Keeping the 10C and Sabbath Q
Q: Are suppose to keep the Ten Commandments even though it’s in the old testament. I’m looking into honoing the sabbath but wanted some insight as to what it means for believers.
A: No and yes.
NO not as Judaism and legalists do thinking it's what saves them.
The 10C were a covenant with Israel not with Christians. It wasn't something they could keep anyway. They broke it as soon as they claimed they could keep it, and no sinful man could keep it cuz he doesn't have the spiritual life nor righteous nature to keep it.
YES in that if God gave us spiritual life; caused us to be born again, when we obeyed the Gospel... then we have Christ's righteousness. Like we're restored back to who we were in Eden as humans. Not perfect tho as they were b4 the Fall...cuz were stuck in this sin stained body, but when we enter eternity well be perfect and recieve the sin free eternal body.
So now, we live out the righteousness of Christ, having recieved it and are covered by it. The inner man hating sin, actively is seeking it out to kill, conquer and have victory over it [each sin we find in our life] as we become more Christlike, and follow Him. Our new nature enables us to live holy /righteous, so we pursue that and new creatures in Christ. Naturally loving righteousness and growing in holy living. Naturally living out the righteous principles which the 10C among other truths in Scripture show us. Thus we fulfill the Law of Christ; Love God and others... for God is in us, transformed us, and so we are now like God [though failing, striving and pursuing it as fallen men whove been saved] in that can love others and Him - cuz he transformed us, thus we can.
As to the Sabbath, no. It was for the Jews as was the 10C; 9 were a mirror to morality and God's perfection. The Law can only condemn. Sabbath is about resting in God; we rest in Christ for He did all necessary for us to be saved.
However the principle in OT & NT is that all believers gather locally at their place of worship (for believers its your local church), joining the local brethren, to worship and serve God with the gifts he gave you for in the church. We gather on Sunday, the Lord's day, the day he resurrected. We can and should be active in the church body;community, at our local church during the week too as we make time to do so, but Sunday worship is expected of a true Christian. One who loves God will obey Him, and be found where his Bride is on Sunday corporately worshipping Him in love & giving the risen Lord and triune God glory.
These resources can further help you on this topic
Sabbath and Rest in Christ
====
Those who are born again have the righteous nature of Christ and live it out by the Fruit of the Spirit; charateristics of those who are righteous. Believers grow in the Fruit of the Spirit which is proof of the spiritual transformation at salvation, and proof God has changed you and lives in you. But we need to actively pursue growing in them and persevering in the Faith to mature into the person God wants us to be. It's why we are told in Scripture to grow in the knowledge of the Lord, beckme more Christlike pursuing holiness, and mature in the Faith, until Jesus perfects us in the end, being presented to Him as complete.
This study on the Fruit of the Spirit and understanding on man possessing the communicable attributes of God, can also be a good help to you.
Related
