New Testament Sabbath

[OntheDL]

Romans 14:5-6 ESV
~5~ 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.
~6~ 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.


Colossians 2:16-17 ESV
~16~ Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.
~17~ These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.


Galatians 4:9-10 MSG
~9~ But now that you know the real God--or rather since God knows you--how can you possibly subject yourselves again to those paper tigers?
~10~ For that is exactly what you do when you are intimidated into scrupulously observing all the traditions, taboos, and superstitions associated with special days and seasons and years.

As to whether keeping the Sabbath is required under the NT, I believe it isn't, from these verses we can also see that the specific day really doesn't matter much, some say that Sunday is in fact a pagan day, but all of our days (their names at least) are pagan, for instance...
Monday, named in honor of the Moon god, the Romans thought the poor moon was left out cause the sun got its own day
Thursday, named for the Norse god Thor
Friday, named for another god (I think it was Norse), Fria
Saturday, named for the Roman god Saturn (they named the planet after the god)

Under the OT Sabbath keeping was requirement, under the NT I believe it is indifferent

Saturday is from midnight to midnight. Sabbath is the Hebrew name for the 7th day of week from sundown to sundown. Totally different.

 

[Husky7]

I was just reading through Acts 15, and I didn't find anything which required the Gentiles to observe the seventh day Sabbath. Acts 15:28 says, "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things." (NIV)

This verse is telling the Gentiles that they are required to do the above things, but it doesn't mention the Sabbath. In the Jerusalem Counsel, it was also decided that Gentiles need not be circumcised in able to obtain salvation.

Am I missing something?

 

[OntheDL]

I was just reading through Acts 15, and I didn't find anything which required the Gentiles to observe the seventh day Sabbath. Acts 15:28 says, "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things." (NIV)

This verse is telling the Gentiles that they are required to do the above things, but it doesn't mention the Sabbath. In the Jerusalem Counsel, it was also decided that Gentiles need not be circumcised in able to obtain salvation.

Am I missing something?

Was the sabbath mentioned there? Read the whole chapter. Sabbath was never the topic of controversy. The early church kept the 7th day sabbath until 4th, 5th century.

 

[Goinheix]

Good point.

If we have to observe the 10 comanments - wich I agree we have to - because are not the Moses Law - wich I agree also - Then we can not kil or lie. Also we have to keep the sabbath, the seventh day. That is the modern saturday (the other brother says that dys names are not christians. In spanish, sunday is Domingo, meaning the day of the Lord; and saturday is Sabado, meaning sabath) not the sunday.

Either we do not care about days and festivities, and do not observ the sabbath at all. Or, we keep observing the sabbath as it really is: on saturday. I do not see how we have to keep sunday.

 

[σύνδουλόν]

Romans 14:5-6 ESV
~5~ 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.
~6~ 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.


Colossians 2:16-17 ESV
~16~ Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.
~17~ These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.


Galatians 4:9-10 MSG
~9~ But now that you know the real God--or rather since God knows you--how can you possibly subject yourselves again to those paper tigers?
~10~ For that is exactly what you do when you are intimidated into scrupulously observing all the traditions, taboos, and superstitions associated with special days and seasons and years.

As to whether keeping the Sabbath is required under the NT, I believe it isn't, from these verses we can also see that the specific day really doesn't matter much, some say that Sunday is in fact a pagan day, but all of our days (their names at least) are pagan, for instance...
Monday, named in honor of the Moon god, the Romans thought the poor moon was left out cause the sun got its own day
Thursday, named for the Norse god Thor
Friday, named for another god (I think it was Norse), Fria
Saturday, named for the Roman god Saturn (they named the planet after the god)

Under the OT Sabbath keeping was requirement, under the NT I believe it is indifferent

Let us look at the Biblical defintion for sin:

The primary scriptural definition (there are others to also be mentioned):


"...Sin is the transgression of the law." - 1 John 3:4

For where there is no law, there can be no transgression, and without transgression, there can be no sin. (paraphrase of scriptures) Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, [there is] no transgression. - Romans 4:15

Satan sinned (Exekiel 28:15; John 8:44). Adam and Eve sinned (Genesis; Job 31:33; Romans 5:14). Cain sinned (1 John 3:12). Multitudes (even all of mankind) sinned before and after the world-wde flood. The Law of God therefore has always existed, even before Mt. Sinai (for there it was merely codified into blue/saphpire stone).

Other scriptural definitions are:

"...for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin." - Romans 14:23 (Compare Matthew 23:23)

"All unrighteousness is sin..." - 1 John 5:17 (Compare Psalms 119:172)

"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin." - James 4:17 (Compare Romans 7:12)



For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. - Romans 6:23


Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. - 1 John 3:4

There are a few others as well, but these are clear enough.

Let us look at each of these texts presented (Romans 14, Colossians 2:16-17; Galatians 4:9-10) one by one...then let us look at others.

Romans 14. Looking at the actual context of Romans 14, even in the surrounding chapters we will find no specific mention of the 7th day sabbath. Paul is not indicating in Romans 14 to not keep the 7th day, or that it was now suddenyl up to the individual to decide to keep it or not, for this would have been anathema to Paul who said many times in Romans, that a Christian is to cease from sin, is to be 'dead' to sin, 'crucified' with Christ Jesus, to no longer be in 'conversation' with the 'old man' of sin. Paul identifies those very Ten Commandments as the 'Holy, Just and Good' law, by which he knew sin, even quoting the 10th (thou shalt not covet) to specifically identify it as such:

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? - Romans 6:1

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Romans 6:15

Let us look more specifically:

One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [alike]. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. - Romans 14:5

Who was it that esteems the 7th Day Sabbath, man or God? It is God's Holy Day (Isaiah 58:13), it is part of His Law (Exodus 16:4), it is His Day ('the Lord's day'; Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:8; Revelation 1:10).

So this passage in Romans 14 is speaking not about what God esteems as right, pure, just and holy to be kept by men as He hath commanded, but rather focusing upon what "man" "esteemeth" to be persuaded in his "own mind". God's mind is already made up on the matter of the 7th Day. This text is not detailing a release from that which is due unto God.

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, [but] not to doubtful disputations. - Romans 14:1

Notice how Romans 14 begins, by discussing those "weak in the faith". Paul, who continued to keep sabbath (Acts) did not consider himself "weak". We should also consider the words "to doubtful disputations". Was the 7th Day ever doubtful, or had God Himself made it perfectly clear what His express will is for mankind in awesome, glorious majesty, surrounded by angels at Mt. Sinai? (Ecclesiastes 12:13; "man" - adam, as in all in adam) Look again unto Isaiah 58:13, for the 7th day sabbath is a delight unto the Lord, and those who honour it, hounour Him. Now conisder the 5th and 1st commandments, as well as the others in conjuction.

The 'days' that are being spoken of in Romans 14 are those of the 'fasting' days, 'feasting' days, 'mourning' days, individual personal days in which one chooses to honour God. Ther very context combines the "days' with the 'food' (also not a release from the clear commands of Deuteronomy 14:3; Leviticus and other), saying 'regardeth' and 'eateth', which reveals that these days are more than likely 'fasting days' more than anything else. Even Jesus had to address the issue with the pharisees (the disciples of John the Baptist fasted, but those of Jesus had not - yet).

For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. - Romans 14:7

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. Romans 14:8

So, we ought to "live unto the Lord", die to self and live unto Christ, being not carnally minded, which is death, but spiritually minded which is life. The Ten Commandments are 'spiritual' (Romans 7:14), coming from God out of Heaven, spoken by His own voice, written by His own finger, and are not carnal. The Law of the Lord is perfect:

The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple. - Psalms 19:7

For the mirror (as James says; as Paul indicates) is the Law which reveals sin, and so points to Christ Jesus the Law-giver, and Saviour. The Law itself cannot save, and was never its purpose. It is the perfect standard of righteousness, the very Law of the Kingdom of God.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. - Romans 6:11

Consider also the greater context is about wrong and right judgment (Romans 14:3,4,10,13...)

We are to serve God and to obey Him (Acts 5:29) and to break/transgress His commandments is to then not honour Him as your Lord and God, for:

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? - Romans 6:16 (Compare Psalms 119:172)

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. - Romans 14:12

Do not transgress the Law of God by what you allow or disallow, for no one may change the Law of God - the Cross of Calvary proves this; it is a sin to transgress the Sabbath day, the 7th day as much as it is to murder even ones ownself, or to steal time from God, to bear false witness of who the Creator - God is, etc. To transgress the 7th Day Sabbath is to break every single one of the Ten Commandments, it breaks the very law of love, the law of liberty, the Royal law. There is a power mentioned in scripture which would "think to change times and laws" (Daniel 7:25) and this power is not of God, and not Christ Jesus. To which of the Laws is both a law and a time? (The other things that power would think to change was the 'times', the very prophetic times so that this power would not be so easily identified.)

Hast thou faith?

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. - Hebrews 11:3

"...for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin." - Romans 14:3

Do you beleive God created this world in the manner He said He did? Do you honour Him as the Creator God? How can anyone say they do when they do not honour Him in the specific day, the 7th day, He has clearly made Holy, Bless and even Sanctified and set aside, showing all of His Creatorship, Lordship and Godhood?

A person may honour all of the other commandments, but knowingly to not honour this single commandment, they instead honour themselves, their opinions, their own righteousness, their own set of rules and laws and not those of the Living God. They by doing so declare that it is not the God of Heaven and Earth and Sea and all that in them is who determins which days are holy and to be kept, but they reveal instead that they believe that it is men who determine such. Satan has intimated and preached from the beginning the very same idea, that an individual may be holy and righteous apart from the laws of God, they may set their own standard and live by it, they may be their own god, their own creator.

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all. - James 2:10

Let us not Crucify the Son of God afresh by continuing to ignore/replace the very Law of God and so sin.

The wages of sin is death. To truly find Rest in the Lord, is to obey Him.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. - Exodus 20:8

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: - Exodus 20:9

But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates: - Exodus 20:10

For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. - Exodius 20:11

 

[σύνδουλόν]

I was just reading through Acts 15, and I didn't find anything which required the Gentiles to observe the seventh day Sabbath. Acts 15:28 says, "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things." (NIV)

This verse is telling the Gentiles that they are required to do the above things, but it doesn't mention the Sabbath. In the Jerusalem Counsel, it was also decided that Gentiles need not be circumcised in able to obtain salvation.

Am I missing something?

The context is missed, as well as verse 21. Would you like to discuss the chapter?

 

[PROPHECYKID]

I was just reading through Acts 15, and I didn't find anything which required the Gentiles to observe the seventh day Sabbath. Acts 15:28 says, "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things." (NIV)

This verse is telling the Gentiles that they are required to do the above things, but it doesn't mention the Sabbath. In the Jerusalem Counsel, it was also decided that Gentiles need not be circumcised in able to obtain salvation.

Am I missing something?

Well just ask yourself a question. Was that short list in Acts 15, everything that the gentiles were supposed to follow? There was nothing there about love. There was nothing about bearing false witness or stealing. And many folks like to use Acts 15 and say that the Sabbath is not mentioned, then why is it that they don't preach what is mentioned. Do they every talk about abstaining from meat offered to idols or from things strangled? And have you ever wondered why in I Cor 8 and 10, Paul basically says that no one should bother about meats offered to idols, yet he endorsed it in Acts 15?

Without being able to answer these questions, it is unfair to say that because the Sabbath was not mentioned they were not supposed to observe it. Onthe DL gave the right answer.

 

[Husky7]

Was the sabbath mentioned there? Read the whole chapter. Sabbath was never the topic of controversy. The early church kept the 7th day sabbath until 4th, 5th century.

Can you prove to me that Paul, or any of the deciples kept the Sabbath on Saturday? If you can show me that, prove to me that the 7th day Sabbath is neccessary for salvation.

 

[Husky7]

The context is missed, as well as verse 21. Would you like to discuss the chapter?

Okay, here is the verse 21: 19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

Verse 21 doesn't provide any insight on whether or not the Sabbath is still applicable to us as Christians. Also, I didn't provide context because it wasn't needed in able to understand the verses I posted. But here it is anyway: Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. 23 With them they sent the following letter:
The apostles and elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:
Greetings. 24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing...

 

[Husky7]

Well just ask yourself a question. Was that short list in Acts 15, everything that the gentiles were supposed to follow? There was nothing there about love. There was nothing about bearing false witness or stealing. And many folks like to use Acts 15 and say that the Sabbath is not mentioned, then why is it that they don't preach what is mentioned. Do they every talk about abstaining from meat offered to idols or from things strangled? And have you ever wondered why in I Cor 8 and 10, Paul basically says that no one should bother about meats offered to idols, yet he endorsed it in Acts 15?

Without being able to answer these questions, it is unfair to say that because the Sabbath was not mentioned they were not supposed to observe it. Onthe DL gave the right answer.

I think you misinterpreted what I said. I wasn't using that one section to prove that the Sabbath doesn't apply anymore. I used it because it was part of the Jerusalem counsel discussion.

 

[PROPHECYKID]

Can you prove to me that Paul, or any of the deciples kept the Sabbath on Saturday? If you can show me that, prove to me that the 7th day Sabbath is neccessary for salvation.

Who said that keeping the sabbath was necessary for salvation? The people who believed that died a long time ago and Jesus didn't have a good time with them at all. Obedience to the commandments of God isn't about what we can get out of it, but about what God expects from us and about our desire to please God. If you are keeping the commandments out of a selfish attitude just thinking about what you are getting at the end of the day, God doesn't want that. The pharisees kept the law, but it was all about their own self righteousness. It should be out of love for God and out of our desire to please him. Selfishness would reason that since keeping the law cannot save me why bother. Love would reason that even though it is not the requirement for salvation, I want to please the Lord. The question is this, does God only want us to do what we have to in order for us to be saved? For instance, is witnessing about Jesus to others a requirement for salvation? It is not, then why can't we then say that since it cannot save us then why do it. But just as keeping the commandments, witnessing to others are fruits of a saving relationship with God.

About Paul or the disciples keeping the Sabbath. I think you already know the passages that I can quote. My bible is not open, but it does say in Acts that it was Paul's manner to go into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. In Acts 17 and 18 we are shown how Paul repeatedly found himself where prayer was wont to be made on the Sabbath. It was his habit. Of course there is the argument that says that he only went there because that is where the Jews were gathered. But then for this to be true, we must already believe that Paul did not really observe the Sabbath, and where is that evidence? No where in scripture.

 

[σύνδουλόν]

Okay, here is the verse 21: 19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

Verse 21 doesn't provide any insight on whether or not the Sabbath is still applicable to us as Christians. Also, I didn't provide context because it wasn't needed in able to understand the verses I posted. But here it is anyway: Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. 23 With them they sent the following letter:
The apostles and elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:
Greetings. 24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing...

Verse 21 reveals quite a bit. Where did Saul/Paul go looking for Christians in the first place? For where did he ask letters to?

The context is about salvation, and the manner of it:

And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, [and said], Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. - Acts 15:1

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command [them] to keep the law of Moses. - Acts 15:5

Notice it says the 'law of moses'. Yet, let us say for the moment that this includes the Ten Commandments. This does not negate the Keeping of them, it merely says that no one is saved by them, for we are saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul spent a great deal of his epistles explaining the function of the Law of God.

What shall we sin in the face of grace?

The problems in the Acts 15 council were very specific.

Look also at the things specifically required, they are all Old Testament commandments. It was only an immediate listing for gentiles to follow (by which they shall do well), not the end all be all, for they would continue to go to the gathering, synagogue to learn more about God and His Law on the 7th Day Sabbath.

Luke is very explicit in Luke and Acts on this. Compare Luke 4:16 to Acts 17:2 to begin with.

 

[Goinheix]

Do we know of any Pastor that does not work on sunday?
In Uruguay, Pastor get 30 free every year. That is for all employees of Uruguay. When Pastor are in his 30 days off, they dont go to church. Meaning: going to chrch is his job, his duty. They get pay for working on sunday. If they refuse to work on sunday they are fired.

 

[OntheDL]

Can you prove to me that Paul, or any of the deciples kept the Sabbath on Saturday? If you can show me that, prove to me that the 7th day Sabbath is neccessary for salvation.

We see in Acts 16, 17, 18 Paul preached on the sabbath. Acts 18:4 he preached to both the Jews and the gentiles.

Acts 13
42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Paul evangelized the gentiles on the sabbath. He didn't invite the gentile to come on Sunday. He didn't go to their pagan temple on Sunday. "And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God."

Here the disciples kept the sabbath after Jesus' crucifixion.

Luke 23
54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Matthew 19
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

 

[Husky7]

We see in Acts 16, 17, 18 Paul preached on the sabbath. Acts 18:4 he preached to both the Jews and the gentiles.

Acts 13
42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Paul evangelized the gentiles on the sabbath. He didn't invite the gentile to come on Sunday. He didn't go to their pagan temple on Sunday. "And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God."

Here the disciples kept the sabbath after Jesus' crucifixion.

Luke 23
54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Matthew 19
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Well, hypothetically speaking, if new covenant christians were encouraged to set aside a day for a God, and they were not required to observe the seventh day Sabbath; wouldn't christian jews naturally use Saturday as their day of rest? Wouldn't Gentile christians choose Sunday as their day of worship considering it was their primary day of worship for their former gods? It would have been convience for these people to choose these specific days for worship if this was the case...

 

[OntheDL]

Well, hypothetically speaking, if new covenant christians were encouraged to set aside a day for a God, and they were not required to observe the seventh day Sabbath; wouldn't christian jews naturally use Saturday as their day of rest? Wouldn't Gentile christians choose Sunday as their day of worship considering it was their primary day of worship for their former gods? It would have been convience for these people to choose these specific days for worship if this was the case...

That hypothesis is just that, hypothesis.

The fact on the other hand is that the new Jewish Christians and the new gentile Christians both kept the 7th day sabbath. It was not officially changed to Sunday until the 4th century.

 

[Husky7]

Who said that keeping the sabbath was necessary for salvation? The people who believed that died a long time ago and Jesus didn't have a good time with them at all. Obedience to the commandments of God isn't about what we can get out of it, but about what God expects from us and about our desire to please God. If you are keeping the commandments out of a selfish attitude just thinking about what you are getting at the end of the day, God doesn't want that. The pharisees kept the law, but it was all about their own self righteousness. It should be out of love for God and out of our desire to please him. Selfishness would reason that since keeping the law cannot save me why bother. Love would reason that even though it is not the requirement for salvation, I want to please the Lord. The question is this, does God only want us to do what we have to in order for us to be saved? For instance, is witnessing about Jesus to others a requirement for salvation? It is not, then why can't we then say that since it cannot save us then why do it. But just as keeping the commandments, witnessing to others are fruits of a saving relationship with God.

About Paul or the disciples keeping the Sabbath. I think you already know the passages that I can quote. My bible is not open, but it does say in Acts that it was Paul's manner to go into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. In Acts 17 and 18 we are shown how Paul repeatedly found himself where prayer was wont to be made on the Sabbath. It was his habit. Of course there is the argument that says that he only went there because that is where the Jews were gathered. But then for this to be true, we must already believe that Paul did not really observe the Sabbath, and where is that evidence? No where in scripture.

You just said yourself that the Sabbath is pointless if people do it only for salvation, and not for simply loving God. If you believe that the Sabbath isn't neccessary for salvation, why does it have to be just Saturday?

 

[PROPHECYKID]

You just said yourself that the Sabbath is pointless if people do it only for salvation, and not for simply loving God. If you believe that the Sabbath isn't neccessary for salvation, why does it have to be just Saturday?

Because God didn't bless and sanctify any other day. In the 4th commandments he asked us to remember the Sabbath day.

I always use the example of Cain and Abel. They both made sacrifices, Cain was a farmer and Abel was a shepherd. It was more CONVENIENT for Cain to offer the best of his fruits. But that is not what God wanted. Abel gave to God what he wanted and his sacrifice was accepted.

Mark 7:7 tells us that there are folks who are worshiping God in vain because they follow the commandments and traditions of men while casting aside the commandments of God. So even if it is not a requirement for salvation, does this mean we don't give God what he wants? A loving heart will strive to please God and follow his instructions as best as he can.

In the 4th commandments, God isn't limiting worship to one day. He is making a weekly appointment with us to have us rest and forget our business and spend time with him and in doing his work. The Sabbath is God's day and not our day. Therefore we can't suddenly decide which day should be the Sabbath. That is not our decision to make. The one who made all the days, designated one day in the week for full communion with his people. That is how it is.

 

[Husky7]

Because God didn't bless and sanctify any other day. In the 4th commandments he asked us to remember the Sabbath day.

I always use the example of Cain and Abel. They both made sacrifices, Cain was a farmer and Abel was a shepherd. It was more CONVENIENT for Cain to offer the best of his fruits. But that is not what God wanted. Abel gave to God what he wanted and his sacrifice was accepted.

Mark 7:7 tells us that there are folks who are worshiping God in vain because they follow the commandments and traditions of men while casting aside the commandments of God. So even if it is not a requirement for salvation, does this mean we don't give God what he wants? A loving heart will strive to please God and follow his instructions as best as he can.

In the 4th commandments, God isn't limiting worship to one day. He is making a weekly appointment with us to have us rest and forget our business and spend time with him and in doing his work. The Sabbath is God's day and not our day. Therefore we can't suddenly decide which day should be the Sabbath. That is not our decision to make. The one who made all the days, designated one day in the week for full communion with his people. That is how it is.

So if I took time out of my day to worship God on let's say Monday, would I be given the gift of immortality? Or would I HAVE to worship on Saturday?

 

[PROPHECYKID]

So if I took time out of my day to worship God on let's say Monday, would I be given the gift of immortality? Or would I HAVE to worship on Saturday?

Husky what are you trying to get at? If you understood what I said before, you wouldn't need to ask this question.

Allow me to quote myself "In the 4th commandment, God isn't limiting worship to one day." God isn't saying only worship him on Saturday. We are free to worship God whenever we please in the time we are given. The 4th commandment says that 6 days are for us to do what we have to and the 7th is his. If on one of the 6 days you want to spend time with God thats fine. All God is asking, is that we not forget the weekly appointment he has set up. You can have weekday appointments if you like, no problem.