QUESTION: Pastor Ronald, possible po ba na yung first four commandments ay ceremonial laws?

QUESTION: 

“Pastor Ronald, possible po ba na yung first four commandments—lalo na ang Sabbath—ay ceremonial laws, hindi moral laws, since covenant lang ito sa Israel?”

ANSWER:

Sa New Covenant Theology, malinaw na distinction:

• Moral law = the law of Christ, summed up in “Love God and love your neighbor” (Matt. 22:37–40; Gal. 6:2).

• Ceremonial law = shadows pointing to Christ, binding only to Israel, hanggang dumating ang New Covenant.

Ngayon, yung first four commandments (about worshiping God, rejecting idols, honoring His name, and keeping the Sabbath), tatlo dun ay clearly moral and eternal—hindi ka dapat sumamba sa ibang diyos, hindi ka dapat gumawa ng idols, at hindi ka dapat mang-insulto sa pangalan ng Diyos.

Pero yung Sabbath command:

• The principle of rest and worship = moral truth, fulfilled in Christ.

• The specific seventh-day observance = ceremonial, a covenant sign given only to Israel (Ex. 31:16–17; Deut. 5:15).

Kaya’t tama ang basa mo: may ceremonial aspect talaga ang Sabbath, kasi it was a shadow (Col. 2:16–17; Heb. 4:9–10). Pero hindi ibig sabihin na ceremonial din yung ibang first commandments. Ang Sabbath lang ang nasa gitna—may moral principle (rest in God) pero ceremonial expression (7th day, Israel-only covenant sign).

Ang totoong New Covenant Sabbath is Christ Himself—yung eternal rest natin sa Kanya, hindi yung araw na ritwal.

So kung tanong: “Moral ba o ceremonial ang Sabbath?” Ang sagot: Both in principle, pero ceremonial sa form—at natupad na kay Kristo. Kaya ngayon, ang moral demand is not a day, but a Person: to rest in Christ alone.

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Moral vs. Ceremonial vs. Fulfillment in Christ

Command / Practice	Moral (Abiding Principle)	Ceremonial (Shadow / Israel Covenant)	Fulfillment in Christ (New Covenant)
No other gods	Worship God alone (Ex. 20:3)	—	Christ is the one true God we worship (John 14:6)
No idols	Reject false worship (Ex. 20:4)	—	Christ is the image of God (Col. 1:15)
Do not misuse God’s name	Honor God’s name with reverence (Ex. 20:7)	—	Christ’s name is above every name (Phil. 2:9–11)
Sabbath day	Rest and trust in God (moral principle)	7th-day observance = covenant sign for Israel (Ex. 31:16–17; Deut. 5:15)	Christ is our true rest and Sabbath (Col. 2:16–17; Heb. 4:9–10)

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Summary:

• First three commandments = purely moral (eternal principles).

• Sabbath = mixed: moral principle of rest, but ceremonial form (7th day tied to Israel’s covenant).

• Now in Christ: We no longer keep a day as a covenant obligation. Instead, we find our eternal Sabbath rest in Him.

Kaya’t hindi ibig sabihin na lahat ng first four commandments ay ceremonial. Isa lang ang may ceremonial aspect — ang Sabbath.

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