MORE LIGHT? IS IT REALLY POSSIBLY?

lThe Law in Colossians
lColossians 2:14-17
l
lMore light? Is it really possible?

“We must not for a moment think that there is no more light, no more truth, to be given us. We are in danger of becoming careless, by our indifference losing the sanctifying power of truth, and composing ourselves with the thought, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." [Rev. 3:17.] While we must hold fast to the truths which we have already received, we must not look with suspicion upon any new light that God may send.” [311] {GW 310.4}

– E. G. White –

Gospel Workers (1915) / Chap. 8 - Dangers
lHow to test new light?

“Our brethren should be willing to investigate in a candid way every point of controversy. If a brother is teaching error, those who are in responsible positions ought to know it; and if he is teaching truth, they ought to take their stand at his side. We should all know what is being taught among us; for if it is truth, we need it. We are all under obligation to God to know what He sends us. He has given directions by which we may test every doctrine,-- "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." [Isa. 8:20.] If the light presented meets this test, we are not to refuse to accept it because it does not agree with our ideas.” {GW 300.4}

– E. G. White –

Gospel Workers (1915) / Chap. 8 - Dangers
lWe need Prayer to Study

l Let us pause a moment for a word of prayer…
l
l
lNow we may begin….
lColossians 2:14-17 (KJV)

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.
lWhat was nailed to the cross?
lIt is on the basis that “handwriting of ordinances” refers to the Law of Moses that leads most of modern Christianity to conclude that the law, in part or in full, has been done away with and nailed to the cross.
l Here are some examples of conclusions from different sources:
l10 Commandments done away?
l“Jesus removed the ordinances, so we need not keep the laws regarding foods, holy days, or the Sabbath (Col. 2:16). But the Sabbath was one of the Ten Commands. Hence, all the Old Testament laws were removed, including the Ten Commands and the Sabbath..”

- Gospelway.com – “Old Testament Laws”
lThe 7th-day Sabbath done away?
l“The Sabbath commandment was stated to be abolished in Col 2:14-16. This means that under the New Covenant law, 9 of the 10 commandments have been carried forward and one is abolished.”


- Bible.ca – “Sabbath Keepers Refuted”
lYearly Ceremonial Sabbaths?
l“Sabbath days cannot refer to the weekly Sabbath, designated by the fourth commandment, but must indicate the ceremonial rest days.”
l

- SDA Bible Commentary,

Volume 7, page 205.
lWhat does the Bible say?
lHow to study the Bible?

“The student of the Bible should be taught to approach it in the spirit of a learner. We are to search its pages, not for proof to sustain our opinions, but in order to know what God says.” {Ed 189.1}
l

– E. G. White – Education (1903) /

Chap. 20 – Bible Teaching and Study
l“Sabbath Days” in the Bible
l“Sabbath days” appears nine times in the KJV of the Bible.
lLet us make a comparative analysis of these nine verses to see how it is used in each case.
lMatthew 12:5 (KJV)
l5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
lOr [2228] have ye [314] [0] not [3756] read [314] (5627) in [1722] the law [3551], how that [3754] on the sabbath days [4521] the priests [2409] in [1722] the temple [2411] profane [953] (5719) the sabbath [4521], and [2532] are [1526] (5748) blameless [338]?
lMatthew 12:10 (KJV)
l10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
lAnd [2532], behold [2400] (5628), there was [2258] (5713) a man [444] which had [2192] (5723) [his] hand [5495] withered [3584]. And [2532] they asked [1905] (5656) him [846], saying [3004] (5723), Is it lawful [1487] [1832] (5748) to heal [2323] (5721) on the sabbath days [4521]? that [2443] they might accuse [2723] (5661) him [846].
lMatthew 12:12 (KJV)
l12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
lHow much [4214] then [3767] is a man [444] better than [1308] (5719) a sheep [4263]? Wherefore [5620] it is lawful [1832] (5748) to do [4160] (5721) well [2573] on the sabbath days [4521].
lMark 3:4 (KJV)
l4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
lAnd [2532] he saith [3004] (5719) unto them [846], Is it lawful [1832] (5748) to do good [15] (5658) on the sabbath days [4521], or [2228] to do evil [2554] (5658)? to save [4982] (5658) life [5590], or [2228] to kill [615] (5658)? But [1161] they held their peace [4623] (5707).
lLuke 4:31 (KJV)
l31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
lAnd [2532] came down [2718] (5627) to [1519] Capernaum [2584], a city [4172] of Galilee [1056], and [2532] taught [1321] (5723) them [846] [2258] (5713) on [1722] the sabbath days [4521].
lLuke 6:2 (KJV)
l2 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
lAnd [1161] certain [5100] of the Pharisees [5330] said [2036] (5627) unto them [846], Why [5101] do ye [4160] (5719) that which [3739] is [1832] [0] not [3756] lawful [1832] (5748) to do [4160] (5721) on [1722] the sabbath days [4521]?
lLuke 6:9 (KJV)
l9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
lThen [3767] said [2036] (5627) Jesus [2424] unto [4314] them [846], I will ask [1905] (5692) you [5209] one thing [5101]; Is it lawful [1832] (5748) on the sabbath days [4521] to do good [15] (5658), or [2228] to do evil [2554] (5658)? to save [4982] (5658) life [5590], or [2228] to destroy [622] (5658) [it]?
lActs 17:2 (KJV)
l2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
lAnd [1161] Paul [3972], as [2596] his manner was [1486] (5756), went in [1525] (5627) unto [4314] them [846], and [2532] [1909] three [5140] sabbath days [4521] reasoned [1256] (5711) with them [846] out of [575] the scriptures [1124],
l“Sabbath Days” = Weekly Sabbath?
lIn these past eight verses, the word “Sabbath Days” is, without exception, the same Greek word Sabbaton (Strong’s #4521) for all eight verses.
lIn EVERY case, without exception, the word “Sabbath days” (Sabbaton) is referring to the weekly Seventh-day Sabbath for all eight verses.
lColossians 2:16 (KJV)
l16 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:
lLet [2919] [0] no [3361] man [5100] therefore [3767] judge [2919] (5720) you [5209] in [1722] meat [1035], or [2228] in [1722] drink [4213], or [2228] in [1722] respect [3313] of an holyday [1859], or [2228] of the new moon [3561], or [2228] of the sabbath [4521] [days]:
l“Sabbath Days” = Sabbaton (#4521)
l
lSabbaton (#4521) in the Greek refers to the weekly Seventh-day Sabbath.
l“Sabbath Days” = Sabbaton (#4521)
lSabbaton (#4521) in the Greek is found 68 times in the Greek New Testament.
l
lAll of them refer to the weekly Seventh-day Sabbath.
l
lSabbath [Days] in italics?
lThe word “days” in italics was added by the translators of the KJV and was not in the original text.
l
lIf you remove the word “days” from “Sabbath days” as in the original text, you are left with only “Sabbath”.
l
l“Sabbath” then would clearly be referring to the weekly Sabbath.
l“The King James translators had a simple goal: to communicate God's words in the English language. They were quite honest. When the word they needed to communicate the Greek or Hebrew sentence into English was missing, they wrote the word, but in italics.”
l

- David W. Daniels
l“Sabbath Days” = Weekly Sabbath?
lThe word “Sabbath” or “Sabbath Days” in Colossians 2:16 is the same Greek word Sabbaton (#4521) that is used in previous 8 verses we read.
lIn the previous 8 verses, the Greek word Sabbaton was referring to the weekly seventh-day Sabbath every single time without exception.
lRocket Science Update!!!
lThus it is reasonable and logical to conclude, regardless of your I.Q., that the Greek word Sabbaton in Colossians 2:16 also refers to the weekly Sabbath.
lThis is the conclusion of every single bible commentary known to man. With one exception, the SDA bible commentary.
lSequential Grouping
lThere are several texts in the Bible that have this sequential grouping.

lHoly Days
lNew Moons
lSabbath Days
l
l1 Chronicles 23:31 (KJV)
l31 And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD:
l2 Chronicles 2:4 (KJV)
l4 Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.

l2 Chronicles 8:13 (KJV)
l13 Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.
l2 Chronicles 31:3 (KJV)
l3 He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD.
lNehemiah 10:33 (KJV)
l33 For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.
lIsaiah 1:13-14 (KJV)
l13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
lEzekiel 45:17 (KJV)
l17 And it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.
lHosea 2:11 (KJV)
l11 I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts.
lHoly Days, New Moons, Sabbath Days
l3 Categories of celebrations:
lAnnual -> Holy Days or Feasts
lMonthly -> New Moons
lWeekly -> Sabbaths or Sabbath Days
lIn the past 8 verses the Annual, Monthly and Weekly celebrations are always grouped together.
l
lColossians 2:16 (KJV)
l16 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:

lYearly, Monthly, Weekly Pattern
lRocket Science Update #2!!!
lThus it is also reasonable and logical to conclude that the sequential grouping in Colossians 2:16 also refers to the Yearly, Monthly, Weekly Sabbath celebrations as noted in the other 8 verses.
lTherefore, textually and contextually, “Sabbath Days” in Colossians 2:16 refers to the Weekly Seventh-day Sabbath.
l
l“From Sabbath to Sunday”, P.359
l“The SDA bible commentary interprets the Sabbaton (Sabbath Days) as a reference to the annual ceremonial Sabbaths and not to the weekly Sabbaths. It is linguistically impossible to interpret Sabbaton as a reference to any other ceremonial Sabbaths. The cited commentary rests its interpretation however, not on the grammatical and linguistic use of the word Sabbaton, but rather on a theological interpretation of the Sabbath as related to ‘shadow’ in Colossians 2:17. The theological interpretation which the Adventist commentary gives to the Sabbath is hard to justify.”
l

- Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi, SDA author & Theologian
l
lMinistry, May 1997, P.15
l“The implication is that the Sabbath being described [in Col. 2:16] is the weekly Sabbath. When Paul here refers to Sabbaths, if he meant the ceremonial Sabbaths, he was needlessly repeating himself.”
l

- Dr. William Richardson, chair of the

dept. of religion at Andrews University
lPaul needlessly repeating himself?
l16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a yearly ceremonial Sabbath, or of the new moon, or of the yearly ceremonial Sabbaths: (Colossians 2:16, NRPV)
l

NRPV = Needlessly Repetitive Paul Version
lDon’t laugh, this is what we (SDA’s) believe
lOnly One Logical Conclusion
l16 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: (Colossians 2:16)
l
l“Sabbath days” in this verse is referring to the Seventh-day weekly Sabbath!
l
lWhat you’re thinking right now..
lHow is this even possible?
lWhat does this mean for us?
lIs the Sabbath really nailed to the cross?
lAre the Sunday-keepers right?
lThere’s only one way to find out:
l
lLet’s keep searching the Scriptures!
l
l
lWhat was nailed to the Cross?
lSeventh-day Adventists and the rest of Christendom agree that the “Handwriting of ordinances” in Colossians 2:14 is the law.
lSeventh-day Adventists, however, cleverly divide the law into two parts: Moral and Ceremonial.
lCeremonial vs. Moral Laws

- AmazingFacts.org - Study Guide #6
lCeremonial Law
lThe assumption is made that since Moses wrote the mosaic law on paper, in a book, along with the other ordinances, including the feasts and placed it in the side of the Ark. Then it was the mosaic or ceremonial law that was done away with or nailed to the cross and not the 10 commandments or the moral law.
l
lImagery:
lMoral Law written in Stone – it is permanent and everlasting
lCeremonial Law written on Paper – it is only temporary
lMoral and Ceremonial Laws
lSeventh-day Adventist reasoning claims that since the Moral Law cannot be nailed to the cross.
lTherefore it is the ceremonial laws that are nailed to the cross.
lThus, saving the Seventh-day Sabbath (which is part of the 10 Commandments) from being done away with.
l
lProblems with this theory?
lWe ignore the grammar
lWe ignore the linguistics
lWe ignore the context
lWe ignore the Greek
lWe ignore the Bible
lAll in the favor of a theological assumption
lConsequences of this?
lThese theological assumptions blind us from the reality of the linguistics and the literal meaning of this text.
lWe refuse to accept the clear letter of scripture.
lWhich leads Sunday keepers to say things like “Logic has never been a strong point with Seventh-day Adventists!” - Bible.ca
l
lWe need SOUND arguments!

“Agitate, agitate, agitate! The subjects which we present to the world must be to us a living reality. It is important that in defending the doctrines which we consider fundamental articles of faith, we should never allow ourselves to employ arguments that are not wholly sound. These may avail to silence an opposer, but they do not honor the truth. We should present sound arguments, that will not only silence our opponents, but will bear the closest and most searching scrutiny.” {GW 299.3} – E. G. White –

Gospel Workers (1915) / Chap. 8 - Dangers
l
lWhat do we do now?
lFrom the evidence we have seen so far, can we safely say that we have wholly sound arguments? I’m afraid we don’t.
lWe need sound, logical arguments!
lCan we save the weekly Sabbath from being nailed to the cross and not suffer from biblical blindness at the same time?
lLet us investigate further.
lHandwriting of Ordinances
lThe theological premise for this whole argument rests on the meaning of the phrase “handwriting of ordinances”.
l
lCan we prove from the Bible that the handwriting of ordinances is, in fact, the ceremonial law?
lCheirographon Tois Dogmasin
lHandwriting of Ordinances in Greek is “Cheirographon Tois Dogmasin”
lCheirographon = Handwriting
lDogmasin (Dogma) = Ordinances (KJV)
lNow, we just need to prove that this is referring to the Ceremonial Law.
lBut how do we find a Greek word in the Old Testament that is written in Hebrew?
l
lThe Septuagint = Greek OT
lWe simply need to use the scriptures that the Apostle Paul and the Greek speaking Jews were using.
lThey were using the Septuagint.
lThe Septuagint (LXX) is the name given to the Greek translation of the Jewish Scriptures (the Old Testament).
l
lNT writers quote the Septuagint
l“The New Testament writers also relied heavily on the Septuagint, as a majority of Old Testament quotes cited in the New Testament are quoted directly from the Septuagint” - Septuagint.net “Influence on Christianity”
l
lPaul was not an exception. He frequently quoted the Septuagint in many of his writings.

lLogical Thinking…
lIf Paul truly meant to say that the Ceremonial Law was done away with
lAnd he was referring to it with the phrase “Handwriting of Ordinances”
lThen he should be referencing that law in the Torah (5 books of Moses / Genesis-Deuteronomy) because that’s where the Ceremonial Law is defined.
l
lLogical Thinking Continued…
lPaul wouldn’t just invent random words for the law. If he’s talking about a law found in the Torah, he would use the terms for that law as found in the Torah.
lHowever, the words “Dogmasin” or “Dogma” do NOT even appear once in the Greek version of the Torah.
lThe word for law found there is Nomos.
l
lGreek Word for Law = Nomos
lThe Greek word for law is Nomos (#3551)
lIt appears 197 times in the New Testament
lInterestingly enough, the word nomos does NOT appear even once in the book of Colossians
lWhat does this mean?
lSo where did Paul get the expression “Handwriting of Ordinances” and what does it mean?
lIt doesn’t have any clear reference to any sort of law in the Old Testament
lLet’s go back to the Colossians text and read it in context. Maybe that will give us a clue as to what Paul’s talking about
l
lColossians 2:11-14
l11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
l 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
l 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
l 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;
lMetaphors in Colossians 2
lPaul uses Metaphors in Colossians 2
lA Metaphor is defined as a direct comparison between two or more seemingly unrelated subjects
lThey usually have no meaning outside the culture to which they belong
lThe Metaphor “Couch Potato” doesn’t make much sense in other cultures
lMetaphors in Colossians 2
lCircumcision made without hands

(willingness to do God’s will)
lPutting off the body of flesh

(resisting temptation & fleeing from sin)
lBuried with him in baptism

(baptism = a washing away of sin)
lThe context is of being forgiven our trespasses and being a new creature!
lMetaphors in Colossians 2
lWhat about Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances?
lIs that a Metaphor as well?
lLet’s see what we can find.
l“Cheirographon Tois Dogmasin”
lCheirographon = Handwriting
lLet’s look deeper into this handwriting
lHandwriting = Cheirographon
lHandwriting = Cheirographon
lWhere did this item come from?
lA Receipt Spike
lOriginated from the practice of canceling debts by driving a spike through the certificate of debt, after which it could no longer be held against the debtor.
l
lElements of Crucifixions
l“Roman crucifixions consisted of 3 basic elements, all perfectly described in the account of the crucifixion of Christ- first, the scourging; then the carrying of the crossbeam by the condemned to the site; and finally the nailing or binding of the condemned to the cross-beam and then attaching this beam onto the upright post and setting it up.” (continued…)
lElements of Crucifixions

“But another element was also involved. In order to be a deterrent, the CRIME of the victim had to be posted in clear sight of the passers-by. For this purpose, they used a board covered with gypsum inscribed with black letters called a titilus. This was usually carried ahead of
the victim on the way to
the crucifixion, and
then posted above
the cross in clear sight.”
lThe Wages of Sin is Death
lIf Jesus wouldn’t have died for our sins, then we would have to hang on the cross
lAnd guess what they would write on the sign hung above us on the cross?
lThat’s right! Our SINS!!! Wow… wouldn’t that be a huge sign indeed!
lThey would nail our sins to the cross
lRecord book of sins?
lThe “Handwriting of Ordinances” is not the law, but the record book of our sins.
lIt is our indebtedness to the law.
lThat is what is against us!
lThat is what was nailed to the Cross!
lIt was the record book of our sins that He blotted out by nailing it to the cross.
lMetaphors in Colossians 2
lBlotting out the handwriting of ordinances is a legal term whose meaning and application is from the system of jurisprudence or law used in the Greco-Roman legal system
lPaul is using legal terminology to show how God has legally dealt with our sins, not how God has dealt with the law.
lWay = Mesos = Middle?

Blotting out [1813] the handwriting [5498] of ordinances [1378] that was against [2596] us [2257], which [3739] was [2258] contrary [5227] to us [2254], and [2532] took [142] it [846] out of [1537] the way [3319], nailing [4338] it [846] to his cross [4716]; (Col. 2:14)
lWhy is the middle important?
l“Recent studies have shed light on the meaning of cheirographon which occurs only once in the scriptures (Col 2:14). Its usage in apocalyptic literature indicates that cheirographon is the record book of sins or a certificate of sin indebtedness, but not the moral or ceremonial law. This view is also supported by the clause 'and this he has removed out of the middle'.”
lWhy is the middle important?
l“ (continued…) The middle was the position occupied at the centre of the court or assembly by the accusing witness. In the context of Colossians, the accusing witness is the record book of sins, which God in Christ has erased and removed out of the court. (continued…)”
lWhy is the middle important?
l“We conclude then that the document nailed to the cross is not the law in general or the Sabbath in particular, but rather the record book of sins. Any attempt to read into it a reference to the Sabbath or to any old testament ordinance is unwarranted gratuitous fantasy.” - Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi from his book The Sabbath in the New Testament, p.111
lBible Translations for Col 2:14
l“He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” (New Living Translation)
l“God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross.” (Contemporary English Version)
l“having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” (Today's NIV)
l“He did this by erasing the charges that were brought against us by the written laws God had established. He took the charges away by nailing them to the cross.” (God’s Word)
lContext of Colossians 2
lPaul here is talking about circumcision and baptism to show us how they represent the cleansing and forgiveness of our sins.
lHe is telling the Colossians (who were being misled by heretics) that they don’t need to submit themselves to these ridiculous rules and regulations to gain salvation, because God has forgiven them.
lHow can Paul, in this context, be speaking about the law or any part of the law as being done away with. We are not forgiven by doing away with the law. The abolishing of the law doesn’t make us sinless.
l“Let no man judge you…”
l“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” (Col 2:16)
lMost scholars make the assumption that Holydays, new moons and Sabbath days are the false teachings that Paul is combating.
lThey assume that the gentile Colossians were not keeping these days but that only the heretics were.
lA few points discredit this theory
lFirst of all, Paul calls these false teachings the commandments and doctrines of men (vs. 22).
lPaul was a Jew of Jews, a Pharisee of Pharisees; never in a million years would he refer to the law (Torah) as the commandments and doctrines of men. It is UNTHINKABLE!
lThe Holydays, new moons and Sabbath days are clearly defined in the Torah as being commandments of the LORD ALMIGHTY.
lNot even a Bad Jew would refer to the Torah as the commandments and doctrines of men.
l“Let no man judge you…”
lSeveral scholars (non-SDA) came together and wrote a book called “From Sabbath to the Lord’s day”1 which is similar to Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi’s book “From Sabbath to Sunday” and they all agree with regards to the meaning of “Let no man judge you…”
1 [Donald A. Carson, ed., From Sabbath to the Lord's Day, A Biblical, Historical, and Theological Investigation, Zondervan, 1982]
l“No no no! It’s not a Pauline condemnation, but a Pauline approbation.”
lThey agree that Paul is NOT doing the judging. The ones doing the judging are the false teachers (the heretics) for not observing their man-made rules.
l“Let no man judge you…”
lThe false teachers (the heretics) were telling them HOW to do these things.
lThey were saying: “if you really want to be saved, you have to eat a certain way, drink a certain way, and observe the Holydays, new moons and Sabbath days a certain way”
l“Touch not; taste not; handle not” (vs. 21)
l“Let no man judge you…”
lPaul is saying: “Let no man judge you” or “Let no man dictate to you, how to eat, drink or observe the Holydays, new moons and Sabbath days”
lPaul is NOT doing the judging
lPaul is not condemning these 5 practices of eating, drinking or observing the Holydays, new moons and Sabbath days
lHe approves them. (Pauline approbation)
l“A Shadow of things to come…”
l“Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” (Col 2:17)
lNotice that the word “is” is in italics.
lThat means it was not in the original text and that the translators put it in.
lWhy would the translators put that in there?
l
l“but the body is of Christ”
l“Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body of Christ.” (Col 2:17 without “is”)
lMost people connect the two parts of this verse to form a complete sentence.
lThis sentence makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, so the translators thought it would make more sense if they put the verb “is” in there.
lTo me, it still doesn’t make much sense.
l
l“A Shadow of things to come…”

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;
lThe Holydays, new moons and Sabbath days are the shadows of things to come.
lNotice though that it says they are (not were) a shadow of things to come.
l“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. 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.” (Isaiah 66:22-23)
l
lWhat about the Body of Christ?
lAnd he is the head of the body, the church (Col 1:18)
lhis [Christ] body's sake, which is the church (Col 1:24)
lThe Body of Christ is the church!
lThe last part of verse 17 relates to verse 16
l16 Let no man therefore judge you…[in these matters] but the body of Christ [which is the church].
lIn other words, Paul is telling the Colossians that no one should be judging them on these matters but the church.
lColossians 2:14-17 (KJV)

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.
lRecap…
lPaul (in Colossians 2) is not focusing on the law. But rather, he is focusing on God’s forgiveness and the completeness in Christ.
lWe CAN save the Seventh-day Sabbath and not have to ignore all the Biblical evidence and be called illogical.
lWe just have to get our facts straight and use only wholly sound arguments.

lRecap…
lThe law was not nailed to the cross
l What was nailed to the cross was the record book of sins which was against us
lPaul did NOT do away with any laws
l“Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.” Paul says in Acts 25:8
l
lRecap…
lWe have been forgiven of our sins and trespasses let no man therefore judge you but the body of Christ, which is the true church according to the righteous standard, which is the Word of God.
lJesus did not come to abolish the law, which is righteous and Holy, but to blot out the transgression of the law which is our sin.
lIf you get a speeding ticket and someone pays your fine does that abolish the speed limit law? Or your debt for the ticket? Only your DEBT!
lShocking Fact #1
lThe seventh day Sabbath is a Feast Day. (Lev 23:2,3)
l If you nail the Feast days to the cross you nail the seventh day Sabbath to the cross as well.
lShocking Fact #2
lSacrifices were performed on the 7th day Sabbath but it was not abolished nor were the annual Sabbaths abolished by the apostles and early church because the ceremonies and sacrifices where done away with. (Numbers 28:9,10)
lChrist, the True Example

“Christ passed through all the experiences of His childhood, youth, and manhood without the observance of ceremonial temple worship. He held no office, He assumed no rank. He passed through the experience of infancy, childhood, and manhood without a stain upon His character. He consecrated Himself to God that He might benefit and bless others, to show that in every period of life the human agent can do the Master's will.” {BEcho, October 31, 1898 par. 7}

– E. G. White – The Bible Echo / October 31, 1898 – Christ, the True Example.

lChrist, Our Example

“Are the Lord’s Sabbaths a part of the ceremonial system of worship or a part of the moral law? Jesus never observed the ceremonial system of worship but he did in fact keep the Lord’s Sabbaths. So Jesus as our example did not observe the ceremonial temple worship. The Lord’s Sabbaths by His example are not a part of the ceremonial system of worship just because they were performed on the Lord’s Sabbaths. The Lord’s Sabbaths are a part of the moral law and are to be a time of rejoicing not something that is against us needing to be taken out of the way.”

- (MH Chap 21).
l
lShocking Fact #3
lAlthough Jesus was a Jew, He did not have to offer sacrifices nor offerings because he had no sin. But, as our example, He kept both the weekly seventh day Sabbath and the Annual Sabbaths
lSeventh day Sabbath examples –
Mark 1:21, Mark 6:2, Luke 4:16, Luke 4:31, Luke 13:10, etc.
lAnnual Sabbaths examples – Tabernacles - John 7:37, Passover - Luke 2:41-42, John 2:23, John 7:8, 14
lShocking Fact #4
lAnd so did the apostles and early Jewish and Gentile Christians after the cross
l7th day Sabbath – Acts 13:42, 44, Acts 17:2, Acts 18:4, Hebrews 4:4, 9-11
lAnnual Sabbaths – Luke 24:49, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 15:2 (Story of Redemption page 304-305), Act 18:21 (Acts of the Apostles page 269), Acts 20:6 (Acts of the Apostles page 389), Acts 20:16, 1 Cor 5:7,8, 1 Cor 16:8 (Acts of the Apostles 291)
l
lSabbaths were not done away!
lThe ordinances that were against us were punishments for transgressing God’s law. The transgression of the law is sin (1 John 3:4). The wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23). The ceremonies, sacrifices and oblations were added because of sin and nailed to the cross because Jesus is the final sacrifice (Dan 9:27, Heb 9:28, Heb 10:10-12).
l
lNo where are the Lord’s Sabbaths mentioned as being done away.
l
lWhy didn’t we ever learn this?
l“Unfortunately, we have inherited and accepted medieval interpretation of this Colossians text based on an anti-Judaic theology of contempt. This becomes evident in the spirit of the council of Nicaea, in AD 325, where Constantine said that we would change the Passover to Easter and the Sabbath to Sunday because quote ‘we must have nothing to do with that detestable Jewish crowd’.”

- Dr. Sidney L. Davis, Jr. from his presentation The Law in Colossians, at the “Proclaiming The Sabbath More Fully” Sabbath Conference - Pentecost May 31, 1998
l“Council of Nicaea” - Wikipedia
lSeparation of Easter from the Jewish Passover

“After the June 19 settlement of the most important topic, the question of the date of the Christian Passover (Easter) was brought up. This feast is linked to the Jewish Passover, as the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus occurred during that festival. By the year 300, most Churches had adopted the Western style of celebrating the feast on the Sunday after the Passover, placing the emphasis on the resurrection, which occurred on a Sunday. Others however celebrated the feast on the 14th of the Jewish month Nisan, the date of the crucifixion according to the Bible's Hebrew calendar (Leviticus 23:5,John 19:14). Hence this group was called Quartodecimans, which is derived from the Latin for 14. The Eastern Churches of Syria, Cilicia, and Mesopotamia determined the date of Christian Passover in relation to the 14th day of Nisan, in the Bible's Hebrew calendar. Alexandria and Rome, however, followed a different calculation, attributed to Pope Soter, so that Christian Passover would never coincide with the Jewish observance and decided in favour of celebrating on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox, independently of the Bible's Hebrew calendar. ”
l
lSt. Alphonsus (Rock) Church, June 1905

“Dear Friend, I have offered and still offer $1000 to any one who can prove to me from the Bible alone that I am bound, under grievous sin to keep Sunday holy. It was the Catholic Church which made the law obliging us to keep Sunday holy. The church made this law long after the Bible was written. Hence said law is not in the Bible. Christ, our Lord empowered his church to make laws binding in conscience. He said to his apostles and their lawful sucessors in the priesthood “Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be binding in heaven.” Matthew 16:19. Matthew 18:17. Luke 16:19. The Cath. Church abolished not only the Sabbath, but all the other Jewish festivals. Pray and study. I shall be always glad to help you as long as you honestly seek the truth.”

Respectfully, T. Enright CSSR.
lWho will you serve?
lYou already know who thinks to “change times and laws” (Dan 7:25 KJV)
lBut now you know to what extent
lThe Lord’s Sabbaths are His appointed times and the Torah is God’s Law
lNow the question is:

What are you going to do?
lBible Translations for Dan 7:25
l“… and think to change the time [of sacred feasts and holy days] and the law” (Amplified Bible)
l“He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws”
(New Living Translation)
l“He will try to change God's Law and the sacred seasons” (Contemporary English Version)
l“He will intend to change religious festivals and laws” (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
l“... thinking to change the feast days and the law”
(New Catholic Translation)
l“He will try to change their religious laws and festivals” (Good News Bible)

l
l
lHow to test new light?

“Our brethren should be willing to investigate in a candid way every point of controversy. If a brother is teaching error, those who are in responsible positions ought to know it; and if he is teaching truth, they ought to take their stand at his side. We should all know what is being taught among us; for if it is truth, we need it. We are all under obligation to God to know what He sends us. He has given directions by which we may test every doctrine,-- "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." [Isa. 8:20.] If the light presented meets this test, we are not to refuse to accept it because it does not agree with our ideas.” {GW 300.4}

– E. G. White –

Gospel Workers (1915) / Chap. 8 - Dangers
lIsaiah 8:20 (KJV)
lTo the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
(Isaiah 8:20)
lTo the law [8451] and to the testimony [8584]: if they speak [559] not according to this word [1697], [it is] because [there is] no light [7837] in them. (Isaiah 8:20)
l
lTORAH?
lThe word translated Law (#8451) in the KJV of the Bible is the word Torah.
l
lPlain & Simple!
lIsaiah 8:20 (KJV)
lTo the Torah and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
(Isaiah 8:20)
lTo the law [8451] and to the testimony [8584]: if they speak [559] not according to this word [1697], [it is] because [there is] no light [7837] in them. (Isaiah 8:20)
l
lStatutes to Guard the Decalogue

“In consequence of continual transgression, the moral law was repeated in awful grandeur from Sinai. Christ gave to Moses religious precepts which were to govern the everyday life. These statutes were explicitly given to guard the ten commandments. They were not shadowy types to pass away with the death of Christ. They were to be binding upon man in every age as long as time should last. These commands were enforced by the power of the moral law, and they clearly and definitely explained that law.”
{RH, May 6, 1875 par. 10}

– E. G. White – The Review and Herald
May 6, 1875 – The Law of God.
lBecome Familiar with the Levitical law

“We are to become familiar with the Levitical law in all its bearings; for it contains rules that must be obeyed; it contains the instruction that if studied will enable us to understand better the rule of faith and practice that we are to follow in our dealings with one another. No soul has any excuse for being in darkness. Those who receive Christ by faith will receive also power to become the sons of God (Letter 3, 1905).” {1BC 1110.4}

1BC - S.D.A. Bible Commentary

Vol. 1 (1953) / Leviticus
l
lClosing Thought….

“When a doctrine is presented that does not meet our minds, we should go to the word of God, seek the Lord in prayer, and give no place for the enemy to come in with suspicion and prejudice. We should never permit the spirit to be manifested that arraigned the priests and rulers against the Redeemer of the world. They complained that He disturbed the people, and they wished He would let them alone; for He caused perplexity and dissension. The Lord sends light to us to prove what manner of spirit we are of. We are not to deceive ourselves.” {GW 301.3}

– E. G. White –

Gospel Workers (1915) / Chap. 8 - Dangers
lImportant Study Links
lFree Online Bible Resource - Various languages and translations to choose from!

http://www.biblegateway.com
l
lStrong's Concordance with
Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html
l
lThe Official Ellen G. White Website
-> The White Estate

http://www.whiteestate.org/
lLinks for More Info on the Holy Days
lBible Explorations

http://www.bibleexplorations.com
l
lLighted Way Ministries

http://www.lightedway.org
lThe Sabbath More Fully!

http://www.sabbathmorefully.com
lThe End!
lThank you for your time!
l
lAny Questions?

lCompiled by: FLO BORS (Sept. 2007), email: floski@hotmail.com