The first article in this series showed that the Sabbath is the seventh day of the week. The second article showed that the Sabbath was made for all mankind, including the animals. The third article showed the difference between the law and the commandments. This article will discuss common misunderstandings and objections to keeping the Sabbath.
Here is a recent comment made when I shared the first article in this series on Facebook:
The Sabbath was for the Jews, not for the gentiles. We worship the triune God on Sunday because of the empty tomb on that day! That is the way God wants it! There is no need for a Sabbath any more! Hallelujah, if there was, I would be taking my lamb to church with me every Saturday to sacrifice!
This is pretty typical of the response that can be expected from many Christians, when the subject of the Sabbath is brought up. This is a sincere Christian, who obviously has a deep respect for the word of God. This person is simply repeating what they have been taught. Many Christians have sat in the pews and listened to this type of thing for years. Many believe it with every fiber of their being. It isn't until we get out our Bibles and read and study for ourselves, that we learn the truth. We must approach the subject with an open mind, sincerely seeking the truth from the Bible and the Bible alone. It is then that we see the error in what is commonly taught, throughout Christianity. Let's take a look at this comment piece by piece.
First, we notice that the blood pressure was up when this comment was made. Let those exclamation marks fly. This is a typical response, to the mere mention of the Sabbath. Remember, the first article simply defined the Sabbath. It did not discuss which day we worship on. Many Christians know in their heart, that something isn't quite right when it comes to forsaking the Sabbath. Some may feel judged at the mere mention of it.
"The Sabbath was for the Jews, not for the gentiles."
The article "Who was the Sabbath created for?" shows indisputably that this is not the case. The Sabbath was created before there was "Jew" or "Gentile". The Sabbath was also observed by Jews and Gentiles after the crucifixion of Christ. Jesus told us that the Sabbath was created for man. The Old Testament goes so far as to say that it is even for the animals. See the article Whose Sabbath is it? for the specific Bible references for each of these facts. I will include only one here, so as to not be redundant for those reading the entire series.
Act 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
"We worship the triune God on Sunday because of the empty tomb on that day!"
Praise God. If we want to worship on Sunday, because we believe that God rose on Sunday, we should worship on Sunday. In fact, we can worship everyday. However, we must not forsake the Sabbath in those efforts. The world would be a much better place if we all worshiped every day. We must understand that we don't make the rules though. God does, and He says remember the Sabbath. There isn't one verse in the Bible that instructs us to replace the Sabbath (seventh day of the week), with Sunday (the first day of the week). People may point to one or two of the nine Bible verses that mention the first day of the week, as evidence that the Sabbath was changed. However, not one of those verses says anything about remembering the first day, to keep it holy. Not one. The only day that has that distinction is the seventh day. Some may say "but they broke bread on the first day of the week". Yes, that simply means that they ate. Even if we believe that they were breaking bread in remembrance of Christ, this is still not evidence that the Sabbath day has been changed. God very plainly and clearly told us that the seventh day is the Sabbath.
Exo 20:10 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:
God told us this several times. If He had changed the Sabbath to another day, couldn't we expect Him to be very clear about it? After all He went out of His way to repeatedly tell us that the Sabbath is the Seventh day. Would He have been less clear about it, if He had changed it to Sunday? In fact Hebrews 4:8 states this exact point.
Heb 4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
"That is the way God wants it!"
Man changed the Sabbath, not God. God is consistent in the New Testament and the Old Testament. The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week. It would appear that God wants the seventh day as the Sabbath, since that is the only day ever named as such.
"There is no need for a Sabbath any more!"
I really don't think this person intended this remark as it sounds, but I will address it anyway. God told us to remember the Sabbath day and to keep it Holy. That is number 4 in the 10 commandments for most Christians, or number 3 for the Catholics. The last article showed that the 10 commandments are still in effect. The Bible tells us specifically to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. In fact, the following verses tell us that it is more important now, than ever before. Are we not near the last days?
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
"Hallelujah, if there was, I would be taking my lamb to church with me every Saturday to sacrifice!"
This comment implies that anyone who keeps the Sabbath is keeping the ceremonial Law. This simply isn't true. The keeping of the Sabbath is one of the 10 commandments. The ten commandments are entirely separate from the ceremonial laws having to do with sacrifices. Jesus was our sacrifice, and He fulfilled the need for a sacrifice in the ceremonial law. He also repeatedly told us to keep His commandments.
Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
The Sabbath is the fourth commandment.
Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: Exo 20:10 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: Exo 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 hallowed it.
This next comment was taken from the frequently asked questions page of baptist.org. http://www.baptist
Question:"Good day. Please, please, HELP!! I have recently been a born-again Christian, but there is something that has been worrying me. A friend of mine is SeventhDay Adventist, and she claims that worshipping o-n a Sunday is breaking the Sabbath. She could not give evidence to support her claim, however, it's caused me to wonder about the 'real' day of the Sabbath. Where can I find evidence in the Holy Bible? I would be very greatful for your help, thank you.
Answer: The Old Testament is full of warnings of breaking the Sabbath Day as was commanded by Moses. The New Testament does not emphasize the 7th day as it does the 1st day! There are no warnings to either jew or gentile as to Sabbath breaking! There is not even an example of Christians meeting on the 7th day in the book of Acts. Sunday is the Lord's Day of Resurrection. This is what we commemorate. Colossians 2:16 is your answer about your specific question."
Let's go through this response.
"The Old Testament is full of warnings of breaking the Sabbath Day as was commanded by Moses."
Who commanded the keeping of the Sabbath? Not Moses. God commanded it. God wrote it with his own finger. This appears to be an attempt to lump the Sabbath in with the law of Moses. The 10 commandments were written by the finger of God.
Exo 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
"The New Testament does not emphasize the 7th day as it does the 1st day!"
First off, notice the exclamation mark flying here. Why would a simple question by what is obviously a very sincere new Christian, raise the blood pressure of what we would assume to be a seasoned pastor or deacon? The statement is false also. The New Testament never tells anyone to worship on Sunday or the first day of the week. The Sabbath is mentioned 60 times in the New Testament. That is only 17 less times than in the Old Testament. The first day of the week is only mentioned nine times in the New Testament. That is hardly an emphasis. None of those nine times tell us that the first day replaced the seventh day, as the Sabbath or as the day of worship. In fact, the following verse shows that the Sabbath was still on the seventh day in the New Testament after the death of Jesus.
Mat 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
The following verse shows that the commandment to keep the Sabbath was still in effect after the death of Jesus.
Luk 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
Jesus claimed the Sabbath as his own at least 3 times. Here is one of them:
Mat 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
"There are no warnings to either jew or gentile as to Sabbath breaking!"
Another needless exclamation mark and another false statement.
Mat 19:17 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.
Isn't that verse, a warning to keep the commandments? In the verses following that one, Jesus names off a couple of the 10 commandments so it is clear what he is speaking of. Now take a look at these next two verses.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
That is definitely a warning, telling us to keep the commandments. There is no doubt which commandments are being spoken of. Every one of those mentioned outside, are breakers of at least one of the 10 commandments.
"There is not even an example of Christians meeting on the 7th day in the book of Acts."
This statement is another untruth. Here is one of the examples of the "Gentiles" worshiping on the Sabbath.
Act 13:42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Act 13:43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. Act 13:44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
"Sunday is the Lord's Day of Resurrection. This is what we commemorate."
Finally, a true statement. Yes this is what some commemorate. However, it is in violation of the word of God because, they not only commemorate it, they replace the Sabbath with it.
"Colossians 2:16 is your answer about your specific question."
Let's take a look at the verse we are referred to here:
Col 2:16 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:
Does that verse say anything about the first day of the week or Sunday? No, it says the Sabbath day. Some translations have changed it to read a Sabbath day. Either way it is talking about a Sabbath, not Sunday. Remember, contrary to popular belief there is no verse in the Bible that claims the Sabbath is on any day other than the seventh. This verse was written to people who were worshiping on the seventh day of the week. The Sabbath. They were being told not to let people judge them for that. This just reinforces that the writers of the Bible knew that Christians would someday be persecuted for worshiping on the Sabbath. How do I know? Because the next verse tells us that it was coming in the future.
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
The bottom line is that there will always be an argument for those who choose to close their eyes and mind. The word of God is very clear about the Sabbath. We are to keep it. We are warned against trading the commandments of God for the traditions of man, which is exactly what has been done in the case of Sunday worship.
Mat 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
Some have replaced the fourth commandment to worship on the Sabbath, with the tradition of man by worshiping on "resurrection day". Some have replaced the last day of the week with the first day of the week. The complete opposite of God's word. Do they worship in vain?
Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Sabbath Objections
Common objections to keeping the Sabbath
By Robby Lockeby
