Sabbath

[Guest]

Three things you can count on in this life:

1. Death
2. Taxes
3. and Christians arguing about the Sabbath

[Guest]

You just proved my point.

[Guest]

Source

 

https://georgehawke.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/cropped-rusovce-view-3-950px.jpg

Is insistence on Sabbath-keeping legalism?

The blogpost that has generated the most comments on my blog is “I went to a church service that was held on Saturday instead of Sunday and was told that was when we should worship God. What does the Bible say about this topic?” This post was written in 2011. No one has clicked the “Like” button, but at least 18 people have left comments. So it has generated lots of discussion. Most of the commentators disagree with the opinion expressed in the post.

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Legalism

After his commentary on the book of Galatians, MacDonald (1989) states that “On completing a study of Galatians, one might conclude that Paul defeated the teachers of legalism so effectively that the issue would never trouble the church again. History and experience prove otherwise! Legalism has become so important a part of Christendom that most people believe that it actually belongs. Yes, legalists are still with us.”

The major example MacDonald gives of contemporary legalism is insistence on Sabbath-keeping. He refers to those who warn Christians that they must keep the Sabbath if they are to be saved at last. Then he gives the following warning of this false teaching and how to answer it.

The (false) teachers of the Sabbath usually begin by preaching the gospel of salvation by faith in Christ. They use well-known evangelical hymns to lure the unwary, and appear to place much emphasis on the Scriptures. But before long, they put their followers under the law of Moses, especially the commandment concerning the Sabbath. (The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, or Saturday).

Moral law and ceremonial law

How do they do this in the light of Paul’s clear teaching that the Christian is dead to the law? How do they get around the plain statements of Galatians? The answer is that they make a sharp distinction between the moral law and the ceremonial law. The moral law is the Ten Commandments. The ceremonial law covers the other regulations given by God, such as rules concerning unclean foods, leprosy, offerings to God, and so forth.

The moral law they say has never been revoked. It is an expression of God’s eternal truth. To commit idolatry, murder, or adultery will always be contrary to God’s law. The ceremonial law, however, has been done away in Christ. Therefore, they conclude, when Paul teaches that the Christian is dead to the law, he is speaking about the ceremonial law and not the Ten Commandments.

Since the moral law is still in effect, Christians are bound to keep it, they insist. This means that they must keep the Sabbath, that they must do no work on that day. They assert that one of the popes of the Roman Catholic Church (or the Emperor Constantine) ordered the change from Sabbath-observance to observance of Sunday, in utter violation of the Scriptures.

This reasoning sounds logical and appealing. However, its great condemning feature is that it is entirely contrary to God’s word! Note the following seven points.

Seven points

1. In 2 Corinthians 3:7-11, the Ten Commandments are definitely stated to be “brought to an end” for the believer in Christ. In verse 7, the law is described as “the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone”. This could only mean the moral law, not the ceremonial law. Only the Ten Commandments were engraved in stones by the finger of God (Ex.31:18). In verse 11, we read that the ministry that brought death, though glorious, was “being brought to an end” (ESV), “fading away” (HCSB), “made ineffective” (NET), or “transitory” (NIV). Nothing could be more decisive than this. The Sabbath has no claim on the Christian.
2. No Gentile was ever commanded to keep the Sabbath. The law was given to the Jewish nation only (Ex. 31:13). Although God Himself rested on the seventh day, He did not command anyone else to do so until He gave the law to the children of Israel.
3. Christians did not switch from the Sabbath to the first day of the week because of the decree of any pope (or Roman Emperor). We set aside the Lord’s Day (Sunday) in a special way for worship and for service because the Lord Jesus rose from the dead on that day, a proof that the work of redemption was completed (Jn. 20:1). Also, on that day the early disciples met to break bread (celebrate the Lord’s Supper), showing forth the Lord’s death (Acts 20:7), and it was the day appointed by God for Christians to set apart their offerings as the Lord had prospered them (1 Cor. 16:1-2). Furthermore, the Holy Spirit was sent down from heaven on the first day of the week.
   Christians do not “observe” the Lord’s day as a means of achieving holiness, or from fear of punishment; they set it apart because of loving devotion to the One who gave Himself for them.
4. Paul does not distinguish between the moral law and the ceremonial law. Rather, he insists that the law is a complete unit, and that a curse rests on those who seek to attain righteousness by it, yet fail to keep it all.
5. Nine of the Ten Commandments are repeated in the New Testament as moral instruction for the children of God. They deal with things that are inherently right or wrong. The one commandment which is omitted is the law of the Sabbath. The keeping of a day is not inherently right or wrong. There is no instruction to Christians to keep the Sabbath. Rather the Scripture distinctly states that the Christian cannot be condemned for failing to keep it (Col. 2:16)!
6. The penalty for breaking the Sabbath in the Old Testament was death (Ex. 35:2). But those who insist on believers keeping the Sabbath today do not carry out the penalty on offenders. They thus dishonour the law and destroy its authority by failing to insist that its demands be met. They are saying, in effect, “This is God’s law and you just keep it, but nothing will happen if you break it”.
7. Christ, and not the law, is the believer’s rule for life. We should live as He lived. This is an even higher standard than was set by the law (Mt. 5:17-48). We are empowered to live holy lives by the Holy Spirit. We want to live holy lives because of love for Christ. The righteousness demanded by the law is fulfilled by those who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Rom. 8:4)

Conclusion

Thus, the teaching that believers must keep the Sabbath is directly contrary to Scripture (Col. 2:16), and is simply a “different gospel” upon which God’s word pronounces a curse (Gal. 1:7,9).

May each one be given wisdom from God to discern the evil doctrine of legalism in whatever form it may appear! May we never seek justification or sanctification through ceremonies or human effort, but depend completely and only on the Lord Jesus Christ for every need. May we always remember that legalism is an insult to God because it substitutes the shadow for the Reality—ceremonialism for Christ.

Reference
MacDonald William (1989) “Believer’s Bible commentary”, 2^nd edition, Thomas Nelson, p. 1928-1930.

Written, April 2017

[Guest]

2 hours ago, Roar said:

You also have proven my points. 

Your position some would call legalism.  If you feel you must adhere to every dot and tittle of the law and earn your salvation because Jesus' work on the cross was not enough, good luck with that.  God bless you.

[Marathoner]

On 8/30/2020 at 6:41 PM, Debp said:

Only some Christians observe the Sabbath (Saturday).    No one should look down on others that observe Sunday.

16So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a [j]festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17which are a shadow of things to come, but the [k]substance is of Christ.   Colossians 2:16-17.

@Debp furnished the scriptural response to the OP. The 15th chapter of Acts also addresses this issue in which the apostles at Jerusalem, according to the judgment of the Holy Spirit, answered demands which certain believers of the Pharisees were placing on those being added to the Body daily. 

Indeed: the apostle Paul, who was once a Pharisee himself, makes it clear that no one is to be judged according to the subject matter of this post. I've written about this subject in other areas of the forum but it bears repeating. 

This one devotes a day of the week to worship the Lord and they judge others who do not observe the same day. Casting aspersions upon others who do not such as antisemitism, adhering to pagan customs, embracing Roman Catholicism, and disobedience to the Lord is grievous and yet such a thing is being done in this topic by some contributors. 

To this one I would say, you are content with the shadow of substance and it goes well for you. Why do you judge others when the apostles of Jesus Christ, according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, have forbidden such a thing? You observe a day and I observe every day as holy to the Lord for I devote myself to His works day and night, praying without ceasing as His Spirit moves me. Will you therefore judge me because I don't limit myself to one day per week as you do?

I discern the difference between the shadow and the substance: there is no law against being about the Lord's work no matter what day that happens to be. Christ Himself, who is the Lord of Sabbath, demonstrated this when He and the disciples were walking through grain fields on the Sabbath day. The Lord was accused of violating the Sabbath. 


 

[Marathoner]

Here is the truth: in whatever we do, if we do these things unto the Lord, we are about the business of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. (Colossians 3:22-25) 

 

[Michael37]

15 minutes ago, Roar said:

Why in the New Testament does Jesus say "pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath" if the Sabbath has no significance in the New Testament Times?

The significance of this advice hit home in 70AD when Jerusalem fell to the Roman Army. 

The siege of the city began on 14 April 70 CE(AD), three days before the beginning of Passover that year.^[3][4] The siege lasted for about four months; it ended in August 70 CE(AD) on Tisha B'Av with the burning and destruction of the Second Temple.^[5] The Romans then entered and sacked the Lower City. The Arch of Titus, celebrating the Roman sack of Jerusalem and the Temple, still stands in Rome. The conquest of the city was complete on approximately 8 September 70 CE(AD) [Wkpd]

Even for Christians living in Jerusalem at the time it was forbidden to travel more than a Sabbath Day's Walk, whether on the weekly Sabbath or any of the other Sabbaths observed under Jewish Law.  Under the Law, as a practicality Jewish synagogues were positioned to be within a Sabbath Day's Walk.    

SABBATH DAY’S WALK. Used only in Acts.1.12 (kjv “sabbath day’s journey”), where it designates the distance between Mount Olivet and Jerusalem. A Sabbath day’s walk was a journey of limited extent that the scribes thought a Jew might travel on the Sabbath without breaking the law. Such a journey was 2,000 cubits (3,000 ft.-938 m.) from one’s house, a distance derived from the statement found in Josh.3.4 that there was to be that much distance between the ark and the people on their march. The rabbis, however, devised a way of increasing this distance without infringing the law by depositing some food at the 2,000-cubit limit before the Sabbath, and declaring that spot a temporary residence. Source

[Guest]

Paul makes it clear in both Romans 14:5 and Colossians 2:16-17 that the Sabbath has passed away now that Christ has come.

Romans 14:5 - One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.  [NASB]

Colossians 2:16 - Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day--
Colossians 2:17 - things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.  [NASB]

For more information, Justin Taylor

[Charlie744]

It has been awhile since this post was more active but glad to see it still is looked upon- thanks for the response.

In addition to the previous comments, I would respond with these two:

1) “The Sabbath” was established by God as a special Holy Day... the day did not exist... This “day” was put into existence as a Holy Day. It was not just one of the 7 days He just said would be Holy, He created a Holy Day. This is not a day chosen or labeled as a Holy Day, it was created to be a Holy Day. 

2) The Sabbath (big S), was specifically placed in His 10 Commandments. It is the only one that tells us to “Remember to keep .... “. 

And while I am thinking about this topic again, the 10 Commandments are NOT removed, reduced, altered, eliminated by the crucifixion. Jesus was / is our Passover Lamb Who paid the price for us, OUR sins. This was not an event or meant to be an event that would give us a reason to alter or affect ANY ONE of His 10 commandments. 

This change from the 7th to the 1st day of the week was done by man. But man can not make anything Holy, and man can not make something Holy, common.

That was the doing of the “little horn”. 

Charlie

[Michael37]

42 minutes ago, Charlie744 said:

It has been awhile since this post was more active but glad to see it still is looked upon- thanks for the response.

In addition to the previous comments, I would respond with these two:

1) “The Sabbath” was established by God as a special Holy Day... the day did not exist... This “day” was put into existence as a Holy Day. It was not just one of the 7 days He just said would be Holy, He created a Holy Day. This is not a day chosen or labeled as a Holy Day, it was created to be a Holy Day. 

2) The Sabbath (big S), was specifically placed in His 10 Commandments. It is the only one that tells us to “Remember to keep .... “. 

And while I am thinking about this topic again, the 10 Commandments are NOT removed, reduced, altered, eliminated by the crucifixion. Jesus was / is our Passover Lamb Who paid the price for us, OUR sins. This was not an event or meant to be an event that would give us a reason to alter or affect ANY ONE of His 10 commandments. 

This change from the 7th to the 1st day of the week was done by man. But man can not make anything Holy, and man can not make something Holy, common.

That was the doing of the “little horn”. 

Charlie

If some of us like to observe the Sabbath every day that's OK according to Scripture.