Why Sunday???

[Brother Lionel]

Grace be unto you all, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!

As many of you all may know, there has been an ongoing debate about a lot of issues within the Christian community. While some are not as important, others are hot potato issues that need to be addressed (whether some Christians agree or not). According to the bible, no one should debate about the sacred scriptures but rather present the truth to one another and let the Word reprove, correct, and instruct the individual or group in all righteousness. And that is the approach I would like to use here. I'm not here to argue, debate, or here to say who's right and who's wrong. I am here for one thing - the truth. With that being said, I would like for someone to provide answers to my questions, which I hope are thought provoking.

Question #1: Why do we (the majority of the Christian Body) go to church or take part in corporate worship on Sunday?

Question #2: If there is absolutley no scriptural guidance, reference, or authority that supports the change in solemnity from the seventh day of the week to the first day of the week, why Sunday?

Some may say "How do we know which day is the the Sabbath or the seventh day of the week? The dates have changed so much in history". Well, according to one of the most well known and accepted dictionaries of our time, this is what Webster has to say...

**Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition, © 2001**
Sunday: first day of the week, observed as the Sabbath by most Christian sects

Saturday: the seventh day of the week, observed as the Sabbath by the Jews and some Christian sects.

Why do "some" Christians do one thing and "most" Christians do another? Are we not one body? If we were to go strictly by the Word of God, in it's spiritual context of course (for you bible critics out there), and not by the all too familiar element of Christianity - tradition, would we all consider the same day as God's Holy Sabbath according to scripture?

So which day, exactly, does the bible say the Sabbath is on?
Genesis 2:3 - And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Exodus 16:26
Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.

Exodus 20:11
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 made it holy.

Deuteronomy 5:14
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God...

Matthew 28:1
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week (Sunday), came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Luke 4:16
And he (Jesus) came to Nazareth...and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

Acts 17:2
As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures

Hebrews 4:9
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.


You get the picture. So, based on what I read in God's Word and what I am seeing today, this issue needs to be addressed. According to the bible, the seventh day is still the Sabbath. And so, if Jesus (God the Son), John the baptist (The greatest prophet), Paul (one of the most prolific authors of the bible), all of the disciples (who walked with Jesus Himself), the apostles, and all of Christianity until the second century kept the seventh day Sabbath Holy, why Sunday for us?

So these are my questions:
1: Why do we (the majority of the Christian Body) go to church or take part in corporate worship on Sunday?
2: And if there is absolutley no scriptural guidance, reference, or authority that changes the solemnity from the seventh day of the week to the first day of the week, why Sunday?

And before you answer, I am already aware that we are "under the New Covenant" (which is another hot potato issue spurred on by biblical illiteracy that needs to be addressed). With all due respect, that's not my question. I know that we are "under the New Covenant" and I know that we should worship God everyday in Spirit and in Truth. But the question is this - Why do we do what we do on Sunday as opposed to the day that God sanctioned according to the scriptures?

 

[Tina]

^

Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

While the above scripture exhorts believers to meet and fellowship regularly, it does not mention it has to be done on a Sabbath or Sunday or any other specific day.


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

Romans 14:5
One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.

These Scriptures make it clear that, for the Christian, Sabbath-keeping is a matter of spiritual freedom, not a command from God. Sabbath-keeping is an issue on which God’s Word instructs us not to judge each other. Sabbath-keeping is a matter about which each Christian needs to be fully convinced in his/her own mind. The Sabbath command was to do no work on the Sabbath day.

Exodus 20:8-11
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.


Nowhere in Scripture is the Sabbath day commanded to be the day of worship. If there was a day that Christians met regularly, it was the first day of the week (our Sunday), not the Sabbath day (our Saturday). In honor of Christ’s resurrection on Sunday, the early Christians observed Sunday not as the “Christian Sabbath†but as a day to especially worship Jesus Christ.

Acts 20:7
Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

1 Corinthians 16:2
On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

.

 

[Brother Lionel]

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

Romans 14:5
One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.

These Scriptures make it clear that, for the Christian, Sabbath-keeping is a matter of spiritual freedom, not a command from God. Sabbath-keeping is an issue on which God’s Word instructs us not to judge each other. Sabbath-keeping is a matter about which each Christian needs to be fully convinced in his/her own mind. The Sabbath command was to do no work on the Sabbath day.

Thanks for your response. But I have afew questions. In regards to the Colossians 2, which one of the Ten Commandments deal with food, drink, festival, or new moon? The answer of course is none of them. So why did Paul seem to say that not to let anyone judge on this matter? Could it be that he was referring to the ceremonial sabbaths which were festivals and new moons?

As far as Romans 14:5 is concerned, does this tell us that the sacredness of the seventh day was transferred to the first day of the week, Sunday? You mention freedom for man to choose. Is it a co-incidence that millions of men and women choose Sunday each week? And you also mentioned that Sabbath-keeping is not a command from God. Does God sanction such a statement? Because Moses states the following in Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 5:12
Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you.

"Sabbath-keeping is a matter of spiritual freedom, not a command from God." I ask again, is this in line with scripture??? However, you are correct in that Sabbath-keeping is a matter of spiritual freedom. The freedom is from the "hustle and bustle" of the world and from our labors, not from obedience.

Exodus 20:8-11
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

No where in Scripture is the Sabbath day commanded to be the day of worship. If there was a day that Christians met regularly, it was the first day of the week (our Sunday), not the Sabbath day (our Saturday).

We should worship God everyday in spirit and in truth, however, God wants us to rest on the day He chose, not on the day that He worked, that totally undermines the purpose of the Sabbath, to rest and be confederate with God. And you are mistaken when you state that Christians did not meet regularly on the Sabbath.

Acts 13:44
And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Here, nearly an entire city of believers met on the Sabbath to worship.

In honor of Christ’s resurrection on Sunday, the early Christians observed Sunday not as the “Christian Sabbath†but as a day to especially worship Jesus Christ.]

Do you have any scripture that states the following or that commands us to do so? Because the first day of the week wasnt observed until the second century but the bible was completed in or before the year 80.

Acts 20:7
Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

1 Corinthians 16:2
On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
.

Okay, the first scripture shows us that Paul was ready to depart on a long journey the next day. Would he do this on the holy he considered holy? His custom did not allow such a journey. Furthermore, in the "breaking of bread" part, Acts 2:46 states that they broke bread daily. That leads us to believe that they were simply eating, not "worshiping God on the first day of the week".

In the second scripture, Paul simply directs them to lay there gifts aside to give on the following Sabbath as opposed to spending their possessions and then laying their gifts aside for the coming sabbath. But again, does this show the change in sacredness from the seventh day of the week to the first?

 

[whirlwind]

Sabbath means rest. He became our Rest as He became our Peace, our Passover.

• Mark 2:27 And He said unto them, "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
  
  Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
  
  4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said, "As I have sworn in My wrath, if they shall enter into My rest:" although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
  
  4:9-10 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.

With that being said....I too believe the proper day is what we now term Saturday (Saturn day) as opposed to Sun day...a pagan day to worship the sun.

 

[Free]

There are several reasons why worship was moved to Sunday. Two of the main ones are Jesus rose on a Sunday and Pentecost was on Sunday.

And you are mistaken when you state that Christians did not meet regularly on the Sabbath.

Acts 13:44
And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Here, nearly an entire city of believers met on the Sabbath to worship.

Looking at that verse in context:

Act 13:42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.
Act 13:43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
Act 13:44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
Act 13:45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.
Act 13:46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
Act 13:47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"
Act 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
Act 13:49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.

Obviously, these were not believers. This is a passage about "the word of the Lord...spreading throughout the whole region."

There is evidence from very early in the second century that "the Lord's day" meant Sunday and that was the day the early church met and worshiped.

 

[Brother Lionel]

There are several reasons why worship was moved to Sunday. Two of the main ones are Jesus rose on a Sunday and Pentecost was on Sunday.

Could you show us in scripture where Jesus or any of the New Testament authors gave us direction to "move" the Sabbath from the seventh day of the week to the first? Jesus established the New Covenant on Thursday during the Lord's supper, why dont the majority of the Christian body worship and rest on Thursday? Furthermore, Jesus rested on the Sabbath Day according to the commandment during the work of the cross. Should not we do the same? There is nothing in the bible that changes the Sabbath of the Ten Commandments. Unless you could shed some light on the issue???

There is evidence from very early in the second century that "the Lord's day" meant Sunday and that was the day the early church met and worshiped.

Right and wrong. Sunday observance did take place during the second century. But "The Lord's Day" was not Sunday. The bible was not completed until or before the year 80, but Sunday was not observed until or after the year 130. So was John referring to Sunday as the Lord'sDay or the Sabbath? Let's see what the Word of God has to say...

Exodus 31:13
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep...

Leviticus 19:3
Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God...

Leviticus 19:30
Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD...

Leviticus 26:2
Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD...

Ezekiel 20:12
Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths...

Ezekiel 20:13
...and my sabbaths they greatly polluted...

Ezekiel 20:16
Because they despised my judgments...but polluted my sabbaths...

Ezekiel 20:20
And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you...

Ezekiel 22:8
Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths...

Ezekiel 23:38
...they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths...

Isaiah 58:13
If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day...

Isaiah 56:4
For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant...

From the looks these verses, God only referred to the Sabbath as "His Day", no where in the bible does God refer to the first day of the week or any other day of the week as His day. This would only lead us to believe that John was referring to the Sabbath as "The Lord's Day" rather than Sunday. The belief that The Lord's Day is Sunday came from the catholic church during the early middle ages to justify sunday observance.

 

[Tina]

In regards to the Colossians 2, which one of the Ten Commandments deal with food, drink, festival, or new moon? The answer of course is none of them.

There are 603 other laws and commandments in the OT BESIDE the Ten Commandments. Most of the OT laws are not commanded in the NT. Even out of the Ten Commandments, Nine are repeated and specifically commanded in the NT. The ONE commandment that is no longer required is the Fourth Commandment which is about SABBATH … It makes perfect sense, for obviously God would not call for only one day of the week to be holy.

So why did Paul seem to say that not to let anyone judge on this matter? Could it be that he was referring to the ceremonial sabbaths which were festivals and new moons?

What do you mean by “ceremonial sabbaths†?
There is only one Sabbath and that is Saturday, the seventh day of the week.

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

Here, Paul groups the weekly Sabbath with the annual festivals, the monthly rituals, and eating and drinking restrictions of Judaism. Paul is saying that the Sabbath, like the other rituals of Judaism, is not a basis for judging. The Christians at Colossae should not let other people judge them by what they do on the Sabbath day  and in the same way, they should not judge other Christians by what they do on the Sabbath. In other words, they are not to say it is wrong for other Christians to be working on the Sabbath. Christians should not let anyone make them feel guilty for what they do on the Sabbath. The reason for this, Paul says, is because Christ is the reality that these rituals symbolized. Since Christ has canceled our debts (v. 14), we should therefore not let anyone criticize us for what we do on the Sabbath. Because of the cross, the regulations about the Sabbath (as well as the new moons and annual festivals) are obsolete.

Romans 14:6
One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special , does so to the Lord.

As far as Romans 14:5 is concerned, does this tell us that the sacredness of the seventh day was transferred to the first day of the week, Sunday?

There is no mention about “sacredness†being transferred from one day to another in this passage as there was no mention about a particular day being sacred to being with. All days are to be dedicated to God through holy living and godly service, and if an individual feels a personal conviction to regard one day more special than others, he may have the liberty to set aside the day for the Lord’s service. The Sabbath was given to Israel, not the church. The Sabbath is still Saturday, not Sunday, and has never been changed. But Sabbath keeping is not required of the Christian  be it Saturday or Sunday.

You mention freedom for man to choose. Is it a co-incidence that millions of men and women choose Sunday each week?

It is not just a matter of choice or coincidence, but a matter of CONVENIENCE. Sunday is the day most people don’t work or study. Sunday is family day and it naturally follows that people would want to worship God as a family on this day.

And you also mentioned that Sabbath-keeping is not a command from God. Does God sanction such a statement? Because Moses states the following in Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 5:12
Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you.

The commandment is a charge to refresh oneself physically and spiritually. The Hebrew noun sabat, translated "sabbath," is related to the verb translated "to cease" or “rest†. Before God gave the Mosaic Law He told the Israelites to refrain from gathering manna on the seventh day of the week (Exodus 16:22-30). Later God made abstinence from work on the sabbath day a law for the Israelites (Exodus 20:8-11). The reasons were to remember God's creation of the universe (Exodus 20:11) and to remember His creation of the nation Israel (Deuteronomy 5:15). The sabbath was to be observed, first in celebration of the creation of the world, and second in commemoration of God's creation of Israel in the Exodus.

"Sabbath-keeping is a matter of spiritual freedom, not a command from God." I ask again, is this in line with scripture???

Hebrews 8:13
In that He says, “A new covenant, †He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Here the scripture is talking about the first covenant which is the Mosaic law which is now obsolete when Jesus Christ came.


2 Corinthians 3:7-18
But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech  unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.


Also in this passage of 2 Corinthians 3 above, Paul preaches about the glory of the NEW Covenant. He says that the Ten Commandments “written and engraved on stones†was a “ministry of death and condemnationâ€Â, which came in glory, but its glory was “passing awayâ€Â. The new covenant, in contrast, is a ministry that brings life, is much more glorious, and is a ministry that does not pass away. Paul did not praise the Ten Commandments as part of the Christian way of life. Rather, he pointed out ways in which the gospel of Jesus Christ is different from the Ten Commandments that were part of a ministry that was passing away.

However, you are correct in that Sabbath-keeping is a matter of spiritual freedom. The freedom is from the "hustle and bustle" of the world and from our labors, not from obedience.

I beg to differ. What do you mean the freedom is not from obedience?
If there is no obedience, billions of Christians will not be flocking to churches on weekends !

We should worship God everyday in spirit and in truth, however, God wants us to rest on the day He chose, not on the day that He worked, that totally undermines the purpose of the Sabbath, to rest and be confederate with God.

How exactly do YOU “rest†on Saturdays ?

And you are mistaken when you state that Christians did not meet regularly on the Sabbath.

Acts 13:44
And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Here, nearly an entire city of believers met on the Sabbath to worship.

In the book of Acts, whenever a meeting is said to be on the Sabbath, it is a meeting of JEWS, not Christians. Paul wanted to preach to Jews first, and the best place to do this was in a synagogue, and the best day to do it was the Sabbath, when the Jews were there. It was simply a good evangelistic strategy to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath. However, Paul never taught anyone to keep the Sabbath. In the Gentile cities of Lystra, Derbe and Athens, nothing is said about the Sabbath. In some places, Paul preached every day (Acts 17:17; 19:9). When he was in Troas, we do not hear anything about the Sabbath. Rather, the church waited until the first day of the week to come together and break bread (Acts 20:7 ; 1 Corinthians 16:2). The example of Paul, like that of Jesus, is always liberty, and makes no restrictions or commandments about the Sabbath. In Acts 2:46-47 and Acts 3:2, the CHRISTIANS met and broke bread EVERY day.

.

 

[Tina]

In honor of Christ’s resurrection on Sunday, the early Christians observed Sunday not as the “Christian Sabbath†but as a day to especially worship Jesus Christ.]

Do you have any scripture that states the following or that commands us to do so? Because the first day of the week wasnt observed until the second century but the bible was completed in or before the year 80.

Acts 20:7
Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

1 Corinthians 16:2
On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

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.†Since Paul designates this offering as “service†in 2 Corinthians 9:12, this collection must have been linked with the Sunday worship service of the Christian assembly. Historically Sunday, not Saturday, was the normal meeting day for Christians in the church, and its practice dates back to the first century.

Acts 20:7
Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

Okay, the first scripture shows us that Paul was ready to depart on a long journey the next day. Would he do this on the holy he considered holy? His custom did not allow such a journey.

What custom was it that did not allow Paul such a journey ?

Furthermore, in the "breaking of bread" part, Acts 2:46 states that they broke bread daily. That leads us to believe that they were simply eating, not "worshiping God on the first day of the week".

“Breaking bread†does not mean simply eating. It means worshipping the Lord through Holy Communion (eucharist), which the Christians observed daily. This is one of the scriptures that clearly DISPROVES keeping of the Sabbath.

In the second scripture, Paul simply directs them to lay there gifts aside to give on the following Sabbath as opposed to spending their possessions and then laying their gifts aside for the coming sabbath. But again, does this show the change in sacredness from the seventh day of the week to the first?

Did your church (Seventh Day Adventists Church) teach you this?
If this is your interpretation, then Christians may lay aside gifts any day, not necessarily “on the first day of the week†!

This is wrong interpretation. See my explanation above !

Right and wrong. Sunday observance did take place during the second century. But "The Lord's Day" was not Sunday. The bible was not completed until or before the year 80, but Sunday was not observed until or after the year 130. So was John referring to Sunday as the Lord'sDay or the Sabbath? Let's see what the Word of God has to say...

Exodus 31:13
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep...

Leviticus 19:3
Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God...

Leviticus 19:30
Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD...

Leviticus 26:2
Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD...

Ezekiel 20:12
Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths...

Ezekiel 20:13
...and my sabbaths they greatly polluted...

Ezekiel 20:16
Because they despised my judgments...but polluted my sabbaths...

Ezekiel 20:20
And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you...

Ezekiel 22:8
Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths...

Ezekiel 23:38
...they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths...

Isaiah 58:13
If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day...

Isaiah 56:4
For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant...

From the looks these verses, God only referred to the Sabbath as "His Day", no where in the bible does God refer to the first day of the week or any other day of the week as His day. This would only lead us to believe that John was referring to the Sabbath as "The Lord's Day" rather than Sunday. The belief that The Lord's Day is Sunday came from the catholic church during the early middle ages to justify sunday observance.

Did you notice that all these verses are from the OLD TESTAMENT ?
They are applicable to Israel , not the Church --- to the JEWS , not Christians.

As I pointed out earlier, 9 out of 10 Commandments are repeated and commanded in the New Testament. SABBATH is the ONLY commandment that is no longer applicable. We know it not because the belief came from the Catholic Church but because of what scriptures say.

.

 

[Brother Lionel]

So, basically you guys are saying that we should keep nine commandments, correct?

 

[Adullam]

So, basically you guys are saying that we should keep nine commandments, correct?

LOL. You are reading the law through the eyes of the flesh. We are called into the sabbath (ceasing) of death to self. This is far greater than sitting in a hammock on saturday. Think about this. Are you a Christian? Have you heard of the new creation in Christ?

9 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, 10 passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation,
12
he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
13
For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes 11 can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed,
14
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit 12 offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

As for meetings together, the early church met daily...not once a week. The Christian walk is a daily event. The Christian ceasing from dead works is also daily. This is the true sabbath.

The first 4 commandments are spiritual...before God. The last 6 commandments are towards our fellow man. Notice that there are 2 tablets of writings. The first involves love for God. The second regards love for our neighbour. In this way the 2 great commandments are represented (by the 2 tablets).


6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

 

[Brother Lionel]

The Bible says that we show our love to God by keeping His Commandments. When we show our obedience to our God, we are displaying our love for Him.

Exodus 20:6
but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Deuteronomy 7:9
“Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 15:10
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

1 John 5:2
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

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


So, I ask again, are you all saying that in order to show our love and obedience to God, should we keep only nine commandments??

 

[Tina]

^

We keep the nine commandments and keep each and every day holy.


..... .....

 

[Brother Lionel]

^

We keep the nine commandments and keep each and every day holy.

LOL! So were in the bible does it teach to keep only nine commandments?? In Deuteronomy 5:29 God says "O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!" So why is God saying one thing and you another? And, with all due respect, if you attempt to keep everyday holy according to the bible, you're not holy, you're lazy! God commands and permits us to work and take care of our wordly activities for six days. But on the seventh day, He calls for us to lay aside the labour and toil to rest and devote this entire day to Him. And He commands us to do this by resting, serving, and devotion. Now basically, you're telling me that you do this 24-7?? How can you live a productive life my friend?? If you observe everyday as God commands us to obeserve the Sabbath, its impossible to be productive. You may serve a Holy God but He does not permit us to rest everyday according to His fourth commandment. He wants productive Christians, not idol people. Again, that's not holy, that's lazy...

 

[Brother Lionel]

The first 4 commandments are spiritual...before God. The last 6 commandments are towards our fellow man. Notice that there are 2 tablets of writings. The first involves love for God. The second regards love for our neighbour. In this way the 2 great commandments are represented (by the 2 tablets).

My dear brother, all ten commandments are spiritual because they come from God who is Spirit. Everything you stated following your first statement is true. And I am glad you mentioned the first table of stone in regards to love for God. So if I break the first commandment by bowing down to idols, am I showing my love for God? Of course the answer is no. So, please tell me, what is the difference between the first commandment and the fourth one? According to the bible, there is no difference because if I offend in one point, I am guilty of all ten! So by disregarding the fourth commandment and still live by the other three on the first tablet, aren't we refusing to show our love for God? If its still wrong to bow down to idols, take the Lord's name in vain, and make any graven images, why is now "not wrong" to disregard the Sabbath? By the way, I still haven't recieved any scripture that shows the change and sacredness from the seventh day of the week to the first...

 

[Tina]

LOL! So were in the bible does it teach to keep only nine commandments??

Please read my post again. Did I say keep ONLY nine commandments ?
I said "We keep the nine commandments and keep each and every day holy."

In Deuteronomy 5:29 God says "O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!" So why is God saying one thing and you another?

I beg to differ. I am not saying anything other than what God said. I said keep the nine commandments AND instead of keeping only one day holy, keep every day holy.

And, with all due respect, if you attempt to keep everyday holy according to the bible, you're not holy, you're lazy! God commands and permits us to work and take care of our wordly activities for six days. But on the seventh day, He calls for us to lay aside the labour and toil to rest and devote this entire day to Him. And He commands us to do this by resting, serving, and devotion. Now basically, you're telling me that you do this 24-7??

Again you misunderstand me and take my words out of context. I said keep each and every day HOLY, I did NOT say keep every day "SABBATH" , did I ? .... As I stated before, Sabbath is always Saturday, it has never been changed. Now would you care to share with us how exactly you observe Sabbath on Saturdays, since you are very legalistic about it ?

How can you live a productive life my friend?? If you observe everyday as God commands us to obeserve the Sabbath, its impossible to be productive. You may serve a Holy God but He does not permit us to rest everyday according to His fourth commandment. He wants productive Christians, not idol people. Again, that's not holy, that's lazy...

Being productive does not mean you cannot be holy ......... :biglol

 

[Brother Lionel]

I understand your logic Tina. However, God provided specific directions on how, when, and why to keep ONE day holy. He did not say "keep seven days holy", He said "Remember the Sabbath, keep it holy". And I understand that we are to worship God in Spirit and in Truth everyday of the week but do you treat everyday of the week like a Sunday? My point exactly. God has already given us directions on how to keep holy the day that HE designated. Not the day we choose based on tradition. God specifically stated that to refrain from work or any other worldly business, devoting the 24-hr period to Him is regarding that particular day as a holy day. Now again, if you refrain from work and worldly business seven days a week, you're not going to live a productive Christian life.

God specifically commanded us to subdue the earth, change it, work the groung, not to be slothful in business, and to do what ever we need to do for six days. But on the seventh day, God specifically commanded us to lay aside all of our toils, labour, and worldly business to rest and spend time with Him. And when we do this, we are showing our allegiance to God who created this day of rest, and created everything else in the world. That's why God placed this principle in the holy Ten Commandments which He wrote with His own finger and that's why the enemy hates this law and everything it stands for. Think about it...this commandment is on the same set of laws as murder. Is it still wrong to kill a man whether physical or spritual? This commandment is on the same set of laws as adultery. Is it still wrong to commit adultery whether physical or spritual? We still hold these principles in high regard in our society, but the fourth commandment is disregarded each week. Why??? Do me a favor and read the Ten Commandments again and see what I'm talking about. Should not we keep all ten?

 

[westtexas]

I'm not going to say this is right or wrong. Just food for thought. I read this in another post on this forum but couldn't find the right post to reference to y'all. Genesis chapter 1 says-- and the evening and the morning was day one, two, etc. --If we all agree that Sunday is the first day of the week
Sunday evening- Monday morning day 1
Monday evening-Tuesday morning day 2
Tuesday evening-Wednesday morning day 3
Wednesday evening-Thursday morning day 4
Thursday evening- Friday morning day 5
Friday evening-Saturday morning day 6
Saturday evening-Sunday morning day 7
By this account we should be resting Saturday night and Sunday morning---say goodbye to all those Saturday night party's :rolling

Westtexas

 

[francisdesales]

I understand your logic Tina. However, God provided specific directions on how, when, and why to keep ONE day holy. He did not say "keep seven days holy", He said "Remember the Sabbath, keep it holy". And I understand that we are to worship God in Spirit and in Truth everyday of the week but do you treat everyday of the week like a Sunday? My point exactly. God has already given us directions on how to keep holy the day that HE designated. Not the day we choose based on tradition. God specifically stated that to refrain from work or any other worldly business, devoting the 24-hr period to Him is regarding that particular day as a holy day. Now again, if you refrain from work and worldly business seven days a week, you're not going to live a productive Christian life.

God specifically commanded us to subdue the earth, change it, work the groung, not to be slothful in business, and to do what ever we need to do for six days. But on the seventh day, God specifically commanded us to lay aside all of our toils, labour, and worldly business to rest and spend time with Him. And when we do this, we are showing our allegiance to God who created this day of rest, and created everything else in the world. That's why God placed this principle in the holy Ten Commandments which He wrote with His own finger and that's why the enemy hates this law and everything it stands for. Think about it...this commandment is on the same set of laws as murder. Is it still wrong to kill a man whether physical or spritual? This commandment is on the same set of laws as adultery. Is it still wrong to commit adultery whether physical or spritual? We still hold these principles in high regard in our society, but the fourth commandment is disregarded each week. Why??? Do me a favor and read the Ten Commandments again and see what I'm talking about. Should not we keep all ten?

Does God tell us to keep Saturday holy or the Sabbath holy? Saturday is the JEWISH sabbath. We are not Jews so we are not bound to keep Saturday holy.

Regards

 

[Tina]

However, God provided specific directions on how, when, and why to keep ONE day holy. He did not say "keep seven days holy", He said "Remember the Sabbath, keep it holy".

Are you saying that you keep only one day of the week holy ?

Have I not already explained to you under what circumstances God commanded the Jews to rest and keep the Sabbath holy in the Old Testament ?

Where in the New Testament is there a command for CHRISTIANS to observe Sabbath ?

Haven I already proven to you from scriptures that the Christians met every day or on the 1st day of the week ?

And I understand that we are to worship God in Spirit and in Truth everyday of the week but do you treat everyday of the week like a Sunday?

Where did I ever say that we should worship God in Spirit and in Truth every day ?

I only said we should keep our lives holy everyday, and of course if one chooses to worship God every day it's even better.

My point exactly. God has already given us directions on how to keep holy the day that HE designated.

Well then, tell us .... exactly what directions has God given us on how to keep the holy day that HE designated.

Not the day we choose based on tradition. God specifically stated that to refrain from work or any other worldly business, devoting the 24-hr period to Him is regarding that particular day as a holy day. Now again, if you refrain from work and worldly business seven days a week, you're not going to live a productive Christian life.

Yet again , you are taking my words out of context and arguing unnecessarily ......... :naughty

I NEVER said every day is Sabbath. I only said we keep every day holy.

God specifically commanded us to subdue the earth, change it, work the groung, not to be slothful in business, and to do what ever we need to do for six days. But on the seventh day, God specifically commanded us to lay aside all of our toils, labour, and worldly business to rest and spend time with Him. And when we do this, we are showing our allegiance to God who created this day of rest, and created everything else in the world. That's why God placed this principle in the holy Ten Commandments which He wrote with His own finger and that's why the enemy hates this law and everything it stands for. Think about it...this commandment is on the same set of laws as murder. Is it still wrong to kill a man whether physical or spritual? This commandment is on the same set of laws as adultery. Is it still wrong to commit adultery whether physical or spritual? We still hold these principles in high regard in our society, but the fourth commandment is disregarded each week. Why??? Do me a favor and read the Ten Commandments again and see what I'm talking about. Should not we keep all ten?

Again , I ask you , where did I ever say we don't keep the 10 Commandments ?

And I have also asked you at least 2 times before , now I ask again .....

WHERE AND HOW EXACTLY DO YOU OBSERVE SABBATH ON SATURDAYS ?

.

 

[Brother Lionel]

Does God tell us to keep Saturday holy or the Sabbath holy? Saturday is the JEWISH sabbath. We are not Jews so we are not bound to keep Saturday holy.

Regards

But my friends, thats what I am trying to get you all to grasp. The Sabbath has nothing to do with the Old Covenant in terms of New Testament fulfillment. The Sabbath was the Sabbath before the law was even given, before the Jews were even a people, and even before sin entered the world. Did you all get my last statement? It existed BEFORE SIN.... If something was institutionalized by The Almighty God before sin, why do we need to change it after sin has come??? Honestly, does that make any sense people? Life was perfect in the beginning, and a major part of that life was the Sabbath, which was on the seventh day. How and why should that change now that sin has entered this world? Is sin greater than something that God has created?? I think not so, obviously, it should remain the same. And, in fact, it does because in Isaiah 66:23, God says this about heaven - AFTER SIN:

And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

Now, based on the bible, the Sabbath was honored before sin, and it will be honored after sin is destroyed. Why would we not observe and honor this eternal principle in between the process? Think about it my friends...Pray and think about it...