Monday, April 4, 2011

Sabbath

Why was the Sabbath changed? Why don't we have church on Saturdays?

The Saturday Sabbath was never replaced by a Sunday Sabbath. Sunday is considered the Lord's day and is the day that Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to the disciples. The first day of the week is the day that was chosen for the services of the church, from the early church to the modern church. But everyday should be a day of worship for the God that granted us salvation through Jesus Christ. We should wake every morning with a heart set to praise Him and to bring glory to His name.

Saturday was a day set aside by God to rest from work. We are to remember the day and to keep it holy. To keep it holy would be to honor God through His commandment to keep the day of rest. The Sabbath commandment requires rest and prohibits work. The Sabbath being part of the Law was required of the Jews as a commandment and there were other laws written expounding on what was required on that day. One such law prohibited lighting a fire on the Sabbath. ( Exodus 35:3 ) Another prohibits a person to carry anything from out of a domain. More than just prohibiting work it prohibits any activity that is creative. ( Jer. 17: 21 )

Since the law was given to the Israelites through Moses, it was for them as God's people to follow and obey. The letter of the law was fulfilled and done away with through Christ. Because of that we are not required to follow that letter of the law, which with me being a Gentile was never bound by the law because the law didn't pertain to the Gentiles. Praise God for His grace that is given freely to all people, Jews and Gentiles alike.

Colossians 2:14-16
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

All occurrences of that deal with Jesus and Christians happened on the first day:

Jesus rose on the first day of the week not the Sabbath: Mk 16:9
All 6 appearances of Jesus happen on two Sundays, none on Sabbath. Mk 16:9; Mt 28:5-9; Lk 24:34; Lk 24:13-15; Lk 24:33,36 + Jn 20:19; Jn 20:26
Christians are recorded assembling three times on Sunday after resurrection and before ascension, never on the Sabbath. Jn 20:19 Jn 20:26 Acts 2:1
The only time Christians are recorded to have assembled together was on a Sunday in Acts 20:7, never does it say the disciples assembled on the Sabbath.
The only day ever mentioned when Christians broke bread was on Sunday: Acts 20:7
Christians are commanded every Sunday to give into a common treasury of the church: 1 Cor 16:1-2
Jesus was declared the Son of God on Sunday: Rom 1:4
Ps 2:7 "Today I have begotten thee" was fulfilled on Sunday when he rose: Acts 13:33
The sign that Jesus was glorified was given on Sunday: Jn 7:39 + Acts 2:1,32
The church officially began on Pentecost Sunday: Acts 2:1
Jesus was crowned king on a Sunday: Acts 2:33-36
The sign that Jesus was glorified was given on Sunday: Jn 7:39 + Acts 2:1,32
The church officially began on Pentecost Sunday: Acts 2:1
The disciples reception of the promise of the Father on Sunday: Acts 1:4-5; 2:1-4
The Holy Spirit first fell upon the apostles on a Sunday: Acts 2:1-4
Salvation first preached by Peter on Sunday: Mt 16:19; Acts 2:1,38,40-41
The Keys to the Kingdom of God were first used on Sunday: Mt 16:19
The great "Triumphal entry" (also called "Palm Sunday") happened on the first day: Luke 13:32
The time between the Lord’s resurrection (sheaf waving day) and Pentecost was Sunday to Sunday counting of 50 days. The starting and stopping time was on the first day                         
First time Jesus worshiped after resurrection was on the first day by Thomas (Jn. 20:26).
The first time we could be born again to a living hope was on a Sunday: 1 Pet. 1:3
The first time Jesus had communion after his resurrection with His disciples, was on a Sunday: (Lk. 24:1, 13, 28-35)
Pentecost was a Sunday - Sunday duration of 50 days. The starting point and stopping point of counting the 50 days was a Sunday - Sunday.

Also I might add: That in the early church that some went forth and taught that in order to become Christians that you had to be circumcised and keep the law. It was not a commandment from the church that you had to convert to Judaism in order to be a Christian. The church in Jerusalem sent a decree to the gentile believers with a list of things required but not a burden. These are found in the verses below. It is not mentioned that we are to keep the Sabbath as gentile believers, as a matter of fact according to the verses the church said that there is no such commandment from them for the believers to follow the law. And the Sabbath is a part of the law.

Acts 15:24
Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

But I also add that the day of worship should not be set to a debate or argument. Even though I present my case, and could write more on the subject, for the reason that I worship on Sunday. If there is a time that you set aside to worship, it doesn't matter if it is on Saturday, Sunday or even on a Tuesday or Friday. I would that you worship God every day of the week and set aside a time everyday to spend with Him in study and prayer. I will place these verses.

Romans 15: 4-6
Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

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