What Does “Be Fulfilled” Mean?: Part 2

In part 1 of exploring what it means to be fulfilled we brought Webster’s definitions to light understanding that there are at least 7 ways to interpret the word fullfilled with most of the ways being similar in meaning. Now let’s compare the Word of God with the Word of God to bring further clarity to this topic.

When I looked up the word “fulfilled” to see how many times it appeared in the NIV and discovered that fulfilled appears 61 times between OT & NT Scriptures my curiosity for what these verses might say was ignited.

Remember that previously we decided to allow “be fulfilled” to mean bring an end to even though the evidence to the contrary was unquestionable. With that said, let’s continue.

Joshua 23:14 (NIV)
"Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.

Every promise has been ended? Really? That’s not very comforting.

Every promise has been…

• Made full
• Put into full effect
• Able to meet the requirements of
• Measured up to
• Converted into reality
• Developed to its full potential

Not sure about you, but this is certainly what I would want to understand fullfilled to be talking about. If you examine 1 Kings 8:15, 1 Kings 9:25, 2 Chronicles 6:15, Proverbs 7:14, Jeremiah 1:12, Lamentations 2:17, Ezekiel 12:23, Ezekiel 13:6, Daniel 9:12 I believe you will be compelled to conclude very similarly to the verse above as it relates to the word fulfilled with those verses too.

Yes, I understand that many claim to follow only the NT instead of the OT. I won’t be using this podium to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of that approach, but I will bring NT Scriptures into the picture for exactly that reason.

John 19:28 (NIV)
Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."

This is a most interesting verse as it holds both the concept of “completed” and “fulfilled” within a single verse. I would conclude that if I complete something I have “made it full”. Others seem content to conclude that fullfilled means to end.
That would make the above verse to read.

John 19:28 (NIV)
Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be ended, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."

That doesn’t make a great deal of sense to me especially in the wake of many more NT verses (Matthew 13:35, John 18:9, Acts 13:27, James 2:23) that also talk about what it means to be fulfilled.

Many would be happy to label me as a “legalist” because of the above, I am not. I am however one that reads and takes the Bible for exactly what it says, nothing more and certainly nothing less.

Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Yet one more telling verse on this topic of what it means to be fulfilled. I long to be with Jesus, don’t you? The only way I’d want that to be ended is within the completion of reuniting with the tree of life Himself, Jesus.

*** Read More ***

What Does “Be Fulfilled” Mean?: Part 1

Many people think that the essence of being fulfilled is to be happy. At first glance this seems to make sense and perhaps in some circles it is what is meant to be fulfilled. The question is, does the concept of being fullfilled also transcend into happiness as it relates to the Biblical interpretation of the word?

NOTE: The following is part 1 of a two part article which I hope helps everyone to understand what exactly it means to be fullfilled.

The best way to define what being fulfilled means is to first define fulfilled. According to Webster:

• to make full
• to put into effect
• to meet the requirements of
• to measure up to
• to convert into reality
• aeto develop the full potentialities of

None of these above definitions directly indicate that being fullfilled is to be happy. All of the above do portray something being put into complete motion which would produce the end result of happiness.

I find this very interesting, especially as it relates to the following verse.

Matt 5:18 (NIV)
For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

In spite of the above definitions from Webster people want to read this verse to mean that the law was done away with. The only suggestion from Webster that this can be interpreted as such would be “to bring to an end” which is the 7th definition he provides.

Logically speaking they are taking a 1 in 7 chance that this is the best definition to apply to this word leaving you with one of two statements being made.

Matt 5:18
For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be “put into effect” or “converted into reality”.

Really, any of the above definitions can be applied toward this verse very easily.

Or…

Matt 5:18
For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be brought to an end.

Even here defining this to mean that the law was somehow brought to an end is an extreme stretch. However, for the sake of argument let’s suppose that that is what this verse is saying and in part 2 we will dig deeper into understanding what it means to be fulfilled.

*** Read More ***

The Law And The Sabbath Day Truth

I’ve heard it said that the law was nailed to the cross, which means the Sabbath Day truth is no longer binding. To support this position the following Scripture is often used.

Matthew 5:17-18
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

As the thought goes, Jesus fulfilled the law, which means it is no longer binding on us today. The strange part happens when I say, great this means I...

* can murder?
* can steal?
* can commit adultery?

Not one person yet has answered this part affirmatively while positioning this self same verse as their support for not keeping the Sabbath.

That aside, let’s look at what exactly is being said from the position of those that use this verse to say that Sabbath keeping has been done away with.

Matthew 5:17-18
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

The discussion boils down to how one would define the word “fulfill.” We turn to Webster for a discussion on that topic.

Fulfill
1: To bring an end to
2: To put into affect
3: To convert into reality
4: To make full

The first definition is what is generally considered to be the right one for this verse. However, when you put it into play you read.

Matthew 5:17-18
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to bring an end to them.

That just doesn’t make sense.

How about the other definitions?

Matthew 5:17-18
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to put them into affect.

Matthew 5:17-18
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to convert them into reality.

Matthew 5:17-18
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to make them full.

These all make sense and as a such what this verse is actually saying is that Christ puts the law that was given by the Prophets into full affect.

*** Read More ***

Understanding The Seventh Day Sabbath

Do you wonder what the Seventh Day Sabbath is? Perhaps you know people who are keeping the fourth commandment today.

Today, I’d like to put a new twist on this entire Sabbath truth discussion.

Let’s look back before the time of Jesus. No, not back to the Jews, let’s go further back yet. Back before there was even a discussion of an ark that Noah would float within.

Back.

Back.

Back.

Back to two brothers named Cain & Able.

Did you know that we could learn about the Sabbath truth from these two brothers?

Sabbath Truth

Both were given a commission by God to prepare a sacrifice.

Able’s was accepted while Cain’s was not.

Genesis 4:4-5
But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Why?

The answer is telling.

Cain did things His way while Able did things God’s way.

Genesis 4:6-7
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
This is very telling to the concept of Sabbath keeping.

Seventh Day Sunday

There are those who will suggest that there is no need to keep Sabbath on the seventh day. Sunday, after all, is the day Jesus rose and as such should be the day that we keep holy.

However, even Wikipedia clearly identifies when Sabbath is and is not.

Sabbath Encyclopedia Wikipedia
The term "Sabbath" derives from the Hebrew shabbat (שבת), "to cease", which was first used in the Biblical account of the seventh day of Creation (Genesis 2:2-3). Observation and remembrance of Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments (the fourth in the original Jewish, the Eastern Orthodox, and most Protestant traditions, the third in Roman Catholic and Lutheran traditions). Most people who observe Biblical Sabbath regard it as having been instituted as a "perpetual covenant [for] the people of Israel" (Exodus 31:13-17), a sign in respect for the day during which God rested after having completed the Creation in six days.

Thus, Sunday is not the Sabbath no matter how many people may try to convince you else wise. This leaves you with a decision of following God’s Sabbath observance or doing it your way.

Cain is a great example of how things works out when we do things are way instead of following God. As such I would highly encourage you to read other articles others and I have written. Study and seek the Sabbath truth for yourself. It’s available for all who will but choose to pursue and find it.

Seventh Day Adventist Sabbath

Some will tell you that the Seventh Day Adventists Sabbath is based on legalism rather than grace.

Was Able operating on a base of legalism or obedience?

The answer to that question will leave you with a choice to make about the seventh day Sabbath that God has called us to remember. Will we choose to follow what God commands or go the way of Cain?

*** Read More ***

How To Experience The Sabbath Rest

Do you believe in the Sabbath rest?

If so, how do you handle Hebrews 4:9 as it relates to resting on the Sabbath?

Hebrews 4:9
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;

This verse clearly identifies a Sabbath rest without specifying a specific day. Therefore, it’s not a big issue as to “which day” just as long as you take “A” day, right?

Hebrews 4 Sabbath Rest

After all, Jesus our Sabbath rest established new laws governed by love for us to follow. Further, since Hebrews is a New Testament book it would seem obvious that it is more binding than the Old. Right?

For sake of argument I’ll agree with that above thought process. However, I will also read the rest of the verse by adding verse 10 to Hebrews 4:9.

Hebrews 4:9-10
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.

God rested from His work?

Genesis 2:2-3
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Yes, indeed.

Did He do this because He was tired?

I hope not or we are all in trouble today. Therefore, I would conclude that He was resting the rest of you. Put another way, He was setting the precedence for what we should follow as it relates to Sabbath keeping in our own lives. Yes the Sabbath was for Moses. Sabbath rest is also for us today.

Jesus Our Sabbath Rest

Sadly, many people will contend that somehow Jesus changed the day of rest.

They will use verses like

Matthew 12:8
For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

Mark 2:27
Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

Luke 6:5
Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

Unfortunately, none of the above verses teach us that the Sabbath has been changed from what it was created to be since the very beginning of time and yet somehow they put the above together in a way to make it say what it clearly does not.

Jesus is Sabbath rest. People God loves have been given this blessing. I would completely agree. What concerns me is when we mere humans then take this concept and make of it what it clearly does not say. I find that to be a danger of immense proportions.

Seventh Day Adventists Sabbath

Many sadly take exception to the Seventh Day Adventists Sabbath position. I would counter that until they are clearly able to show that Scripture does not say what it does say that I will continue to follow God’s Word.

The fourth commandment, which happens to be the only one that starts with the word “remember” is apparently what everyone is attempting to forget today.

Exodus 20:8-11
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Yet, if one truly wants to experience the Sabbath rest doing so God’s way seems the best approach to take to me. How about you?

*** Read More ***

Keeping The Sabbath Holy

[[[ keeping the sabbath holy ]]]
I remember what keeping the Sabbath holy used to mean to me.

7 AM: Rise and get ready for Sunday school.
8 AM: Be agitated and disgruntled with family members for their delay in getting ready.
9:15 AM: Arrive in a flurry of lateness for Sunday school.
9:15 – Noon: Time to keep Sabbath Day holy.

Afternoon?
Buffet lunch – Errands – Pay Bills – Mow Grass – You know, the usual.

Keep Sabbath Day Holy

Then in Bible study on the Sounder train one day I met someone who challenged this thought process of mine. They didn’t use Scripture or pressure but rather two words. Two words anyone can use for affective evangelism.

“Show Me”

Show me that Scripture condones my hectic Sunday schedule as what id does mean keep Sabbath Holy.

Guess what I did?

I took the challenge, and I’m glad I did.

I wanted to prove that I too was able to honor Sabbath. Keep holy the day through a few hours at church and a hectic rat race was all that was necessary. After all, we are not under the law any longer, right?

The Fourth Commandment

My first stop was at The Fourth Commandment itself.

Exodus 20:8-11
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Okay, so there is something about a seventh day here, but this is Old Testament and not binding in today’s world. Jewish customs are just that, right?

Perhaps, but then you would also need to be disqualified from this.

Isaiah 58:13-14
"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD's holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
then you will find your joy in the LORD,
and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

And if that blessing is available to me, I want it. Don’t you?

The Seventh Day

This brings us to the actual creation of the Sabbath Day. Strangely enough it has everything to do with God and nothing to do with Jewish customs.

Genesis 2:2-3
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

So when you choose to remember the seventh day Sabbath Day. Keep holy this Sabbath day and you are recognizing God as the creator of the entire universe. Keeping the Sabbath Holy when you consider this becomes an entirely different thought process; at least it did for me.

*** Read More ***

Jewish Sabbath Day

I remember when.

I remember when I started wondering about the Jewish Sabbath Day.

I remember when I started wondering if this was something I should recognize.

I remember when I asked my Senior Pastor about the Sabbath.

His response? I should not be studying with Seventh Day Adventist.

It’s unclear to me how he came to think I was studying with Adventist. After all, I could have been studying with Messianic Jewish. Seventh Day Adventist people are not the only one’s that recognize Saturday as the Sabbath Day.

Jewish Sabbath Time

And so I asked him again.

This time he pointed me to

Colossians 2:16
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.

First, I was not “judging.”

Second, if you do research on the above verse you will find that it is not talking about the seventh day Sabbath but rather other Sabbath’s like the Jewish Sabbath year or Jewish Sabbath time, which is an entirely different conversation.

Ten Commandments Sabbath

Exodus 20:8-11
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Even when I show people this verse above I often hear them say.

But how can you tell when the seventh day is? Hasn’t the calendar been changed?
Simply put, yes. But the day itself has never been changed from the beginning of time. Take a look at most any calendar and you will find even today that Saturday is clearly identified as the seventh day.

There is an exception in this calendar concept, which comes from the newer structure that the European system is attempting to get put into place, which will make Sunday the seventh day instead.

Wait.

Wasn’t it from within the European nations that Constantine, who changed the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday originated? Interesting how things work together through time.

Christian Sabbath Day

So when a Christian tells you that worshiping on Saturday as the Sabbath is for the Jewish. Seventh Day Adventist are thus off base with their thinking.
Ask them a simple question.

“Show Me”

Directly, and specifically, from God’s Word have them prove their claim. I’m so convinced of what the Bible says that I would be more than willing to pay anyone that is able to do this $1000. To date, I’ve never once had to let go of a single red cent. This in and of itself should be very telling to anyone that is truly wanting to follow what God’s Word says about Sabbath keeping and the Jewish Sabbath Day.

*** Read More ***