Hope and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ...

I think most people would agree that life is difficult. When I consider this question for myself though. I often think I fail to even begin to understand how difficult life can be for people who have no hope. You see since I was small I have had a relationship with Jesus Christ. 

My life has been so blessed because God has been an integral part of it since I was four years old. The bible, Christianity and faith have always been in my family and because of that I have never known anything but hope as a way of living.

Don’t get me wrong. My dad died when I was six so I didn’t have a Dad as I grew up but my mother was a phenomenon and, I had five older brothers and an older sister. I was loved and cared for and God was in the building. 

What I’m saying is that I have known hardships in my life. God brought trials upon us as individuals and as a family. But God has always been there. He teamed me up with a fantastic woman who in the mold of my mother is an awesome mother. We have six great children who are bringing up their own beautiful children. I have much to thank God for and the most important thing in all of that is the hope that he brings to me every single day. 

But in our little nation of Aotearoa there are many who have hit rock bottom and taken their own lives. People who have come to a point of worthlessness in their own eyes and are hopeless. Completely without hope. Hell bound and without understanding that they have been duped by the enemy. Satan. They kill themselves thinking that this will be the end of the nightmare. But alas, the nightmare is just begun. At best they have missed out on eternal life and at worst will be destroyed by eternal fire.

Standardised Rates of Suicide in New Zealand 2013

Notice that youth are heavily represented in the statistics shown above. 1. Both male and female in excess of 15 deaths per hundred thousand. Notice also that this death of 15+ deaths per hundred thousand is fairly constant through out the working life New Zealand citizens.

 

New Zealand Suicide Rate in Comparison to other Western Nations

New Zealand is well down the list for suicide when compared to other OECD nations. We seem to rank at around twentieth so approximately two thirds of the way down the list of OECD countries. Lower is worse as it indicates a higher value for deaths from suicide per hundred thousand citizens. In the 2016 -2017 year there were 606 deaths from suicide. 2.

Now I realise there are plenty of people with views on why suicide is and issue but to me there is one thing that could make a huge difference. You see when you become a Christian you become a member a network. A member of a spiritual family. You have a relationship with Jesus Christ. You begin a journey of understanding about the world from God’s point of view. You are with people who not only support you. They genuinely care and love you. You begin to understand that Jesus is with you every step of the way and you can depend on his power to carry you through situations when you are feeling weak and and that your life is meaningless and inconsequential. Know that God loves you as his child and the entire resources of heaven are at your disposal. All you have to do is ask him.

Just remember John 3:16 “God so loved you that he gave his only son, Jesus Christ, that if you will believe on him. You will have eternal life.”

Reference List

1. Statistics New Zealand http://archive.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/snapshots-of-nz/nz-social-indicators/Home/Health/suicide.aspx

     2. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/96217175/national-suicide-numbers-rise-three-years-in-a-row

Setting the Scene: Choosing an Eternal Destination.

For we cannot allow a divine foot in the door. Richard Lewontin 

 

 

Sharing the gospel with people is often a hard sell in 2018. This is because Christianity is viewed negatively from so many perspectives. The bible is portrayed as an ancient and unreliable tome which contains many highly dubious mythological stories. 

 

 

Science and evolution have been spun to be the obvious choice of the modern man of reason who will not believe in what cannot be tested and proven. There is no room for fairy stories and so forth. Atheists, humanists and scientists push forth the modern view of a universe which began long aeons without external influence and continues to forge its way on through endless time.

 

 

People of faith are obviously too scared to face the hard lessons of the world without their religion as a crutch. Most people of the secular domain have been conditioned to view the world from a rights based perspective and rail at Christians as being judgmental and intolerant haters. Secularists will not tolerate anyone who points out what the word of God has to say about the lifestyles of the lost and seem in these times to become more incensed by the day by any form of conservatism.

 

 

This has led us to the generation that we see today of whom it might be said that they have a resistance to the gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact I think it is fair to say that many of this generation are immune to the gospel. Satan has seen this day coming and has set the scene to create the perfect environment for the entrance of the New World Order. When the Antichrist arrives he will be received as the Messiah. People will hail him as the Christ and I believe even many who call themselves Christians will be likewise deceived.

 

 

As believers we like to talk down the enemy. The problem is you are dealing with an enemy led by the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. They had the people in the palm of their hand in the days of Noah and so in these days at the end of this age they have them in the palm of their hand again.

 

 

Christians have had some reprieve during the time of the Reformation but the enemy has been working hard on many plans that are being drawn rapidly to conclusion in preparation for the rise of the New Age and the Man of Sin. The Antichrist. As their plans conclude and are at a point when there work may be seen. It is now more apparent that whether, Catholic, Buddhist, Hindu, Rosicrucian, Shinto, Freemason, Baha'i, Wiccan, Jew or any other form of religion, naturalism or occult. 

 

 

They are now preaching from the same hymnal. Be yea Gods and Do what thou wilt. Change must come from within and enlightenment from the coming Christ. Let Christians read Antichrist. Be Aware Christians for many of the Church will receive the coming Antichrist as the Messiah even the elect may be taken in by this deception.

 

 

So the enemy has the scene set and the pickings are slim in the game of reaching men’s hearts and saving their souls. Batter up and play ball because the end game is about to begin. Once the people begin to realise that the rewards of choosing the enemy’s side are going to be short lived. Only the truly evil will stay with him. The bible in the book of Revelation chapter 7 verses 9 through 17 speaks of the saints who have given their lives in the tribulation. 

 

 

The scripture is repeated below.

 

 

9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

 

Countless souls will die for the true Savior Jesus of Nazareth during the Tribulation. But they will be saved despite all that the enemy has planned. Because we have a true advocate with God the Father that is Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God. Our savior who so loved us that he gave his life for us on the cross that our sins may be cleansed by his blood and that as the Father raised him from the dead so shall we be raised from the dead. Come Lord Jesus.

 

 

Time to choose your eternal destination. Who do you serve?

 

 

Reference List

 

 

Scriptures from http://www.biblegateway.com

 

 

232 - 1844 & The Final Onslaught - Total Onslaught - Walter Veith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dqczX3qYF4

Christianity and Socialism

If you look at Christianity and Socialism both the Religion and the Philosophy seem to be saying “Love Your Neighbor as you love your self.” and “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” 

 

 

Now many folk would say both have resulted in countless millions of dead. In the history of Christianity that is certainly true. Look at the battle for control of Church dogma and the inquisition through the centuries that has caused numerous wars and millions dead particularly among those seeking Sola Scriptura and belief in faith alone in Jesus Christ for salvation.

 

 

With Christianity this has happened because, in the first instance Christians upset the governing bodies and caused disorder among the other religions. Hence there was widespread persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. As time went on the Church was infiltrated by paganism and bible believing Christians came out from the Church and spread the gospel which weakened the pagan churches hold on the governments of many nations and resulted in more persecution of true Christianity and dead. You can read about this in Foxes Book of Martyrs by John Foxe.

 

 

In the case of Socialism one only needs to look at the Soviet Union to find equally large numbers of dead. Lenin is said to have been personally responsible for seven million deaths. The reign of Stalin was said to have caused the deaths of up to sixty six million people in gulags and forced labor camps. 

 

 

In the end Socialism is simply one huge disappointment. It purported to support equitable distribution of wealth amongst the people. The equality and guarantee of the freedom of speech. The guarantee of human rights to all groups in secular society and the possibility of a Utopian society where each one has according to their need and all are viewed as equal in the eyes of the state. In reality it has been the mere substitution of one form of tyranny for another. One group of tyrant rulers for another.

 

 

So why are both Christianity and Socialism so completely unable to deliver a society that delivers equality for all and to provide to each according to his need. In Matthew chapter thirteen Jesus told his disciples The Parable of of the Weeds. In it he told of a man who sowed good seed on his field and when he was sleeping his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat. When the wheat germinated the weeds germinated also. His servants asked him Sir didn’t you sow good quality seed where did the weeds come from? He replied to them “An enemy has done this.” 

 

 

The Lord Jesus Christ described this situation in a parable reproduced below.

 

 

The Parable of the Weeds - Matthew 13: 24 - 30

 

 

24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

 

 

Further on in Chapter thirteen the disciples said to Jesus please explain to us The Parable of the Weeds. Jesus elaborated on the parable explaining how it related to the world in which we live. His response is reproduced below. 

 

 

The Parable of the Weeds Explained - Matthew 13: 36 - 43

 

 

36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

 

 

So when we look at God’s work in the world we see that where there is righteousness it comes from God. Where there is unrighteousness it comes from Satan. Satan is clever he knows what will appeal to the people so he came up with Socialism and pitched it to seem like righteousness. Everyone is to be valued. All are to have equal rights. Everyone must be listened too. But in reality it is a crippling disease that allows those who control it to have unchallenged dominion over the people. All who challenge the status quo are eliminated. Christians in particular are subjected to persecution because this is one of Satan’s programs and true believers are not welcome.

 

 

In the case of the Church, Satan has sewed his seed and his people within it. This has caused the Church to seemingly persecute its own. It has lead to perversion of scriptural truth and a lack of acceptance of the inerrancy of bible. This has caused the Church to split into factions and believers can only decide where they will worship based on what the religious groups they are looking at says it believes. This continued onslaught by the devil has produced the Church that we see in our time. A miserable weakened creature that fawns over apostasy and which is largely only interested in returning to Rome and blending into the world around it.

 

 

Hence it is that we expect to see Christianity strong and united but are surprised at how flexible and, at times ineffectual it is. However, within the World we sometimes see how the world accommodates people of faith and even Christians. An instance would be the Christian and Jewish enclaves in Iran. These folk have lived in peace for centuries in an Islamic nation that makes no bones of its hatred for the Christian West and the nation of Israel. So Satan has his way in the Church and the Church as a result is not always what it would appear to be. But Jehovah is always at work in the World and is able to support and protect his own from the devil in the most unlikely places.

 

 

Socialism then is purpose built to appear to espouse equality but actually to engage with the people of Jehovah and to wage war against them. Christianity is strong but not where we expect it to be. If you see large well kept churches and well feed parishioners you may well be disappointed at the lack of spiritual growth you find their and values of the people. But if you find the Christians persecuted and the Church under attack then you will find resilient and strong believers sharing the word, sowing the seed, stacking the weeds in bundles and preparing for the harvest and the second coming of their Lord. 

 

 

So what you see is the end game of a war. A war about morality. A war about how life should be lived and who should live it. A war between Socialism and Christianity. A war between good and evil. A war between the forces of the devil and the forces of Jehovah and Jesus Christ. A war where the Spirit of the Living God is active and moving decisively to swart the activity of the enemy. THE ENEMY of whom it is said AN ENEMY HAS DONE THIS.

 

 

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

 

 

Reference List

 

All Scriptures from http://www.biblegateway.com using the New International Version

 

 

An enemy has done this https://onepeterfive.com/an-enemy-has-done-this/ 15.08.18

 

 

An nemy has done this s://www.thebalance.com/socialism-types-pros-cons-examples-3305592 15.08.18

A New Creation...

The scripture says that when a person is born again in Jesus Christ. 1. That person is a new creation. II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! This is interesting because the person looks the same. He has a body and is alive. We know life is in the blood so we can say the person has a body and a soul (Leviticus 17:11, 13-14). Soul is the life in the body and the life is found in the blood.

 

Now in the book of John Chapter 3 verses 1 through 5. We see Nicodemus a Pharisee speaking with Jesus about being born again. The scripture is reprinted below staring at verse 1.

 

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

 

 

Jesus said to Nicodemus that he had to be born again. Further that except a man be born of water (baptized), and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. So the new believer or Christian is not just body and soul. The new believer is now body, soul and spirit and in having a spirit is a new creature; reborn.

The Christian / Believer is then restored to having a relationship with God and is able to communicate with God as did Adam and Eve before the fall into sin. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, part of them died. Not the body and not the soul but the spirit died. They could no longer communicate with God. 

 

 

The spirit is the part of the believer that is immortal and as Jesus told Nicodemus every believer must have one. Must be born again of water and of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. So the body is not immortal and it must die. The soul is not immortal and when the life goes out of the body so goes the soul. But the reborn Christian has a Spirit and when the believer dies the Spirit lives on and goes to be with Jesus Christ in heaven. The body and soul perish for they are mortal but Spirit lives on for it is Eternal.

 

 

The apostle Paul said in Philippians 1 verse 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. He also said in II Corinthians 5 verse 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. A. So the body dies and the soul passes away but the new creature, the Spirit, is eternal and goes to be with Jesus Christ in Heaven. 2. So the soul might sleep but the Spirit is very much alive and with the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

It is important to know my brothers and sisters that when you believe on Jesus Christ and you ask him to forgive your sins and make his home in your heart. That an amazing thing happens. You are reborn in the Spirit and are a new creation. It is also important to get baptized because Jesus said you must be born of water and of the Spirit. Baptism is an important expression of the process of becoming Christian and fulfills Jesus words of being reborn of water and of the Spirit. Come Lord Jesus

Reference List

1. https://www.jba.gr/Articles/nkjv_jbamay96.htm
2.  
3. https://www.epm.org/resources/2010/Jan/18/are-we-instantly-lord-when-we-die/

A. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A8&version=NKJV All Scriptures biblegateway.com

The Old Testament and the Mosaic Law

Are Christians constrained by the Old Testament and the Mosaic law or are they finished. This is a heavy duty question and I honestly don’t know if I am the one to discuss it because I don’t have a broad enough understanding of the theology and scriptures that are key to understanding it. 

There is a question that brings a perspective to this conundrum and it goes like this. “Is it possible for person living today to gain salvation by following the law as it it laid out in the Old Testament?” The answer to that question is a resounding “No it is not possible to gain salvation through the forgiveness of sins by the law any longer.”

Why? Well because Jehovah sacrificed his only Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross for our sins. So if you believe on the only begotten Son of God then you have the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. He became the sacrifice once for all and far better and more acceptable sacrifice than the blood of animals sacrificed under the mosaic covenant.

Christians are under the new covenant prophesied in Jeremiah 31 starting at verses 31 through 34. Reprinted below. 

31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to[a] them,[b]” declares the Lord. 33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

This covenant was brought to fruition on the eve of Jesus arrest in the upstairs room with the disciples at the Lords Supper. I Corinthians 11 verses 23 through 26. Reprinted below.

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 

So we live in a different era with a new and better covenant in Jesus Christ our Lord. The law is now written in the hearts of those who believe on Jesus Christ and have salvation in his name. However, what does this say about the Old Testament and the Mosaic Law in the life of the believer?

Well if you’re ever stranded on a dessert island and all you have is a copy of the Old Testament. The likely hood of you finding Salvation in Christ Jesus is practically nil. But if all you have is a copy of the New Testament then the likely hood of you finding salvation in Christ Jesus is quite good. This is because the gospel is woven into the New Testament from start to finish because it is about the new covenant whereas, the Mosaic Covenant is woven into the Old Testament and that will no longer provide you with a path to salvation on its own.

Does this mean a person does not need to read the Old Testament. Let me put it this way. You could be a New Testament reading Christian all of your life and never read the Old Testament and be saved. The converse is not the case. But, you would never know of the other covenants and dispensations of God. You would never know of the great flood. You would never know of the exodus of the people of Israel from Egypt or of Moses and the dispensation of the Mosaic Law and the Ten Commandments. You would not know of the return to Canaan of the people of Israel. You would not know of Rahab the Harlot and the fall of the walls of Jericho or, how Rahab was a part of the lineage that proceeded through David the King of Israel down through Mary to the Messiah, You would not know of the Judges, the Chronicles or of the Kings of Israel. You would not know of two fine women Esther and Ruth. You would not know of books of the Psalms or Proverbs. You would not know of Lamentations or of the books of the Prophets. If you did not know of Jeremiah or Daniel or Ezekiel and you would not know of the prophecies that support the New Testament book of Revelation. You would not know of Jonah who was sent to preach to the people of Nineveh and how they repented and were spared. You would not know of Jeremiah 31: 31-34 and the new covenant fulfilled in Jesus Christ. 

So the Old Testament is not crucial to your salvation but is really essential reading for every Christian. It also brings and understanding to the Christian of the nation of Israel and of the Jewish world view. Which is essential if we are to lead Israel to the New Covenant in our Lord Jesus Christ (Yeshua Hamashiach). Yeshua the Anointed One.

So is the Law now redundant? No because as the prophet Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 31 verse 33 “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts...” When I was a child we lived in a much more Christian country than it is today. Now when there are many more Christians around. That is, people indwelt by the Holy Spirit who have the law in their minds and written on there hearts. It is apparent because the law is obeyed. There is little murder, There is little theft. There is little profanity, The Lords Day is kept holy, there is little adultery, there is more honesty and there is less coveting. Virtually everyone back then left their homes unlocked. It was common to see a car parked with the window down, the keys in the ignition and a wallet on the front seat. People cared for each other. My mother often baked for others and when ever contractors came to the farm they were catered for, which almost never happens these days. 

So the law is not redundant. It is enacted in the hearts of the believers by the indwelling Holy Spirit and he reveals Christ’s nature in us. But we do not look to the law for Salvation that is only available through Christ Jesus. It does no harm to learn the ten commandments but in the same breath the Christian is not saved through the law but through grace in Christ Jesus. The law is not done away with but is enabled in such away that it could never have been before our Lord suffered and died for us on the cross. Before he shed his blood to atone for our sins and was resurrected that we might be resurrected on the last day. We are under a new covenant and it is a covenant that is prophesied in the Old Testament but enacted and enshrined in the New Testament.

One final matter is the fourth commandment. Keep the Sabbath. I do not address this matter lightly in this article. It is written that that Jesus said that he came not to destroy the law that substantiate it (Matthew 5:17). Therefore when we don’t keep the seventh day Sabbath, are we breaking Gods law which we have learned from the prophet Jeremiah is now written in our hearts. 

There are a not a few points to consider when we speak about keeping the seventh day sabbath. I will only address the main points. One point is identifying which day is the seventh day. The Hebrews use a luni-solar calendar to map the sabbath day. Others use the current weekly calendar to calculate the sabbath day and simply settle on Saturday as the Sabbath. It comes down to whether accuracy is problem or not. If accuracy is essential then it is important to establish the actual sabbath day. We must then know which day was the sabbath back to the first sabbath on which Jehovah Elohim rested from the work or creation. If we can’t accurately decide that date then does it matter which day becomes the sabbath. 

A second point is that much is assumed about this issue. For instance that the Godly line kept the sabbath in an unbroken line from Creation until Noah’s time and then on down to Abraham’s time and, then down to the time of Moses. Remember Moses was given the law by Jehovah and the keeping of the Sabbath was given in the law through Moses. We don’t know for sure that the sabbath was kept by believers in the Godly line before that time but we assume it to be the case. Remember also that Moses is ascribed to have written the first four books of the Bible and he doesn’t mention sabbath keeping habits before the giving of the law.

Paul says in Romans 14 verses 1 through 5.

1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4 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. 5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Further Paul says in Colossians 2 verses 16 and 17.

“16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, 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.”

So, if we can’t decide on which day is the sabbath and an arbitrary weekly sabbath is not acceptable because if you can have an arbitrary seventh day sabbath. What is to say that an arbitrary first day Lords Day is not on the actual sabbath? If we listen to the Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul. These things are irrelevant and are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.

So as to the Old Testament and the Law they are full of good information for Christians and we should study them as such. To be wise one must know the Old Testament. However, we live in the law of grace and love in Jesus Christ which is found in the New Testament. Salvation is found in the New Testament as is the New Covenant in Yeshua Hamashiach. Jesus the Anointed One. 

Reference List

https://www.str.org/articles/how-does-the-old-testament-law-apply-to-christians-today#.W2Id7xh9jeM

https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_388.cfm

https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-new-covenant-and-the-new-covenant-people

https://www.thoughtco.com/different-versions-of-the-ten-commandments-250923

http://www.lightedway.org/lunar_sabbath.html

KJV Scriptures from https://www.biblegateway.com/