I've studied Scripture and history, and I still have some questions about the Sabbath, and a few observations. But I also have some clear conclusions. First the questions:
1. Those who favor a Christian Sabbath, what would they say to sons of Israel who come to Christ in our day? Gentiles seem to be quite content when Messianic believers observe their old Sabbath. But upon what basis are we admitting the presence of two days of rest? Is this where Paul's "be convinced" argument works?
2. But what if Gentiles, like me, look a little farther, and want what the Jews have, since they (Gentiles) are "grafted in" branches of the same tree?
3. When the Scripture says in Colossians 2, "Let no man judge you in regard to sabbaths ," is it saying, "Don't let anyone tell you you have to keep the Sabbath to be saved," or "Don't let anyone suggest to you that the Sabbath is to be a part of New Covenant practice at all"? Or is it saying, "Don't let anyone try to make you keep the Sabbath in a certain way" ? After all they judged Jesus about His method of keeping the Sabbath, but He did keep it! Could the passage even include in our day, "Don't let anyone keep you from identifying with the ancient Jews by keeping the Sabbath if you want to" ?
4. Why did Jewish believers surrender their Sabbath to the Gentile observance of a first day? Were there just too many Gentiles after awhile, and too much power being concentrated in the Gentile church, connected to the growing affiliation with the pagan practices of the day? Was the later official church anti-semitic, and trying to distance itself from Judaism ? Are any of these things good reasons to introduce new doctrine?
5. Has God allowed these questions to remain because He wants His people to be holy every day and not just once a week?
6. Will more and more believers start coming back to Sabbath, as more and more Jewish people are saved, and in preparation for the Kingdom that could so very soon be here?
As for the observations:
Serious Sunday-Sabbath people treat this day as though it truly were the Jewish Sabbath moved to Sunday. They feel they are keeping the fourth commandment by resting on Sunday. They assemble for a holy time at church, sometimes twice on that day. For the rest of the day they engage in only wholesome activity if any at all. Some rest completely, some partially. There is no question in those homes that this day is special.
Sunday morning Sabbatarians are those who assemble, but at about 12 noon, their "holy" time is finished. Usually the rest of the day is spent in diversion and recreation having little to do with Jesus Christ. Yet if asked, they too would indicate that they believe they are keeping the first day of the week.
The "spiritually-minded" Sabbath keepers are those who believe there is no day that is special. They rest in Christ who has forgiven them from their sins. They trust Him to take care of them and keep blessing them. They stop working when they are tired. There is no structure to their observance. Consistent with a stance like this, they may also give when it feels good, but definitely not the same percentage in the same place week after week. The church attendance, Bible reading, and prayer of these people is just as erratic. In their thinking, they "walk in the Spirit." Who knows? Maybe some of them do.
Then there are those of us who have seen the seventh day as an inviting possibility. But they too can be divided up into "all day" or "part day", "serious" or "secular". And some of these folks beat others over the head with their new knowledge.
Many questions, many observations, but some unavoidable facts I present for your edification:
Scripture says that from the beginning, and in the future, even "forever", the seventh day is the norm.
The Sabbath is a perfect picture, not only of creation's end, but of the rest before Jesus' resurrection and before His work on Pentecost. The First Day of creation, the resurrection itself, and Pentecost were all days of serious work, far from rest!
The Scriptures up until the Book of Acts reveal a God who blessed and loved the Sabbath and a people, who, when they were being obedient, kept it holy unto Him.
There is no command anywhere to end the Sabbath, or any of the ten commandments. But of course the only true obedience to God in our day must come from the Spirit within us.
Sunday observance and the related (enforced) rest day came into the possession of God's people only after Gentiles flooded the Church.
Though there are indications that meetings were to follow the Sabbath in the life of the new Church, there is never a hint that the first day was to become a day of rest replacing the seventh day rest.
God's law, in the form of the ten commandments, is still being lived out through the Spirit, fulfilled in true believers. Will not the fourth commandment also be lived in this way?
Many of the reports I have prepared over the past years point people to a solid argument and a conclusion that is obvious. I'm afraid I may have disappointed my readers a bit in this one. There is still that question stirred by the apostle's comments regarding persons being "convinced" in their own mind. I am as convinced as I can be that there is something for the Sabbath for present day believers, and that it is more than a picture. Nevertheless I have not come to the conclusion that I dare to bind anyone else's conscience in this matter. If I have merely stirred up someone's holy thinking processes, so that they investigate this matter with me, I will feel I have done my job. Meanwhile we pray for the day when we all come to the unity of the faith, drawn there by that one Spirit Who has filled and led us this far, and will surely lead us Home complete in Him.
http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed , lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com
And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .
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