Christians and the Sabbath
July 28th, 2008
Are the Sabbath laws binding on Christians today?
We believe the Old Testament regulations governing Sabbath observances are ceremonial, not moral, aspects of the law. As such, they are no longer in force, but have passed away along with the sacrificial system, the Levitical priesthood, and all other aspects of Moses’ law that prefigured Christ.
Here are the reasons we hold this view:
In Colossians 2:16-17, Paul explicitly refers to the Sabbath as a shadow of Christ, which is no longer binding since the substance (Christ) has come. It is quite clear in those verses that the weekly Sabbath is included, with the phrase “a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day” refering to the annual, monthly, and weekly holy days of the Jewish calendar (cf. 1 Chronicles 23:31; 2 Chronicles 2:4; 31:3; Ezekiel 45:17; Hosea 2:11).
Sunday has not replaced Saturday as the Sabbath. Rather the Lord’s Day is a time when believers gather to commemorate His resurrection, which occurred on the first day of the week. Every day to the believer is one of Sabbath rest, since we have ceased from our spiritual labor and are resting in the salvation of the Lord (Hebrews 4:9-11).
So while we still follow the pattern of designating one day of the week a day for the Lord’s people to gather in worship, we do not refer to this as “the Sabbath.”
John Calvin took a similar position. He wrote,
There were three reasons for giving this [fourth] commandment: First, with the seventh day of rest the Lord wished to give to the people of Israel an image of spiritual rest, whereby believers must cease from their own works in order to let the Lord work in them. Secondly, he wished that there be an established day in which believers might assemble in order to hear his Law and worship him. Thirdly, he willed that one day of rest be granted to servants and to those who live under the power of others so that they might have a relaxation from their labor. The latter, however, is rather an inferred than a principal reason.
As to the first reason, there is no doubt that it ceased in Christ; because he is the truth by the presence of which all images vanish. He is the reality at whose advent all shadows are abandoned. Hence St. Paul (Col. 2:17) that the sabbath has been a shadow of a reality yet to be. And he declares elsewhere its truth when in the letter to the Romans, ch. 6:8, he teaches us that we are buried with Christ in order that by his death we may die to the corruption of our flesh. And this is not done in one day, but during all the course of our life, until altogether dead in our own selves, we may be filled with the life of God. Hence, superstitious observance of days must remain far from Christians.
The two last reasons, however, must not be numbered among the shadows of old. Rather, they are equally valid for all ages. Hence, though the sabbath is abrogated, it so happens among us that we still convene on certain days in order to hear the word of God, to break the [mystic] bread of the Supper, and to offer public prayers; and, moreover, in order that some relaxation from their toil be given to servants and workingmen. As our human weakness does not allow such assemblies to meet every day, the day observed by the Jews has been taken away (as a good device for eliminating superstition) and another day has been destined to this use. This was necessary for securing and maintaining order and peace in the Church.
As the truth therefore was given to the Jews under a figure, so to us on the contrary truth is shown without shadows in order, first of all, that we meditate all our life on a perpetual sabbath from our works so that the Lord may operate in us by his spirit; secondly, in order that we observe the legitimate order of the Church for listening to the word of God, for admin-istering the sacraments, and for public prayers; thirdly, in order that we do not oppress inhumanly with work those who are subject to us. [From Instruction in Faith, Calvin's own 1537 digest of the Institutes, sec. 8, "The Law of the Lord"].
Matthew 5:17-18, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 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. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
* Colossians 2:16-17 does not say that the Sabbath “is no longer binding” In fact, these verses are neutral on the matter. Paul was writing to Gentiles, why would anybody judge Gentiles for NOT keeping the Sabbath?
* The New Covenant in Hebrews 8:8 was also made with Israel and Judah… what do you do with that?
* In Matthew 12:12 Jesus tells us that “it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” And that He is the “Lord even of the Sabbath” in Matthew 12:8. Where is the 3rd commandment in the New Testament?
* Why does the disciples meeting on the 1st day have anything to do with the Sabbath? The Sabbath is the 7th day and is a day of rest, a cestation of work, are we not allowed to meet more than once a week ???
* “Nowhere in the Old Testament” not so! Isaiah 56:6 says “Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants— Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant”
* “nor are there any commands in the Bible to keep the Sabbath before the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai.” Then what is Exodus 16:22-29 about? Furthermore, how can one “Remember the Sabbath Day”? If there was no Sabbath Day to recall?
* “When the Apostles met at the Jerusalem council (Acts 15), they did not impose Sabbath keeping on the Gentile believers.” Does that mean Gentiles are allowed to blapheme, dishonor parents, murder, commit adultery, steal, lie and covet? After all they were not imposed either! Or were they being specific to the immediate religious practices that they were coming out from? After all, James points out in Acts 15:21 that “Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
* Again, where does Paul specifically talk about the 3rd Commandment?
* “special days (including the Sabbath)” This is false! Paul does NOT specify the Sabbath but refers to practices which he calls “weak and beggarly elements” (vs9) Surely Paul was refering to a pagan calendar rather than the 4th Commandment of the Almighty.
* Romans 14:5-6, “One man esteems…” Does man have the ability to override what God deems Holy? Or rather is this a passage that refutes extra Scriptural tradition?
*Speaking of extra Scriptural tradition, who cares what the so-called ‘early church fathers’ said! Which books of the Inspired Word of God did they write?
Some maintain that Hebrews 4:9-11 pertains to the 1,000 year reign of Jesus, of which the Sabbath foreshadows. Lastly, it is important to emphasis the tense of Colossians 2:17, “which ARE a shadow of things to come…” ARE, not ‘were’! How dare Calvin refer to the 4th Commandment as a “superstition”!!! Dare we stand before the burning bush or the commander of the armies of the Lord and leave our sandles on? If God “blessed the seventh day and sanctified it” (Genesis 2:3) how can it cease to be Holy?
Isaiah 58:13-14, “If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”
Please seek the Word on this and interpret Scripture with Scripture!
God bless.
How does Isaiah 56:6 fit in when it speaks of “foreigners” keeping the Sabbath? Is that oriented to the future kingdom?
I have looked at what rules people outside of Israel were supposed to follow. Here is how I understand it. Isaiah 56:6 refers to a person who joins in the community of Israel. He was a sojourner. He became part of Israel. When a person became part of Israel they took on the whole Law of Moses. In the OT there were aliens and there were sojourning aliens. The sojourner became a part of Israel and was bound by the same laws (Ex. 12:45, Ex. 20:10, Lev. 16:29, Lev 17:10,12,13,15). The alien who was not apart of Israel was not bound by the Mosaic Law (Deut 14:21). The sojourner is the person who makes his home with Israel and becomes Jewish. The alien would be the person who was traveling through.
Mt. 5:17-18 – These verses were written while under the Law. While the Law was in effect, the commandments were all in effect. But after Jesus’ death and resurrection a new age started (grace). In addition the context of the commandments is Jewish. Jesus met the requirements of the Law, and those who are in Christ have met the requirements of the whole Mosaic Law, which by the way was never given to the Gentiles as a rule for life.
Col. 2:16-17. It says that people should not be judged on the basis of whether or not they keep certain days and/or festivals. Why shouldn’t people be judged on that basis? Because, they are not in effect. Thus judging in such things is ridiculous. To suggest Col. 2:16-17 “are neutral” is simply choosing to be blind in the presence of light.
Heb. 8:8. The New Covenant is not nation specific. Those who are trusting in Jesus and only in Him as their Lord and Savior are under such Covenant whether Jew or Gentile. In addition Hebrews (8:13) teaches as the fact that there is a New Covenant indicates that the Old is no longer in effect. It would be good to read the whole chapter.
Where is the third Commandment in the NT? No where as prescriptive. Where mention as descriptive. Jesus was under the Law so He had to obey all Commandments. The scriptures (Romans, Gal, Hebrews) clearly teach that New Covenant people are not under the Mosaic Law.
Why does the disciples meeting on the 1st day have anything to do with the Sabbath? Because if they were under the Law they would be meeting on the Sabbath.
“Nowhere in the Old Testament” (Isa. 56.6). A text with out a context is a pretext. This verse in the context of Israel (56:3), prior to the coming of Jesus (56:1). So Isa. 56:6 is absolutely true – before Jesus.
Exod 16: 22, 29. Yes the Sabbath is there, but perhaps not yet “legalized.” Important to note is that those who went out on the seventh day, did not get killed as braking the Sabbath would require after Mount Sinai. In addition, the context is clearly Jewish.
Does that mean Gentiles are allowed to blapheme, dishonor parents, murder, commit adultery, steal, lie and covet? (In Ref. to Acts 15.) Bad argument. Since those commandments are reiterated in one form or another in the rest of the NT.
Again, where does Paul specifically talk about the 3rd Commandment? — He doesn’t. That is exactly the point. As mentioned above, the rest of the commandments are repeated in on form or another.
“special days (including the Sabbath)” This is false! Paul does NOT specify the Sabbath but refers to practices which he calls “weak and beggarly elements” (vs9) Surely Paul was refering to a pagan calendar rather than the 4th Commandment of the Almighty.
-Oh yes. And you can say, “Surely Paul was refering to a pagan calendar rather than the 4th Commandment of the Almighty” because…perhaps you have some other insight that it is not in Scripture. It sure does make lots of sense that pagans would remember the Sabbath day. Not.
Romans 14:5-6, “One man esteems…” Does man have the ability to override what God deems Holy? Or rather is this a passage that refutes extra Scriptural tradition? NO.
“one man” indicates a personal choice. Some do chose to observe it, other don’t. The point here is as in Col. 2, don’t let anyone judge you over what you do or what you don’t do with regards to certain days and/or festivals.
Speaking of extra Scriptural tradition, who cares what the so-called ‘early church fathers’ said! Which books of the Inspired Word of God did they write?
-Absolutely correct. But obviously you don’t even care about rightly dividing the word. And, that is important.
“ARE” – the point here is that the judaizers were stuck in the shadow and missed the real thing.
Isa. 58:13-14. Again a text without a context is a pretext. Read 58:1. Obviously the “my people,” and “house of Jacob” refers to the pre-Jesus Jews.
By the way, what do you do with the other 603 Commandments of the Mosaic Law? If you married, do you send your wife out of the house when she is having her period? Likely not. If you are single, do those in your group do so? Likely not. James said, For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (2:10).
Dr. MacArthur,
Thank you for your clear and concise handling of this important issue.
Thank you for rightly dividing the Word of God, and your ministry of spreading the truth.
Hmmm? Some very mixed feelings on this particluar discussion.
Who wrote this artcile, please?
Hi William,
This article was actually adapted from John’s commentary on Colossians 2 as well as from the MSB study notes. It actually was an old article that we re-ran on Pulpit. The original can be read here … along with the lengthy discussion that ensued.
Anyway, hope that helps!
NB
Sabbath is the only day God sactified and blessed, no verse in the Bible that says He did that to sunday.
Exo 20:11 For in six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and sanctified it.
Keeping the Sabbath holy is in the universal 10 Commandments, there is NO commandment in the whole Bible that says we should worship God on sunday and we should keep sunday holy.
Exo 20:8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
When the Messiah returns, Jews and non-Jews will worship God on Sabbath, NOT sunday, this proves Sabbath Keeping was not abolished.
Isa 66:23 And it will be, from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, ALL FLESH will come to worship before Me, says Yahweh.
Sabbath keeping is an ETERNAL CONVENANT between God and His people, worshipping on sunday is not a covenant.
Exodus 31:16-17 So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.
Contrary what most Christians believe, the New Covenant means the Torah (Law) will be written in the hearts and minds, therefore it was not abolished. The New Covenant was given to Israel and Judah only, this means Christians are part of Israel (Read Ephesians 2, Romans 11).
Hebrews 8:8-10 For finding fault with them, He said to them, “Behold, days are coming, says Yahweh, and I will make an end on the house of Israel and on the house of Judah; a new covenant shall be,
not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day I took hold of their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt,” because they did not continue in My covenant, and I did not regard them, says the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put MY LAWS into their MIND and write them in their HEARTS, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Acts 20:7 is often quoted to justify meeting on the first day of the week (Sunday). However, the first day of the week actually begins on Saturday night which is the case here. Therefore if Christians wish to use Acts 20:7 as a precedent for meeting on the first day of the week, they should actually have their meetings on Saturday night. Regards.
Sabbatarians have a knack for isogesis (I hope I spelled that right) that rivals Catholics. If scripture and plain reason don’t say it, it must not be crucial. If one were on a desert island with a Bible, would one conclude that he needed to pray to Mary, eat the cracker god, confess to a priest OR observe the sabbath? I hardly thinks so. I’ve read a lot of SDA literature. Very interesting biblical gymnastics.
Hi Nathan,
Thank you. I share some views on the subject, but hope that e can bring some balance to it.
After all we should desire to be sharing the LORD’s Day with the LORD and His people; our brethren – In getting to know Him and them, to serve Him and them.
I am sure that is the intent of this artcile and of Johnny Mac and all my berthren at GCC, TMS and Pulpit.
After all Christ came to fulfill the Law, not to do away with it. It is our delight and not a burden to us anymore. The same with teh LORD’s Day. Would it be that we make a distiction between Sabbath and the LORD’s Day?
Is this perhaps where Covenentalsm and Dispensationalsim diverge? I hope not, I ascribe to both and also I do NOT ascribe to both ssystem of these Theoligies. I would rather stay ever clser to the Scriptures and I believe that as Christ had the desire to do the wil of the Father, so it should be our desire; despite our failures in the Law.
By grace alone,
Your humble brother
William,
I find it interesting that you sign off “by grace alone,” still want to hold on to the Law. These are mutually exclusive (Rom. 6:14, 11:6).
The disctinction is not between Coventalism and Dispensationalism. It is between rightly dividing the word and butchering it.
Hi there David, I think that if you were on a desert island you would find no evidence for worshipping on Sunday in the Scripture. That being said, the issue is not on which day you should worship, we should worship God everyday after all, but on which day you will rest. Keeping Sabbath, is to keep a memorial of Creation week. This is not out of date as this present Creation is not yet finished with. We have not yet completed the cycle in thousands of years, which was forshadowed by the first week. That is, we will have six thousand years of ordinary years, followed by one thousand years of Shabbat – the Millenium.
Tulip,
I guess if you were on a deserted island with no Bible then, and only then, perhaps one could say that there is no evidence of worship on Sunday in scripture. But since we are not on a deserted island and Bibles abound, the story is different. For example Acts 20:7 makes it clear that they came together on the first day of the week to break bread. 1 Cor. 11:17-18 notes that they were still coming together to break bread…obviously it should follow that it is on the first day of the week in light of Acts 20:7 and 1 COr. 16:2. So if you are planning on getting stuck on a deserted island – make sure you have a Bible with you. Perhaps you will have time to study carefully.
You imply that the Sabbath should be observed as the day of rest; but didn’t Jesus “work” on the Sabbath?
In addition, since you go back to creation to indicate that the Sabbath should be observed as a day of rest. Please indicate the cration mandate to do so.
thanks,
William,
Thanks for your gracious question. I understand what you are saying, and I think you are right. In covenentalism, there is usually more continuity between the Law of Moses—including the Sabbath—and the present Church age. So, a covenentalist is more likely to see the Sabbath as now on Sunday, and to see it as one in the same as the Lord’s Day. Meanwhile, dispensationalists are more likely to see a break between the Law and between the Church age, and thus are more likely to see the Sabbath as something that Israel was under, and also that it is Saturday, not Sunday. Both Covententalists and Dispensationalists (strange comments on this thread aside) worship on Sundays, but Covenentalist are more prone to refer to it as the Christian Sabbath.
Even dispensationalists might be inclined to agree a principle from the Sabbath could still be used in the church age, but I have not met one that would say we are still under the Sabbath.
Thanks, and I hope this helps.
Jesse
Tulip, I agree with you, if one was to read a Bible devoid of churchianity they would certainly keep the 7th day Sabbath. And you make a good point… if one uses Acts 20:7 to justify a change of Sabbath days (and if the Sabbath is a shadow of Jesus, as Colossians 2:16-17 says, and Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, how can it be different?) then why does not the church meet on Saturday night? Again I say, if God blessed and sanctified the 7th day, how can it cease to be holy?
I find it interesting how I walk through GCC and the Master’s Seminary/College and see their bookshelves filled with authors (church fathers) who would have excommunicated those who argued that the 4th commandment had no relevancy in the NT age. One clear example would be the great JC Ryle, whom MacArthur has frequently praised, and whose books have been handed out at the Shepherds’ Conference in special additions:
“From keeping no Sabbath to having no God there is but a flight of steps”
Nevertheless, I admit the issue is a tough one, and that there are many good brothers on each side. But quoting Colossians 2 and some other ‘there’s proof’ texts is sort of a cop-out in my opinion; they don’t deal with the real issues of the entirety of scripture and and only hinder a fruitful discussion.
I did a summary post on the Sabbath last year and organized my argument in simple outline form so as to make it easy to read. Many of the fallacies of this post are dealt with here
Shabbat shalom
Nathan,
What are you, a Covenantal/Sabbatarian, doing walking around GCC and Master’s Seminary? I don’t guess you’ve ever read anyone who doesn’t agree with your position on the Sabbath (or Covenantal Theology), even though you may agree with them on a host of other points? Have you read John Bunyon? You are right, a number of these men (not sure I would call all of them ‘church fathers’) would have excommunicated those of us who disagreed with them, and would have made the erroneous statement about us “From keeping no Sabbath to having no God is but a flight of step” (implying that we were on our way to giving up God in our theology). Of course this one article cannot address the entirety of Scripture, but those who do not hold to Covenantal/Sabbatarianism have done a lot more than just throw out some ‘proof’ texts, and I could give other sites/articles/books where the ‘fallacies’ of your position were pointed out. We must all be careful to not let our ’systematic theology’ (or a particular Confession) drive the interpretation of Scripture, but let Scripture shape our systmatic theology.
Jonathan,
Let point out some errors in your last post:
1. Acts 20:7 doesn’t indicate a change of Sabbath days. The Sabbath is not part of the New Covenant. Sunday doesn’t equate to Sabbath. New Covenant people are free from the and any Sabbath day (and the Mosaic Law as a whole).
2. Your attemp to justify Sabbatarianism on the basis of Heb. 13:8 is simply terrible handling of Scripture. Note that the stament is Heb. 13, refers to the CHARACTER of Jesus. His never changes is character. Yet obviously the works that Jesus did while on earth are not being duplicated today.
3. James 2:10 indicates that “whoever keeps the whole Law and yet it stumbles in one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” What do you do with the rest of the Law? The other 603 Commandments. Hypocrisy.
So go ahead and keep the Sabbath – but remember – that would make you a hipocrite.
I also believe in keeping the Sabbath — the Lunar Sabbath, because of Gen 1:14, and many other verses.
Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the MOON UNDER HER FEET, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN in heaven…,
Eze 20:12 Moreover also I gave them my SABBATHS TO BE A SIGN between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.
Mat 24:42 WATCH therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then LOOK UP, and lift up your heads; FOR YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH.
See also Eze 22:26, Rev 2:17, Isa 66:23, Mar 15:33, Joh 19:31, Amo 8:5, Jer 31:35, Exo 31:13.
Michael–
Perhaps my comment came across as too harsh. I love the folks at GCC/Masters/MacArthur, and strive to attend the Shepherd’s Conference at least every other year.
Ironically, I used to be a dispensational, and used to defend with fervor the position advocated here and other tenants of dispensationalism which are advocated by the wonderful ministry above. However, about a year or so ago I was convinced otherwise, of course.
But to clarify, of course we all read and love church fathers who we differ with on secondary issues. My point wasn’t to say otherwise, but to point out how (in my opinion) the Sabbath position can be so flippantly written off, while our bookstores are almost exclusively filled with men who would so firmly disagree (Bunyan, BTW, taught the Sabbath).
My concern isn’t that good men disagree, but that their arguments for doing so are shallow and full of fallacies, especially given the cloud of witnesses who believed and taught so fervently on the issue.
Vince,
Pardon me for a second, but I’m going to take some of your statements out of context:
“It would be good to read the whole chapter.”
“But obviously you don’t even care about rightly dividing the word.”
“So if you are planning on getting stuck on a deserted island – make sure you have a Bible with you. Perhaps you will have time to study carefully.”
I think it would be wise to rethink the manner in which you state your arguments. What is your real motivation in posting here? After all, “…though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”
On a related note, I am on your side of the argument.
Grace and peace,
Keith B.
Sabbath is the only day God sanctified and blessed, no verse in the Bible that says He did that to sunday.
Exo 20:11 For in six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and sanctified it.
Keeping the Sabbath holy is in the universal (for Jews and Christians) 10 Commandments, there is NO commandment in the whole Bible that says we should worship God on sunday and we should keep sunday holy.
Exo 20:8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
When the Messiah returns, Jews and non-Jews will worship God on Sabbath, NOT sunday, this proves Sabbath Keeping was not abolished.
Isa 66:23 And it will be, from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, ALL FLESH will come to worship before Me, says Yahweh.
Sabbath keeping is an ETERNAL COVENANT between YaHWeH and His people, worshiping on sunday is not a covenant.
Exodus 31:16-17 So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.
Contrary to what most Christians believe, the New Covenant means the Torah (Law) will be written in the hearts and minds, therefore the Torah was not abolished. The New Covenant was given to Israel and Judah only, this means Christians are part of Israel (Read Ephesians 2, Romans 11) and are NOT exempted from the Torah.
Hebrews 8:8-10 For finding fault with them, He said to them, “Behold, days are coming, says Yahweh, and I will make an end on the house of Israel and on the house of Judah; a new covenant shall be, not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day I took hold of their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt,” because they did not continue in My covenant, and I did not regard them, says YaHWeH. For this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says YaHWeH: I will put MY LAWS into their MIND and write them in their HEARTS, and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.
Hi Vince,
1. “Acts 20:7 doesn’t indicate a change of Sabbath days.” I totally agree with you… notice in my post to which you refer, the word “if”. “Sunday doesn’t equate to Sabbath.” Again we agree! “New Covenant people are free from… the Mosaic Law as a whole.” Great… I guess I can lie, commit adultery, murder, covet, and so on… but I don’t think so.
2. “Heb. 13:8 is simply terrible handling of Scripture. Note that the stament is Heb. 13, refers to the CHARACTER of Jesus.” Would you prefer Mal 3:6 or Psalm 102:27?
3. “James 2:10 indicates that “whoever keeps the whole Law and yet it stumbles in one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” What do you do with the rest of the Law? The other 603 Commandments. Hypocrisy.” Perhaps this post on my blog may help you understand where I am coming from: it is entitled, WHAT DOES THE LAW HAVE TO DO WITH JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION?
http://col2v8.blogspot.com/2007/09/what-does-law-have-to-do-with.html
Guys don’t forget that a kingdom is a form of government — a monarchy. A Government must have laws. We are very close to the commencement of the millennial kingdom where our King will rule. We will rule with Him, and we will rule over the nations. Now, you can choose to behave like one who wants to rule with Him, or you will be ruled over, and may be called least in the Kingdom.
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the LEAST IN THE KINGDOM of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called GREAT IN THE KINGDOM of heaven.
The kingdom of heaven is coming to earth. We pray “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
Do you love Him? Then keep His commandments — at least the Ten Commandments — at least. Ten, not nine. He wrote them with His own finger on two stone tablets. You have ten toes, and two feet. Don’t forget that. REMEMBER the Sabbath…
It’s ALL ABOUT LOVE! Do you love Him?
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Joh 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.
The choice is yours. You will learn it sooner or later, whether you like it or not.
“…when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” — Isa 26:9
Christians repent!
“…Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” — Rev 18:4
We will rule with a rod of iron in LOVE. We will not tolerate disobedience from evildoers. There was enough bloodshed, murder, rape, and torture here on earth. We will not allow it to happen again. If we were obedient, this world would not have been a cesspool of iniquity. Love sometimes means that you have to stone 10 murderers to save 10,000 loved ones. Meditate on this!
Rev 2:27 And he shall RULE them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
We must acknowledge that we are lost, and that we need to be saved from the coming destruction. Satan is furious, and he is coming for us: “…Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” — Rev 12:12
You are not saved yet. You are CALLED. “For many are called, but few are chosen.” — Mat 22:14. Neither are you born again. Don’t mistake it with the spiritual experience you had when Yeshua (Jesus) called you, or when you experienced His wonderful love, or when you gave your heart to Him.
Mat 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, IN THE REGENERATION when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
You will be born again (in the regeneration) when you receive your new spiritual body — the body Yeshua had when He appeared to many after his resurrection. Those that died in Christ will be saved from their graves.
ONLY BY HIS GRACE will we be saved from the things that’s soon to come over this world.
Keep good courage, and don’t lose your faith.
God bless!
Nathan,
Sorry about the delay, I haven’t come back to this post since last time I commented. Yes, Bunyan did hold to a ‘Christian Sabbath’; however, he argued against it being moral law or a creation ordinance. Walter Chantry admits that if Bunyan’s arguments are left to stand, they would undermine his own (Covenantal) position on the Sabbath. You wouldn’t agree with him on points, and I wouldn’t agree with him on points, but we have both read him.
CJ, if you had not been ‘born from above’ (John 3:7), you would not come to Christ in faith. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.” John 6:47. “But this is the work of God, that you believe in Him, whom He has sent.” John 6:29. To come to Christ is to believe in Him (see John 6:35), and all that the Father gives to Him, will come to Him (verse 37). “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved…For by grace you have been saved…Eph. 2:4-8. Yes, our salvation has both a present reality and a future promise (glorification), but if you belong to Christ you are saved right now. I am not ‘lost’ if I am (present tense) saved. The ‘calling’ in Matt. 22:14 is not the same thing as the calling in Rom. 8:28. The first is the general call of the gospel, the second, is the effectual call of the Holy Spirit to those given to Christ by the Father.
Interestingly, I have never met a Sabbatarian who repudiated that the weekly, Sabbath shewbread (12 loaves) did not point forward to Jesus, the Bread of Life. Moreover, I have never met a Sabbatarian who repudiated that the additional sacrifices on the weekly, festal Sabbath did not point to Jesus, the Lamb of God. Therefore, our Sabbatarian friends actually acknowledge the ritual or ceremonial elements in the Fourth Commandment as well.
Let us continue to pray that they will also discover Jesus as their only, true Sabbath Rest (Matt. 11:28-39; Col. 2:16-17, Heb.4:1-10). Indeed, those who continue to observe any of the shadows pointing to the Cross are actually denying the reality of Jesus Christ (although often ignorantly).
A former SDA minister,
Dennis Fischer
E-mail: dfministries@gmail.com
Sorry I missed this when the debate was on. I’ve posted about both this very statement on my blog because I was disappointed with it’s sloppiness, but more to the point, the interpretation of Col. 2:16-17 has been appalling for its lack of correct hermeneutics. See my link if you want to see what I mean.
Sean
Vince,
Sorry I’m late in commenting on this, but your statement:
“special days (including the Sabbath)” This is false! Paul does NOT specify the Sabbath but refers to practices which he calls “weak and beggarly elements” (vs9) Surely Paul was refering to a pagan calendar rather than the 4th Commandment of the Almighty.”
I am currently preaching through Galatians and cannot find any agreement with your interpretation on this passage in Chapter 4:8-11. Not a single commentary or study note. The Galatians were not about to fall back into paganism (pagan festivals and lunar calendar stuff). Their problem was the doctrine of the Judaizers. They were “bewitched” into thinking that getting saved and sanctification came as a result of OT Law observance (circumcision, kosher foods, and Sabbath keeping as this verse IN CONTEXT is clearly referring to). In other words, the Judaizer message was in order for the Gentiles to get to Jesus, they have to go through Judaism and OT law observance. They are turning back to enslavement into the Law, being “under the Law” (4:1-5). Pagan festivals has nothing at all to do with their temptation to fall from grace. How do you Sabbatarians wrestle with Paul’s argument regarding being “under the Law”, especially when he calls it “a different gospel”?
Another point that I fail to see Sabbatarians address is the fact that the Sabbath observance is the “Sign” of the Old Covenant, which no Christian is under.