The Sabbath

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.   Ex 20:8

INTRODUCTION

As we get into this study let me say that it is not my intention to cause confusion but to get you to think. You see we must know not only what we believe, but also why we believe it. Otherwise it is nothing more than traditions.  Also, I want to make certain that you understand that I'm not talking about the Old Testament "letter" of the law but the New Testament "spirit" of the law written on the tables of the believers heart. The letter of the law dealt with the exterior of a man whereas the spirit goes beyond the flesh to deal with the heart as well, even with the intentions of the heart. So with that being said...

Can we really prove that the early church viewed the first day of the week as the Sabbath? We know that the early believers held this day in high regards due to the fact that on that day Jesus rose from the dead. We have recorded in the bible that they even met on this day. But we, or at least I, cannot find any scripture were we are told that the Sabbath had been changed from the seventh day of the week to the first day of the week.

Has the Sabbath been changed?  Should we honor the Sabbath? And if so how do we honor it? In our search for the answers we must consider the following: 

1.     When did the commandment of God change?

2.     Can you drop one commandment and keep nine?

3.     Did Jesus point to any changing of the commandments?

4.     Did the Apostils have the authority to change it?

5.     Could the New Testament (covenant) be changed after the Lord has died?

Texts used to propose Sunday as the Sabbath 

First, as we get started, lets look at the four most popular texts that is used to suggest that Sunday is the Sabbath:

1.     Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.             John 20:19

·         Notice that in verse 19, the first time Jesus appears, they were assembled there out of fear.

2.     And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.              John 20:26 (KJV)

·         There must be a reason Jesus came to them again on the first day of the week, yet it does not reference any change of the Sabbath or day of worship. It doesn’t even say that they were having a worship service. Notice both times they were in a room and both times had the doors shut.

·         We must also understand that Jesus was coming to them after the feast of Unleaven Bread.     

3.     And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.       Acts 20:7 (KJV)                                                                                      

·         True they were fellowshipping but we see that they were there to break bread, as was their custom to do daily, according to Acts 2:46.

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.        Acts 2:46 (KJV)

·         We also see that Paul was going to leave the next day, so what ever it was he had to say to them, he had to say it before he departed.

4.     Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.  1 Cor 16:2 (KJV) 

·         This text is often used to point out that they were having a service and that they were taking up the offerings. And therefore they were observing Sunday as the Sabbath. However, the problem I have with this text is that it said to lay “by him” in store. There is no reference to the treasury or a collection in fact all four gospels refer to giving in the offering as the “treasury” However it does tell them to set it aside so there would be no gatherings when Paul came to them.

5.     I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Rev 1:10 (KJV)

·         This is the only place in the New Testament that uses the term “ Lord’s day”. There is no doubt that it is a special day, but the text still does not refer to any changes. In fact the text does not even suggest that this is the first day of the week. Strong's says it is "belonging to the Lord, Jehovah (YHVH) or Jesus"

·         Is the Lord’s Day the only day of the week John could be in the spirit? Of course not. Otherwise that would be the only day we could be in the Spirit as well.

 These texts do point out that the Apostles and early church may have met on the first day of the week for fellowship and even worship. It does not however indicate that the Sabbath in any way was changed to the first day of the week. If in fact the Sabbath has changed then the Ten Commandments are no longer in effect for us today. Can you drop or change one commandment and hold to the other nine? Remember this is a covenant between God and His people.  If there was a change in the commandment wouldn’t the bible have told of it? We know when the O.T. law started, when it ended, when grace began and when it will end. If God foretold these events, surly He would have told when His commandment was to be changed.

 Which day is the Sabbath?

2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.  Gen 2:2-3 (KJV)

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:  10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 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 hallowed it.   Ex 20:8-11 (KJV) 

Did the first century church observe the Sabbath? 

·         Sabbath is referred to seven times in the book of acts 

42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.  Acts 13:42 (KJV) 

12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. 13 And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. Acts 16:12-13 (KJV)

Evidence of the change

The first ecumenical council of Nice where Constantine the Great presided over. There was Arian heresies …council of Nicaea, Nicene creed,1ST Roman ruler to "convert" to Christianity. Ruler from 306-337ad 

…the change of the day. Originally at creation the seventh day of the week was set apart and consecrated as the Sabbath. The first day of the week is now observed as the Sabbath. Has God authorized this change? There is an obvious distinction between the Sabbath as an institution and the particular day set apart for its observance. The question, therefore, as to the change of the day in no way affects the perpetual obligation of the Sabbath as an institution. Change of the day or no change, the Sabbath remains as a sacred institution the same. It cannot be abrogated. If any change of the day has been made, it must have been by Christ or by his authority. Christ has a right to make such a change (Mark 2:23-28). As Creator, Christ was the original Lord of the Sabbath (John 1:3; Heb 1:10). It was originally a memorial of creation. A work vastly greater than that of creation has now been accomplished by him, the work of redemption. We would naturally expect just such a change as would make the Sabbath a memorial of that greater work.  True, we can give no text authorizing the change in so many words. We have no express law declaring the change. But there are evidences of another kind. We know for a fact that the first day of the week has been observed from apostolic times, and the necessary conclusion is, that it was observed by the apostles and their immediate disciples. This, we may be sure, they never would have done without the permission or the authority of their Lord ^[2]

321 AD 

The wording of the first Sunday law made by Emperor Constantine in A.D. 321 follows: 

On the venerable Day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country, however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits; because it often happens that another day is not so suitable for grain-sowing or for vine-planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost.  

Should we observe it? 

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.   Rev 14:12 (KJV) 

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

17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Matt 19:17 (KJV)

We see that for Israel it is perpetual. 

16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.   Ex 31:16 (KJV) 

Isaiah 56:1-8 (KJV)

*These verses are speaking of the gentile people who have been brought into the Kingdom. *

¹ Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. ² Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. ³ Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 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; ⁵ Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. ⁶ Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; ⁷ Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. ⁸ The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him. ^[3]

·         Can Christian Jews hold the 1^st day as the Sabbath when they were told it was a perpetual covenant? No, then are there different guidelines for Jewish and Gentile Christians?

22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23 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.     Isaiah 66:22-23 (KJV)

·         We see in vs. 23 that in the in the new heaven and earth all flesh will come to worship God on the Sabbath. What is different, or what changes from the church age to then?

·         If in the Old Testament they were to keep the Sabbath and we see that in the new heaven and earth we will keep it, why shouldn’t we keep it today? 

New Testament references

Yes there is New testament references to the Sabbath. We also see that Jesus as well as the apostles observed the Sabbath, even after the resurrection. 

4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.  9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.  11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

  Heb 4:4-11 (KJV)

If we entered into rest at the time of salvation, why was the church being told to labor to enter into “that rest”? Weren’t they already saved? And, didn’t the Apostle say “let us” labor…?

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