In asking this question we also need to ask ourselves a few things. What were the things to come? What is a shadow? Is this verse of CO 2 talking about the 10 commandments? If we are not under the law, what does being under mean?
Was the Sabbath a shadow of things to come? What is a shadow?
What was to come? Jesus. What had Jesus to do? To die on the cross. God the Father and Jesus chose that one day Jesus would come on earth, live as a man, yet being God, and that Jesus would die on the cross. Shadows are things that pointed to the death of Jesus. They pointed to the ministry of Jesus. They pointed to the plan of salvation that we could see in the sanctuary.
Here is this verse after which this question is based.
CO 2 14
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
This verse is talking about feasts which were called sabbath days that were pointing to the death of Jesus, which ended when Jesus died. Were these feasts the seventh day Sabbath? No. Why? Because it says sabbath days plural. They then must be more than one day on a certain day of the week. They must be feasts that fell on different days of the week. Where do we find these yearly sabbath days in the Bible? Leviticus 23. It says:
LE 23 24
“Say to the Israelite: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts.’
These yearly sabbaths fell on different days of the week. Thus they have nothing to do with the seventh day Sabbath. These were different sabbath days. Thus the verse is not talking about doing away with the Sabbath. One reason is that the Sabbath day on Saturday is not a day to remember the cross. The seventh day Sabbath on Saturday is a memorial of creation. If creation can be destroyed, heaven, earth, the sun, then the Sabbath would end, which is impossible and which shows that the Sabbath will last forever.
IS 66 22
“As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares the Lord, “so will your name and descendants endure. 23 From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the Lord.
This verse tells us that everybody in heaven will keep the Sabbath. Was the Sabbath a shadow of things to come?
A shadow is something that resembles something else, the true. The feasts, yearly sabbaths on Monday, Tuesday, were resembling the death of Jesus. They were talking about the death of Jesus. When Jesus died, we did not need those feasts anymore, as the event they were pointing to was fulfilled.
Was the Sabbath a shadow of things to come? The handwriting of ordinances
CO 2 14
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.”
This verse tells us that there were ordinances. Were ordinances the 10 commandments? No, ordinances was the Levitical law that was out besides the ark of the covenant. They are not the 10 commandments.
When one says the Sabbath is done away because it says the handwriting of ordinances, they think this refers to the 10 commandments. But ordinances was the law God gave to Moses. Most of the Levitical law is still valid, but the things that pointed to the event of Jesus dying on the cross are done away, as Jesus already died on the cross. On one side we see that the 10 commandments were written by the finger of God; here it says the handwriting, thus it refers to the Levitical law that Moses wrote.
Was the Sabbath a shadow of things to come? Which things were to come?
The whole Bible tells us about Jesus dying on the cross. This is the event that saves us all from eternal destruction, for those who believe. The Leviticus laws of yearly sabbaths were pointing to things to come, the death of Jesus.
Was the Sabbath a shadow of things to come? Are we under the law
What does it mean to be under the law? It means that we are condemned and are under regulations, as someone has to pay the price. In this case Jesus did not die yet, so people were still condemned, as the price for sin was not paid yet. So the only solution was for people to show their faith in the price to be paid in the future, the death of Jesus.
People were under the law before Jesus died, as the price for sin was not paid yet. Since then we are not under the condemnation of the law. Does it mean we do not keep the 10 commandments? No, it means that we show our faith in Messiah that came already. We are not under the condemnation of the law, but we keep the law not to be saved, but because we show our love and gratitude to God. Paul said later in this chapter, Romans 7, that the law is holy, just, and good, and I had not known sin unless the law said, You shall not covet.
Was the Sabbath a shadow of things to come? Verses about the Sabbath
Luke 23 says that the apostles kept the Sabbath after Jesus died. If Jesus changed the Sabbath on death, then why did they not start keeping Sunday? They still kept the Sabbath after Jesus died. Luke 24:1 says the apostles returned on Sunday to see the tomb. If Sabbath was changed to Sunday, then why did they not rest on Sunday also, if Sunday was the new Sabbath?
LK 23 55
“The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.”
LK 24 1
“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.”
Jesus kept the Sabbath all His life.
LK 4 16
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
Paul kept the Sabbath all his life.
AC 16
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures.
Jesus said the law cannot be done away with.
MT 5 17
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 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.
In heaven everybody will keep the Sabbath.
IS 66 22
For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.
Those who enter the holy city keep the Sabbath.
RE 22 14
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.
Those who receive the mark of the beast are Sabbath breakers.
RE 14 9
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
If we love Jesus, we need to keep the Sabbath.
JN 14 15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
What did the young rich man have to do?
MK 10 17
And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
Are we saved by keeping the law? No, we keep the law because of love to Jesus.
GA 2 16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Can we be saved without obeying God?
Lk 6:46
Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
Ac 5:29
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”
Father God, thank You for this amazing study. Help us to keep Your law. Give us Your righteousness, as we have none. Bless, heal, and prosper us. Give us the desires of our hearts, please, in the name of Jesus, amen. EARTHLASTDAY.COM
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