Keep the Sabbath, Saturday or Sunday & Rest in Christ

[Rose of Shushan]

Quote:O.k. so why don't christians do the same today. If Paul thought it o.k. to observe certain things to witness to jews, then are christians allowed to do it today? It's been my experience when a christian witnesses to Jewish people and go into their sermon on how they don't need to keep the sabbath and observe the feasts and such, that automatically turns the Jewish people away from christianity. Another thought, if Paul was allowed to do that to witness to the Jewish people, then if someone believes in Yehushua as their saviour, but still wants to observe the feasts and sabbath for their own personal joy and worship then is it o.k?

Carl do you mean that we have to change the gospel in order to make it more palatable for the jewish people? You give some good questions here .As to If Paul thought it o.k. to observe certain things to witness to jews, then are christians allowed to do it today?

Depends if these Christians today are jewish or gentile.If someone is jewish and comes to Christ I don’t see why they should change their lifestyles, traditions, etc unless obviously there's things there which obviously are not compatible with the gospel. It’s a different thing when gentiles who come to Christ feel that they have to adopt the traditions and customs of the jewish culture just to make the gospel appear more jewish.
The difference with Paul is that he was a jew. But very importantly,Paul also never compromised the gospel. Do you remember in Acts when Paul goes with the four men who had taken a vow? The seven days were almost up and then Paul decides to open his mouth and give the gospel. Oops ,he started a riot! Why do you think Paul was repeatedly accused of going against Moses and the Temple. Wasnt it because he was giving the same message that we see in his writings. Do you think the jews liked his message about us not being under the law anymore, there being no jew and gentile anymore and that the laws contained in ordinances are nailed to the cross, for example. Do you see why they wanted to stone him etc.
Carl, Messianics on the whole I have found change the gospel message in order to make Jesus more palatable in their minds to what they think the jewish individual wants to hear.

Quote:It's been my experience when a christian witnesses to Jewish people and go into their sermon on how they don't need to keep the sabbath and observe the feasts and such, that automatically turns the Jewish people away from christianity.

Is this experience with Jews already trained to combat Christianity, such as anti missionaries or is it with the average jewish person? I wonder.
I have actually found the opposite to you in that Jews, when they see gentiles take on jewish commandments such as the wearing of tzit tzit , are appalled, horrified and insulted. They think its just another way that Christians are now wanting to convert them ,by "appearing " to be jews.
Carl we have to remember that it is not "us" that convert anyone but the Holy spirit working in the other person. Jews that come to Jesus don’t do so because they can hold onto their Torah keeping ,most Jews aren’t as zealous for torah as you and Messianics might think and are instead looking for hope ,peace and a meaning to life like gentiles are.
We don’t need to appear to be anything and just present the good news and with the Jewish people, using the prophets and scriptures to show them Jesus and where he was promised to us.

Quote:Another thought, if Paul was allowed to do that to witness to the Jewish people, then if someone believes in Yehushua as their saviour, but still wants to observe the feasts and sabbath for their own personal joy and worship then is it o.k?

Another good question. By observing the feasts I think you mean honouring them in some way right? Cos I'm sure you don’t go to Jerusalem three times a year with your lamb, bull or pair of turtle doves, right.
From what I read in the NT, we are under liberty. Liberty to observe and commemorate in whatever way we like, within reason. So I would say yes to your question .If you want to rest on the Sabbath , then go ahead. If you want to remember it’s the same day that Bnei Israel was given as a sign of the Mosaic covenant, go for it.On the feasts issue I often wonder how exactly messianics "keep " them but that’s for another thread.
One thing I have found is that many messianics do these things into thinking that it either helps their worship, makes them feel more spiritual or another reason which is even worse, that God actually demands it of us.
God is not interested in the outward rituals you perform but in the state of your heart .So as Paul said, whatever you do,do unto the Lord.