No man is to judge another respecting these things, indicating that the observance of them was no longer necessary.
First of all, it says that people should not judge (how) people celebrate holidays, shabbath, new moon, meat etc.
I never never heared any proof that this means that it doesn't mather and that everybody is free to do whatever they want. This is a theologicall solution to justify other pagan festivals I think.
It might mean, about what kind of meat is considered kosher, how people do traditionally new moon is a question etc. Where does it say in the text that these festivals where no longer necessary, it's not written here that that is the conclusion. This text also doesn't proof anything about Sunday, or that it just doesn't mather what day you keep. But out of love for The Almighty you still can keep HIS holidays. And judging that it is no longer necessary, is anyway JUDGING, so that sounds even more so, to go against the spirit of this text.
Something similar happened with circumcision..... <...> Abraham's faith in God's promises is what was counted unto him as righteousness.
So we Jews don't claim that by circumcision we are saved or so.
And if Abraham and Noah and others where considered rightious by The Almighty in their ways. Why do we need Jesus anyway in this subject. Besides that Jesus needed to be circumcised. And Paul even did sacrifice an animal in the Temple after Jesus died... So it doesn't sound like Paul wanted to run away from the Law always.
And who claims that ''righteousness came by (doing) the Law''???? Is that a Christian invention to explain things, than it's o.k. that People like the Celts in Galatia had to learn that maybe, but it is not a basic Jewish concept.
Yeshua is the Lord of the Sabbath, walk with Him and you will find rest.
M't:11:28: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
He is my Sabbath.
One cannot go back in time to choose whether or not they themselves will be circumcised. However, since many adults were being preached to and instructed as to whether they should observe the things written in the law they were instructed that this particular act was not necessary for them to do. We know that in ancient times any who wished to join themselves to the Jews had to do this. As for meat and drink, Sabbaths, and new moons they were told that no man should judge another. It is indicative that these would not be observed since just prior to saying this Paul says that handwriting of ordinances which were 'contrary to us' are blotted out, taken out of the way and nailed to the cross. The Apostles laid no further burden on believers than to abstain from things strangled, idols from blood and from fornication. Paul also said those who were already circumcised were not to seek to change their condition.
"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' Romans 2:29 Both Jews and Gentiles are under sin.
'Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus'.
Also, Abraham was justified by his faith while uncircumcised. Those of faith are the children of Abraham. Faith is what justifies, not works of the law. It was said of the Galatians that they desired to be in bondage again when they were observing days, months, times and years. 'Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a school master'. Gal 3:24,25
[/color]The law was added after the promise given to Abraham [color=purple]'because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made' Gal 3:19
In short a good conscious is arrived at through faith.
Sincere Regards
"M't:11:28: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
He is my Sabbath."
Yeshua is my Sabbath also, Tanachreader, but we must distinguish between spirit and flesh. Resting in Christ does not stop my muscles from aching.
More importantly, the Sabbath is a perpetual sign of the Jewish people, and the Jewish people did not cease to exist when Yeshua became our spiritual Sabbath. If you insist that Jews who receive Yeshua as their Messiah should stop Sabbath observance, you are putting a huge stumbling block in the way, which directly contradicts the verses that "Torah" quoted. Just as a gentile who accepts Yeshua does not have to become a Jew and observe Shabbat (and that is the focus of Galatians and Colossians), neither does a Jew who accepts Yeshua have to become gentile and cease to observe Shabbat. In fact, it is more strong: The Jew who accepts Yeshua MUST observe Shabbat, not for righteousness, but as a testimony that Yeshua is the Jewish Messiah, not a bringer of a new religion that changes Jewish observances. Exodus 31 is very clear and God's word does not change. As long as the sun and moon are in the sky, Israel continues to be Israel and the Jewish people should remain Jewish.
"But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly"
Yes, real spiritual Jewishness is in the circumcision of the heart by the work of Messiah Yeshua. However, there are also outward Jews, as Romans 9-11 makes clear, and they play an important role in the plan of God on this earth.
"In short a good conscious is arrived at through faith."
Yes, a good conscience comes from the new birth, not from outward observances. However, if you want to keep your body in good health to do the work of God on this earth, you had better do some outward observances. Hey, go ahead, work seven days a week. Eat filthy things. Go out in freezing rain without a coat. Engage in sexual immorality. Leave excrement out on the ground. Don't take a bath. Your righteousness and true life are in Christ, so those things do not matter? Is that what you are saying? I don't like to be crude, but I did not seem to be getting my point across.
So,
Yes, a good conscience comes from the new birth, not from outward observances.
Eating, drinking, resting aside, we have a clear conscience, what a nice thought. If I might add:
'For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh'. Philippians 3:9
He goes on to state that if any should have confidence in the flesh, he more being a Pharisee and circumcised on the eighth day, of the stock of Benjamin and a persecutor of the church. All things which might be of gain he counted as loss that he might win Christ. ' 'And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith'. Phil 3:9
Thomas DGW said: Hey, go ahead, work seven days a week. Eat filthy things. Go out in freezing rain without a coat. Engage in sexual immorality. Leave excrement out on the ground. Don't take a bath. Your righteousness and true life are in Christ, so those things do not matter? Is that what you are saying? I don't like to be crude, but I did not seem to be getting my point across.
Your point is very well made, kind sir. Physical health is mighty important too. I do not count it as my salvation that I drink kosher grape juice and separate dairy from flesh. I love pork and shellfish too but they do not love me, so I must abstain. Ha ha.
Even so, it can't be overlooked that the sexually immoral, those who leave excrement on the ground (whoever that is?!), and don't bathe, are showing their inner spiritual state through their very actions. Still, they can ask forgiveness and repent of being filthy. God's people are called to cleanse and whiten themselves, without a doubt. It is a wonderful gift that He pulls us out of the world and cleanses us, though sometimes through difficult trials and tribulations. Of course it matters to God that his children are clean and do good works. 'This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.' Titus 3:8
Kind Regards