The Sabbath Day: Saturday or Sunday?

[buzuxi02]

This thread was created to learn what the Bible says to do in order to gain understanding for the purpose of taking what I have learned back to a family member who thinks I will not go to heaven because I am breaking the Sabbath Law by not going to church on Satuday. I did a lot of web surfing and finally my final research is to ask those here at the CF....as far as worship, daily I give Him praise and worship!

Haven't read the whole thread. But all I can say is the Sabbath is the 7th day of the week and Sunday is the first day of the week . The majority of western languages acknowledge this, both the Latin romance languages as well as the Greek and Slavic languages.

For whatever reason the english world retained pagan names for the days of the week. Thus Saturday is the day of Saturn, Sunday of the Sun, Thursday for Thor etc.
Outside of the english speaking world this topic would be considered infantile. The SDA really make a fool out of themselves, thats why they have no traction outside of America and Africa.

 

[Soyeong]

I really want to agree with you on this because I am totally against religious doctrines that get people bogged down with religious doctrines that will profit nothing except to create more bondage.

God did free the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt in order to put them back under bondage to His Law, but rather it is for freedom that God sets us free (Galatians 5:1), and God's Law is a law of liberty (Psalms 119:45), while it is sin in transgression of God's Law that puts us in bondage. God has said that what He commanded was for His follower's own good (Deuteronomy 6:24, Deuteronomy 10:12-13), so do you think that God can be trusted to give us good laws? If you have such a poor opinion of the Law that you consider it to be bondage, then how does that not reflect rather negatively on your opinion of the Lawgiver? David said multiple times throughout the Psalms that he delighted in God's Law, that he loved, that he meditated on it day and night, that those who obey it would be blessed, that he wanted God to be gracious to him by teaching him to obey it, etc, and Paul also delighted in obeying God's Law (Romans 7:22), so do you think that they had an incorrect view of God's Law?

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

I am trying to do some research on what day the Sabbath was originally honored and when did it change if it changed and does it matter?

Monergism Search Results 145 Results The Puritans wrote on the subject at length. The Puritans matter a great deal to me, but I must confess personal apathy on this particular subject, I think a Sabbath matters more than whatever day of the week, society in general in the west in modern times has little if any respect for Christian traditions such as Sabbath observance. Personally, this is never more clear than in the workplace, in the particular area I live (ironically the "Bible Belt") it is extremely difficult to find an employer that will even consider hiring, if one is not willing to work weekends. I believe the Lord of the Sabbath would have us to work on Saturday and or Sunday, as opposed to starving to death, not being able to pay bills, etc. So I would put an emphasis on a day of rest, whatever day that happens to fall on, per employer scheduling. In times past, especially before planes, trains, and automobiles, people were by far more restricted, and especially in Christian communities or where the majority were Christians, people could put financial pressure on business owners, even if they did not agree, to observe the Sabbath. Today it is incredibly difficult to even observe the Sabbath one day of the week, at least in the old ancient sense of observing it.

 

[dqhall]

In Exodus Chapter 20 one of the commandments said remember the Sabbath day (Sunday) and keep it holy. The Sabbath day represents Sunday the beginning of a new week where everyone dedicates the day to serving the lord in church or some sort of religious sanctuary.

In Israel some neighborhoods of Heredim Jews put up street barricades to prevent people from driving through their neighborhoods on Shabaht (Sabbath). They observe Shabaht from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday. Most of the shops and businesses are closed on Saturday for the Sabbath. One town in Israel used a siren to mark the beginning of Shabaht in order for people to keep the commandment.

Sunday was a day set aside for Christian worship, although Christians may worship or work any day they choose. Jesus was accused of working during the Sabbath. It is in the Gospels.

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

On another note, I can see how in the name of freedom and separation, the enemy has manipulated political institutions and businesses, to divide and scatter the Church in making it so much more difficult for some believers to even try to observe a Sabbath with other believers. Perhaps I downplay the importance, for lack of personal hope concerning it.

 

[frettr00]

Sabbath or Sunday? | Catholic Answers

 

[tulc]

I'm curious: do you keep the Sabbath holy by doing the things we're specifically told to do or by not doing them? I ask because when God explained how to keep the Sabbath there were a lot of rules laid down about what to do and what not to do. And if we're freed from the "do/don't do" how can someone keep it by some other method then what God said to do? For instance: doing yard work on the Sabbath was a capitol crime in the Old Testament, is that Law still in effect? If not, why is it set aside but the Sabbath is still considered "being kept"?
tulc(has also always been curious about who gets to decide which Laws are in effect and which aren't?)

 

[Devin P]

I am trying to do some research on what day the Sabbath was originally honored and when did it change if it changed and does it matter?

The sabbath day has always been on the 7th day (saturday) it still is today, because God ordained the 7th day as the sign between Him and His children, and no where in the bible did He change it to any other day.

Unfortunately men's traditions have tried to change this day that God made for us from the 7th day, to the 1st day (sunday), but it's a tradition, not truth. There's a lot of writings from 1 ad - 400 ad that talk about how the switch happened and what caused the majority of people to start keeping sunday as the sabbath instead of the 7th day. Roman persecution of anyone found keeping the 7th day sabbath historically started out as excommunication, and ended up evolving into putting those found observing sabbath on the 7th day to death.

Catholic priests, popes, and several other members of the catholic administration all throughout the first 1500 years ad have admitted that the earliest christians kept sabbath on the 7th day. All throughout acts, we see the apostles (Paul) especially keeping the biblical 7th day sabbath while witnessing to both jews and gentiles alike, well over 80 times.

Constantine back in 321 ad (though the switch started happening before this) passed a law and while doing this he said

"On the venerable Day of the sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country, however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits: because it often happens that another Day is not so suitable for grain sowing or for vine planting: lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost."

Constantine was a pagan, and worshipped the sun, just as most other romans at the time did. This is in fact where we get december 25th from, for the day of Christmas. December 25th, is when romans celebrated sol invictus (unconquered sun). The Roman Catholic Church historically wanted to bring more pagans to Jesus, so they would blend a lot of pagan practices together with christianity (despite God's repeated, and blatant hatred for doing such things). December 25th is the birth of the sun according to roman culture based on the solstice, and the fact that this would be the time the length of days would start returning, and the sun would again rise higher in the sky (the height of it's arch, is higher in the spring and summer, and more angled and distant in fall and spring). So they changed the birth of the sun god, to the birth of the sun OF God. Many more things they have done like this, that most people still observe, but I digress. Just an interesting fact I figured I'd share since it was in Constantine's quote.

 

[bugkiller]

I am trying to do some research on what day the Sabbath was originally honored and when did it change if it changed and does it matter?

Let's start with Scripture. What passages does your cousin back up their ideas with?

bugkiller

 

[2Timothy2:15]

I am trying to do some research on what day the Sabbath was originally honored and when did it change if it changed and does it matter?

Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath.

 

[Dkh587]

When Jesus came, He made the 10 Commandments all about what goes on in the heart.
For example,
No idols or graven images is now to not set them up in your heart.
No adultery is now don't even look at a woman to lust after her.
No killing is now don't hate.
And the Sabbath is now a matter of the heart as well, not about a certain day.
Do you honestly believe that God is concerned with outward obedience?
I would bet today's 7th day Sabbath advocates would say the Pharisees kept the Sabbath.
They may have outwardly, but not the way God intended.

The 10 commandments were always about what was going on in the heart/mind.

The Messiah was properly teaching and upholding them - by the time he was walking on the earth, the Pharisees/Israelites had distorted the commandments. He was teaching the 10 commandments and the rest of the Torah(law) as they were supposed to be kept. His life consisted of fully living and preaching God's commandments.

Murdering has always been from hatred in the heart - Cain killing Abel, for example. Cain was angry in his heart and he killed his brother.

 

[Soyeong]

When Jesus came, He made the 10 Commandments all about what goes on in the heart.
For example,
No idols or graven images is now to not set them up in your heart.
No adultery is now don't even look at a woman to lust after her.
No killing is now don't hate.
And the Sabbath is now a matter of the heart as well, not about a certain day.
Do you honestly believe that God is concerned with outward obedience?
I would bet today's 7th day Sabbath advocates would say the Pharisees kept the Sabbath.
They may have outwardly, but not the way God intended.

Jesus certainly taught that it was about the heart, but he didn't make it about the heart because it has always been about the heart and God has always disdained it when His people honored him with their lips while their hearts were far from him. Not looking at a woman lustfully in your heart is simply the correct application of the 7th and 10th Commandments against adultery and coveting in our heart. In Leviticus 19:17, we are command not to hate our brother, so these things are not brand new. However, your connection to the Sabbath being about the heart so it is not about worshiping on a certain day is completely illogical because your conclusion is that we no longer need keep it. The equivalent would be for you to say that adultery is about the heart, not about sleeping with a certain person. Does God want our outward obedience to refrain from physically committing adultery? Absolutely, but our obedience should come from the heart. I would agree that the Pharisees were missing the whole point of the Sabbath. If it is from the heart, then we will not seek to do what is right in our own eyes, but rather we will seek to worship God in the way that He said that He wants His followers to worship Him.

 

[Doug Melven]

The 10 commandments were always about what was going on in the heart/mind.

The Messiah was properly teaching and upholding them - by the time he was walking on the earth, the Pharisees/Israelites had distorted the commandments. He was teaching the 10 commandments and the rest of the Torah(law) as they were supposed to be kept. His life consisted of fully living and preaching God's commandments.

Murdering has always been from hatred in the heart - Cain killing Abel, for example. Cain was angry in his heart and he killed his brother.

Isaiah 42:21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; He will magnify the law, and make it honourable.
The Pharisees made the law dishonorable. Jesus made it honorable.
God stated the law in the Pentateuch, Jesus magnified it.

 

[Soyeong]

I believe what matters is that we do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together in worship. We can go to church any day of the week really.

You can choose to do what is right in your own eyes or to have faith in God about which day to set aside. You can take the attitude that even though God commanded it on the 7th day, you can set aside any day you want and God should be happy with what He gets, or you can seek to love God in the way that He wants to be loved.

 

[Soyeong]

This thread was created to learn what the Bible says to do in order to gain understanding for the purpose of taking what I have learned back to a family member who thinks I will not go to heaven because I am breaking the Sabbath Law by not going to church on Satuday. I did a lot of web surfing and finally my final research is to ask those here at the CF....as far as worship, daily I give Him praise and worship!

In Matthew 5:17-19, Jesus said that he came not to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it, that not the least part would disappear from the Law until heaven and earth passed away and all is accomplished, that those who relax the least part of the Law or teach others to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom, while those who obey it and teach others will be called great in the Kingdom. So people who break the Sabbath or teach against keeping it will be called least in the Kingdom, but will still make it in. On there other hand, in Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus said he would tell people to depart from him because they were workers of Lawlessness, so unrepentantly transgressing God's Law is not a good position to be in. If you're going to pick a day to set aside to worship God, why not keep the day that has all the blessing associated with it? Why would you prefer to spurn God's precious gift that was made for you?

 

[Soyeong]

"In her early career Mrs. White made a number of predictions about Christ's imminent return. The most notable of those was a specific prediction made at a conference of believers in 1856. This statement was later published in the book Testimonies and received widespread attention within the SDA Church. Mrs. White claimed she was shown in vision that some of those present at the 1856 conference would be translated:



I was shown the company present at the Conference. Said the angel: "Some food for worms, some subjects of the seven last plagues, some will be alive and remain upon the earth to be translated at the coming of Jesus." (Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 131)



Analysis
A Failed Prophecy?
Mrs. White was given a vision showing the fate of those people attending the conference. She specifically states that some of them will suffer the seven last plagues, and some will be alive when Jesus returns. The Whites had such confidence in this "vision" that it was published in Mrs. White's Testimonies to the Church and received widespread distribution. However, by the early 1900s all those who attended the conference had passed away, leaving the Church with the dilemma of trying to figure out how to explain away such a prominent prophetic failure.

The Bible leaves no doubt that when a prophet makes a prediction that does not come to pass, that prophet is not speaking for the Lord:

When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. Deut. 18:22"
An Analysis of the Most Shocking and Embarrassing Statements of Ellen G. White

There are many other errors of visions and false prophecies at the above link.

I am not SDA and have no reason to defend her, but the issue of whether we should keep the Sabbath is completely independent of whether she happens to be a false prophet.

 

[2Timothy2:15]

You can choose to do what is right in your own eyes or to have faith in God about which day to set aside. You can take the attitude that even though God commanded it on the 7th day, you can set aside any day you want and God should be happy with what He gets, or you can seek to love God in the way that He wants to be loved.

He wants to be loved with your whole heart, mind, and soul, everyday.

 

[Soyeong]

He wants to be loved with your whole heart, mind, and soul, everyday.

I completely agree, but that was also true during the OT, so God also wants us to keep the Sabbath on the 7th day.

 

[2Timothy2:15]

I completely agree, but that was also true during the OT, so God also wants us to keep the Sabbath on the 7th day.

I know that is what you believe and you are free to do so. But do not go around telling others they are sinning against the Lord if they do not.

Colossians 2:16: "Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths." Here it is merely mentioned, showing that it has been abolished in view of the Dispensation of Grace.

 

[Doug Melven]

I completely agree, but that was also true during the OT, so God also wants us to keep the Sabbath on the 7th day.

Are you certain God is concerned with a specific day or is it what the Sabbath is all about?
I ask that question in the same way Paul asked about oxen.
1 Corinthians 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
9:10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written.

My first thought to Paul's question would be yes, God cares for oxen, but Paul says I would be wrong.