Sabbath, Sunday, and Legalism

[Gerhard Ebersöhn]

My experience with Jehovah Witnesses is they really believe they are good Christians and I feel confident that their righteousness is greater than that of the Pharisees but their righteousness may not be the righteousness of God.

To get back on topic they do not keep any specific day Holy. 

No man can keep any day holy or make it holy in the eyes of God.

But that the JWs as the rest of Christiandom except for a few freaks like myself 'keep Sunday', is a fact. And that they view Sunday as 'The Lords Day' is just as indisputable. And that they 'observe Sunday' for congregational worship and the Lord's Supper, is just as true.

I do not know them that well that I could say for sure if they observe the Lord's Supper, however.

It doesn't matter, the JWs just like [the rest of] Christianity DEFEND SUNDAY AGAINST the Seventh Day Sabbath just as vehemently.

For someone from Mars, the JWs will be NO different than all Christians, set he foot on earth on a Sunday.

No different, no difference.

[johnm]

<<No man can keep any day holy or make it holy in the eyes of God.

But that the JWs as the rest of Christiandom except for a few freaks like myself 'keep Sunday', is a fact. And that they view Sunday as 'The Lords Day' is just as indisputable. And that they 'observe Sunday' for congregational worship and the Lord's Supper, is just as true.

I do not know them that well that I could say for sure if they observe the Lord's Supper, however.

It doesn't matter, the JWs just like [the rest of] Christianity DEFEND SUNDAY AGAINST the Seventh Day Sabbath just as vehemently.

For someone from Mars, the JWs will be NO different than all Christians, set he foot on earth on a Sunday.

No different, no difference.>>

This time I understand you.  God does not command His people to do something that cannot be done; all fall short some of the time; but to keep that made holy by God, holy, probably means to respect  it and not profane it; not difficult.   

"Christianity DEFEND SUNDAY AGAINST the Seventh Day Sabbath just as vehemently." I am amazed that you oppose God so strongly and not realise it.

John 12:48 (KJV)
48  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Mark 7:9 (KJV)
9  And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

Colossians 2:16 (KJV)
16  Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

If Paul is saying don't keep the Sabbath then he is also saying don't eat, don't drink and don't have holidays; what Paul is actually talking about is explained in Colossians 2:8.

Colossians 2:8 (KJV)
8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

So even Paul says follow Christ, not men. Paul has not said, "Do not keep the Commandments" but rather, "Beware of those who would have you keep commandment of men".

[Gerhard Ebersöhn]

"Christianity DEFEND SUNDAY AGAINST the Seventh Day Sabbath just as vehemently." I am amazed that you oppose God so strongly and not realise it.

What you do not realize is that I oppose not God but Christianity in its opposition against the Sabbath in favour of Sunday.

[Gerhard Ebersöhn]

<<No man can keep any day holy or make it holy in the eyes of God.

But that the JWs as the rest of Christiandom except for a few freaks like myself 'keep Sunday', is a fact. And that they view Sunday as 'The Lords Day' is just as indisputable. And that they 'observe Sunday' for congregational worship and the Lord's Supper, is just as true.

I do not know them that well that I could say for sure if they observe the Lord's Supper, however.

It doesn't matter, the JWs just like [the rest of] Christianity DEFEND SUNDAY AGAINST the Seventh Day Sabbath just as vehemently.

For someone from Mars, the JWs will be NO different than all Christians, set he foot on earth on a Sunday.

No different, no difference.>>

This time I understand you.  God does not command His people to do something that cannot be done; all fall short some of the time; but to keep that made holy by God, holy, probably means to respect  it and not profane it; not difficult.   

"Christianity DEFEND SUNDAY AGAINST the Seventh Day Sabbath just as vehemently." I am amazed that you oppose God so strongly and not realise it.

John 12:48 (KJV)
48  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Mark 7:9 (KJV)
9  And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

Colossians 2:16 (KJV)
16  Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

If Paul is saying don't keep the Sabbath then he is also saying don't eat, don't drink and don't have holidays; what Paul is actually talking about is explained in Colossians 2:8.

Colossians 2:8 (KJV)
8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

So even Paul says follow Christ, not men. Paul has not said, "Do not keep the Commandments" but rather, "Beware of those who would have you keep commandment of men".

I like this post of yours, especially your views on Colossians 2:18.

God bless you

[Gerhard Ebersöhn]

Johnm I suppose will respond about his Colossians 2:8 and my verse 18. Let's wait and see.

[Amo]

A little more about the Atheists Sunday Assembly

http://sundayassembly.com/

http://sundayassembly.com/public-charter-for-the-sunday-assembly/

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20140208/NEWS06/302080036/Atheist-congregation-Sunday-Assembly-grows-Nashville

[Amo]

http://www.comece.org/site/en/activities/europeansundayalliance

Notice the Jesuit European Office in the list of supporters on the below site.

http://www.europeansundayalliance.eu/site/whoweare/article/65.html

More of the same found about half way down the following page.

http://www.sjweb.info/news/ensPDF.cfm?PubNumID=92&DownLang=1

More from the Jesuits.

http://www.comece.eu/europeinfos/en/archive/issue139/article/3959.html

[Amo]

http://religiousliberty.tv/european-sunday-weekly-rest-day-legislation-remains-unlawful.html

[Amo]

Sunday and Islam. Interesting info.

http://www.islamicedfoundation.com/sunday.htm

http://www.infoimagination.org/islamnm/downloads/CurriculumKG.pdf

http://www.berlinmosque.org/2014/02/sunday-school-registration-begins-march-16th/

http://www.mcnjsundayschool.com/

[Amo]

If Sunday sacredness is to become the worship day of this world by law, as the SDA church has been predicting for over a century and a half now, it would have to make inroads to the Islamic religion. Since it is now has more members I believe, than any other single religion or denomination of Christianity. In line with this progression of thought, the following sites are about Muslim gatherings and events on Sundays. Some of these gathering are interfaith, and include Catholics, Protestants, and Muslims. Please do add any pertinent information along these lines is you know or discover the same.

http://www.dewsburynewmuslims.com/2013/06/new-muslim-convert-social-gathering-for.html

http://www.muslimcoalitionct.org/gatherings-in-support-of-the-newtown-ct-community.html

http://shaykh.wordpress.com/2014/03/03/annual-sisters-gathering/

http://www.kare11.com/news/article/982380/396/Christian-and-Muslim-interfaith-gathering-to-be-held-in-Saint-Anthony-

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/03/muslim-convention-reaches-out-to-christians-and-je/

http://www.ricbaltimore.org/activities/

http://news.ca.msn.com/ontario/guelph/islamic-society-of-guelph-plans-gathering-to-better-bring-the-community-together

http://www.sacredlearning.org/weekly-dhikr/

http://forums.islamicawakening.com/f21/special-dar-al-arqam-iftar-gathering-sunday-27811/

http://www.iqou-moa.org/inter-faith/interfaith1.htm

http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?108032-Sisters-only-gathering-sunday-16th-june-birmingham

http://icoconline.org/islamic-activities/

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/12/15/mosque-hosts-monthly-christian-muslim-events/

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/102042

http://www.iccleveland.org/

[Amo]

http://www.springfieldmosque.com/?page_id=633

http://www.hadeemosque.info/#!worship-services

http://www.mcnyonline.org/

http://www.mcnjonline.com/

http://noidc.org/

http://masjidma.com/category/general/sunday-school/

http://www.istulsa.org/hoursanddirections.html

http://www.canterburymosque.com/

[Amo]

http://sundayassembly.com/

[Amo]

A couple of more interesting sites -

http://ndcatholic.org/editorials/column0711/

https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter136/Section1

[Amo]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-05/israeli-proposal-to-make-sunday-day-of-rest-may-benefit-retail.html

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/04/14/358477/greek-police-clash-with-protesters/

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nuevodiarioweb.com.ar%2Fnota%2Flabanda%2F519175%2Fcentro-comercio-e-industria-se-adhiere-al-domingo-no-laborable.html

http://petition.etuc.org/IMG/pdf/A_TT_secteur_com_EN.pdf

http://connexionfrance.com/sunday-opening-diy-stores-bricolage-law-france-15462-view-article.html

[Amo]

A couple of interesting clips on you tube from the BBC debating the subject -

Part1 Dr. Michael Schluter CBE, Keep Sunday Special Founder on BBC One The Big Questions 28 02 2010

Part2 Dr. Michael Schluter CBE, Keep Sunday Special Founder on BBC One The Big Questions 28 02 2010

[Amo]

http://www.infoans.org/1.asp?Lingua=2&sez=1&doc=10210

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a3.htm

http://www.sbclife.net/Articles/2012/06/sla12

http://jemartisby.com/2014/04/28/what-ever-happened-to-a-sabbath-days-rest/

http://cvcomment.org/2014/01/15/the-question-before-mlords-are-sunday-rest-days-core-to-christian-belief/

[Sister_barista]

I wish there was a thumbs up button on here!   

[Amo]

I wish there was a thumbs up button on here!   

Hello Sister_barista, welcome to the Grace Centered forums. I assume you are a Sabbath keeper. Happy Sabbath.

[Amo]

A few more internet sites regarding Sunday services and the role they will play in the false unity of this worlds religions, and as already demonstrated non religious in rebellion against God's fourth commandment. Notice the variety of religions, statements of unity form many of them, and of course the day they choose for their services. This day of the sun which will be the rallying point for a world in rebellion against God, under the guiding hand of the Church of Rome.

http://www.ananda.org/video/sunday-services

http://www.yogananda-srf.org/Sunday_Services.aspx#.U3egKCg9A2U

http://www.uufr.org/worship-and-music/sunday-services

http://firstuustlouis.org/about-us/first-unitarian-church-of-st-louis

http://www.scientology.org/what-is-scientology/scientology-religious-ceremonies/scientology-sunday-service.html

http://seattlebetsuin.org/index.php/sunday-services/

http://cslcs.org/services/

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/sunday-service/article1412973.ece

http://mccsf.org/sunday-services/

http://unitydallas.org/about/unity-movement/

http://www.unityofbellevue.org/sunday-celebration-services-1

http://lizbethsgarden.wordpress.com/2011/05/01/sunday-service-beltane/

http://allsoulskc.org/category/sunday-services/

http://www.unitypaloalto.org/beliefs

http://joyfulgathering.org/sunday-services-at-joyful-gatherings-spritual-center/

http://www.sacredcauldron.ca/sunday-circle.html

http://www.zenbuddhisttemple.org/service.html

http://manitobabuddhistchurch.org/traditions/sundayservice.html

http://portlandspiritualistchurch.org/sunday-services/

http://www.spiritualistassociation.org.uk/Sunday_Services/sunday_services.html

[Gerhard Ebersöhn]

Is there nothing in the Bible about the Sabbath that could be discussed instead?

[Amo]

Is there nothing in the Bible about the Sabbath that could be discussed instead?

Yea, we hardly ever talk about the Sabbath around here.

[johnm]

<<Is there nothing in the Bible about the Sabbath that could be discussed instead?>>
Jesus would never say "Sunday"; the word would have been an abomination, let alone what it meant. Whereas the seventh day and Sabbath are mentioned and are too numerous to count. The first day is mentioned with its function and never interchangeable with the seventh day.

Genesis 2:3 (KJV)
3  And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

The question is: has God blessed any other day, has He sanctified any other day and deemed it Holy, and Has God rested on any other day?

The whole issue of the Sabbath verses Sunday is: does one reject the whole counsel of God and accept an alternative authority.

[DaveW]

The whole issue of the Sabbath verses Sunday is: does one reject the whole counsel of God and accept an alternative authority.

And that WHOLE COUNSEL includes the fact that the Sabbath is a covenantal sign between God and natural Israel - the Jews. It is NEVER mentioned as a sign between God and any gentiles.

Exodus 31:16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.
17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.

[johnm]

<<Quote from: johnm on Yesterday at 06:48:11 PM
The whole issue of the Sabbath verses Sunday is: does one reject the whole counsel of God and accept an alternative authority.>>

<<<And that WHOLE COUNSEL includes the fact that the Sabbath is a covenantal sign between God and natural Israel - the Jews. It is NEVER mentioned as a sign between God and any gentiles.

Exodus 31:16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.
17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.>>>

Dave I don't express myself well; even though I used the words "whole counsel of God" the point that I was trying to make was that the issue is authority; the authority of God and His day verses the authority of gentile men and their day.

As far as I am aware God has never counselled gentiles; had He done so He may well have mentioned His day of rest; technically Abraham, Adam and Noah may have been gentiles, I don't know. What I know is since Mosses the whole counsel of God up to and including the Gospels was directed at Israel not gentiles; although in more than one place in the OT God has said the Law and the covenant would go to the gentiles. Everything was given to Israel first and extended unchanged to the gentiles at Pentecost.

You're Dispensational paradigm and the Roman Catholic paradigm depends on the covenant also known as the Law being abrogated at the cross. I have always considered myself to be a lost sheep not a gentile, so I use the Biblical paradigm.

[DaveW]

JohnM, I do understand what you say but it is OK to be a gentile.  I am one. (albeit one called to live in the Messianic Jewish community).

I am not of a dispensational bent at all.  I do not take the entirety of the "Law" [an incomplete translation of Torah] to be abrogated at all.  Some parts like the Yom Kippur and sin/guilt offerings - yes.  But more in the sense of superseded and made meaningless. Other parts - not at all. 

But I am also aware that the Torah (teaching, instruction) is ongoing to the Jewish people.

[Dougie56]

GOD BLESS

[Amo]

<<Quote from: johnm on Yesterday at 06:48:11 PM
The whole issue of the Sabbath verses Sunday is: does one reject the whole counsel of God and accept an alternative authority.>>

<<<And that WHOLE COUNSEL includes the fact that the Sabbath is a covenantal sign between God and natural Israel - the Jews. It is NEVER mentioned as a sign between God and any gentiles.

Exodus 31:16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.
17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.>>>

Dave I don't express myself well; even though I used the words "whole counsel of God" the point that I was trying to make was that the issue is authority; the authority of God and His day verses the authority of gentile men and their day.

As far as I am aware God has never counselled gentiles; had He done so He may well have mentioned His day of rest; technically Abraham, Adam and Noah may have been gentiles, I don't know. What I know is since Mosses the whole counsel of God up to and including the Gospels was directed at Israel not gentiles; although in more than one place in the OT God has said the Law and the covenant would go to the gentiles. Everything was given to Israel first and extended unchanged to the gentiles at Pentecost.

You're Dispensational paradigm and the Roman Catholic paradigm depends on the covenant also known as the Law being abrogated at the cross. I have always considered myself to be a lost sheep not a gentile, so I use the Biblical paradigm.

Dave will never come to grips with the reality that converted Gentiles, are no longer Gentiles. That they have been graft into the vine. That Jew and Gentile are both made one in Christ. That converted Gentiles are children of Abraham and thus privy to the covenant God made with him and thus the Jews also. He wishes to maintain a separation between that which Christ came to unite. Thus he must maintain a Gentile church separate from Israel with different standards and method of salvation.

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 11 ¶  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 ¶ For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The above situation described by Paul does not exist for Dave. He rejects the same. Correct me if I am wrong Dave. Or at least, please explain the above verses according to your understanding, that I might better understand where you are coming from. Thanks.

[Gerhard Ebersöhn]

<<<... the Torah (teaching, instruction) is ongoing to the Jewish people.>>>

The Jews have NOTHING of the Word of God <<<ongoing>>> for them. God finished with the Jews AS A NATION : He REJECTED them forever. The Torah is ongoing to the CHRISTIAN People of God for <teaching and instruction>; NO MORE FOR THE LAW—WHICH NOW IS CHRIST.

It is because "JESUS gave them rest that a keeping of the SABBATH REMAINS : FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD" --- not for the unbelievers!

Holy Writ :

"For Moses from generations ancient has in the Churches on EVERY SABBATH been read
... with all the Chosen
... becoming of ONE MIND
... offering their lives up on behalf of the NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST"—

... as most recently in Acts 13 in Pisidia in Antioch,

"... on the Coming-Together-Sabbath-FOR-TO-HEAR-the-Word-of-God
... all the city
... Gentiles and some Jews
... were assembled."

[Amo]

Ongoing issues related to Sunday legalism -

http://www.gov.je/News/2014/Pages/SundayTradingConsultation.aspx

http://union-news.co.uk/2014/05/sunday-trading-law-lobbyists-warpath-union-warns/

http://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2014/05/18/constable-scrap-sunday-trading-trial/

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/sunday.trading.give.us.a.break/30718.htm

https://www.gov.uk/trading-hours-for-retailers-the-law

http://wn.com/sunday_trading

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_Trading_Act_1994

http://www.gov.gg/sundaytrading

https://www.derrypayments.com/licences/Sunday-Trading.aspx

http://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/sunday-trading/

http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2014/04/17/Online-poll---Sunday-trading-up-to-market/

https://www.facebook.com/SundayTradingPerth

https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/18555574/extra-sunday-trade-may-cost-family-life/

http://europeanlawblog.eu/?tag=sunday-trading

http://www.christian.org.uk/news/sunday-trading-longer-hours-will-put-pressure-on-workers/

http://www.cityam.com/article/1395633782/sunday-trading-laws-are-outdated-we-must-extend-opening-hours

[DaveW]

Dave will never come to grips with the reality that converted Gentiles, are no longer Gentiles. That they have been graft into the vine. That Jew and Gentile are both made one in Christ.

Au Contraire.  I have come to understand that quite well.  Do you not know that if a branch from an orange tree is grafted into a lemon tree or grapefruit tree it will still bear ORANGES? It is still an orange.  (but one tree)

Similarly, the wild olive branch (gentiles) when grafted into the cultivated tree of Israel will still bear its original variety of olives? (i.e. still a gentile)  Note: still only one tree  but 2 different fruits.

There are no "2 methods of salvation." It is all by placing faith in the completed work of the cross; our Lord's death and resurrection.

But that does NOT mean that different people groups have differing walks (AFTER salvation) laid out for them by the Lord.

[Amo]

Dave will never come to grips with the reality that converted Gentiles, are no longer Gentiles. That they have been graft into the vine. That Jew and Gentile are both made one in Christ.

Au Contraire.  I have come to understand that quite well.  Do you not know that if a branch from an orange tree is grafted into a lemon tree or grapefruit tree it will still bear ORANGES? It is still an orange.  (but one tree)

Similarly, the wild olive branch (gentiles) when grafted into the cultivated tree of Israel will still bear its original variety of olives? (i.e. still a gentile)  Note: still only one tree  but 2 different fruits.

There are no "2 methods of salvation." It is all by placing faith in the completed work of the cross; our Lord's death and resurrection.

But that does NOT mean that different people groups have differing walks (AFTER salvation) laid out for them by the Lord.

Now show us that from the scriptures please. Show us how both being made one in Christ, really means both separate in Christ, from scripture please.

[johnm]

<<Quote from: Amo on May 31, 2014, 08:25:51 AM

Dave will never come to grips with the reality that converted Gentiles, are no longer Gentiles. That they have been graft into the vine. That Jew and Gentile are both made one in Christ.>>

}}Au Contraire.  I have come to understand that quite well.  Do you not know that if a branch from an orange tree is grafted into a lemon tree or grapefruit tree it will still bear ORANGES? It is still an orange.  (but one tree)

Similarly, the wild olive branch (gentiles) when grafted into the cultivated tree of Israel will still bear its original variety of olives? (i.e. still a gentile)  Note: still only one tree  but 2 different fruits.

There are no "2 methods of salvation." It is all by placing faith in the completed work of the cross; our Lord's death and resurrection.

But that does NOT mean that different people groups have differing walks (AFTER salvation) laid out for them by the Lord.{{


<<<Now show us that from the scriptures please. Show us how both being made one in Christ, really means both separate in Christ, from scripture please.>>>

Seriously Amo oranges and lemons are not in the Bible and I am not able to find "the wild olive branch in my Bibles either; but in the midst of not knowing anything about fruit trees Dave has unwittingly made a profound statement. Dave made a fundamental error; when one grafts an orange tree onto a lemon three the lemon tree continues to produce lemons and the grafted orange tree produces oranges, it is never the lemon tree producing oranges; Dave's analogy of grafting Pagan onto Israel has two problems; first the Israel to which Dave refers are not necessarily overcomers or descendants of Jacob and second grafting Pagan onto any base produces only Pagan fruit.
I really would like to say something useful; there is only one way to salvation and that is via the covenant which most people abrogate or nail to the cross. Christ's finished work on the cross was the signature on the covenant, the covenant itself is the fine print (also the blood and flesh of Christ, in all the scriptures) that is also the bread of life and the eating of and growing into something is the way of God. Should an overcomer use his intelligence? Of course, the mistake most make is instead of following God they try to lead God by the nose. The road to life is narrow and few find it, the road to destruction is broad and most go that way.

[DaveW]

Now show us that from the scriptures please. Show us how both being made one in Christ, really means both separate in Christ, from scripture please.

Gen 2.22 The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.
23 The man said,

"This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."

24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

One flesh. One body. Did both become of the same gender? Or did 2 different style bodies still exist AFTER being made one?

John 17.20 "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;
21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

Does that mean that there is only one person?  One body?

1 Corinthians 12.13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.
19 If they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now there are many members, but one body.

So Paul tells us we are all one body but each part of that body has individual functions and uses. It is not all uniform. 

Jew and Gentile is only one of the divisions of labor within the body.

[Gerhard Ebersöhn]

The whole issue of the Sabbath verses Sunday is: does one reject the whole counsel of God and accept an alternative authority.

And that WHOLE COUNSEL includes the fact that the Sabbath is a covenantal sign between God and natural Israel - the Jews. It is NEVER mentioned as a sign between God and any gentiles.

Exodus 31:16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.
17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.

<<<The whole issue of the Sabbath verses Sunday is: does one reject the whole counsel of God and accept an alternative authority.>>>

Exactly TRUE! Here you are giving the very 'TEST' you should --- yourself --- apply to your own predisposition, namely,
<<<The whole issue of the Sabbath verses Sunday is: does one reject the whole counsel of God and accept an alternative authority>>> WHICH IS WHOLLY CONTRADICTORY with what you claim, namely, that
<<<that WHOLE COUNSEL includes the fact that the Sabbath is a covenantal sign between God and natural Israel - the Jews. It is NEVER mentioned as a sign between God and any gentiles.>>>

You falsely inserts <<natural>>, and <<the Jews>> and false ly asserts << the Sabbath is NEVER mentioned as a sign between God and any gentiles.>>>

In fact nothing of what you arrogate is <in fact> true or just simply correct. You are the first person who should take heed that the WHOLE COUNSEL of God includes that the Sabbath has been a Covenantal sign between God and Christ in the first place and next between God and SPIRITUAL Israel - the Christians. In fact, the Sabbath whenever mentioned, is being mentioned as a sign and tool in the hand of God in his working out throughout the HISTORY OF SALVATION of the <<WHOLE COUNSEL of God>> which CULMINATED IN CHRIST JESUS.

It is so easy to make authoritative statements with great bravado but meantime everything about it is a farce.

[Gerhard Ebersöhn]

Christ's finished work on the cross ....

What did Jesus resurrect for then?

Christ's work --- as GOD'S <work> --- was not finished <<on the cross>>, but "when God raised Him from the dead and exalted Him far above every name and seated – rested Him on his own right hand in heavenly Glory and Majesty. THAT was "the all-EXCEEDING greatness of God's POWER which He WORKED : RAISING Christ from the dead."

THAT WAS THE WHOLE REASON FOR AND MANNER IN WHICH "GOD FROM ALL HIS WORKS : RESTED" and "JESUS GAVE THE PEOPLE OF GOD REST wherefore there for them remains a Sabbath's-rest valid."