Is Saturday Sabbath Observance Essential?

Romans 14 New International Version (NIV)
The Weak and the Strong

14 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.
22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin

This is what Paul says about things of conscience. Its quite different to what SDA church and Ellen White is teaching isn't it ?

Having been mostly non-denominational BUT attending Seventh-Day Adventist church as well as Seventh-Day Baptist churches, I observe the seventh day as a day of rest from the world. Why? God blessed and hallowed the seventh day. If one discards that commandment then why not just discard the other 9 as well? I have yet to have someone show me biblically where God transferred that blessing from the seventh day to the first day. We don't get to pick and choose. And yes, Jesus did keep the Sabbath. People accuse SDAs of a lot of things, being legalists for one. And although I look at Ellen White as a good historian but not a prophet, do we label people as "legalists" simple because they want to follow God's word? If you don't follow God's word then you are following man's word. Which do you choose?

NewEnglandGirl said:

Having been mostly non-denominational BUT attending Seventh-Day Adventist church as well as Seventh-Day Baptist churches, I observe the seventh day as a day of rest from the world. Why? God blessed and hallowed the seventh day. If one discards that commandment then why not just discard the other 9 as well? I have yet to have someone show me biblically where God transferred that blessing from the seventh day to the first day. We don't get to pick and choose. And yes, Jesus did keep the Sabbath. People accuse SDAs of a lot of things, being legalists for one. And although I look at Ellen White as a good historian but not a prophet, do we label people as "legalists" simple because they want to follow God's word? If you don't follow God's word then you are following man's word. Which do you choose?

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One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.
SDA teach the person who eats kosher is stronger than the person who eats everything. This is opposite of what Paul has written in the bible.

But this is clearly a change from Christian law to Levi law so some things have changed under Christ as he declared all food clean. This is clearly one of the many changes he made. Of course Christ upheld mosaic law till his death and he had trained the disciples to bring in Christianity.

5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike.

Why did Paul say this ???

dougangel,

It would be helpful to keep things in context. Paul was not referring to the Commandments of God in Romans 14:1-6. He was referring to religious rules created by men, which some were trying to impose on believers.

If Paul were referring to God's Law, then he would have contradicted his own writings elsewhere:

"Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law." (Romans 3:31 NKJV)

The word for "establish" literally means to uphold and continue in doing. IN other words, God expects us to keep His commandments. That includes keeping the Sabbath holy.

"Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:12 NKJV)

"Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city." (Revelation 22:14 NKJV)

woobadooba said:

dougangel,

It would be helpful to keep things in context. Paul was not referring to the Commandments of God in Romans 14:1-6. He was referring to religious rules created by men, which some were trying to impose on believers.

If Paul were referring to God's Law, then he would have contradicted his own writings elsewhere:

"Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law." (Romans 3:31 NKJV)

The word for "establish" literally means to uphold and continue in doing. IN other words, God expects us to keep His commandments. That includes keeping the Sabbath holy.

"Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:12 NKJV)

"Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city." (Revelation 22:14 NKJV)

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First of all I believe we should be keeping the Sabbath. It’s definitely re-iterated in Christ teachings and the NT letters. I just don’t uphold the Sabbath in the same way you do.

It would be helpful to keep things in context. Paul was not referring to the Commandments of God in Romans 14:1-6. He was referring to religious rules created by men, which some were trying to impose on believers.

Well I believe I am keeping things in context. Where does it say . “”He was referring to religious rules created by men, which some were trying to impose on believers.”” ????
If Paul were referring to God's Law, then he would have contradicted his own writings elsewhere:

I don’t believe that is correct as Paul wrote this:
1 Corinthians 9 Paul’s Use of His Freedom
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Paul who was a Jew says he is under Christ’s law but says he is not under the law which must be Levi law that he is talking about.

"Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law." (Romans 3:31 NKJV)
The word for "establish" literally means to uphold and continue in doing. IN other words, God expects us to keep His commandments. That includes keeping the Sabbath holy.

I don’t believe establish means continue doing. For example I can establish a club but I can stop going to the club (that is continue doing the club).
"Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law." (Romans 3:31 NKJV)

Don’t believe your interpretations of that is correct. I going to para phrase it to help you understand it.
Do we delete the law through faith in Christ and following the commandment of Christianity. No we Uphold or establish the OT law through Christ and his perfection of following the OT law and fulfilling what the prophets said.
"Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:12 NKJV)

"Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city." (Revelation 22:14 NKJV)
Modern man can’t keep the Sabbath the way it was intended in the old testament.

saspian said:

I have had some involvement with SDA over many decades.
As for Sabbath worship I do not see this as essential and possibly not in keeping with Christ's seemingly essential message.
Some have accused SDA of being latter day Galatians.
This is simply a personal consideration.
Many years ago The Pope was viewed as 666. Does this still apply?
Thank you.

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Do you think obeying the 10commandments is essential? Is it OK to be a thief? Is it OK to practice adultery? Is it OK to deceive people?

NewEnglandGirl said:

Having been mostly non-denominational BUT attending Seventh-Day Adventist church as well as Seventh-Day Baptist churches, I observe the seventh day as a day of rest from the world. Why? God blessed and hallowed the seventh day. If one discards that commandment then why not just discard the other 9 as well? I have yet to have someone show me biblically where God transferred that blessing from the seventh day to the first day. We don't get to pick and choose. And yes, Jesus did keep the Sabbath. People accuse SDAs of a lot of things, being legalists for one. And although I look at Ellen White as a good historian but not a prophet, do we label people as "legalists" simple because they want to follow God's word? If you don't follow God's word then you are following man's word. Which do you choose?

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I like your reasoning and things you pointed out. Good thinking!

joeb32 said:

Do you think obeying the 10commandments is essential? Is it OK to be a thief? Is it OK to practice adultery? Is it OK to deceive people?

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That's quite a simplistic observation. The seventh day Sabbath was given to the nation of Israel as a sign between them and God, not as a moral law given to all humanity.

Exodus 31:
12 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.

14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

Obviously this explanation was given before the tablets were even given to the Israelites. The Seventh-day Sabbath observance was given to the Nation of Israel as a sign and a covenant between them specifically, and God, not for all mankind.

Ricker, to give an answer to your objections I'm quoting selected parts of something I wrote elsewhere on this forum, for the full text see my blog post here: http://www.christianforums.com/xfa-blogs/ubuntu.303741/

a)
The Sabbath was instituted when God created Earth, before man fell into sin, before man had any need of someone to save us from sin. "God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he ceased all the work that he had been doing in creation." - Genesis 2:3

In other words, the Sabbath was a holy day for a long time before Abraham and Moses lived. It was “holy”, meaning that it was “set apart” as a special day. Since it was given to Adam before any Jew had come into existence, the notion that the Sabbath was for the Jews alone cannot be correct.

When the Sabbath commandment was reconfirmed at Sinai a reference to creation was given as the reason why the Sabbath day is holy. The language here makes it clear that the Sabbath already was known to the Jews:

“Remember the Sabbath day to set it apart as holy. […] For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, and he rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.” - Exodus 20:8, 11

b)

The Sabbath was known and kept before Sinai. When the Israelites were out in the desert, but before they reached Sinai, they were given Manna as food. It's interesting to note that the Israelites shouldn't have to toil in the desert heat gathering Manna on the Sabbath. Instead they should gather twice the normal amount the day before. (Exodus 16:22-26.)

“See, because the LORD has given you the Sabbath, that is why he is giving you food for two days on the sixth day. Each of you stay where you are; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day.”
- Exodus 16:28-30

Remember that this happened before the ten commandments were given at Sinai. The people rested on the seventh day because it already was a holy day.

In other words, the argument that the Sabbath was given exclusively to the Jews at Sinai is wrong. The Sabbath was known and kept from the time of Adam and Eve, it was kept before the ceremonial laws were given to the Jews at Sinai.

c)

We've already seen that the Sabbath pre-dated the ceremonial law, and it is also evident from Jesus own words that his death on the Cross wasn't supposed to remove the sanctity of the Sabbath.

Before he died he made a prophecy about the fate of Jerusalem who was to be destroyed by the Romans. When the Christians living in Jerusalem saw the armies besieging Jerusalem they were to flee for their lives and he asked the disciples to pray so that they didn't have to flee on the Sabbath:

"Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen." - Matthew 24:20-21

In other words, a long time in the future, after Jesus had died and returned to heaven the disciples were to pray for the privilege to rest on the Sabbath, even in times of distress and persecution.

ricker said:

That's quite a simplistic observation. The seventh day Sabbath was given to the nation of Israel as a sign between them and God, not as a moral law given to all humanity.

Exodus 31:
12 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.

14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

Obviously this explanation was given before the tablets were even given to the Israelites. The Seventh-day Sabbath observance was given to the Nation of Israel as a sign and a covenant between them specifically, and God, not for all mankind.

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You're the one taking the simplistic approach to this question. There are multiple texts in the OT saying there was to be one law of the Israelites and the strangers(Gentiles). There was to be no separate set of laws for the Gentiles. In Isaiah 56:7 God says His house was to be house of prayer for all people. The context provided by the surrounding verses makes is clear that the Sabbath was included in this. Blessings are promised to "all" who kept it, included the "strangers" (Gentiles). In verse 2 the phrase "son of man" is used in reference to those keeping the Sabbath. The word man in that phrase is the same word used in the Hebrew when mentioning Adam. So, the phrase is talking about the "son of Adam" which includes the whole of mankind.

NewEnglandGirl said:

Having been mostly non-denominational BUT attending Seventh-Day Adventist church as well as Seventh-Day Baptist churches, I observe the seventh day as a day of rest from the world. Why? God blessed and hallowed the seventh day. If one discards that commandment then why not just discard the other 9 as well? I have yet to have someone show me biblically where God transferred that blessing from the seventh day to the first day. We don't get to pick and choose. And yes, Jesus did keep the Sabbath. People accuse SDAs of a lot of things, being legalists for one. And although I look at Ellen White as a good historian but not a prophet, do we label people as "legalists" simple because they want to follow God's word? If you don't follow God's word then you are following man's word. Which do you choose?

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I simply say that obedience is not legalism. Legalism is legalism.

I would submit for consideration the idea that legalism has a lot more to do with attitude than action. Btw, Ubuntu, your contribution was very well written. Kudos!

saspian said:

I have had some involvement with SDA over many decades.
As for Sabbath worship I do not see this as essential and possibly not in keeping with Christ's seemingly essential message.
Some have accused SDA of being latter day Galatians.
This is simply a personal consideration.
Many years ago The Pope was viewed as 666. Does this still apply?
Thank you.

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You might be interested in my book, "The Mark of the Beast and the Seal of God".

Salvation by grace through faith does not set us free to break the 10 Commandments. Christ died because we broke the law (1 John 3:4), sin is transgression of the law. He died to save us from the condemnation of breaking the law, and to give us power, a new birth, so we can live a life in harmony with His law. God does not want us to murder, lie, steal, blaspheme etc.

The Papacy claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, such as claim to have power to change God's law is a prerogative that only God holds. The Sabbath is a sign that God is the Creator. No man can alter the law of God, a claim to have power to do that is a form of blasphemy.

NewEnglandGirl said:

Having been mostly non-denominational BUT attending Seventh-Day Adventist church as well as Seventh-Day Baptist churches, I observe the seventh day as a day of rest from the world. Why? God blessed and hallowed the seventh day. If one discards that commandment then why not just discard the other 9 as well? I have yet to have someone show me biblically where God transferred that blessing from the seventh day to the first day. We don't get to pick and choose. And yes, Jesus did keep the Sabbath. People accuse SDAs of a lot of things, being legalists for one. And although I look at Ellen White as a good historian but not a prophet, do we label people as "legalists" simple because they want to follow God's word? If you don't follow God's word then you are following man's word. Which do you choose?

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Amen

Spiritually, Christians don't need a day of rest. We observe the Sabbath by observing that Christ has given us permanent rest from having to do spiritual work to obey the law. We now obey the law out of love and obedience, not out of spiritual necessity.

Continuing to observe a day as the Sabbath is denying that Christ is our Sabbath, our Perfect and Eternal Rest. I don't understand why Seventh-day Adventists and other Sabbatarians stick to this if they are saved. I would love an explanation. So far all I have seen is that Sabbatarians seem to still believe we need a rest. Rest from what? Works? The Law? Christ has given us rest. He has quenched our thirst such that we never thirst again.

Really having a hard time understanding Sabbatarianism, would love to hear a better explanation as to how someone thinks this honors Christ and His Redemptive work for us.

ArmenianJohn said:

Spiritually, Christians don't need a day of rest. We observe the Sabbath by observing that Christ has given us permanent rest from having to do spiritual work to obey the law. We now obey the law out of love and obedience, not out of spiritual necessity.

Continuing to observe a day as the Sabbath is denying that Christ is our Sabbath, our Perfect and Eternal Rest. I don't understand why Seventh-day Adventists and other Sabbatarians stick to this if they are saved. I would love an explanation. So far all I have seen is that Sabbatarians seem to still believe we need a rest. Rest from what? Works? The Law? Christ has given us rest. He has quenched our thirst such that we never thirst again.

Really having a hard time understanding Sabbatarianism, would love to hear a better explanation as to how someone thinks this honors Christ and His Redemptive work for us.

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See if this helps... assuming you are married, why do you celebrate your anniversary every year? You are already married, right, so it's not necessary to set aside a day to remember that event and to reconnect with your spouse. But we do it because we love our spouses and want to let them know how important and special that day was/is to us.

The Sabbath is the same for us... it's a weekly "date" with our Saviour, where nothing of the world can distract us from learning from, worshipping and growing closer to Him. Kinda like recharging the spiritual batteries to face the next week's onslaught of temptations.

EastCoastRemnant said:

See if this helps... assuming you are married, why do you celebrate your anniversary every year? You are already married, right, so it's not necessary to set aside a day to remember that event and to reconnect with your spouse. But we do it because we love our spouses and want to let them know how important and special that day was/is to us.

The Sabbath is the same for us... it's a weekly "date" with our Saviour, where nothing of the world can distract us from learning from, worshipping and growing closer to Him. Kinda like recharging the spiritual batteries to face the next week's onslaught of temptations.

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Thanks for the answer. You made a poor assumption in that I am not married, but I understood your analogy just the same. So that begs another question...

If the day of the week that you worship doesn't really matter, why do NO SDA or other Sabbatarian churches have their worship on a different day like Sunday or Wednesday? For example, why do none have services on "The Lord's Day" - Sunday - which is in line with Church History?

I guess I'm just curious why all SDA churches observe SATURDAY Sabbaths... Why wouldn't there be a SDA church that observes Sunday services? Or is there and I just don't know about it?

ArmenianJohn said:

Thanks for the answer. You made a poor assumption in that I am not married, but I understood your analogy just the same. So that begs another question...

If the day of the week that you worship doesn't really matter, why do NO SDA or other Sabbatarian churches have their worship on a different day like Sunday or Wednesday? For example, why do none have services on "The Lord's Day" - Sunday - which is in line with Church History?

I guess I'm just curious why all SDA churches observe SATURDAY Sabbaths... Why wouldn't there be a SDA church that observes Sunday services? Or is there and I just don't know about it?

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It was the day set aside at creation, the seventh day, and he has asked us to keep it... btw, the Lord's day is Sabbath. Remember that Jesus said that He was Lord of the Sabbath.

EastCoastRemnant said:

It was the day set aside at creation, the seventh day, and he has asked us to keep it... btw, the Lord's day is Sabbath. Remember that Jesus said that He was Lord of the Sabbath.

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I understand, but the day of the week itself doesn't really matter.

To use your anniversary analogy - if your husband took you to dinner and a show on the Friday night that followed your actual anniversary would it be in any way less special? In fact, it might be more special because he is choosing a better night that allows you both to enjoy it more.

So why does the day of the week matter SO much to Sabbatarians?

And as to the Sabbath being The Lord's Day, I agree - but that doesn't make it Saturday, and "The Lord's Day" is the more Christian term for the Sabbath day, so why not just use that term?

There just seems to be far too much emphasis on Saturday to the point that it seems they believe it is required to observe Saturday as the "Sabbath" or "Lord's Day".