Christian_Sabbath

Christians and the Sabbath Old Testament accounts of the 1st and 7th days of the week. In Genesis, the first day of the week is only mentioned 1:5, with no mention of that day being declared holy by God. Gen 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. However, in Gen 2:3 we see that he did identify one day as being special. Gen 2:3 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. Adam and Eve were created on the sixth day, before the Sabbath day. They were present to observe the day of rest God created. The Sabbath is not a “Jewish only” law because Adam and Eve were not Hebrews/Israelites/Jews. Even if one claims that the Law of Moses does not apply to modern Christians, it is important to note that the Sabbath was established many centuries before the Law of Moses. Throughout the entire Bible (OT and NT) there was only one day that was blessed and sanctified (set aside as holy) by God Himself. Nowhere in the Bible is the first day of the week (Sunday) mentioned as blessed or sacred. We are again reminded to observe the seventh day Sabbath in the commandments given at Sinai: Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy… Why is it that Christian’s don’t question the validity of any of the other 9 commandments God gave to His people, but are quick to dismiss the Sabbath''' Exodus 31:13-17 "But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. 'Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD; whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall surely be put to death. So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.' It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed." Keeping of the Sabbath was a “PERPETUAL” covenant. The definitions of perpetual are: continual, never-ending, ageless, lasting forever (the opposite of never). If all Old Testament covenants are invalid, consider the following significant covenant between God and mankind: Genesis 9:11-13 "I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth." God said, "This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.” If God’s “forever” in Exodus 31 doesn’t really mean forever, then His “never” in Genesis 9 must not really mean never. Keep that life-raft handy!!! Also, if God’s covenant with Noah is no longer valid, why did He leave the sign (a rainbow) of the expired covenant' Perhaps the sign still exists because this covenant still exists. And if this Old Testament covenant still exists, perhaps not all of the laws/covenants of the Old Testament expired with Christ’s death on the cross. New Testament accounts of the 1st and 7th days of the week. Matthew In the book of Matthew, there is one reference to Sunday (the first day of the week): Matt 28:1 In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. This is just a historical account of the Marys going to the tomb on the 1st day of the week, (possibly since they couldn’t visit it on the Sabbath). There is no indication that the 1st day of the week was sanctified or designated as special. Sabbath in Jesus’ prophesy. Additional evidence from the New Testament that indicates the seventh day Sabbath was to be observed after the crucifixion. Mat 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be' and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world' Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day: Regardless of what Jesus is prophesying about (possibly the destruction of Jerusalem), He is clearly warning his disciples about something and that they should pray that they will not need to flee on the Sabbath. Why not the Sabbath' Because God intended the Sabbath day to be one of rest, not a day of fleeing for one’s life. Jesus is affirming that in the future the Sabbath would still be observed by God’s people. Mat 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath day. Since Matthew was written several decades after Christ’s resurrection (about 70-80 AD), then why is there no mention of Sunday being a special day or day of worship' Mark Mark 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. Mark 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. Mark 16:14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. Again, these events are just historical accounts of events that just happened to occur on the first day. There is no indication that any form of worship was going on, or that there is anything special about that day other than it was the actual day Christ was resurrected. Verse 14 mentions the apostles being together, but there is no indication they were worshipping and definitely not celebrating His resurrection because they didn’t even believe it had happened. Mark 2:28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath. Like Matthew, the book of Mark is written well after Christ’s resurrection (60 – 70 AD), yet is completely silent on any guidance to worship on Sunday. Luke Luke 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. Once again, this verse is only a historical account of an event that happened on that day. Later in chapter 24, the story includes the gathering of the apostles, but there is no indication that they were there to worship. Even though they were told by Mary that Christ had risen, they didn’t believe it (Mark 16:14). It wasn’t until he appeared and (vs 45) “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” that they knew it was him. This indicates that they were not gathered to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. Luke is believed to have been written even later than Matthew and Mark (80-90 AD), yet again, there is no mention of the importance of worshipping on Sunday. John John also describes the event on the actual resurrection day. John 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene… And in John 20:18-20, we get another account of the assembled apostles and Jesus’ appearance. In John, there is still no indication they were together to worship on Sunday. A likely reason they were together is that they had just finished celebrating the Sabbath and were seeking comfort in each other, still in shock at Jesus’ death. Note – Wouldn’t Jesus’ appearance to the 11 apostles be the perfect time to institute a new Christian version of the Sabbath observance' Although John was written much later than Christ’s resurrection (90-100 AD), there is absolutely no indication that the first day of the week was to be separate or identified as the day of worship. Eight days later (if you include resurrection Sunday as day one) the disciples met again on Sunday. Again Jesus appeared to them (for the benefit of Thomas'), and again made no mention of a new Sabbath or Sunday worship. Like the previous week, the reason they were all together on Sunday may have to do with the previous day being the Sabbath, so they were still together. Luke 6:5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath. Acts Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. Why were the disciples meeting on Sunday' There doesn’t appear to be any requirement or commandment to do so in earlier books. Breaking bread in the Bible meant either eating a common meal or taking of the Lord’s Supper. Jeremiah 16:7; Luke 24:30,35; Acts 2:46-47 - Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 27:34-36 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat [food]: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. Clearly the disciples are meeting on Sunday, the first day of the week, and it could be argued that in this case, “breaking bread” might mean the Lord’s supper. But why were they together, and why on Sunday' This gathering was the last day the people at Troas could meet with him (a going away gathering), and that is why it lasted into the early morning (Acts 20:16 says Paul was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem). Did Paul preach' Yes, without doubt, as verse 7 makes clear. Did they celebrate the Lord's supper' Maybe, but even if they did, there is nothing to indicate that that Sunday, or any Sunday, was being observed as a new holy day to replace the Sabbath. On the day of Pentecost, there was a significant gathering. This gathering was not in response to a command to meet on the first day of the week instead of the Sabbath. The reason for the meeting was the Shavuot which commemorates the anniversary of the day God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai. The celebration of Shavuot was always 50 days after the Passover, therefore renamed Pentecost in the Greek language. Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. The book of Acts does not tell us that they came together to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, or gathered because it was the first day of the week. The celebration of Pentecost, like that of Passover, is not tied to any particular week day, but is determined by the biblical lunar calendar, which means it does not always fall on the first day of the week. The Catholic Church ruled in the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. that the Resurrection of Christ would always be observed on a Sunday instead of the biblical calendar day. So, there is nothing in the book of Acts (written about 80 - 90 A.D.) that commands Sunday as being set aside as a holy day of worship. Paul preaches in Antioch. In Acts chapter 13, Paul arrives in Antioch and preaches in the synagogue on the Sabbath (v. 14-41). Paul was invited back (by the Jews and Gentiles) the following Sabbath to continue his message. If Paul observed Sunday as the new Christian Sabbath, why didn’t he invite them (at least the Gentiles) to attend services with them the very next day' Acts 13:44 And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. Paul in Corinth It is clear in Acts that Paul kept only the Sabbath day in Corinth, not the first day of the week (Sunday): Acts 18:1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. Acts 18:11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. Paul preached 70 +/- Sabbaths in Corinth. There’s no doubt that Paul worshipped on the Sabbath in Corinth, not on Sunday. 1st Corinthians Written between 52 and 57 A.D., 1 Cor 16:2-4 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he is requesting money be saved for distribution to the needy saints in Jerusalem. Paul is recommending that each person save a proportional amount of their income so when he arrives, the contribution will be available to expedite relief to the needy. Paul is not instructing the Corinthians to observe Sunday, or even implying that funds are to be collected during a Sunday worship service. His guidance is that on the first day of the week, everyone is to allocate and save a portion of their income. Since Saturday was the Sabbath, they couldn’t set aside the funds on that day as it would have broken Sabbath rules against working. Not once in the New Testament did Jesus or God mention the first day of the week, much less declare it the new day of rest to replace the earlier established Sabbath that was CLEARLY identified as holy by God Himself. Revelation Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, This verse obviously makes no link between the Lord’s day and Sunday (or any other day of the week). Additionally, this verse does not suggest to meet or worship on whatever day the Lord’s day is. Remember the LORD only blessed and called holy one day of the week, the seventh day Sabbath! Conclusion Not only was the Sabbath never rescinded, but scripture even makes clear that in the future, all of mankind (those who are saved) will observe the Sabbath when worshipping the Lord: Isa 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. Isa 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. 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. According to Isaiah 58:13, the Saturday Sabbath is only day identified in the Bible as “The LORD’s Day.” A “Christian Sunday Sabbath” to honor the resurrection, was clearly unknown to the Apostles. It was never observed, nor commanded by them to observe. From cover to cover, the Bible does not speak of any obligation to observe Sunday as a day of worship. Not once, according to the New Testament, were the Apostles gathered together in worship on a Sunday for the declared purpose of honoring the resurrection. The day continually mentioned in the Bible as holy was always the last day of the week, Saturday. By observing Sunday, we are claiming that human tradition and early church teaching has authority over God’s word. Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man,        but in the end it leads to death. Hebrews 8:8-10 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Further Discussion Is it okay not to observe any specific day to the Lord' Romans 14:5-6  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.