The letter of the Sabbath still applies (just as in all Commandments)... ceasing from ones secular work duties.
Isaiah 58:13, speaking prophetically of things to be and to come, states this spirit of the Law...
If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
Jesus gives us instruction also...
Luke 6:9
Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
Good deeds or works are acceptable on Sabbath
Matthew 12:12
How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
Performing secular work, in an emergency that cannot wait till another day, is also acceptable.
Luke 4:16
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
Teaching and studying God Word is Sabbath worthy
Luke 23:56
And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
Resting from labour, worldly cares... resting spiritually in Christ, are what the Sabbath is about.
Acts 13:42,44
And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
Gathering corporately on the Sabbath is also specified
All that is needed now is for you to provide the New Testament scriptures from Jesus or His Apostles, that specifically instructs us how to keep the Sabbath under the New Covenant.
I think we can all agree that the Sabbath was made for man.
I think we call all agree that the Sabbath is a day of rest.
However, what we have is those who insist that man is to attend Church service strictly on Saturday, and claim it is one of the 10 commandments to do so, with the penalty of eternal damnation for violating this commandment.
Since no one has ever provided a New Testament scripture that specifically instructs the Church, specifically how to go about keeping the Sabbath, then I find it difficult to believe their man made doctrine.
Claiming Old Testament requirements won’t work, since according to the law of Moses, those who violated the very specific requirements for even gathers sticks to kindle a fire were put to death, so don’t bother quoting any Old Testament scriptures about the Sabbath.
Here is what Paul, a Pharisee of Pharisees had to say about the Church keeping the Sabbath under the New Covenant.
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17
which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Colossians 2:16-17
And again
5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes
it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe
it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. Romans 14:5-6
- One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
Please post the New Testament scriptures that gives us instructions as to how the Church is to keep the Sabbath.
Examples:
- Are we commanded to only gather on the Sabbath to worship Jesus?
- When does the Sabbath officially start for the Church?
- How far are we permitted to travel to attend a service on the Sabbath?
- If we have a stove and don’t have to build a fire, can we cook?
- Are there contingencies for a life threading situation, so as to travel to a hospital for a sick or injured child or loved one?
- Can hospital personnel or ambulance or police work on the Sabbath?
- If a Pastor or church staff work on the Sabbath, are they violating the Sabbath?
- How far can a Pastor or staff travel to work on the Sabbath, ministering to his congregation?
Do you have any scriptures that teach us that Gentiles who don’t live in Israel, are required to keep the Sabbath?
I wait for your New Testament scriptures that teach us how we are to keep the Sabbath today.
JLB