Saturday

[PamC]

Why do SDA's keep Saturday's? Wasn't Jesus resurrected on Sunday?

 

[mystery4]

Yes Jesus was resurrected on Sunday, however we keep Saturday because we believe that to be the Sabbath. We believe the Sabbath was instituted right from creation (Gen 2:1-3). Its a day that God designates for his people to set aside for Him so we can spend quality time with him without the worries of everyday life and work getting in the way. It also points us back to the creator and reminds us of who we worship and why. Basically its from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday.

We choose to keep it as God commanded us to (Ex 20:8-11) as a love response to Him for what he has done and is doing for us. When I realise all that he has done for me and is doing, how much loves me and the sacrifice he has made, I can't help but rejoice and enjoy doing those things he has told me to do because I know that His way is better regardless the cost and I want to show Him how much I love him.

 

[OntheDL]

Why do SDA's keep Saturday's? Wasn't Jesus resurrected on Sunday?

Yes, Jesus was resurrected on Sunday. But where in the scripture does it say because of it, now the commandment of God is changed from keeping 7th day holy to keeing the 1st day holy?

 

[PamC]

When I read the Bible, I read that this was a covenant for Israel alone, not for any other nation so it is not for Gentile Christians, nor for Jewish Christians for Jewish Christians would be under the new covenant, not the old covenant. Does that make sense?

 

[OntheDL]

When I read the Bible, I read that this was a covenant for Israel alone, not for any other nation so it is not for Gentile Christians, nor for Jewish Christians for Jewish Christians would be under the new covenant, not the old covenant. Does that make sense?

See if this makes sense...

First of all, God never, ever made a covenant with the anyone else but the Jews. If we are to enter into covenant relationship with God, we have to become adopted (spiritual) jews.

Read Hebrews 8 and 11. The old and new covenants (contract) with God are essentially the same. Our part is total obedience, God's part is that He will bless us (eternal life).

The only difference between the old and new is that the old covenant was bound by man's promise. That's why it was faulty.

The new covenant was bound by God's promise. That's why the writter of Hebrew called it the better and eternal covenant.

The old covenant was never intended to save but to teach man lessons that we need to depend on God. The bible says Abraham believed in God and it was counted for righteousness. So Abraham was also under the (new) covenant of grace. That's why the new covenant is the eternal covenant. It was in place for the OT saints. Christ's death on the cross did not start it but ratified it.

On the simplier terms, the sabbath commandment is a part of God's ten commandment. It will never be done away with. Read Isaiah 66. It says all God's people will come and worship on the sabbath in the new heaven and new earth.

The 7th day sabbath was instituted on the 7th of the creation week to memorialize God's creation. The jews didn't even exist at that time. So the sabbath was made holy by God for all His creation. Read Luke 23:55,56 & Luke 24:1. It says Jesus' followers (the new jewish christians) rested the sabbath day according to the commandments.

Furthermore, Jesus Himself kept the sabbath. Apostle Paul kept the sabbath also.

Read Hebrews 4, it says there remains a 7th day rest (shabbat) to the people of God.

Hebrews 4
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Hope this is clear,

 

[Cliff2]

Why do SDA's keep Saturday's? Wasn't Jesus resurrected on Sunday?

Good question, glad you came here to ask it.

We believe that Christ was resurrected on the first day of the week. We call that Sunday today.

The reality of this issue is that no command has ever been given to keep the first day of the week holy.

Look at the early Church, they kept the 7th day Sabbath. this was done at least until around 130 AD.

None of the New Testament writers kept the first day of the week.

The first day of the week is mentioned only 8 times in the Bible and have a look and see if any of them support the keeping of that day holy.

If you want them they can be given to you here, just ask and I or someone else will be glad to help.

 

[PamC]

I thought the Old Covenant and the New Covenant were completely different in that the latter provides for the indwelling Holy Spirit since the veil was rent.

If the law is not done away with, does it mean we are still under the law, if we are under the new covenant? Not one tittle of the law shall pass away till the millennial kingdom ends, but that does not mean we are under the law does it?

There is a very clear distinction between the Old and the New Covenants. So far as God’s appointed days are concerned, one came at the end of the week while the other came at the beginning of the week. The Old Covenant terminated with the seventh day; the New Covenant commenced with the first day of the week. The first week belonged exclusively to the old creation, but beginning on the first day of the next week there was only the new creation. There is absolutely no confusion, no mixing of the old and new within the same week. The Lord Jesus rose on the first day of the week; the church was born on the day of Pentecost, also the first day of the week.

How can we not consider the day of Christ's resurrection holy?

 

[KellyLeigh]

The sabbath was changed to Sunday, the day Jesus was resurrected, mainly because of anti-seminitism and to help draw in the pagans. Jews at that time were being blammed for most of the problems in Erope and Christianity wanted to clearly separate themselves from it, showing others that they were not Jews and they should not be blammed like the Jews were. Also most of the pagans at that time worshipped some form of a sun-god. In ancient literature, Jesus is often called the Sun. Calling Jesus the Sun and changing the day of worship to SUNday helped the pagans who were converting to Christianity feel like they we not entering a completely different world and religion. This is also one of the reasons paintings and sculptures of Jesus and the prophets began. Most of the prior pagan religions had statues of their gods and goddesses everywhere that they worshipped (think of the Greek Gods).



The resurrection of Christ is still holy, please don't think that by choosing to worship God on Saturday that I am disregarding what happened to Jesus. The Bible states that Saturday is the Sabbath and that was written by God Himself, so that is why I choose to continue my worship of Him on saturday.

 

[Sophia7]

MOD HAT ON

According to Rule 1.4, only Seventh-day Adventists are allowed to debate and teach in this congregational forum. Others may ask questions or post fellowship comments only. Anyone who wishes to question the validity of Adventist beliefs may do so in an appropriate debate forum, such as General Theology.

MOD HAT OFF

 

[KellyLeigh]

Sophia7, is that for me? I am a 7th day adventist, I just don't have that symbol under my name

 

[OntheDL]

I thought the Old Covenant and the New Covenant were completely different in that the latter provides for the indwelling Holy Spirit since the veil was rent.

No. Did you read Hebrews 8 & 10? The only difference between the two is the means to abide in the covenant. The old was man's promise. The new is God's promise.

If the law is not done away with, does it mean we are still under the law, if we are under the new covenant? Not one tittle of the law shall pass away till the millennial kingdom ends, but that does not mean we are under the law does it?

If you look at the 10 commandments, they are actually the transcript of Christ's characters. The first 4 commandment say: love God. The last 6: love your fellow man.

They are the moral laws that governs God's people. How can they ever be done away? They are eternal.

The phrase 'til heaven and earth pass away' is only an expression. It's like saying 'I'll always love you until the ocean dries and stars deem'. It means forever.

There is a very clear distinction between the Old and the New Covenants. So far as God’s appointed days are concerned, one came at the end of the week while the other came at the beginning of the week. The Old Covenant terminated with the seventh day; the New Covenant commenced with the first day of the week.

The first week belonged exclusively to the old creation, but beginning on the first day of the next week there was only the new creation. There is absolutely no confusion, no mixing of the old and new within the same week. The Lord Jesus rose on the first day of the week; the church was born on the day of Pentecost, also the first day of the week.

How can we not consider the day of Christ's resurrection holy?

Yes, the NT church received the early rain on the day of Pentecost. But in the Jewish calender, Pentecost does not always fall on Sunday much like the New Year's Day can fall on any day of the week. Pentecost depends on the cycle of the moon.

Same as the day of Pentecost, the Feast of FirstFruite, the day Jesus rose on, can also fall on any day of the week.

Look up the phrase 'first day of the week'. It appeared 8 times in the New Testament. Not even once it says the diciples got together to worship.

I don't have a problem with people worshipping/keeping holy on Sunday. But remember, you do it because of the tradition of the Church. The Bible never in no uncertain terms teaches Sunday now replaced the 7th day sabbath.

 

[OntheDL]

I thought the Old Covenant and the New Covenant were completely different in that the latter provides for the indwelling Holy Spirit since the veil was rent.

The holy spirit was available for the OT saints too.

Psalms 55:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

David received the holy spirit. Wasn't the new covenant of Grace available already for David?

Psalms 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Compare what David wrote in Psalms 40:8 to the new covenant in Hebrews

Hebrews 8:10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Hebrews 10:16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

The so-called new covenant is not new but renewed. It is the original and eternal covenant. The covenant of Grace is the only covenant which by faith the (OT and NT) believers enter into covenant relationship with God and God empowers us with the holy spirit.

 

[PamC]

8 times it is mentioned. Is 8 is the number of resurrection for the coming millennial kingdom when Christ returns to earth with the saints? It is also the 1st day of the week because it is part of the new covenant. The veil was not rent in the Old Covenant, but Heb. 10:19 says, This is the new, life-giving way that Christ has opened for us through the sacred curtain. Who can disagree? The transition was not complete until the temple was destroyed. God takes His time with these things. Since the day of rest was not a day of spiritual activity, this is what makes the Lord's day different doesn't it? The promise was God's always to Israel, which they shall receive, though now as a remnant at His return (Rev. 7:1-8), though the Church has the new covenant beforehand. We are sojourners. The Holy Spirit moved upon believers in the OT, but never did indwell, for the veil was not rent. Didn't Christ have to die for the new covenant to take affect? Would we make His sacrifice of no account?

 

[OntheDL]

8 times it is mentioned. Is 8 is the number of resurrection for the coming millennial kingdom when Christ returns to earth with the saints? It is also the 1st day of the week because it is part of the new covenant. The veil was not rent in the Old Covenant, but Heb. 10:19 says, This is the new, life-giving way that Christ has opened for us through the sacred curtain. Who can disagree? The transition was not complete until the temple was destroyed. God takes His time with these things. Since the day of rest was not a day of spiritual activity, this is what makes the Lord's day different doesn't it? The promise was God's always to Israel, which they shall receive, though now as a remnant at His return (Rev. 7:1-8), though the Church has the new covenant beforehand. We are sojourners. The Holy Spirit moved upon believers in the OT, but never did indwell, for the veil was not rent. Didn't Christ have to die for the new covenant to take affect? Would we make His sacrifice of no account?

Look, I'm going to respect the forum rules and not have a debate with you here.

But if you really looking for answers, I believe my previous posts already answered them. You just need to go back and consider these points.

 

[PamC]

I am just looking for a reasonable explanation that is all. The question still remains, since Sunday's are not a day of rest, but spiritual activity (resurrection life), why keep the law day of rest as a sign of the old covenant for one nation, when the old covenant has passed (though not passed away until all these things are done), for we are not under the new covenant which only Christ could fill up the old with the new. Debate occurs when the answer can not be found I think. Would you agree?

 

[Sophia7]

This thread is being closed for staff review.