|
Copyright © 2026 by Kenneth W. Billings No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. Hebrew Scripture Quotations: Hebrew text of the Tanach (Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim) is used with permission from Tanach.us. Source: Unicode/XML Leningrad Codex: UXLC 2.5 (27.6), Tanach.us Inc., West Redding, CT, USA, Apr 2026. English Scripture Quotations: Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, public domain. The Holy Bible: King James Version. Electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1761 Authorized Version., Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995. English Transliteration and Translation: English transliterations and translations are the author’s own, unless otherwise cited. LXX and Apocrypha: For the transliteration and translation of the Septuagint and Apocrypha in the Greek text, the author transliterates and translates them himself into English from the: Brenton, L. C. L. The Septuagint Version of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1971 and re-published in 1982. Greek New Testament: For the transliteration and translation of the New Testament in the Greek text, the author transliterates and translates them himself into English from: The Greek New Testament, edited by Matthew Brooke Foss Westcott and Fenton John Anthony Hort, which is provided by the Perseus Digital Library at Tufts University. Used with gratitude for their curation of public domain scholarly resources. Disclaimer: This book is provided free of charge. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the author assumes no liability for errors or omissions.
|
Thanks to God, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit for truth and salvation from a spiritually blind and corrupt world. Thanks to all down through the ages who have worked so hard and helped Christians develop ancient languages study. A child can understand simple things, but profound studies are left and contemplated as a man. (1 Cor. 13.11)
The New Testament Is A Better Covenant Than The Old: It Fulfills |
Workin’ on it, Lord willing and I should live… https://hesedken.com/free_book.html |
In order for us to understand God's law, generally, we need to be able to distinguish the difference the New Testament laws made upon the Old Testament laws. Included is my sermon "Precedence," which explains specific instances mentioned in the Bible wherein the Old Testament laws become fulfilled. When we learn how to apply God's fulfillment enlightenment, our lives become perfected and we become more mature Christians.
Apostolic instruction teaches us that one day may be precedent above another according to the religious tenets of some; and that every day may be regarded without precedence according to the religious tenets of others. The important matter is that the believer is fully persuaded in his own mind as how he chooses to think about precedence or non-precedence of days. A person who doubts or does not know why he does something is not enjoying life to its fullest; for God wants every Christian to be happy and confident: “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind" (Rom. 14.5).
A pitfall that a Christian is susceptible to fall into is judging another servant of God who may not think exactly the same as he does. How one may think in this regard is a God-given privilege, and no one has the right to despise a brother of a contrary opinion in this matter because God has received him. Paul gives a sharp reproof: “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand." (Rom. 14.4). Also, “He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.” (Rom. 14.6).
A heterodox doctrine sprang forth due to the partial interpretation of the Scriptures by the professing students and scholars of the post-early church era. They failed to promote the grace and knowledge concerning the fulfillment of Christ in relationship to the commandment given at Mount Sinai. The Roman Catholic Church built into its religious tradition the observance of Sunday; and even though the Reformation hundreds of years later brought in many great theological developments and reproofs, the protestant churches didn't turn away from constraining people to observe Sunday. Many teachers, theological and secular, Christian and non-Christian, have fostered a misunderstanding for doctrine which is contrary to the grace of God for centuries in this aspect.
The sabbath day is the seventh day of the week, or what we know as Saturday; actually, Friday eve until Saturday eve. The Hebrew word “שַׁבָּ֖֣ת” (Unicode/XML Leningrad Codex, Ex. 20.10), which I transliterate in biblical Hebrew as, “shab ba'wth”, means intermission; it is a rest.
“8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” (Ex. 20.8-11)
Paul evangelized in Antioch among the Jews and Gentiles on the sabbath. “And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.” (Acts 13.42). He also taught in Corinth (Acts 18.1) on the sabbath: “And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.” (Acts 18.4).
The day following the sabbath, the first day of the week, is what we call Sunday. The verses Mk. 15:42-16:9 make this distinction quite clear. “1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.” (Mk. 16:1-2) Jesus was crucified on what we refer to as Friday (Mk. 15.42) and arose (Mk. 16.9) on what we refer to as Sunday. The “sabbath” and “first day” are mentioned in respect to chronological order in these two verses (Mk. 16.1-2): thus it may be clearly seen that they are different—the latter is subsequent to the former—days of the week, realizing that Jesus arose on the third day (Mk. 16.6).
The aforementioned proponents simulated the first day of the week for the sabbath; the apostles did not instruct or imply as such. However, the early Christians did innovate a distinguished celebration. Perhaps verses Acts 20:6-7 connote a New Testament tradition being established at Troas by the disciples' breaking of bread on the first day of the week (although there is no specific implication to rest and not do any work the whole day as the Jews once refrained on the sabbath day): “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” (Acts 20.7).
But when Paul was speaking with the Jewish law-oriented believers (although there is no implication of any inclination among the people to have regard for the first day of the week, nor did he encourage them to) he warned concerning “observance” (see Mishmarot) in its strict sense: “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.” (Col. 2.16-17)
Higher spiritual understanding through spiritual enlightenment and fulfillment
Although verses Colossians 2:16, 17 do not specifically refer to a sole perspective of observing or not observing the sabbath day as a day of rest and no work, they do imply that a higher standard of spiritual understanding is expected in regard to any day generally, and that the conformity of the requirement of those once special days being a shadow of things to come is not equivalent to the superior reality of the brilliance of grace and truth which shines through the minds of believers who have served God in obedience of faith. Christians are encouraged and anticipated to walk in the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (Col. 1.9), to whom God did desire to make known what the riches of the glory of this mystery are among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col. 1.27); see vv. 25 and 26.
Christians are under grace, not under the law. The Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning the new covenant that God said he shall make with his people: “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:” (Je. 31.31). And also: “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (Jn. 4.24) This new covenant was brought into effect and established by Jesus. The new covenant is better than the old one—fulfilling the old testament laws rather than destroying them. New covenant teachings repeal some old testament laws and practices, and extend others, for instance: Sacrifices and gifts were perfected by the sacrifice of Jesus obtaining eternal redemption for us (Heb. 9.10-12); turning the other cheek (active piety by means of non-retaliation, not passivity) rather than “a tooth for a tooth” (Mt. 5.38); cf. Ex. 21:24; allowing all meat to be eaten (including pork) rather than only specified meat (Acts 10.11-16); cf. 1 Ti. 4:5, Lv. 11:7, and 2 Maccabees 6:18-20 of the Apocrypha; also note the glorious virtue to abide within the OT. covenant regulations at the cost of their lives (6.18-7.42); the Jews (now extinct—no register) were no longer required to keep feast days and celebrations (Col. 2.16); cf. Ps. 81:3-5, Ne. 10:32-33; circumcision of the flesh is no longer required (Acts 15.9); cf. Gn. 17:10, Acts 15:1; etc.
The vv. Rom. 14:4-6 and Col. 2:16, 17 are the weapons (the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God) of a holy war—a perpetual, spiritual crusade against legalism, invading the stronghold of enmity of unprofitable traditions which have withstood grace and truth throughout Christiandom. The Christian ministry does not consist of hand-to-hand combat: our warfare is according to the fashion of the spiritual battle mentioned in 2 Cor. 10:3-6, for instance, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). See Eph. 6:10-18.
Both the sabbath and the first day of the week have an underlying significance, which is the person whom each points toward: the former in anticipation of Christ; and the latter in retrospect to Him. However, the first day of the week was the day appointed by Paul for collection, according to the prosperity the Lord had given Christians at Corinth: “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come” (1 Cor.16.2).
I have had several contemplations concerning the term the “Lord's day,” mentioned only once in the New Testament: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day... ” (Rev. 1.10). Perhaps it denotes a day other than the sabbath, such as connoting the commemoration of the day of the Lord's resurrection or some other memorial, but I do not know. Another contemplation is that perhaps it is a day that belongs explicitly to God, rather than to Jesus.
However, it is easily understood that the author of the book of Hebrews attributed (having known the old covenant law) the sabbath day as the seventh day of the week (Ex. 20.11). Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19.30) his last moment on the cross. He completed his work that God had given him to do in order that we might have life. God completed all the creation in six days and he rested on the seventh day. Jesus is the “rest” people need to enter!
“3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.” (Heb. 4.3-4)
Beyond the shadow of things to come: acceptance of others who do not think exactly the same
Jesus gives rest to those entering his covenant from the strife of sin. We are not instructed to observe the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament, which are a shadow of things to come. Jesus is the fulfillment of those laws which were a premonstration to the rest, and peace, and glory, and refreshment, and beauty, and the holiness which God gives to those who believe on the one he sent. To follow the commandment of the Lord is to love your neighbor as yourself because love is the fulfillment of the law. Striving to keep a certain day holy (as to resting and not doing any work from eve to eve according to the structured religious form of the old covenant, and requiring the same standard from others) whether it be the sabbath, or the first day, or any other day does not completely suffice or accomplish the fulfillment of the law (the things beyond and superior to things which were a shadow of things to come). If one person does regard one day above another day, such a person does not have a right to exact the same regard from another person (Rom. 14.4-6).
Church administrations should not usurp authority over members of the body in such matters. Whether one chooses to regard one day above another, or to regard every day equal and the same is an individual prerogative. It behooves a believer to accept another believer whose precedence—or non-precedence may differ from his own.
Reproof of legalism
There is a difference between commemorating the first day (Sunday) and keeping (observing) the sabbath day (Saturday) holy. The former is fine only it is gracious and fulfilling not to constrain anyone to keep it as ancient Israel used to observe the sabbath day. It is fine for Christians to gather together on any day or any time, whether it be the first day, the sabbath day, or any other day—the point is not to be legalistic about it.
Extinction of Hebrews and immorality in churches
Many erring churches condone and promote legalized adultery (remarriage) and fornication. Another deception some are supporting is that the Jewish are as an inherited group of people of Israel (without acceptable genealogy) equivalent to the ancient Hebrews. These misconceptions are deceptions—not true. Secular, modern Israel are not the same people as the ancient Hebrews, a chosen people of God. Today, Christians are God's chosen and eternal people (2 Ti. 1.9, Titus 1.2).
Don’t partake in the evil of others
Therefore, even though I love people, including heretics, and care about them, I have to separate from them and would not give them one penny. It would be a sin to partake of their misleading and evil. Christians are followers of the Hebrew firstfruits (who are physically extinct now) and our lives must be holy unto God. We must establish local churches with qualified members as officials.
Communion without offense and creating home churches
I pray for enlightenment be given to the people of God, that they may take communion without offense, and they may repent of sins. God can raise believers (1 Ti. 2.15) to rebuke (1 Ti. 5.20) and correct failing people or churches that do not comply with the early church. We can establish and build our churches even if it is online or in homes until an open meeting place appears with qualified ministers.
Only one church: the body of believers
There is only one church—the body of believers in Jesus Christ the Lord. No one that believes in Jesus needs a membership in a religious organization: believers are the church. Church organization was established by the Apostle Paul, who was not a salary receiver. He was a man that served God without want of financial pay. It seems it will take this type of non-vested men to establish clean churches among our defiled world and falling congregations today.
God will take care of those who serve him
Even though erring, religious organizations may not change or repent of their heresies, people of God can find a way to support the truth. If a person seeks God, He can show him how to use his life and possessions for Him. Approved Christians will support truth and speak openly even at the risk of losing a friend; not suppress fables and damnable, illicit marriage lies. They will acknowledge God's commandments and discern between true and false, good and evil. They will trust in God and give light unto the path of the pilgrim for Jesus.
9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. (Mt. 10.9-10)
The laborers were expected to await provision among the people: not to provide for themselves (Mt. 10.10). Notice how contrarily extravagant teachers and evangelists with multi-million dollar homes have not only provided for themselves, but in a way that shows no suffering for God and exposure to the elements and open audiences. Some have paid security guards. Also, they have not understood the principles of marriage and have not kept the people from sexual immorality. Devastation awaits their ignorant followers as the blind fall into the ditch.
I believe if people give for the right reasons, they will not make heretics nor wealth-motivated unbelievers rich. Actually, faithful givers must learn the Scriptures and support God's purposes if they serve Him. They must know how to give and supplement the work of the more learned ministers of God who care for their posterity and souls. It is the duty of learned believers to support their elders in the Lord, not the heretic, not things that do not please God. Let the young and ignorant become knowledgeable of the Lord. Blessing of giving and receiving without hypocrisy may be accomplished.
17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. (1 Ti. 5.17-18)
The Apostle Paul was a selfless man that worked with his own hands for his sustenance. He was not contradicting the right of a faithful servant to accept offerings from followers. Rather, he gave an example that ministers do not even need anything from the people to do their work for God. Greedy and false ministers cannot happily follow his example. However, the people by their gratuity righteously expand (1 Cor.16:2) the ministry. The Apostle Paul:
11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: (1 Cor. 4.11-12).
Let us not let the apostasy and heretics keep us from accomplishing God's work. We must begin our own groups and local churches and qualify worthy officials. In the mean time, all of us can make the Bible our anchor. A ship can’t move far from its place if it is anchored. The Christian won’t wander afar if he holds tight to the Scripture.
No book selling policy: the apostles did not sell the gospel
Does a prophet or teacher that wants to sell you a book really have the quality of life and the gift of imparting (Romans 12.8) that he should have? I don't think so.
Sharing God's word freely and working with our own hands even if it has to be under hard circumstances and without a place to sleep as the example of the Apostle Paul should be followed. We need to buy books such as bibles. However, if you have Internet, many bibles and other studies are free. Perhaps study writings of post-early church leaders, such as Athanasius for an example, to learn doctrine but with acknowledging foremost the Scripture as the authority. However, beware. we should not depend on modern authors who sell their doctrinal material.
Also, many of these book-sellers err concerning knowledge of biblical institutions and the sanctified, family unit. The family is a microcosm (Eph. 5.25) of the church in a way. As Jesus is the one who provides for the church, the husband is to provide for the family. As the church is in submission to Jesus, the in-tact family is in submission to the Christian male parent. However, as said, many of these sellers of their bible material don’t even regard the sanctity of the church and the family. Some even condone fornication and adultery. Don't be a partaker of their sin by giving them more money and making them more wealthy. Make sure faith and purity is part of the leadership before even considering a gift.
We are obligated to study the Scriptures in the original languages
Personally, I do not want to commercialize the gospel or learning materials that pertain to the gospel, so I would not print a book of Christian material and try to sell it. However, for necessity's sake for greater learning, some Biblical language grammar books must be acquired by students from scholars, not books on doctrine. My wish is to see establishment of our own Christian communities and our people trained and learning the Scriptures from the original, Biblical languages. Then, they would have the ability to pass the knowledge on to others as communities hopefully and eventually multiply. Advancing, we could develop our own scholarly books. One thing Christians should be noted for is understanding the Bible, and to do that, understanding the original languages and critical thinking is required.
The Bible teaches “freely ye have received, freely give” (Mt. 10.8). That's the way I intend to do. However, when I started to learn the original Bible languages, since no one offered to give me a free self-learning book, I had to buy it. I don't believe that is a sin on my part. The apostles did not sell gospel material; they gave their lives for it. Having been convicted of the exemplary lives of the early church leaders, perhaps in the future people will be inspired to do the same.
Beware of the credit schemes
Today, however, as I mentioned, even well intentioned preachers are selling their materials. Worse yet, on the other hand, there are those that are deceiving many, even if the least popular and influential one of those who extol and aid the promotion of their chief peers were to repent of their common deception he would be the greater. The Apostle Paul or Peter never spoke like you hear, for instance, the many irreligious bureaucratic parrots and seminary graduates bid for return money such as, “Return the order form today, or for fast delivery use your credit card!” Today's seductive preachers and teachers are not only selling a pernicious substitute for what they should be giving; they are also suggesting the worldly economic practice of credit and interest, which is another stumbling block that Christians should avoid (Dt. 15.1-11).
The Lord bless you, amen.
Works Cited: Chapter IX
The Holy Bible: King James Version. Electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized
Version., Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995.
Unicode/XML Leningrad Codex: UXLC 2.5 (Build 27.6). Tanach.us Inc., Apr. 2026, tanach.us/.