Ee-3. Is MISSING CHURCH ON SUNDAY A SIN? DOWNLOAD to SAVE as a PDF Doc to read OFFLINE. Ee-3. Is MISSING CHURCH ON SUNDAY A SIN?
OR Is it a MORTAL SIN to MISS CHURCH or MASS on SUNDAY?
The question has been asked, “Is it a SIN if we do not go to church on Sunday?” And the short answer is no, it is not a sin if Christians do not attend church services on Sunday or if you do NOT attend a church service on ANY other day of the week. There is no teaching in the New Testament under the New Covenant where we, as Christians, are commanded or taught that we must attend church lest we SIN. It is NOT mandatory that Christians attend church on a WEEKLY basis every every lest they sin. In fact, Paul teaches us in Romans chapter 14 that we are not to esteem ANY day above another day. In other words, we are to treat EVERY day the SAME. But yet the Roman Catholic Church WRONGLY teaches that it is a MORTAL SIN if a Catholic Christian misses going to Mass on Sunday. For those of you who may not know what a “mortal” sin means, the Roman Catholic Church teaches that a so-called “mortal” sin will send you straight to hell with no chance of going to purgatory. But in truth, the Bible itself teaches us that the wage of any and every sin is DEATH. And, according to the Bible. There is no such thing as a purgatory. Please read the study called Ee-12. Is the DOCTRINE of PURGATORY BIBLICAL? With that short answer being said, let us begin this study in God’s word with my own personal testimony. I was raised Catholic and my mom took me to a Catholic school on her way to work every day, Monday through Friday. She had to drop me off about an hour before school actually started in order for her to be on time for work. So to occupy my time and also to stay warm in the winter I went into the church building where the priest said Mass every morning seven days a week. And thus, I got in the habit of going to Mass SIX days a week during school season, which was 9 months a year. I attended Mass on the five school days and then again on Sunday morning nine months out of the year while school was in session. During the three summer months, I only attended Mass on Sundays, because to a good Catholic it is a so-called MORTAL sin if you willingly missed going to Mass on Sunday. In other words, EVEN if you went to Mass every MORNING each and every day of the week, Monday through Saturday, it was still a <MORTAL sin if you missed attending Mass on Sunday morning. Then one day some NON-Catholic friends of our family asked us to join them on a camping trip. We camped all week, Monday through Saturday, and we were about to leave Saturday evening when the other family asked me if I would like to stay another week. I immediately said sure! And my mom immediately said NO! And when I asked her why she said because you cannot miss church on Sunday. You see, Sunday was the only day of the week that going to church was an OBLIGATION. And a day of OBLIGATION is a day where Catholics MUST go to Mass under the penalty of a mortal SIN if they willfully miss going to Mass on Sunday or any other so-called holy day of obligation.. So to choose camping over going to Mass on Sunday would be a mortal sin, according to the Roman Catholic Church. Now in my mind, the thinking of an eleven-year-old child, I thought to myself that I had been going to Mass five EXTRA days a week for nine months out of the year for the past five years. And, THEREFORE, to me, I should have a BANK full of Masses to my CREDIT. So, surely missing ONE Sunday to go camping surely would not be a SIN for me. Needless to say, my reasoning with my mom did not get me her permission to stay and camp for another week. Even after one member of the NON-Catholic family offered to take me to their church on Sunday, I still could not stay with them and camp for another week. This made me BITTER toward God. But later I learned that it was NOT God who made the rules of the Roman Catholic Church. You see, I later found out when I started reading the Bible at the age of 23 that the Bible ITSELF does not make ANY day a MANDATORY day of OBLIGATION to attend church every week lest you sin. Let us read Romans chapter 14 to see what the Bible itself teaches us.
Romans 14:1-23.
“Him that is weak in the faith, receive you, but not to doubtful disputations. (In other words, the weak in the faith are those Christians who do not understand what the Bible itself teaches. That is to say they MISUNDERSTAND what the Bible ACTUALLY teaches. And thus, they WRONGLY follow and obey what their church denomination teaches which contradicts what the Bible teaches. And we, who are strong in our faith, are to receive those living in error as brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. By those in error I mean those that are weak in their faith who incorrectly esteem days of the week, month, and year ABOVE other days. BUT we are to accept them as Christians WITHOUT getting into strife arguing over the differences of what we believe. To say this another way, we are not to CONDEMN them as sinning or consider them to be inferior, or that they are not Christians. And at the same time we are not to be deceived by them to start doubting what the Bible itself teaches) 2. For (Or because) one believes that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eats herbs. (So Paul is contrasting two TYPES of Christians here in this whole chapter. Some Christians are WEAK in their faith by not truly understanding what the whole word of God teaches. And the other Christians are strong in their faith knowing what the Bible itself teaches. Also, we see Paul teaching us about two subjects that the strong Christians correctly understood, but the WEAK Christians were in ERROR not understanding the NEW Covenant written in the New Testament. One subject is EATING and the other subject is the OBSERVING or keeping DAYS of OBLIGATION) 3. Let NOT him that eats despise (Or think less of) him that eats not; and let NOT him which eats not judge him that eats: (Or consider those Christians who eat all manner of meats a SINNER) for (Or BECAUSE) God has received him. (Meaning that God has received BOTH the weak and strong Christians. God receives the Christians who show that they are weak in their faith by keeping the dietary laws of Moses under the Old Covenant. And God also receives the strong Christians who eat all manners of meat knowing the TRUTH that God has cleansed all manners of meat, according to 1 Timothy 4:1-6 and many other verses of Scripture) 4. Who are YOU that judges another man's servant? To his own master, he stands or falls. Yea, he shall be held up: for God is able to make him stand. (Paul is saying here that the church denominations have no right to make rules that JUDGE their own flock as sinning when it is not specified as a sin in the New Testament under the NEW Covenant. And also, a church denomination should NOT judge other church denominations as not being saved because of errors in some of their church doctrines. The Holy Spirit convicts every truly born-again Christian when they sin. The only time a Christian should encourage another Christian to not sin is when they are disobeying a MORAL commandment of God specifically taught in the New Testament under the New Covenant) 5. One man ESTEEMS one DAY above another: another esteems every day alike. (In other words, some Christians, such as the Roman Catholic Church, observe and keep SUNDAY as a holy and sacred DAY to them above every other day of the week. And some Christians do NOT esteem ANY day of the week more special than any other day of the week) Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6. He that regards the day, regards it unto the Lord; and he that regards not the day, to the Lord he does not regard it. He that eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he that eats not, to the Lord he eats not, and gives God thanks. 7. For none of us lives to himself, and no man dies to himself. 8. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. (Paul is saying that we are ALL still Christians no matter if we KEEP Sunday Holy by going to church service every Sunday OR we never go to church service on Sunday. We are ALL still Christians no matter if we keep the dietary laws of Moses OR if we eat all manner of meat that was once called unclean under the old covenant but now God has cleansed under the New Covenant. Paul is not contrasting Christians and non-Christians. But rather Paul is contrasting WEAK Christians from Strong Christians. The weak in their faith Christians keep the dietary laws and esteem DAYS above other days. But whether weak in faith or strong in faith Jesus died for us all) 9. For to this end, Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 10. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you set at naught your brother? (Or why do you judge your brother to not be a true born-again Christian? And why do you separate yourself from your brothers and sisters in the Lord as if you are better than them? Why do you start another church denomination and no longer assemble yourselves together with us?) for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11. For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12. So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God. 13. Let us not, therefore, judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. (In other words, if church denominations make their own laws and rules of keeping days of OBLIGATION and calling it a SIN if their followers do not observe and keep those mandatory days of obligation, then that is a stumbling block that church denominations place in front of Christians causing them to stumble and possibly fall. And the same is true with making mandatory fasting rules from certain foods based upon the old covenant ordinances written in the Old Testament) 14. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is NOTHING unclean of itself: BUT to him, that ESTEEMS anything to be unclean, to HIM it is unclean. (In other words, those Christians who are weak in their faith that esteem it wrong or even as a SIN if they eat pork or any food that is called unclean in the Old Testament under the old covenant then to THEM it is unclean. And if they eat that which THEY sincerely believe is unclean then they will have CONDEMNATION in their mind and conscience. To say this another way, they condemn THEMSELVES as committing a sin when it is NOT a sin according to the Bible itself. For example, there is not one single verse of Scripture in the Bible that COMMANDS Christians to attend church on Sunday lest they SIN. But yet, Christians who have been INCORRECTLY taught FEEL convicted when they miss church on Sunday. That feeling of conviction is their OWN conviction and NOT the Holy Spirit convicting them. But to those Christians who are strong in their faith knowing that we are NOT to esteem ANY day of the week above any other day are NOT convicted of sin if we choose to miss church on Sunday. And Christians who are strong in faith also know that God has cleansed all manner of food. And thus, they have no conviction from the Holy Spirit OR from what they know to be the TRUTH from the WHOLE word of Almighty God) 15. But if your brother is grieved with your meat, (Or if a brother or sister in the Lord is so worried and in fear of you eating all manners of meat) now walk you not charitably. Destroy not him with your (Eating of) meat, for whom Christ died. (In other words, do not try and force or prematurely push your faith on them to eat all manners of meat to cause them to sin against their own CONSCIENCE that is weak in faith. For example, if they invite you to dinner then eat what they eat. And if you invite them to dinner knowing that they do not eat pork then do not serve pork to them expecting them to eat what you eat. Give them space to grow in their faith allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide them into all truth) 16. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17. For the kingdom of God is NOT meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18. For he that in these things serves Christ (Speaking of serving Jesus in RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, and JOY in the Holy Spirit) is acceptable to God and approved of men. 19. Let us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20. For meat destroys NOT the work of God. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for that man who eats with offense. (BUT it is not good for a Christian to eat pork when it causes them to feel guilty of sinning) 21. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak. 22. Have you FAITH? (Meaning that if you yourself have faith to eat all manners of meat and to NOT esteem one day of the week above every other day of the week then) Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he that condemns NOT himself in that thing which he allows. 23. And he that doubts is damned IF he eats because he eats NOT of faith: (Speaking of faith in God’s NEW Covenant written in the New Testament) for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”
It is not a sin against God Himself, but rather, it is a sin against their OWN conscience whereby they condemn THEMSELVES that it is SIN. For example, or hypothetically, a cult could brainwash their followers to wrongly believe it is a sin to wear white clothes at a funeral. And those who truly BELIEVE that LIE would CONVICT their OWN minds that if they were to wear white clothes at a funeral, then they would commit a sin. So then, it would be more of a weakness in their faith of the TRUTH or their own lack of TRUST in God’s NEW COVENANT written in the New Testament. Let me explain some more what I mean by this. As I said before, I was raised Catholic and I was TAUGHT by the Roman Catholic Church that it is a MORTAL SIN if a Catholic willingly missed going to Mass on SUNDAY. So, when I did intentionally skip going to Mass on Sunday, in my senior year of High School, I did indeed feel GUILTY for pretending to go to church but instead going to a friend's house. Now, obviously, to any Bible-believing Christian who KNOWS full well that there is NOTHING in the entire Bible that teaches us that we MUST go to church on SUNDAY also knows that the GUILT and CONDEMNATION that I felt was NOT from God. But rather the condemnation came from the FALSE teaching of the Roman Catholic Church that it is a mortal SIN to willing miss going to Mass on SUNDAY. You see, I was sinning in my OWN mind and conscience because of the FALSE teaching and NOT because the Holy Spirit was convicting me of sin for missing Mass on SUNDAY. It had been drilled into my mind, so to speak, that I would go straight to Hell if I died before confessing a MORTAL sin. So that FEAR of what I was FALSELY taught kept condemning my conscience. For you see, I ALLOWED that false teaching to rule my conscience by my ignorance of the TRUTH. After I became a true born-again Christian in the Assemblies of God Church denomination at age 23, I learned from the Bible ITSELF that we, as Christians, are NOT commanded to keep ANY day of the week as a day of OBLIGATION lest we sin. Not Saturday, not SUNDAY, not ANY day of the week should ever be esteemed above any other day of the week as a DAY of OBLIGATION to be kept by doing a ritual ceremonial service to God. And from that time on, after learning the TRUTH from the Bible itself, I no longer ALLOWED that FALSE teaching of the Roman Catholic Church to rule or dominate my mind. And all condemnation or guilt of sinning for not going to church service on Sunday left me. The TRUTH made me FREE from the law of sin and death.
Please read Romans 8:1-9.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk NOT after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Now, this is mainly speaking of NOT walking in the lusts of the flesh but it also means not to be condemned by the man-made rules and regulations taught by church denominations) 4. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk NOT after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (So then, HOW can we know if we are walking after the Spirit? We are to try the spirits to see whether they are of God or if they are not of God. In other words, we test the teachings that we are being taught by our church denomination to see if the Bible itself teaches it. And when I say the Bible I am speaking of the WHOLE word of Almighty God both Old and New Testaments and not just verses that are taken out of the context) 6. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (The law of God in the New Testament under the New Covenant has CHANGED from the law of Moses under the old covenant written in the Old Testament. Since this study in God’s word is addressing the question, “IS IT A SIN TO MISS CHURCH ON SUNDAY?” then the same question should be asked about the weekly Sabbath day in the Old Testament. In other words, is it truly a sin, according to the New Testament under the New Covenant, if a Christian does NOT keep the weekly Sabbath day on Saturday the Seventh day of the week? And the answer is again a NO! The same passages of Scripture apply to ANY day of the week that ANY church denomination makes to be a mandatory day of OBLIGATION to keep lest their followers commit sin or displease God. What some Christians fail to see is that ALL Christians ARE keeping the SIGN of the fourth commandment by their FAITH in Jesus because the SIGN of the weekly Sabbath commandment was pointing to Jesus and the SIGN of keeping the NEW COVENANT. In other words, Jesus is our TRUE SABBATH REST the same as Jesus is our TRUE CIRCUMCISION) 8. So then, they that are in the flesh (By disobeying the MORAL commandments of God and by obeying the man-made commandments of a church denomination that are NOT specifically commanded in the New Testament under the New Covenant) cannot please God. 9. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
There are many carnal man-made rules and regulations made by the many different church denominations that at times are sometimes CHANGED for one reason or another. For example, the Roman Catholics used to, that is to say that at one time they had a rule or law or commandment of obligation that a woman's head MUST be covered while she was inside of the church building. Especially in the sanctuary. Also that man-made rule commanded that the men must remove their hats while in the church building. But that commandment is no longer enforced. At least it is no longer a commandment of the Roman Catholic Church in the western part of the world, as far as I know. It came from a custom in the Old Testament, but under the NEW Covenant written in the New Testament there is NO such custom or commandment. Please see the Bible study called L-6. MUST a WOMAN'S HEAD be COVERED? But for now, let us get back to what the New Testament teaches us concerning NOT KEEPING or observing DAYS above any other day. Please read Galatians 4:9-11 where both Gentile Christians and Jewish Christians are going back into bondage by keeping and observing DAYS to esteem them above and more holy than another DAY of the week, month, and year.
Galatians 4:9-11.
“But now, after that, you have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto you desire again to be in bondage? 10. You observe DAYS, and months, and times, and years. 11. I am AFRAID of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in VAIN.”
Paul is afraid that they are in danger of losing their salvation because they are observing or keeping DAYS as an OBLIGATION. Paul was worried that all his teaching was in VAIN if they continued to esteem DAYS as days of OBLIGATION lest they sin. Obviously, or at least in the beginning, those desiring to please God do not consider it a bondage to go to church on Sunday. They are simply desiring to please God but later when it becomes an OBLIGATION for them that they must keep and that is why Paul calls the observing of DAYS as a bondage. You see, it is not considered a bondage to go to church on Sunday when you KNOW that God Himself does NOT demand or command you to go to church on Sunday under the New Covenant written in the New Testament lest you SIN. You are FREE from CONDEMNATION to attend church every week or NOT to attend church every week. And that FREEDOM will give you a desire and a joy to faithfully attend church and to fellowship with your brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. And those strong in faith should never fear to attend a church that WRONGLY believes DIFFERENTLY from what the Bible ITSELF teaches. For you see, the NEW Covenant church attended the OLD Covenant synagogues to TEACH them the TRUTH of the New Covenant. So if you have friends or family that belong to a church denomination that you know teaches doctrines that CONTRADICT the Scriptures and they invite you to their church, then go to their church to help THEM understand the TRUTH. Plant the SEED of God’s word and God Himself will make that seed grow and mature. Now the reason that I say that Paul is speaking to BOTH Jewish Christians AND also to Gentile Christians is because the CONTEXT teaches us this truth. So please read the context of Galatians 4:1-11.
Please read Galatians 4:1-11.
“Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differs nothing from a servant, though he is lord of all; 2. But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3. Even so WE, (Speaking of Paul and some of those to whom he was preaching to as being JEWS before they became Christians) when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (Speaking of the law of Moses and NOT some law of false pagan gods) 5. To redeem them that were under the law, (Again, still speaking of the law of Moses and NOT some law of false pagan gods) that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7. Wherefore, you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 8. Howbeit then, when you knew not God, you did service unto them which by nature are no gods. (Here in verse 8, Paul now seems to be speaking to the Gentile Christians, whereas, in the first seven verses there is no doubt that Paul is speaking to Jewish Christians. So Paul is speaking to BOTH Jewish Christians AND Gentile Christians concerning them ALL being subverted to go back under the law of Moses to OBSERVE DAYS) 9. But now, after that, you have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements, (Speaking of keeping the ceremonial ordinances of doing rudimentary worldly services to God written in the Old Testament) whereunto you desire again to be in bondage? (Again, it is only bondage because, under the New Testament, God no longer requires those ceremonial Laws of Moses contained in ordinances. The Roman Catholic Church views observing Mass on SUNDAY as their keeping the fourth commandment of keeping the weekly SABBATH DAY) 10. You observe DAYS, and months, and times, and years. 11. I am AFRAID of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in VAIN.”
Now, it is obvious to me, from the CONTEXT that follows, that these Christians are BOTH Jewish Christians AND Gentile Christians and that they were NOT all Gentile Christians. In other words, the observing or the keeping of DAYS is NOT speaking of observing PAGAN DAYS giving service to FALSE gods. But rather, BOTH the Jewish Christians AND the Gentile Christians were being subverted by others to keep the Law of Moses. The Jewish Christians were being compelled by other Jewish Christians and by the Jews to go back under the law of Moses to be saved. And the Gentile Christians were being subverted or deceived to keep the Law of Moses as the Jews in order to be saved. And the observing of DAYS is speaking of the SABBATH DAYS taught in the Old Testament under the Old Covenant.
Please read Galatians 4:16-21.
“Have I, therefore, become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? 17. THEY (The pronoun “they” here in the context of the New Testament of the Bible are the Judaizing Christians. But in the context of this study in God’s word the “THEY” widens to include the Roman Catholic Church that wrongly makes it a SIN to miss mass on SUNDAY. No, I myself, am not aware of any Protestant church that makes it a SIN for those in their congregation who miss going to their church service on Sunday. But if you do then you are NOT teaching what the Bible itself teaches. So then, ANY church denomination that wrongly teaches OBSERVING DAYS. And thus, THEY) zealously affect you, but not well; (Or NOT in a GOOD way) yea, they would exclude you, that you might affect them. (Meaning that they who dogmatically demand that Christians MUST keep certain DAYS of the week lest they SIN would rather kick you out or their church denomination and claim that you are not a true Christian than to HEAR why you no longer KEEP the WEEKLY Sabbath DAY whether it be on a SUNDAY or on a SATURDAY) 18. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. (In other words, being zealous is not wrong BUT being zealous for that which is NOT sound Biblical teaching is a stumbling block for those weak in faith not understanding what the whole word of God teaches in TRUTH) 19. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, (Travailing in birth means to pray in other tongues and in your own understanding making intercession for others to be born-again. Sometimes it is necessary to pray for Christians who are being led astray from the true Gospel of Jesus Christ for their eyes of understanding to be opened to the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. Travailing in birth again ALSO means to LABOR in birth pains. So Paul also had to labor in the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them until Christ be formed in them again. Sometimes it takes BOTH all forms of prayer and the preaching of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ to bring people to saving faith in Jesus) 20. I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you. 21. Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?”
Now if you read the rest of the context you will clearly see that the BONDAGE that these Christians, BOTH Jewish Christians, AND Gentile Christians, were being subverted and zealously affected by others to be under was the law of Moses.
Please read Galatians 4:22-31.
“For it is written that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. (Clearly, Paul is NOT talking about some worldly service or law to a false pagan god. But rather, the WHOLE context is speaking about the BONDAGE of the keeping of the Law of Moses to observe and keep DAYS of the week, a DAY of the month, and the yearly feast DAYS. But the Roman Catholic Church does not keep the Jewish feast days of OBLIGATION. But the Catholic Church does zealously expect Catholics to KEEP other Holy DAYS of OBLIGATION such as SUNDAY and all their so-called Holy DAYS of OBLIGATION giving honor to certain dead saints and the Virgin Mary) 23. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh, but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24. Which things are an allegory: for these are the TWO COVENANTS; the one from the mount Sinai, which genders to bondage, which is Agar. 25. For this Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26. But Jerusalem which is above is FREE, which is the mother of us all. (In other words, Christians are of the New Jerusalem, the city of God, the church of the firstborn and we are NOT in bondage to keep the Law of Moses contained in ordinances and rudiments of worldly ceremonial services to God by the keeping of DAYS and the dietary laws that were all types, shadows, and figures pointing to the TRUE. They were an allegory or a schoolmaster pointing to Jesus as the Messiah and the NEW COVENANT) 27. For it is written, Rejoice, you barren that bear not; break forth and cry, you that travailest not: for the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband. 28. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so, it is now. (Speaking of religious ceremonial service to God compared to the TRUE worship of God in Spirit and in truth) 30. Nevertheless, what says the Scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.”
Once you come to the knowledge of the TRUTH concerning the BONDAGE of the keeping of DAYS you will be made FREE from that bondage and no longer will you condemn YOURSELF for NOT observing SUNDAY or any other DAY above other days of the week as being an OBLIGATION to be kept lest you SIN. You will KNOW that you ARE keeping the fourth commandment by your FAITH in Jesus as your TRUE Sabbath REST. So do not allow others to judge you for NOT going to church on Sunday. They will use Scriptures like Hebrews 10:25,26 out of CONTEXT to heap condemnation upon you for missing church on Sunday.
Hebrews 10:25,26.
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,”
By taking these two verses OUT of their context, it makes it sound as if missing church on Sunday is a willful SIN that has NO FORGIVENESS. The truth of the matter is that verse 25 should be linked together with verse 24 where we are taught the REASON of WHY we assemble together.
Please read Hebrews 10:22-25.
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
Now the subject under discussion is exhorting one another to hold fast to the FAITH and to draw near to God in full assurance of FAITH focusing on walking in LOVE and doing good works. And that is the REASON of WHY we assemble together. BUT there are some Christians who have separated themselves from having a TRUE HEART of full assurance of FAITH so they no longer assemble themselves together WITH those Christians who do indeed have a TRUE HEART full of ASSURANCE of FAITH in Jesus as their TRUE SABBATH REST. And we are exhorting one another to REMAIN steadfast in the FAITH because if we sin WILLFULLY there remains no more sacrifice for that WILLFUL SIN.
Please read Hebrews 10:26 again.
“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,”
So then, what sin is the CONTEXT referring to where there remains NO MORE SACRIFICE for SIN? The only sin where the ONE sacrifice that Jesus made for us does NOT cover is our NO LONGER RESTING in Jesus as our sacrifice for ALL our sins. In other words, some Christians were being subverted to keep the law of Moses in order to be saved, and thus, they no longer had a TRUE HEART FULL of ASSURANCE in Jesus being their savior. They are trying to keep BOTH covenants when God Himself only requires us to keep the NEW COVENANT. Now let us read the context of verse 26 concerning the willful sin having no more sacrifice to be forgiven.
Please read Hebrews 10:26-39.
“For if we sin wilfully AFTER that we have received the knowledge of the TRUTH, (Speaking of receiving the TRUTH of the NEW COVENANT) there remains no more sacrifice for sins, (Meaning that after we receive the New Covenant and a Christian turns to the OLD COVENANT to be saved then the New Covenant becomes VOID and has no effect to those trying to keep the OLD Covenant along WITH the New Covenant and therefore THEY have no more sacrifice for sin because the Old Covenant is no longer in effect. They are not fully RESTING in Jesus and the New Covenant alone) 27. But a certain fearful looking for judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, (By trying to keep the OLD COVENANT) and has counted the blood of the covenant, (Speaking of the shed blood of Jesus to establish the NEW COVENANT) wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (In other words, it is an unholy thing and a slap in the face of the Spirit of grace to not have a TRUE HEART of FAITH full of ASSURANCE in the New Covenant to even think that you must keep the law of Moses under to Old Covenant in order to receive eternal life in the world to come. It is like saying that you do NOT TRUST Jesus and his teachings in the New Testament under the New Covenant to save you. And thus you are DENYING Jesus as your Savior when you observe DAYS as a requirement to receive eternal life in the world to come. You are committing the willful sin to be under the Law of Moses when there is NO such law under the NEW COVENANT. Everything we need to know and to do in order to receive eternal life in the world to come is written IN the NEW TESTAMENT. And nowhere in the New Testament are we commanded by God to observe DAYS) 30. For we know him that has said, Vengeance belongs unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32. But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions; (Paul is speaking of the Jewish Hebrew Christians who endured persecution from their fellow Hebrew brothers who remained in the Jewish faith to remain under the law of Moses. Paul is saying to them to think back at how they persecuted you and how you endured such persecution when your FAITH was strong) 33. Partly, while you were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, while you became companions of them that were so used. 34. For you had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35. Cast not away, therefore, your confidence, (In Jesus and the New Covenant) which has great recompense of reward. 36. For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, (To remain in the NEW COVENANT) you might receive the promise. 37. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38. Now the just shall live by FAITH: (Speaking of faith in the NEW COVENANT written in the NEW TESTAMENT and NOT by the keeping of the law of Moses contained in ordinances written in the Old Testament under the OLD Covenant) but if any man draws back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them, that BELIEVE (In Jesus and the New Covenant) to the saving of the soul.”
These verses have nothing whatsoever to do with the missing church on Sunday as being a SIN because the sin spoken of in these verses is UNFORGIVABLE. It is unforgivable because those committing this sin are no longer TRUSTING Jesus with a TRUE HEART of FULL ASSURANCE as their Savior by their trying to keep the Law of Moses to be saved. They call evil good. And thus, by wrongly thinking that they are doing good they will not repent. All we can do is show them the truth of the New Covenant written in the New Testament and COMMIT them to God. When Paul speaks of the LAW he is speaking of the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES and NOT the MORAL laws. All the MORAL laws are repeated in the New Testament and thus all the moral laws are indeed a part of keeping the New Covenant because they are WRITTEN in the New Testament of the New Covenant. But not one single ceremonial law written in the Old Testament under the Old Covenant is taught in the New Testament under the New Covenant. So to make SUNDAY a mandatory Sabbath day is denying the shed blood of Jesus that established the New Covenant as if the New Covenant is not sufficient to save you and you feel that you must keep BOTH covenants in order to be saved. Paul says that you are WEAK in your FAITH and all I am trying to do is to get you to see that under the NEW COVENANT God does not command us to observe ANY DAY of the week above any other day of the week. And that is why it is NOT a SIN to miss church on SUNDAY, SATURDAY, or ANY other day. Going to church is NEVER to be an OBLIGATION under the penalty of SIN, judgment by others, or even to be made to feel like you are not a good Christian. But rather going to church should be a JOY, a pleasure, and even an honor to be able to help others grow in their faith. So I implore all new Christians to assemble together with your fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord so you can become rooted and ground in the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. And when you have become a mature Christian then continue to fellowship to EXHORT and teach others to remain steadfast in their faith. But never be subverted to wrongly believe that if you miss church on ANY day of the week that you are SINNING. Remember that the church is NOT a building of brick and mortar, but rather, we are the church, the body of Jesus Christ. So even a small home church having only a few believers of like faith can encourage and exhort one another. One mature Christian can teach the rest to remain in the TRUE faith written in the NEW TESTAMENT just the same as in a large congregation. In fact, smaller congregations can spend more time with one on one teaching each individual Christian at their level or speed of learning. This is why home Bible studies can be very beneficial if the group leader is teaching the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. But it is always nice to gather together in larger fellowships for worship and to be an active part of some ministry. In other words, even brand new Christians should not just be what is called a “pew warmer” which means going to church to be ministered to, and never ministering to others. So do not just simply attend church on Sunday out of OBLIGATION, but rather, go to church on Sunday to MINISTER to others. Your JOY will be full when you minister to others. And if you do this, then going to church on Sunday will never become an obligation to you. And thus, taking time off for yourself on occasion will never make you feel like you are sinning unless YOU ALLOW others to pervert the TRUTH in you. Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus. So, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading >>>D-0. THE BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of JESUS!<<< And for the SUBJECT on the true foundation of the church, please click on the subject heading >>>C-0. THE TRUE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH!<<< This way you can just send ONE link to those who you want to share the TRUE sound Biblical FOUNDATIONAL teachings of the church that Jesus and his Apostles taught in the first century church.
Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century. So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament.
To learn more TRUTH, then please return to
VERSES USED TO TEACH THAT JESUS PREEXISTED!
To me, the best way to know the ONE true God in ONE person is to know who Jesus TRULY is according to the WHOLE word of Almighty God. So please read ALL of the studies under the heading >>>N-0. WHO is JESUS ACCORDING to the BIBLE?<<< and you will see that the Bible itself teaches us that Jesus was CREATED by his God and Father. And if you have any questions related to the correct meaning of certain verses of Scripture on this subject of who Jesus is please read all the studies under the two headings >>>U-0. VERSES used for THE TRINITY!<<< and >>>V-0. VERSES used to TEACH that Jesus PRE-EXISTED!<<< These two headings have ALL of the studies that I have on who Jesus truly is according to what the Bible itself teaches us in simplicity. I compiled these three headings to make it easy for my readers to send just one, two, or three links to those you desire to help understand what the Bible itself teaches concerning who Jesus is in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. If you have any questions, please feel free to write to me. My contact email is MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail .com. Thanks again for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the truth of the whole word of Almighty God.
Your Brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
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Always be faithful to share, to preach, and to teach the whole gospel of Jesus Christ!
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