New Testament Sabbath

[Arthur57]

Are you sure you are addressing this to the right person?

I apologize, I realize that it should not be addressed to you. Clicking to reply to another person I mean.

 

[INTJ-F]

The nine commandment people - those who feel God is not the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Paul kept the Sabbath just like Messiah Yeshua did. What they taught against were the severe restrictions the rabbis placed on keeping Shabbat. The rabbis made it a burden when it was not suppose to be a burden.

If Paul taught against what the bible said, then he was a false teacher and should not be in the bible.

For those who claim Paul taught all day sunday - you are wrong. He taught after the sun went down after Shabbat on saturday night when they gathered to eat the post Shabbat meal. The Sabbath will be kept in the Millennium so are you claiming God is the same yesterday and tomorrow but not today? Same can be said about kosher (which the rabbis added rules to) God called eating pork and shellfish an abomination. If Yeshua declared all foods (or meats) clean, He did not consider pork or shellfish to be food / meat since He is Jewish and lived in Israel.

If you repeal one commandment, you need to repeal them all.

 

[ricker]

The nine commandment people - those who feel God is not the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Paul kept the Sabbath just like Messiah Yeshua did. What they taught against were the severe restrictions the rabbis placed on keeping Shabbat. The rabbis made it a burden when it was not suppose to be a burden.

If Paul taught against what the bible said, then he was a false teacher and should not be in the bible.

For those who claim Paul taught all day sunday - you are wrong. He taught after the sun went down after Shabbat on saturday night when they gathered to eat the post Shabbat meal. The Sabbath will be kept in the Millennium so are you claiming God is the same yesterday and tomorrow but not today? Same can be said about kosher (which the rabbis added rules to) God called eating pork and shellfish an abomination. If Yeshua declared all foods (or meats) clean, He did not consider pork or shellfish to be food / meat since He is Jewish and lived in Israel.

If you repeal one commandment, you need to repeal them all.

As long as you try to follow all the laws given to the Israelites, you have a point. If you don't, you are just picking and choosing arbitrairily. Leviticus has some interesting laws.

 

[Arthur57]

As long as you try to follow all the laws given to the Israelites, you have a point. If you don't, you are just picking and choosing arbitrairily. Leviticus has some interesting laws.

[FONT=&quot]I believe we cannot take The Torah as a one inseparable law. God himself distinguish the Ten Commandments from the ceremonial law. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The 1st He wrote it Himself, the 2nd He commanded Moses to wrote it. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The 1st was kept in the arc of the covenant (1 King 8:9) and the 2nd outside of it (Deu. 31:26).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The 1st describes His character, the 2nd describes Christ ministry on earth to redeem man.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The 1st is eternal, the 2nd temporary.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We can see that Paul understood this and from what he wrote we got the proof.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:16-18 – refer to the ceremonial law, ended at the cross of Christ.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Romans 2:12-15; 3:19,20,31; 4:15; 5:13,20; 6:15; 7:1-12,14,22; 8:3,4,7; 10:4; 13:8,10; 1 Cor. 15:56; Gal. 2:16,21; 3:10-24; 4:5; 5:14,18; 6:2; 1 Tim 1:8,9; – refer to the Ten commandments.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]If we believe the whole law is inseparable, then we got problem in understanding Pauline epistle. This what Peter has warned in his letter (2 Peter 3:15,16).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]And in other parts of the NT, we found the same proof.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Matthew 5:17,18 – the ceremonial fulfilled and ended, the 10 Cs fulfilled in its righteousness and continue its jurisdiction.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Matthew 22:36-40; James 1:25; 2:8-12; refer to the Ten cs.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]As per the context given in each text, clearly be seen that mostly we can not take the law as inseparable. The context is only for the intended law, i.e. 10Cs, but can be meant both in some cases like Matthew 5:17,18, etc.[/FONT]

 

[Arthur57]

Matthew 5:17,18.
17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Christ fulfilled the ceremonial law, which is the shadow of things to come with his sacrifice on the cross, the law ended here. Christians are no longer obliged to keep it, this law has no more jurisdiction over them. The shadow has met the body. And Paul confirmed this in Ep. 2:15 and Col. 2:16-18.

But for the Ten Commandments, Jesus said: “till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

Has it been fulfilled yet? Not yet! Otherwise we already live in the new world.

When this law would be fulfilled?

When all who walks after the Spirit has the righteousness of the law fulfilled in them. This completed God’s covenant to men (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

And then comes the great announcement, the closing of the door of probation:

He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous[e] still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” Rev. 22:11.

Followed with:
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”[f]
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments,[g] that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. Rev. 22:12-14.

 

[Deaver]

I am posting this long after the last post and this is longer than my typical response, but I found the topic interesting and got a little carried away. So there is no doubt, here is my position. The Sabbath was given to Israel, not the church. The Sabbath is still Saturday, not Sunday, and has never been changed. But the Sabbath is part of the Old Testament Law, and Christians are free from the bondage of the Law and Sabbath keeping is not required of the Christian—be it Saturday or Sunday.

Now let me explain:

A read of Exodus 31:16-17, reveals that keeping the Sabbaths was to be a sign between God and Israel. “Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 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.” (KJV)

God's objective for giving the Sabbath to Israel was so they would remember their Egyptian slavery and the Lord's deliverance, not, as some would want you to believe, so that they would remember creation. This is reaffirmed in Deuteronomy 5:15.

However, I would note that Genesis 2:2-3 does give us a foreshadowing of a future Sabbath law.

The Bible’s first mention of the Sabbath is in Exodus 16:23. Then in Exodus 20:8-10 we have the commandment that a day of solemn worship of God should be kept weekly.

Skipping ahead to the New Testament, there is no obligation for the New Testament believer to keep the Sabbath. In fact, of the Ten Commandments, only 9 of them were reinstituted in the New Testament: (six in Matthew 19:18, murder, adultery, stealing, false witness, honor parents, and worshiping God; in Romans 13:9, coveting; int he many discussions of worshiping God properly the first three commandments are covered). The one that was not reaffirmed was the one about the Sabbath. While there are references to the Sabbath, (see Mark 2:27-28; Hebrews 4:4, 10; or Acts 17:2) they are not instructional.

This idea is supported in many NT scriptures. “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”(Colossians 2:16-17 KJV). We see also that the Jewish Sabbath was abolished at the cross, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”(Colossians 2:14 KJV)

Paul told the Churches in Rome, “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; “(Romans 14:5-6 KJV). Later, Paul told audiences in the churches in southern Galatia, “But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.” (Galatians 4:9-10 KJV)

On what day did the early church meet for worship? Some argue that a mandate by Constantine in A.D. 321 “changed” the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. However, scripture never mentions any Sabbath (Saturday) gatherings by believers for fellowship or worship. To the contrary there are clear passages that mention the first day of the week. Acts 20:7 states that “on the first day of the week we came together to break bread.” Paul urges the Corinthian believers “on the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.”(1 Corinthians 16:2) In 2 Corinthians 9:12 Paul linked with the Sunday worship service of the Christian assembly with the offering. Historically Sunday (“the first day of the week&#8221, not Saturday, was the normal meeting day for Christians in the church, and its practice dates back to the first century.

The Christians proclaim their faithfulness to Jesus by honoring the first day of the week as their own Lord's Day (see Revelation 1:10); a day that celebrates the New Creation, with Christ as our resurrected Head.

Paul tells us that each individual Christian should decide whether to observe a Sabbath rest, “One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike [sacred]. Let everyone be fully convinced (satisfied) in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord.” (Romans 14:5-6 AMP)

Better yet, worship God every day, not just on Saturday or Sunday.

 

[PROPHECYKID]

God's objective for giving the Sabbath to Israel was so they would remember their Egyptian slavery and the Lord's deliverance, not, as some would want you to believe, so that they would remember creation. This is reaffirmed in Deuteronomy 5:15.

Of course there is allot in your response to deal with. I want to respond to this piece for now. There is no one of themselves trying to convince anyone else that the Sabbath was given as a memorial of creation. It is right there in the 4th commandment. In the commandment it gives the reason that in 6 days God made heaven and earth. You have recognized as you quoted that God said to Israel that the Sabbath is a sign between them and him to know he has delivered them. You also have to recognize the reason given in the Sabbath commandment. God wanted to make the Sabbath personal to them and therefore added the significance of the fact that he delivered them from bondage. You have to also think about why God made the Sabbath in the first place. Did he make it and intended for it to be un-noticed and disregarded for 2000+ years until Israel went in bondage so that he could free them and have a reason to tell them to keep the Sabbath? If so, it doesn't make much sense to make it at creation.

Let me give this scripture from creation which gives reason why God made the Sabbath.

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.

The reason he blessed and sanctified the 7th day, thus making it the Sabbath, is because he rested from all the his created work. So his creation is apart of the reason the Sabbath was made.

Let me touch on another point in regards to the notion that the Sabbath was only for the Jews. Who were the Jews? Who was the nation of Israel? They were God's people. Now look at examples of non-Israelites who joined the fold. Rahab the harlot is one of those persons. She was not Israelite by birth. God never delivered Rahab's people from bondage. Yet once, you join the nation of Israel, you keep God's laws. It shows that God's commandments and his Sabbath was not limited to physical Jews but anyone who decided to join his people. The mission for the Jews were not to say to everyone else, "Hey, look at me..I serve God and you don't. You're going to hell". No! God wants to save all and Israel was supposed to be the agency by which he was suppose to save the world. It is either you believe that or you believe that God didnt care for the Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Canaanites and all the other peoples. He wants to save all. Now having said that. You cannot them limit God's commandments to a particular race, since it is understood that whosoever becomes one of his regardless of race must be obedient to him. The Sabbath is not therefore, just for the Jews. The Sabbath predates Jews by 2000+ years.

You also made mention to Exodus 16 as the first place Sabbath keeping is being mentioned. You are not wrong in your observation. However, observe this verse.

Exo 16:27 And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.
Exo 16:28 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?

Do you find it a bit curious if God gave a command that no one knew about before, and they broke it that he would say what verse 27 shows. How Long! God is tired it seems. The bible says that God is patient. It is not logical to believe that a patient God would have this reaction on someone's 1st or 2nd or 3rd error.

Like you said, it is the first place the actual keeping of the Sabbath is mentioned but we all know allot of details about the early life of the patriarchs were left out. In the book of Genesis, the focus is one the experiences that led to the birth of the nation of Israel. We don't see where God told Noah how to distinguish between clean and unclean animals for instance. We are not told of any time when God told anyone they should not make graven images in Genesis. Where did he say not to covet. That is not the focus in Genesis, but are we to assume they were lawless before Sinai. Consider this scripture:

Gen 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

What commandments and laws did God give to Abraham? Sure we know that Abraham did what God told him to do in terms of his experiences, like when he told him to sacrifice his son and to leave his home land. But commandments and laws are different. We are not told what these were exactly, but we know Abraham was not lawless. Adam could not have been lawless either.

The point is this. The fact that God said, How Long will they refuse to keep my commandments and laws is indication that they had prior knowledge of it. We have to assume that if God made the Sabbath on the 7th day of creation, he didn't keep it a secret for 2000+ years and he didnt care about it for 2000+ years. Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man. It means for 2000+ years, either there were no men or Jesus is lying. What say ye?

 

[INTJ-F]

A read of Exodus 31:16-17, reveals that keeping the Sabbaths was to be a sign between God and Israel. “Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 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.” (KJV)

And the gentiles with Israel were to observe the Sabbath as well. Are not Christians grafted into Israel??? If so, they are to keep the Sabbath just like Israel.

Skipping ahead to the New Testament, there is no obligation for the New Testament believer to keep the Sabbath. In fact, of the Ten Commandments, only 9 of them were reinstituted in the New Testament:

Where does this say that the Sabbath is redacted out of the ten commandments? Messiah Yeshua kept Shabbat and so did Paul and the other apostles. They, by their actions, reaffirmed the Sabbath.

This idea is supported in many NT scriptures. “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”(Colossians 2:16-17 KJV).

This was written to the romans. They are being instructed to not let anyone judge them because they are now keeping God's laws including Shabbat, observing the new moon, and the feasts God instructed them to keep. NO WAY does this say they can keep any pagan holiday - it is instructing them to observe the days God said to observe and not let the pagans around them judge them because of it.

If anyone teaches against Torah, they are a false teacher and/or a false messiah.

 

[Hentenza]

There is no commandment to the Christian to keep the Jewish Sabbath. Jesus is our Sabbath rest. All references to the Sabbath in the NT are negative. If God wanted the Christian to keep the Jewish Sabbath then it would have been clearly stated in the NT. Maybe someone can post a chapter and verse that requires the Christian to keep the Jewish Sabbath?

 

[sheina]

And the gentiles with Israel were to observe the Sabbath as well. Are not Christians grafted into Israel??? If so, they are to keep the Sabbath just like Israel.

Christians are not grafted into Israel.

Romans 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

"Among them", not INTO them. Wild branches (Gentiles) were "grafted in among them" because of faith in Christ. Believing Gentiles are able to enjoy God’s salvation and God's righteousness and God's Spirit that the blessings of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the Spirit through faith.

Where does this say that the Sabbath is redacted out of the ten commandments? Messiah Yeshua kept Shabbat and so did Paul and the other apostles. They, by their actions, reaffirmed the Sabbath

Why did Jesus keep the Sabbath? He kept the sabbath for the same reason He kept all the other Mosaic laws. He also observed the feasts. Jesus did these things because He was born a Jew, born under the law, that He might fulfill it and redeem His people from its penalty and bondage (Galatians 4:4).

This was written to the romans. They are being instructed to not let anyone judge them because they are now keeping God's laws including Shabbat, observing the new moon, and the feasts God instructed them to keep. NO WAY does this say they can keep any pagan holiday - it is instructing them to observe the days God said to observe and not let the pagans around them judge them because of it.

The Apostle Paul never taught that sabbath keeping was binding upon New Testament believers. To observe or not to observe holy days is a matter of individual Christian liberty.

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

The context of the 14th chapter of Romans is not about Sabbath keeping. The context of Romans 14 concerns Christian liberty and our responsibility toward our "weaker" brothers.

If anyone teaches against Torah, they are a false teacher and/or a false messiah.

Any addition to the gospel of the grace of Christ is cursed of God:

Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Galatians 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed

Galatians 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

The New Testament believer is not bound to keep the 7th day sabbath Those who teach that the sabbath is binding upon the Christian, are going contrary to what the Apostles taught.

 

[INTJ-F]

Christians are not grafted into Israel.

'plunk'

 

[branchofthevine]

Here is something to remember.

The laws of the Old Testament were all pointing to Christ. Everything given to Moses was pointing to Jesus. The same thing is with the Sabbath. The Sabbath points to Christ.

While in the Old Testament there was a day of rest, this is no longer the case for the New Covenant. Our rest is not a day of the week whether you think it Sunday or Saturday. Our rest is found Christ Jesus alone. He said "come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11). Jesus proclaimed himself Lord even of the Sabbath (somewhere in the Gospels), so I pose a question. Is it better to keep a day of rest of to keep in the rest in the one who made the Sabbath?

Because it seems that the Old Testament Sabbath is a physical rest, but under the New Covenant it is more of a spiritual rest. I think this because the Old Testament always deals with things in the Physical realm. All of God's promises in the Old Covenant where physical like "your cattle will multiply" or "you will have many sons and daughters", but the New Covenant deals with Spiritual things "God has given you every Spiritual Blessing in the Heavenly Realms" (Ephesians). I think the Sabbath under the New Covenant is a Spiritual Sabbath, and not a physical one. However, that is just my opinion.

 

[PROPHECYKID]

Here is something to remember.

The laws of the Old Testament were all pointing to Christ. Everything given to Moses was pointing to Jesus. The same thing is with the Sabbath. The Sabbath points to Christ.

While in the Old Testament there was a day of rest, this is no longer the case for the New Covenant. Our rest is not a day of the week whether you think it Sunday or Saturday. Our rest is found Christ Jesus alone. He said "come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11). Jesus proclaimed himself Lord even of the Sabbath (somewhere in the Gospels), so I pose a question. Is it better to keep a day of rest of to keep in the rest in the one who made the Sabbath?

Because it seems that the Old Testament Sabbath is a physical rest, but under the New Covenant it is more of a spiritual rest. I think this because the Old Testament always deals with things in the Physical realm. All of God's promises in the Old Covenant where physical like "your cattle will multiply" or "you will have many sons and daughters", but the New Covenant deals with Spiritual things "God has given you every Spiritual Blessing in the Heavenly Realms" (Ephesians). I think the Sabbath under the New Covenant is a Spiritual Sabbath, and not a physical one. However, that is just my opinion.

Who does one honor when they keep the Sabbath? A day or the one who made the day? Your opening statements are incorrect. For instance, God gave the 1st commandment to Moses. Is that command a shadow of Christ? Is the second a shadow? Is the third? Is the fifth? Is "Thou shalt not kill" a shadow of Christ or points to Christ?

 

[branchofthevine]

Let me put it another way. Thelaw was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. (Galatians 3:24)

The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. (Hebrews 10:2)

In Ephesians 6 Paul says for Children to obey their parents, not because the Ten Commandments say it (because they do), but because it is the right thing to do (Ephesians 6:1, I read from a New Living Translation).

Paul says in Ephesians that Christ's death ended the whole system of Law that excludes the Gentiles (Ephesians 2:14-18).

What I understand (this is my understanding which I admit is not perfect although scriptures are) from these is that the Laws concerning the Jews only are gone and ended, and the entire law under Moses was a shadow of Christ (You may say the Ten Commandments are not under the Mosaic Law).

I would say yes the Ten Commandments point to Christ just as the rest of the Law points to Christ.

 

[Lion King]

Who does one honor when they keep the Sabbath? A day or the one who made the day? Your opening statements are incorrect. For instance, God gave the 1st commandment to Moses. Is that command a shadow of Christ? Is the second a shadow? Is the third? Is the fifth? Is "Thou shalt not kill" a shadow of Christ or points to Christ?

Yeah...the Law shows we need a SAVIOR.

 

[PROPHECYKID]

Yeah...the Law shows we need a SAVIOR.

So do you think God gave the law and had men live by it for 2500+ years just to show them they need a savior?

Lets say that Israel didn't need a Saviour. Does that mean they could now sin freely? Or is it because we freely sin that we need the Saviour.

The law points out sin. In the abscence or present of a Saviour, sin is always sin. If Jesus comes into my life, stealing doesn't stop being sin. The idea that since Jesus came to earth the law which points out sin is not necessary is wrong because we still need to know what sin is.

 

[branchofthevine]

The law doesn't become wrong.
Paul talks about this in Romans and in Galatians at least, that in Christ, you die to the law and are justified by God and to God through his grace in faith.

The lost person is still under the law and the law condemns them.

 

[OldStudent]

There is an amazing about of discussion and misunderstanding about the Sabbath - that is, the 7th day sabbath. I will briefly touch on several aspects of Sabbath.

There are ceremonial sabbaths. Lev 23 seems to be a catalogue of them. But as you look at the topic of "sabbath" it should become apparent that the 7th-day sabbath is separate and distinct. All the others are recorded by Moses as he was given instruction by God. The 7th-day sabbath is the first mentioned historically (Ex 16). It is the only one written in stone (meant to be permanent) by the personal hand of God (Ex 31). In it He points back to the first verses of Genesis 2 for its cause and origin - before sin and ceremonies and long before any Hebrew (Jewish) covenant. As you follow the "sabbath" word search it will likely become apparent that God's interest in the 7th-day sabbath stands far and away above any other sabbath designated day.

But as Christians it is natural for us to look to Jesus for His take on the subject - if He has one. Early in Jesus' ministry He got in trouble about the Sabbath (Matt 12:1-12; Mk 2:23-3:6; Lk 6 1-11). These all record the same events and all contain the claim of Jesus to be "lord of the the sabbath." He is making the awesome claim to be above the sabbath and therefore the rightful interpreter of its observance. I will leave it to you to word search "sabbath" for the other incidents where He addressed the sabbath. It is worth noting the heat, even death threats, He took regarding the sabbath.

It is interesting to note that John (Rev 1:10), some 70 years later, reflects back to this incident when he "was in the Spirit on the Lord's day."

I wish to look at one other passage. In Matthew 24 Jesus is answering some disturbing questions the disciples raised. Along about vs 15 He begins speaking of something like a siege. Among His instructions was: "pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day" vs 20. This statement was made just a couple of days before He was killed and some 40 years before a fulfillment.

So if the 7th-day sabbath was to become a non-issue after His death why:
did He create such ruckusses and risks over it?
did He try to remove regulatory overburden its observance had acquired?
didn't He acknowledge a coming change in its status?
did He simply assume respect for it to continue years after His death?

It is interesting to follow "sabbath" in the book of Acts. There are several incidents of sabbath observance. There is not a word of any change in status. Paul was a meticulous lawyer. If what God wrote in stone was to change status he would certainly be one to lay down some plain ink on the matter ... but not a word...

We are not saved BY keeping any law. But salvation WILL write His law on our hearts (Jer 31:33; Heb 8:10; Heb 10:16,17).

Finally, I'll present this observation: "God is love" 1 Jn 4:8, 16. It requires time to maintain love. On day 6 of creation God made man - a creation "made in His image." Day 7 was a day of rest. He gave man life from the posture of a kiss. He then provided time for a "date" with His beloved. When the opportunity came, He considered it valuable enough to personally enshrine the date in stone. That date, that time, that love is the basis for keeping the rest of the law.

 

[Rochester]

Everyone knows that the Jews, and Jewish converts during the Old Testament were instructed by God to observe the Sabbath commandment. However, after Christ's resurrection and accession into heaven, the apostle Paul taught Jews and Gentiles alike new rules about what is required of us by God. The legalistic restrictions that the Jews had under the old law were abolished such as circumcision, and sacrificing as well as others. However, several Protestant denominations claim that the Sabbath (which is under the category of Old Testament legalism) remains intact despite the fact that all other rules were abolished. Supporters of this "New Testament Sabbath" claim that we still need to keep it in order to obtain Salvation. Supporters use verses from the Old Testament (which are before Christ's resurrection), and some from the New Testament (which are also all before Christ's resurrection), to show that the Sabbath is still in effect today.

My question to you guys is this: Did Paul instruct the Gentiles in the NT to observe the Sabbath post-Jesus? Is it fair for Sabbath supporters to use verses from before Christ's resurrection to claim that the Sabbath is still intact today?

No. Paul did not. A former SDA answering.

 

[ricker]

Who does one honor when they keep the Sabbath? A day or the one who made the day? Your opening statements are incorrect. For instance, God gave the 1st commandment to Moses. Is that command a shadow of Christ? Is the second a shadow? Is the third? Is the fifth? Is "Thou shalt not kill" a shadow of Christ or points to Christ?

The Sabbath was given by God to be an exclusive sign to Israel. The Sabbath is never spoken of other than in the context of the COI and Jews. This sign is never said to be somehow transfered or given to Gentile believers. Signs are ceremonial by nature.