also for the gentile. This is our second witness

that this command is not just for the Israelites, but also for the gentiles.

When God brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt, they were also accompanied by

many gentiles who were Egyptian. The commandments given to Israel were not divided

among the congregation, separating out the Israelites from the Egyptians, but rather the

whole of the congregation were to keep the commandments of a God.5 This is our third

witness that the commandments of God were not just for the Israelites, but for the

gentiles that lived among them.

THE SHABBAT COULD ALSO OCCUR DURING THE WEEK

Many believe that the Shabbat only applies to the weekly Sabbath which falls on

Saturday. In truth, there are various Shabbats throughout the Hebrew Year that fall on

weekdays. Since Shabbat means to cease or to rest (it does not mean Saturday), a

study of the appointed times of God reveals the following days are a Shabbat:6

The first and seventh day of Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot);

Early First Fruits (Bikkurim);

Feast of Weeks (Shavu’ot. Also known in Christianity as Pentecost);

The Day of the Blowing of Trumpets (Yom Teruah, also known as Rosh

Hashanah);

The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur);

The first day of Tabernacles (Sukkot);

The day after the seventh day of Tabernacles (Shimni Atzerat: the eight-day).

In total there are up to eight additional Shabbats throughout the Hebrew Calendar, and

depending on monthly cycles, these Shabbats may fall on a day of the week other than

Saturday.7 For example, the first day of Unleavened Bread may fall on a Wednesday,

but it is still considered a Shabbat; no work is to be done on that day.

5 “Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the

LORD your God.” (Le 24:22 AV) “One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.” (Nu 15:16 AV) 6 The appointed times of God are found throughout The Scripture, but a collection of all seven appointed

times, with their Sabbaths, is found in Leviticus 23. 7 The Hebrew calendar consists of 12 months from new moon to moon; totaling 354 days. A leap month

is inserted in certain years, based on specific rules, to adjust the calendar to the solar year.

Beit Tzion


Rev 1, © 2012 Page 4 of 12

The Torah Life

Series



Phone: (619) 518-5802

THE LAW

Many Christians believe that when Yeshua8 died on the cross, the Law of God was

taken away. With this, it is also taught that God, or the Apostle Paul, changed the day

of worship from Saturday to Sunday. Both of these teaching are furthest from Scriptural

truth.

Yeshua said that He did not come to destroy the Law or the prophets, but to fulfill them.

Moreover, He said that until heaven and earth pass, not one jot or tittle will pass away

from the Law.9

17 ¶ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am

not come to destroy, but to fulfill.10 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. 19 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. 20 For I

say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the

righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter

into the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 5:17-20 AV)

In this discourse from Matthew chapter 5, Yeshua clearly tells us in verse 19, that

whoever breaks one of the least of the commandments, and teaches other men to also

break that commandment, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but

whoever shall both keep the commandments and do them; teaching them to others,

shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. The fact that Yeshua is speaking about

the Kingdom of Heaven is evidence that the requirement for keeping His commands is

for the saved; for it is they who shall see and dwell in the Kingdom of Heaven. Since

remembering and keeping Shabbat is part of the Law, and since according to Yeshua it

shall not pass away until heaven and earth passes away, this indicates that the Shabbat

is to be kept as God commended. Moreover, since Yeshua ties the keeping of the Law

to those who will be in the Kingdom of Heaven, and since those of the Kingdom of

8 Yeshua is the Hebrew name for Jesus. It is commonly used in Messianic Judaism.

9 A jot is the Hebrew letter Yud (y), which is the smallest Hebrew letter. A tittle is a decorative mark placed

upon the letter called a kotz in Hebrew. The kotz distinguishes certain letter apart from each other, such

as the letter resh (r) and the dalet (d). Careful observance of these two letter will reveal that the upper bar of the dalet extends past the vertical stroke, whereas on the resh there is not kotz extending past the vertical stroke. 10

Spelling corrected from “fulfil” to “fulfill.”

Beit Tzion


Rev 1, © 2012 Page 5 of 12

The Torah Life

Series



Phone: (619) 518-5802

Heaven are both Jew and gentile, then keeping the Law is for both Jew and gentile.

This is our fourth witness that the commandments of God were not just for the Israelites,

but for the gentiles that lived among them.

John, the disciple of Yeshua, also instructed others to keep the commandments of God.

We find in 2nd John, in a letter written to one identified as the “elect lady,” John instructs

her to keep the commandments which she has heard from the beginning and that she

should walk in them.

5 ¶ And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new

commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning,

that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk after his

commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard

from the beginning, ye should walk in it. (2Jo 1:5-6 AV)

The commandments she has heard from the beginning is the whole of the Torah: the

Law. John emphasizes that to love God means that one keeps His commandments.

Some have taught that this passage only speaks of loving one another, but this is

myopic indeed. If Yeshua said that the commandments will not pass away until heaven

and earth passes away,11 and since heaven and earth have not passed away, it means

that the commandments are still valid. This is why John was instructing the elect lady to

keep and walk in them. If keeping God’s commandment shows that we love Him, then

we should be doing everything in our power to know His commandments and to keep

them. This is where many get confused. There are 613 commandments, some of

which are for men, some for women, some for priests, and some for kings. Moreover,

because Yeshua was the perfect sacrifice for the remission of sin, and because God

has removed The Temple and its offering system so mankind would focus on Yeshua

as the perfect offering, there are some commandments that are now fulfilled though our

faith in Yeshua and not in former Temple offering. This leaves those commandments

which we can follow without The Temple in place.

It has also been taught that no one can keep God’s commandments. This simply is not

true. God did not give His commandments, and then tell us to keep them or else face

punishment; all the while sitting back and waiting for us to fail. In fact, God said that if

11

Matthew 5:18

Beit Tzion


Rev 1, © 2012 Page 6 of 12

The Torah Life

Series



Phone: (619) 518-5802

we keep His commandments He would bless us.12 Does this really sound like it is

impossible to keep them? God doesn’t think so: why should you?

To further clarify, the commandments of God apply to the gentiles who are grafted into

the olive tree of Israel because they have accepted Yeshua’s blood atoning sacrifice for

the forgiveness of sin. Such a person is known as one who is saved. The Apostle Paul

teaches in Romans chapter 11, that the saved gentiles are grafted into Israel. This

means that they are to be partakers of the ways of God which is the Torah path: the

Law of Righteousness. This is our fifth witness that the commandments of God were

not just for the Israelites, but for the gentiles that lived among them.

The Book of Revelation was written for those who are saved to understand the end

times. In it, we find that those who keep the commandments and have the testimony of

Yeshua shall be those who the dragon, also known as Satan, seeks to destroy.

And the dragon [satan] was wroth with the woman, and went to make

war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of

God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Re 12:17 AV) (bracketed

text added for clarity)

Notice that the dragon goes to make war with those who keep the commandments and

who have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Yeshua Messiah). Currently the Jews do not

have the testimony of Yeshua, but for the most part they do keep the commandments.

The Christians have, for the most part, the testimony of Yeshua, but do not keep the

12

Deuteronomy 28 begins with these words: “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.” (De 28:1-2 AV). The passage continues to explain the many blessing that will overtake Israel for keeping Torah. In Deuteronomy 28:15, the Holy One said, “But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:” (De 28:15 AV) The remainder of the chapter reverses all of the blessings and list them as curses. It is important to note that God would not instruct His people to keep “all his commandments” if it were impossible to keep them. Such a God would be a sadistic God. The teaching error that has crept into Christianity, stating that it is impossible to keep the commandments of God, is a result of not properly understanding the Torah. It has also been used a tool to indicate that one must have Yeshua because one cannot the Torah. While it is true that one must have Yeshua so salvation and remission of sin, it is Torah that teaches mankind the expectations of God. Apart from Torah mankind would not know that which is sinful.

Beit Tzion


Rev 1, © 2012 Page 7 of 12

The Torah Life

Series



Phone: (619) 518-5802

commandments. Those who the dragon wars against shall be those who will eventually

live in the New Jerusalem; commonly taught as heaven. Therefore, to live in the New

Jerusalem one is to keep the commandments and have the testimony of Yeshua;

regardless if that one is of Israel or is a gentile. This is our sixth witness that the

commandments of God were not just for the Israelites, but for the gentiles that lived

among them.

EXAMING ONE’S FAITH

If one has the testimony of Yeshua Messiah, but does not keep the commandments,

then one should think very carefully about one’s faith. This is because we can also see

in Revelation that the saved, those who will live in the New Jerusalem, shall have the

right to the tree of life; however, this right is only granted to those who keep the

commandments.

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right

to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Re

22:14 AV)

This passage is our seventh witness that the commandments of God were not just for

the Israelites, but for the gentiles that lived among them.

Up to this point we have given seven witness form Scripture for both the Israelites and

the believing gentiles to keep Shabbat and the Law of God. There are actually many

more places in Scripture that witness to this point. For more teaching on this topic see

my paper, Torah and the New Covenant.

ROOT OF FALSEHOOD

If you have been taught that the Law has been done away with when Yeshua died on

the cross, then the New Testament passages we have covered should be piquing your

interest. The root for this false teaching is found in the first council of Nicea in 325 A.D.

In this council, the Emperor Constantine gathered together the elite Christian holy men

of the empire, excluding those who were Jewish believers in Yeshua,13 and commanded

the changing of times and laws14 until a form of Christianity emerged to serve the

13

The Jewish believers were intentionally left out of the council as Rome had a great hatred toward the Jews. 14

Daniel 7:25 speaks of the “little horn,” also commonly known as “the beast” or the Anti-Christ (Anti- Messiah) who will seek to change times and laws. The Scriptures also declares that the spirit of Anit-Messiah is already among us. (1John 4:3) In the spirit of the Anti-Messiah, the Council of Nicea changed

Beit Tzion


Rev 1, © 2012 Page 8 of 12

The Torah Life

Series



Phone: (619) 518-5802

Empire of Rome. It was then taught that the whole of the commandments of God no

longer applied to the believer in Jesus. In particular, the day of worship was changed

from Saturday (Saturn’s Day) to Sunday (Sun’s Days). This was because Constantine

was a sun worshiper, as were many within the Roman Empire,15 and wanted to make

the worship of Jesus on the day devoted to the Sun God: the first day of the week.

Furthermore, Rome continued its progroms against the Jews, who were now even

easier to recognize since they worshipped on Shabbat. The final wedge to separate the

believing gentiles from the Jews was finally driven into place.

It was therefore not God who changed the day of worship, or the Apostle Paul as many

have taught, but rather the Emperor Constantine.16 This historic fact is well

documented and in plain sight of all who would seek for the truth. Even the Catholic

Church teaches that they changed the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday as a

result of the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. The New Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism

not only displaces the fourth commandment by moving it to number three,17 but

declares the following:

Why does the Church command us to keep Sunday as the Lord’s days?

the time of God’s Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday, and commanded men to likewise change; thus changing both times and laws. 15

While it is said that Constantine made a death bed conversion to Christianity, this cannot be confirmed, nor does it change the fact that he changed God’s times and law for man’s purpose. 16

It is often taught that God changed the day of worship. This teaching comes from the idea that Yeshua rose on Sunday, thus making Sunday the Day of worship. In truth, the Gospels to not indicate that Yeshua rose on Sunday, but rather that on the first day of the week the tomb was found empty. Yeshua was seen on a Sunday, and was indeed raised, but the time of resurrection is not specified. It was necessary for Yeshua to be resurrected any time after the weekly Shabbat (which is any time after sunset on Saturday evening) to be the Bikkurim (First Fruit) offering for all the believers. The text further used to substantiate that God change the day of worship is that John was in the spirit on the Lord’s day (Rev 1:10). It is then said that the Lord’s day is Sunday. The Hebrew understanding of the Lord’s day, also translated as day of the Lord, is the day the Lord completes judgment which is the fulfillment of Yom Kippur. In the end of times, Yom Kippur is the day the Lord completes judgment of the nations. Thus the Hebrew understanding of the Lord’s Day is Yom Kippur and not Sunday or Saturday. Many also indicate that the Apostle Paul changed the day of worship because he said to store up an offering on the first day of the week (1Cor 16:2). This is not a command to change the day of worship. The First Century believers went to the synagogues every Shabbat as found in Acts 15. It was not until the gentiles were forces, by pan of death, out of the synagogues that they began to only meet in their homes. 17

The fourth commandment has been moved to number three because the second commandment, concerning the prohibition of making graven images and the bowing down to them, has been removed within the Baltimore Catechism text. The tenth commandment was then divided into two separate commands to retain a total count of ten. This is a sign of the blatant disregard placed upon God’s word by those who claim to be “The Church.”

Beit Tzion


Rev 1, © 2012 Page 9 of 12

The Torah Life

Series



Phone: (619) 518-5802

The Church commands us to keep Sunday as the Lord’s day because on

Sunday Christ rose from the dead, and on Sunday the Holy Spirit

descended upon the apostles.

For these reasons the Church changed that Lord’s day from

Saturday to Sunday.18

Notice that the answer to the question indicates that it is the Church, not God, who is

commanding its followers to keep Sunday as the Lord’s day. Also notice the note under

the answer which boldly states that it was the Church that changed the Lord’s day from

Saturday to Sunday. God did not give the Church the right to change His Torah,

especially those Laws found in the Ten Commandments. This is because the Shabbat

is given to be a special sign to all nations.

SHABBAT AS A SIGN

The Shabbat is a sign between God and the children of Israel that they shall keep the

Shabbat throughout their generations. It is a perpetual covenant to be kept forever.

Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths

ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your

generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify

you. (Ex 31:13 AV)

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. (Ex 31:16-17 AV)

Keep in mind that if a gentile becomes saved, then he or she is then grafted into the

olive tree of Israel.19 The Apostle Paul also taught that those who are of Israel are

18

The New Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism, Catholic Book Publishing Company, N.Y., 1969, p. 118. 19

Romans chapter 11, discusses the olive tree of Israel and those of the natural tree that are broken off because of disbelief and those of the wild olive tree (the gentiles) who are grafted in because of belief. But the gentiles are warned not to boast against those natural branches that are broken off, for if they do they too may be broken off. The natural branches have been broken off because they have been purposely blinded by the Holy One so that the gentiles might be saved. In time, God will allow the Natural branches to believe and be reattached into the Olive Tree. Salvation of the natural branches (Israelites) is happening during this time as Israelites (Jews) are coming to believe in Yeshua as Messiah. “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” (Ro 11:15 AV)

Beit Tzion


Rev 1, © 2012 Page 10 of 12

The Torah Life

Series



Phone: (619) 518-5802

those who are circumcised in the heart and not just in the flesh.20 This means that the

whole of true Israel includes the believing Israelites and the believing gentiles.

Together, this one group, called Israel, is the Bride of Messiah.

As a sign, the keeping of Shabbat is to signify to the nations that God has sanctified His

people. This means that He has set His people apart (made them holy); just as He has

set the Shabbat apart. Bear in mind, and this is of particular importance, it is not the

place of any man to try to alter or remove the sign (Shabbat) that God has established

to be forever.

PUT TO DEATH AND CUT OFF

The keeping Shabbat is not to be casually considered. It is not something that one

does occasionally. God is so serious about His people keeping the Shabbat that if one

should defile the Shabbat then, according the word of God, that one shall be put to

death and cut off from His people.

14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every

one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth

any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 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. (Ex 31:14-15 AV)

This is a harsh commandment, and one that many would rather choose to ignore.

Because The Temple was destroyed and the priesthood scattered, the Sanhedrin, the

court that judged and ruled on such matters, has been disbanded. Nevertheless, the

serious nature of God toward keeping His command has not been annulled. Therefore,

one should not turn ones back from this scripture or wish it away simply because one

finds it difficult to swallow. It is the word of God. His children know His voice.21

To be cut off from among one’s people indicates that in the afterlife one shall not be with

those who are in Abraham’s bosom. Abraham’s bosom was taught by Yeshua,22 but is

given little place in today’s modern teachings. It is the place of the righteous dead. It is

20

“For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. (Rom 2:28-29 AV) 21

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” (John 10:27 AV) 22

Luke 16:20-31

Beit Tzion


Rev 1, © 2012 Page 11 of 12

The Torah Life

Series



Phone: (619) 518-5802

the place where the dead wait until the final judgment before the Great White Throne of

God.23 To be excluded from Abraham’s bosom is a clear message that one would not

be among the righteous dead, but would instead be in a place of torment. Yeshua’s

parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus speaks of Abraham’s bosom and the place of

torment on the other side of a great divide. Yeshua’s reference to these places was not

allegorical, but was understood by those of His day as the spiritual place of the dead.

Concerning the passage of being cut off, this passage is part of the Torah; it is part of

God’s commandments. Remember, Yeshua told us that until heaven and earth pass

away not one jot or tittle shall pass away from the law. This teaching of Yeshua is in

perfect concert where it is said that God changes not:

For I am the LORD, I change not (Mal 3:6a AV)

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His Law (Torah) is teaching from His

heart for us to know what He requires of us. His Law keeps us from evil. To break His

Law is sin; for sin is transgression of the Law.

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the

transgression of the law. (1Jo 3:4 AV)

The teaching that sin is transgression of the Law is found in the New Testament writing

of 1st John. This means that the Apostles, and early believers in Yeshua, kept the Law

and understood that to transgress the Law is sin. We too should have this same

understanding. It is a New Testament teaching. Those who teach that God’s Law is no

longer valid are removing God’s standard so that others may no longer know the

differences between righteousness and sin. To teach any follower of Yeshua that they

need not keep Shabbat is a direct disregard and transgression of God’s sacred Law.

SALVATION IS BY GOD’S UNMERITED FAVOR

The Bible is clear that keeping the Law is not to salvation. One is not saved by keeping

the Law, but rather one is saved by the unmerited favor of God. Unmerited favor is

called grace. This unmerited favor of salvation is given to those who trust (have faith) in

the blood atoning sacrifice of Yeshua as being able to pay the ransom for one’s sin. By

believing that Yeshua’s blood sacrifice on the cross can pay for one’s sin, one’s sins are

23

Revelation 20:11-12

Beit Tzion


Rev 1, © 2012 Page 12 of 12

The Torah Life

Series



Phone: (619) 518-5802

no longer counted toward them as unrighteousness. They are therefore considered

righteous.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it

is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we

are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which

God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ep 2:8-10 AV)

One is then instructed by Scripture to not continue in sin, but to turn from (repent of)

those sins that are unto death, and to walk in newness of life.24 By leaning Torah, one

learns the righteous path to walk therein; not turning to the right or to the left.25 If we sin

after receiving forgiveness through Yeshua’s atonement, then through prayer to God we

ask forgiveness of that sin, and in turn, God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin.26

CONCLUSION

The requirement to remember and to keep of Shabbat is found in the Law of God. The

Law of God is still valid and in effect and it has not been taken away or changed by

God. In the spirit of Anti-Messiah, man has sought to change times and laws. Man has

moved the appointed weekly Shabbat from Saturday to Sunday to suit man’s needs.

Man has taught that the Law doesn’t apply anymore because of the work of Yeshua on

the cross. To the contrary, Yeshua blood atoning sacrifice on the cross is for the

remission of sin for all who will accept Him as LORD and savior. His work on the cross

did not remove or change the Law, but rather the Law is still the standard one should

use to know the difference between righteousness and sin. One is not saved by

keeping the Law, but one can learn the way of God by observing His Torah.

Remembering and keeping Shabbat is a covenant, and a sign, between God and the

children of Israel forever. The true children of Israel are those Israelites who have

accepted Yeshua as Messiah, and those gentiles who are grafted into the olive tree of

Israel because of their trust and acceptance of Yeshua blood atoning sacrifice for the

remission of sin. Since the saved gentiles are grafted into the olive tree of Israel, they

too are to keep the Law of God, including the Shabbat. Remembering and keeping

Shabbat is more than a sacred honor for Jew and gentile alike; it is holiness unto God.

24

Romans 6:1-6 25 “Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside

to the right hand or to the left.” (De 5:32 AV) 26 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1Jo 1:9 AV)

Documents

Beit Tzion The Torah Life Where Jew and Gentile are one in ...beit-tzion.org/uploads/3/4/0/2/34026448/shabbat_rev_1.pdfnor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days