Caller: Ok my question is this. I’ve been practicing the Christian Sunday. And recently, it has been brought to my attention that God never told us to stop honoring the commandment, even though we are saved by grace. And I’ve heard you speak about the Sabbath. I read in Ephesians where Paul mentions honoring our mother and the father, so he’s still talking to Christians after a whole discourse about grace, keeping the commandments, the fourth commandment being the Sabbath.
Pastor Doug: Right.
Caller: I need clarity on this. I’m getting messages from both sides. I would like to know what your thoughts are about the Sabbath, and whether I can still be saved if I don’t practice it.
Pastor Doug: Well that’s a good question. Those who listen to this program know we try to be consistent and while we are saved by grace, we don’t find anything in the Bible that says that the Ten Commandments are no longer in effect. That would be absurd when you really think about what that means. And the only commandment that begins with the word “Remember” is the fourth, or the Sabbath commandment.
So we take the position that the Sabbath is still part of God’s will. We still do need that day of rest and worship. And the day the God blessed is the seventh day. He’s never changed it anywhere in the Bible that I’ve ever seen to another day. So, then you’re asking me what will happen to you, and I know there are going to be many, many people in Heaven who maybe did not keep some of the commandments because they did it in ignorance. The Bible says God winks at our ignorance in Acts chapter 17.
But what determines what sin is in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 26, it says, “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.” KJV So once we know God’s will, if we persist to rebel, that’s different than if we’re doing something wrong and we don’t know. See what I’m saying Russ?
Caller: Yes, but so many people have told me that in Galatians it gives clarity – don’t let a man judge you according to the Sabbath and new moon and such and so. I’m looking for a way –
Pastor Doug: All right, pardon me, but actually you’re quoting Colossians, but you’re right. Galatians talks about don’t let people put you under the law, and I still believe that. And of course, Galatians is dealing largely with the ceremonial laws, but nobody is saved by the law. We don’t keep the law to be saved. We want to keep God’s commandments because we are saved. You understand that difference?
Caller: Yes.
Pastor Doug: You know Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep my commandments.”
Caller: Yes.
Pastor Doug: And of course, if all things made were made by Christ, then He also is Author of the Ten Commandments. So I believe that it’s right in there with the other nine and it’s as important. Whatever you want to do with the commandments about adultery, don’t murder or don’t use God’s name in vain, take the same force and put it on the fourth commandment. And I just think we should be consistent, don’t you?
Caller: Yes I do and having broken some commandments in my life, I know that the Lord has forgiven me for them, but I don’t practice them or preach them to be right. Is that correct in believing, of course, that you can still be forgiven for breaking them?
Pastor Doug: Yes of course you can, but you don’t want to sin deliberately and then say, ‘I’m going to break it and just ask forgiveness.’ That’s, I think, is a very risky thing to do and ties in with the danger of grieving away the Holy Spirit.
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