Ryan&Amber2013
Puritan Board Senior
Because of the timely discussion lately on Christmas, for my own benefit, and possibly for others, I thought it might be beneficial to talk about the meaning of the common passages in the Bible used to defend the stances on special days. Ultimately, Scripture is what we must be convinced by. When interpreting the Bible, I try to look at the plain meaning of a text and try not to insert my own doctrine into it. For any of you that would like to give your interpretation, please do. Here are the three most common verses I can think of:
1. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.
Romans 14:5-6
To me, the plain teaching of this text is that we have a Christian freedom when it comes to observing special days.
2. Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
Colossians 2:16-17
To me, the plain understanding of this text is that we should not be bound by others to observe certain days. We have been set free from such binding, and it would be wrong for someone to tell us that we must keep them.
3. You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
Galatians 4:10-11
This passage seems to be talking about not binding ourselves to certain special days in regards to finding righteousness in God by such things.
1. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.
Romans 14:5-6
To me, the plain teaching of this text is that we have a Christian freedom when it comes to observing special days.
2. Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
Colossians 2:16-17
To me, the plain understanding of this text is that we should not be bound by others to observe certain days. We have been set free from such binding, and it would be wrong for someone to tell us that we must keep them.
3. You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
Galatians 4:10-11
This passage seems to be talking about not binding ourselves to certain special days in regards to finding righteousness in God by such things.