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| Sabbath Day and the First Day |
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Sabbath Day and the First Day
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.
16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 24:1 Now upon the first [day] of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain [others] with them. 20:1 The first [day] of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. The Sabbath day according to Hebrew custom is from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset 16:2 And very early in the morning the first [day] of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. The day after the Sabbath Day will be Sunday, which is the first day of the week.
The following copied from another site, where anyone can go and browse. There are many biblical incites there and it is FREE!:-
Question: "What day is the Sabbath, Saturday or Sunday? Do Christians have to observe the Sabbath day?"
Answer: It is often claimed that “God instituted the Sabbath in Eden” because of the connection between the Sabbath and creation in Exodus 20:11. Although God's rest on the seventh day (Genesis 2:3) did foreshadow a future Sabbath law, there is no biblical record of the Sabbath before the children of Israel left the land of Egypt. Nowhere in Scripture is there any hint that Sabbath-keeping was practiced from Adam to Moses.
The Word of God makes it quite clear that Sabbath observance was a special sign between God and Israel: “The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested” (Exodus 31:16–17).
In Deuteronomy 5, Moses restates the Ten Commandments to the next generation of Israelites. Here, after commanding Sabbath observance in verses 12–14, Moses gives the reason the Sabbath was given to the nation Israel: “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day” (Deuteronomy 5:15).
God's intent for giving the Sabbath to Israel was not that they would remember creation, but that they would remember their Egyptian slavery and the Lord's deliverance. Note the requirements for Sabbath-keeping: A person placed under that Sabbath law could not leave his home on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:29), he could not build a fire (Exodus 35:3), and he could not cause anyone else to work (Deuteronomy 5:14). A person breaking the Sabbath law was to be put to death (Exodus 31:15; Numbers 15:32–35).
An examination of New Testament passages shows us four important points: 1) Whenever Christ appears in His resurrected form and the day is mentioned, it is always the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1, 9, 10; Mark 16:9; Luke 24:1, 13, 15; John 20:19, 26). 2) The only time the Sabbath is mentioned from Acts through Revelation it is for evangelistic purposes to the Jews and the setting is usually in a synagogue (Acts chapters 13–18). Paul wrote, “to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews” (1 Corinthians 9:20). Paul did not go to the synagogue to fellowship with and edify the saints, but to convict and save the lost. 3) Once Paul states “from now on I will go to the Gentiles” (Acts 18:6), the Sabbath is never again mentioned. And 4) instead of suggesting adherence to the Sabbath day, the remainder of the New Testament implies the opposite (including the one exception to point 3 above, found in Colossians 2:16).
Looking more closely at point 4 above will reveal that there is no obligation for the New Testament believer to keep the Sabbath, and will also show that the idea of a Sunday “Christian Sabbath” is also unscriptural. As discussed above, there is one time the Sabbath is mentioned after Paul began to focus on the Gentiles, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” (Colossians 2:16–17). The Jewish Sabbath was abolished at the cross where Christ “canceled the written code, with its regulations” (Colossians 2:14).
This idea is repeated more than once in the New Testament: “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord” (Romans 14:5–6a). “But now that you know God — or rather are known by God — how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years” (Galatians 4:9–10).
But some claim that a mandate by Constantine in A.D. 321 “changed” the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. On what day did the early church meet for worship? Scripture never mentions any Sabbath (Saturday) gatherings by believers for fellowship or worship. However, there are clear passages that mention the first day of the week. For instance, Acts 20:7 states that “on the first day of the week we came together to break bread.” In 1 Corinthians 16:2 Paul urges the Corinthian believers “on the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.” Since Paul designates this offering as “service” in 2 Corinthians 9:12, this collection must have been linked with the Sunday worship service of the Christian assembly. Historically Sunday, not Saturday, was the normal meeting day for Christians in the church, and its practice dates back to the first century.
The Sabbath was given to Israel, not the church. The Sabbath is still Saturday, not Sunday, and has never been changed. But the Sabbath is part of the Old Testament Law, and Christians are free from the bondage of the Law (Galatians 4:1-26; Romans 6:14). Sabbath keeping is not required of the Christian—be it Saturday or Sunday. The first day of the week, Sunday, the Lord's Day (Revelation 1:10) celebrates the New Creation, with Christ as our resurrected Head. We are not obligated to follow the Mosaic Sabbath—resting, but are now free to follow the risen Christ—serving. The Apostle Paul said that each individual Christian should decide whether to observe a Sabbath rest, “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5). We are to worship God every day, not just on Saturday or Sunday.
Shalom to all my friends
Your sister in Christ
Marcia Balthazar |
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| To add a comment to "Sabbath Day and the First Day" |
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| August 25, 2009 |
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The early church fellowshippped daily. :) so in a way they did "church" (just a gathering together of believers) every single day! Gotta love it. I really believe that entering God's rest is the spiritual Sabbath--the resting "day". That is we cease from doing our own works b/c the Holy Ghost is doing the works---Christ lives in us and through us--we are dead. So we rest as He works through us. Doesn't mean we sit on our butts and do whatever, but we WANT to pray, we WANT to spend time in the Word, we WANT to worship Him in song and word and deed. It comes naturally b/c that old self is dead. Just think how easy sinning is to our carnal selves? Same with doing good in our spirit man. So the Sabbath--that is God's rest--is really like a place to be with the Lord where His yolk is easy and His burden is light and we are living the John 10:10 life which we can't live if we are in our flesh. I hope this makes some sense. lol |
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| August 25, 2009 |
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| Just tried your first link. It's not working. |
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| August 25, 2009 |
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| Just tried your third, it's not working either. Hmm |
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| August 25, 2009 |
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Good Morning to you my friend Lara.
You got it hot off the press! You are soo correct and Yes! you make sense. It is the same sense I see in the Spirit (SMILE).
Have a Holy Spirit filled day my friend. Love Ya!
Your sister in Christ
Marcia |
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| August 25, 2009 |
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| I only just learned that when our pastor taught it, and I went and dug in and really it just "clicked". It finally made sense for all the questions I'd been asking of God lately, like "why aint' your yoke, easy and your burden light?" and "should I be doing nothing on Sunday even though its usually our only chance we have to do our groceries (living so far out of town and with hubby working and only one vehicle)?" God looks at our hearts. I just want to do what is right in His eyes. |
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| August 25, 2009 |
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Ok! Go to the first link which says (Genesis) and it will take you to the site. Happy reading my friend.
Oh, and Praise the Lord of Host for this and other sites, where we receive confirmation of what we receive from the Holy Spirit and we do not have to go digging too deep Smile! |
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| August 25, 2009 |
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| [star!] |
Thanks for the clarifying post Marcia. I refer to GotQuestions from time to time too. We are blessed to have such resources at our disposal. |
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| August 25, 2009 |
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| Yes I agree Mike. Even though I still check with my (Spiritual advisor, the Holy Spirit), before I go digging, so that I will not be deceived, if you know what I mean (wink), like how Lucy used to do it to Desi, LOL! |
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| August 25, 2009 |
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Marcia, such a good post. Don't really care about what constatine did,... but I know it could be helpful to some. But I pray that, like with me, that anyone struggling with this issue will go through the passages in Colossians, Romans, and Galatians, you mention, with prayer, and looking up some of the key words in their KJV from a Youngs or Strongs concordance, looking at the context of these passages, etc... and really get to the bottom of this issue for themselves. It's a bigger issue than just the Sabbath and resolving it once and for all will allow for even more revelation. Amen? Thank you for digging for us. I love you. |
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| August 25, 2009 |
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| dear sister, knowing you I believe that goes w/o saying ;-) |
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| August 25, 2009 |
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A great blog sister Marcia. This a subject I've studied from time to time. I think this is the best (and relatively short) treatment of the issue I've seen yet. Thanks for sharing. |
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| August 26, 2009 |
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Marcia, great post. I believe all days are sacred and to tell you the truth there are some Sundays when the Holy Spirit drives me to serve in some fashion and some days He drives me to rest. You are right, it is up to the individual and their relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Thanks Marcia and be blessed my friend. |
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| August 29, 2009 |
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It seems this resource gives a very comprehensive/thorough treatment of the issue of Sabbath keeping (although I'm sure there are plenty of other resources that also do it justice, maybe even some with a slightly different conclusion). This thought reminds me of my arrogance in thinking I can or should convince anyone of anything in debates online. These debates just go round and round, at least partially b/c the responses we post in these little comment bubbles are kind of like soundbites, short, incomplete, biased by our own understanding..... We are so blessed with a myriad of resources at our disposal, so much information, MUCH of it from Godly sources. Marcia, I'm thinking it took some humility (and maybe a little obedience) to post this blog, to rely on the research and knowledge of someone else, rather than simply post your own perspective, which is what most of us do most of the time. :-) That's what I'm thinkin, anyway! |
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| August 29, 2009 |
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When we do anything out of love, it is the Holy Spirit in us doing it. If on the other hand, if we do it because we are told we must. Or if we do it in order to get on God's good side, then it is flesh, and is worthless. We could feed 10,000 people, give a million dollars, even step in front a car for someone, and if we do all this because we think it will get us points with God, then all that we had done is worthless in God's eyes. Because we would have done it all for the wrong reasons. If on the other hand, we feed one person, and give our last ten cents, and took the blame for someone, and we did it out of love, then these actions will have great merit when we stand before the Lord. It is ALL heart! If I keep the sabbath, and obey every law in the OT, because it says I must, then it is all worthless. Because it is all ME doing it. |
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| August 29, 2009 |
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Preston, Penny, Tim and Mike/Laura,
I am just grateful that there are so many other resources to research any topic from.
Yes, Mike, I understand what you are thinking, after going round and round with some of the blogs lately, I am coming to the conclusion that it is a good thing to post links so that everyone can do some research themselves if they are truly interested.
However, if someone posts a blog about a particular subject, I assume they have already researched and tested it in their own lives and it has become a "living epistle" to them with approval of the Holy Spirit, therefore, they can now assume the position of being able to respond to anyone who has posed relative questions. Hence, (Study to show thyself approved unto G-d, a workman who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth).
Shalom to all my friends
Your sister in Christ
Marcia
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| August 29, 2009 |
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You got that right Gary!
I try to keep in mind that anything we do or do not do on this planet has adverse effects in our lives and in the lives of others. If what we do or not do shows love for each other and brings about faith and exhaltation in and of Jesus Christ and His redemptive work on this planet, then that is the whole council of G-d and I believe that the kingdom of G-d will come on earth as it is in heaven and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven in each person's life. Jesus made a very profound statement (If I be lifted up I will draw ALL of mankind unto ME). That is the conclusion of the whole matter.
Agape' love is the key to this straight and very narrow path and this only comes through the Holy Spirit when He takes up residence in an individual. Those who do not have this love will do everything in their own strength and they will fail to have the joy to go along with giving freely.
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| August 29, 2009 |
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I assume they have already researched and tested it in their own lives and it has become a "living epistle" to them with approval of the Holy Spirit, therefore, they can now assume the position of being able to respond to anyone who has posed relative questions. Marcia, I understand your point of view in this, and share it. Sometimes ppl don't respond b/c they lack the time, are shy, or perhaps timid about getting involved in debates, etc. Sometimes it takes much time and energy to stay on top of blogs. But still, I hear ya. |
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| August 29, 2009 |
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I hear ya Mike, I love you my friend and brother in Christ.
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| September 19, 2009 |
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| Dear heavenly Father, please watch over Your Word to perform it to completion and cause it to go forth to accomplish what it will for Your divine purpose, in the name of my precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen. |
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