Tuesday: From Sabbath to Sunday
As Seventh-day Adventists we often hear fellow Christian brothers and sisters in other denominations argue that the law has been done away with, or that we are not under law but under grace. What they are really saying, however, is that only the fourth commandment has been done away with. Many, though, are not saying even that.
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They are saying instead that the seventh-day Sabbath has been replaced by the first day, Sunday, in honor of the resurrection of Jesus.
And they believe they have the texts to prove it, too.
Below are some of the common texts in the New Testament that many Christians believe indicate the Sabbath was changed from the seventh-day in the Old Testament to the first day in the New Testament. As we read them, we need to ask ourselves if they truly talk about a change of the day, or are they merely describing events that happened on the day, but without rising to the level of prescribing a change?
Read John 20:19-23. What reason does it give for the disciples’ being assembled in that room? What do these verses say about whether it was a worship service in honor of the resurrection of Jesus, as some claim?
Read Acts 20:6-7. What, if anything, in these verses indicated that the Sabbath was changed to Sunday, the first day of the week? See also Acts 2:46.
Read 1 Corinthians 16:1-4. Outside of the fact that they were to store up offerings at home on the first day of the week, what does it teach about any change of the Sabbath to Sunday?
Here is the essence of the textual “evidence” used to promote the doctrine that the first day of the week superseded the seventh-day Sabbath. Outside of describing a few times when, for various reasons, believers were gathered, not one text indicates that these gatherings were worship services held on the first day as a replacement for the Seventh-day Sabbath. This argument is merely reading back into the texts the centuries-long Christian tradition of Sunday keeping. It is putting something into these verses that was never there to begin with.
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Sabbath is founded on the created act of God.
God acted six days and He rested on the seventh day.
It is God's seventh day and man's first day on earth.
In the redemption of humanity, He rests on the Sabbath knowing the work the Father had given him has been completed.
Sabbath ALWAYS from Genesis to Revelation represents the COMPLETED work in Christ.
For us Sabbath represents resting In Christ.
Ecclesiastes 3:14
14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it.
Satan is challenging God.
Jesus is saying, I am the same yesterday, today and forever.
Who would you believe?
Eight text in the New Testament or the consistency of the Sabbath from Genesis to Revelation.
As for my house we serve the Lord
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Is Sabbath observance primarily about making sure we worship on the right day - or is it also about manifesting the character of the One who is "Lord of the Sabbath" (Matt 12:8)?
Certain religious leaders ensured that the crucifixion of the "Lord of the Sabbath" was wrapped up in time so that they could go and 'keep' the 7th day Sabbath.
There are a lot of things that people follow by weak reasons. Our strength must come from a firm Foundation, which was given to us in 10 simple rules of love. If one of the rules is changeable, why wouldn't the rest be too?
I don’t believe the Lord had commissioned Christians to convince or convert anyone. There are some doctrines I DON’T teach--such as the natural immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness. If anyone asks, I’m glad to explain why I don’t teach those things but I avoid arguing about them.
One of the ways I “advertised” my piano tuning business was to donate tunings of pianos in church buildings. After tuning a piano in one couple’s home for my usual fee, I offered to tune a piano for their congregation. The pastor planned to meet me at the church building so I don’t know what motivated the couple to also meet us there but they did. I hadn’t even finished preparing the piano for tuning when the pastor asked what my denominational affiliation was. When I said it was Seventh-day Adventist, he wanted to argue with me about the sabbath. I answered his questions but refused to argue.
The next time I saw that couple in a music store where I was tuning a piano, I asked how their pastor was. They said, because of the way he had treated me, they never attended the services of that congregation again.
According to the Complete Jewish Bible, the translation of Acts 20: 7, "upon the first day of the week" (and other texts indicating the first day of the week) is: "Motza'ei-Shabbat", which is at the end of the Sabbath, right after Sabbath vespers or at sunset. This is an indication that the Sabbath is still held as sacred and to be observed.
Some claim that where it says in Acts 20:6,7 about the "breaking of bread," that these words indicate a passing of "The Emblems," of Jesus' Body and Blood and therefore that they were having a "Worship Service," on the first day of the week and therefore also indicative of choosing to worship on the first day of the week rather than the Seventh Day.
That "breaking bread" is confined to weekly worship services is a 'just so" story. The record tells us in Acts 2:46 that the believers were "breaking bread" daily, from house to house.
So, Inge, does that mean that since they were "Breaking Bread" daily, that they were "Passing Jesus' body and blood emblems daily," and therefore now every day is the Sabbath as some Christians try to pass on now and therefore that we do not need to Keep the seventh day as holy?
I believe that Avok Iman dealt with that question rather well.
Adding to that, breaking of bread can be a normal meal for the Jews. The breaking of bread as in the "Lord Super" in the Bible is always associated with the taking of wine. So, obviously, Act 20: 6- 7, is not a Lord's Supper as claimed by many.
Perhaps, one of the issues we should discuss here is what is the meaning and purpose of Sabbath. If we have simply taken the liturgy of other churches from Sunday to Saturday, then maybe we miss the point of Sabbath. Sabbath observance should be something more than just a change of day.
Worship on the Sabbath will always be controversial among Christians. Our Church, the Seventh Day Adventist Church, was founded on that knowledge.
I love this platform because Iam learning soo much from you guys.But Maurice can you please come again?What is the something more than just a change of day?
The Sabbath is more than a day. It is a principle from eternity. God made and sanctified the Sabbath day as an institution of this principle that is meaningful to His creation. It is a continual celebration of the Oneness of God with His Creation.
Universally it has to be a principle because the 24 hour day is an artifact of a small planet circling a small sun in a huge universe where other periods of rotation are highly probable.
It would take a clear and obvious display equal to the display on Sinai if God was to change any part of His Divine law which He spoke and engraved upon stone, saying it was for all generations.
If God were to change any part of His law, what would that say about Him?
Also, to argue with the "evidence" some would produce to show a change seems to give it the importance it does not deserve. We need only to point to the Law, and Christ's teaching that "not one jot or tittle shall pass from the law". This and our example of obedience is sowing the good seed.
The very first part of the fourth commandment says to "Remember" the seventh day. Then the second part is to "Keep it holy." Then the third part is to "not to work but rest instead." Then the fourth part is to "Celebrate" God as creator and recreator in his son Jesus. God gives us six days in which to do all our work but on the seventh day we are to rest and remember him as creator and recreator via his son Jesus. So this idea of every day being the Sabbath, if we were to truly do this we would then not work at all on any day because part of keeping the Sabbath holy is to not work and if we are going to keep every day as being holy we would be worthless lazybums.
Good point, Pete.
As Seventh-day Adventist, we do not have to be convince about which day is the Sabbath, but we do need to be reminded how to keep it Holy.
Please read and understand Gal 5. The Lord said "walk in the spirit" and you shall not fulfil lust(works) of the flesh which are; Gal 5:19-21 Adultery, fornication, uncleaness, lasciviousness, Idolatory, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envying, murders, drunkness, revellings, and such like.
These are the works God wants us to rest from, and it is a complete rest we can only find in Christ. That is why Jesus said "all yee that labour and are heavy laden come unto me and I will give you rest (from your works which is a burden). Sabbath represented Christ then (image of that which was to come)(keep it holy). Christ came and said I am the Lord of the sabbath, I am the sabbath, you can only find rest in me. Then we will no longer be doing our works but his(my yoke is light Mat 11:30), which are Gal 5:22-26 Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance, against such there is no law.
All laws are fulfiled in Christ who is Love as God is Love.
Therefore, I don't condemn the sabbath, but I am asking are we understanding the true meaning of it and are we keeping it right(Holy)?
Blessings
What should be our real focus, the seventh day sabbath or Christ? One lead to the other, so which do we keep the image or the real?
Both.
Donald please explain.
Andrew, I don't think we can truthfully separate Christ from the Sabbath principle. Christ's very Character includes the Sabbath principle. He wrote about the Sabbath principle in His law on the tables of stone. The Sabbath is not His afterthought. It is as eternal as He is and it is Him. To try to separate Him from His Character is like separating Him from His Love. We may try to do it, but it can't happen without killing Him. We saw that at the cross.