Obey the Sabbath!

[Christfollower7]

There are some (usually about 10% of Christians), who would say that Christians should worship/obey the letter of the law in obeying the Sabbath on a Saturday. In fact, they would say that if you go to church and worship the Lord on a Sunday, you are living in sin. Particularly those in the SDA denomination.

Are Christians required to keep the Sabbath? Keep in mind, Sabbath is observed from sundown on Friday to sundown the next day (Saturday). And the Torrah outlines the specific rules and regulations on the careful observance of the Sabbath (i.e. no baking and cooking, no travelling, no kindling fire, gathering wood, buying and selling).

Also, the Jewish works of the Mishnah detail the careful observance of the Sabbath, along with the 39 Melakhot, which details 39 categories of careful observance of the Shabbat. There are also other volume sets of books that detail precise pinpointed rules and regulations of how to not carry a burden on the Sabbath.

Where are the lines in the sand drawn with God's order/commandment with obeying the Sabbath? Is a Christian living in sin, if he works on Saturday...or goes to church on Sunday? Are 90% of Christians who go to church on Sunday, all living in sin?

 

[AlexB23]

There are some (usually about 10% of Christians), who would say that Christians should worship/obey the letter of the law in obeying the Sabbath on a Saturday. In fact, they would say that if you go to church and worship the Lord on a Sunday, you are living in sin. Particularly those in the SDA denomination.

Are Christians required to keep the Sabbath? Keep in mind, Sabbath is observed from sundown on Friday to sundown the nest day (Saturday). And the Torrah outlines the specific rules and regulations on the careful observance of the Sabbath (i.e. no baking and cooking, no travelling, no kindling fire, gathering wood, buying and selling).

Also, the Jewish works of the Mishnah detail the careful observance of the Sabbath, along with the 39 Melakhot, which details 39 categories of careful observance of the Shabbat. There are also other volume sets of books that detail precise pinpointed rules and regulations of how to not carry a burden on the Sabbath.

Where are the lines in the sand drawn with God's order/commandment with obeying the Sabbath? Is a Christian living in sin, if he works on Saturday...or goes to church on Sunday? Are 90% of Christians who go to church on Sunday, all living in sin?

This is a complex question, so I'll take a bite at it.

The question of whether Christians are required to keep the Sabbath as outlined in the Old Testament law, specifically on a Saturday from sundown to sundown, is a matter of ongoing debate among Christians. The New Testament does not provide clear and definitive instructions for Christians regarding the observance of the Sabbath.

The Old Testament law, including the Sabbath commandment (Exodus 20:8-11), was given to Israel as part of God's covenant with them. The New Testament teaches that through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are grafted into God's people and become part of a new covenant (Galatians 3:26-29, Ephesians 2:14-18). This new covenant is not based on the law but on grace (Romans 6:14, Galatians 5:4).

Some Christians, including those in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, believe that the Sabbath commandment still applies to believers today and should be observed on the seventh day of the week (Saturday). They argue that the Sabbath is a moral law that continues to be binding on Christians.

Other Christians, however, believe that the Sabbath law was fulfilled in Christ and that believers are free to worship and rest on any day of the week. They argue that the Sabbath was a sign of Israel's covenant relationship with God, but that Christians are no longer under the Old Testament law (Colossians 2:14-17).

As for the question of whether a Christian is living in sin by working on Saturday or going to church on Sunday, it ultimately depends on one's understanding and application of God's word. Christians who believe that the Sabbath law still applies should strive to obey it as best they can, while those who believe that it has been fulfilled in Christ are free to worship and rest on any day of the week.

It's important to note, however, that the Sabbath debate should not be a source of division among believers. Ultimately, what matters most is our obedience to God's will and our love for one another (John 13:34-35). We should strive to be united in the essentials of the faith while being gracious and tolerant towards one another on non-essential matters (Romans 14:1-15:7).

 

[Soyeong]

There are some (usually about 10% of Christians), who would say that Christians should worship/obey the letter of the law in obeying the Sabbath on a Saturday. In fact, they would say that if you go to church and worship the Lord on a Sunday, you are living in sin. Particularly those in the SDA denomination.

Are Christians required to keep the Sabbath? Keep in mind, Sabbath is observed from sundown on Friday to sundown the nest day (Saturday). And the Torrah outlines the specific rules and regulations on the careful observance of the Sabbath (i.e. no baking and cooking, no travelling, no kindling fire, gathering wood, buying and selling).

Also, the Jewish works of the Mishnah detail the careful observance of the Sabbath, along with the 39 Melakhot, which details 39 categories of careful observance of the Shabbat. There are also other volume sets of books that detail precise pinpointed rules and regulations of how to not carry a burden on the Sabbath.

Where are the lines in the sand drawn with God's order/commandment with obeying the Sabbath? Is a Christian living in sin, if he works on Saturday...or goes to church on Sunday? Are 90% of Christians who go to church on Sunday, all living in sin?

Sin is the transgression of God's law (1 John 3:4) and God's law instruct to keep the 7th day holy (Exodus 20:8-11), so it is therefore a sin to break the Sabbath. In Mark 7:6-9, Jesus criticized the Pharisees as being hypocrites for setting aside the commands of God in order to establish their own traditions, so there is nothing wrong with someone following their own tradition of going to church on Sunday in addition to obeying God's command to keep the 7th day holy, but it is sinful for someone to hypocritically set aside God's command to keep the 7th day holy in order to establish their own tradition of going to church on Sunday.

There are strong parallels between Creation and the Tabernacle, so the 39 forms of works that are prohibited on the Sabbath are the 39 forms of work that went into the creation of the Tabernacle. In Deuteronomy 17:8-13, it gives authority to priests and judges to make rulings about how to correctly obey the Torah, and in Matthew 23:2-4, Jesus recognized that the scribes and Pharisees had this authority when he said that they sit in the Seat of Moses and instructed his followers to observe and do all that they did, but warned against they hypocrisy of doing things for show.

 

[Simon_Templar]

There are some (usually about 10% of Christians), who would say that Christians should worship/obey the letter of the law in obeying the Sabbath on a Saturday. In fact, they would say that if you go to church and worship the Lord on a Sunday, you are living in sin. Particularly those in the SDA denomination.

Are Christians required to keep the Sabbath? Keep in mind, Sabbath is observed from sundown on Friday to sundown the nest day (Saturday). And the Torrah outlines the specific rules and regulations on the careful observance of the Sabbath (i.e. no baking and cooking, no travelling, no kindling fire, gathering wood, buying and selling).

Also, the Jewish works of the Mishnah detail the careful observance of the Sabbath, along with the 39 Melakhot, which details 39 categories of careful observance of the Shabbat. There are also other volume sets of books that detail precise pinpointed rules and regulations of how to not carry a burden on the Sabbath.

Where are the lines in the sand drawn with God's order/commandment with obeying the Sabbath? Is a Christian living in sin, if he works on Saturday...or goes to church on Sunday? Are 90% of Christians who go to church on Sunday, all living in sin?

In Acts, the Apostles held a council to decide what laws of the OT were required for Christians to keep.

This is in Acts 15:22-29 if you would like to read it for yourself.

Here are the requirements they placed upon Christians
+abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols
+from blood
+from what has been strangled
+from sexual immorality

You will notice that the Sabbath is not mentioned.

The Bible, and the writings of early Christians also make it clear that the Church worshipped on Sunday since the very beginning.

 

[Soyeong]

In Acts, the Apostles held a council to decide what laws of the OT were required for Christians to keep.

This is in Acts 15:22-29 if you would like to read it for yourself.

Here are the requirements they placed upon Christians
+abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols
+from blood
+from what has been strangled
+from sexual immorality

You will notice that the Sabbath is not mentioned.

The Bible, and the writings of early Christians also make it clear that the Church worshipped on Sunday since the very beginning.

If you eat meat, then what precautions are you taking to make sure that it did not come from a strangled animal?

 

[Simon_Templar]

If you eat meat, then what precautions are you taking to make sure that it did not come from a strangled animal?

Jesus Christ gave the authority of Binding and Loosing to the Apostolic leadership of the Church. The authority of binding and loosing was the authority to allow or forbid practices as application of the law.

This is why the Apostles in Acts could make this decision and have it be binding upon the Church. They had the authority to say "you are loosed from the Jewish laws regarding the Sabbath, but you are bound to obey the rules regarding food sacrificed to Idols.

That authority remains with the Church and later on the Church loosed the restrictions on eating blood and things strangled. Those restrictions are no longer in place. Specifically, these restrictions were lifted at the Council of Florence, in session 11

However, even if you believe they are, in the United States, the meat industry does not kill animals by strangling. It would be too inefficient for one thing. The vast majority of meat animals are killed by use of a "rod gun" which effectively shoots the animal in the head. Others, like chickens are killed by decapitation. Animals that are hunted privately are shot.

 

[BNR32FAN]

There are some (usually about 10% of Christians), who would say that Christians should worship/obey the letter of the law in obeying the Sabbath on a Saturday. In fact, they would say that if you go to church and worship the Lord on a Sunday, you are living in sin. Particularly those in the SDA denomination.

Are Christians required to keep the Sabbath? Keep in mind, Sabbath is observed from sundown on Friday to sundown the nest day (Saturday). And the Torrah outlines the specific rules and regulations on the careful observance of the Sabbath (i.e. no baking and cooking, no travelling, no kindling fire, gathering wood, buying and selling).

Also, the Jewish works of the Mishnah detail the careful observance of the Sabbath, along with the 39 Melakhot, which details 39 categories of careful observance of the Shabbat. There are also other volume sets of books that detail precise pinpointed rules and regulations of how to not carry a burden on the Sabbath.

Where are the lines in the sand drawn with God's order/commandment with obeying the Sabbath? Is a Christian living in sin, if he works on Saturday...or goes to church on Sunday? Are 90% of Christians who go to church on Sunday, all living in sin?

”When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day“
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

 

[BNR32FAN]

In Acts, the Apostles held a council to decide what laws of the OT were required for Christians to keep.

This is in Acts 15:22-29 if you would like to read it for yourself.

Here are the requirements they placed upon Christians
+abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols
+from blood
+from what has been strangled
+from sexual immorality

You will notice that the Sabbath is not mentioned.

The Bible, and the writings of early Christians also make it clear that the Church worshipped on Sunday since the very beginning.

Nor is it commanded anywhere in the New Testament to observe the Sabbath. Now I’ve seen some say that we’re supposed to follow the same example Jesus gave us but these people don’t actually follow Jesus’ example because He kept the whole law, all 613 commandments. These people who claim we’re supposed to follow His example don’t keep the whole law just certain bits and pieces of it.

 

[BNR32FAN]

If you eat meat, then what precautions are you taking to make sure that it did not come from a strangled animal?

”Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; for the earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains. If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks? Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.“
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭25‬-‭31‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

 

[BNR32FAN]

In Acts, the Apostles held a council to decide what laws of the OT were required for Christians to keep.

This is in Acts 15:22-29 if you would like to read it for yourself.

Here are the requirements they placed upon Christians
+abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols
+from blood
+from what has been strangled
+from sexual immorality

You will notice that the Sabbath is not mentioned.

The Bible, and the writings of early Christians also make it clear that the Church worshipped on Sunday since the very beginning.

Actually that portion about abstaining from what has been sacrificed to idols is a translation error. What it actually says is abstain from the pollutions of idols.

Acts 15:20 Lexicon: but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.

Paul said we can eat anything we want unless someone says it was offered to an idol. Then he says do not eat of it for the consciousness of the one who told you not for your own conscious. And that we have freedom to eat it as long as we give thanks for it but in this case where someone has told us that it was offered to an idol it would cause them to make a judgement against us. Now this was something that was a problem back in Paul’s time I’m confident that we probably don’t know anyone who actually offers sacrifices to idols. So it really doesn’t present a problem for us today.

”Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; for the earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains. If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks? Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.“
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭25‬-‭31‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

 

[BNR32FAN]

Jesus Christ gave the authority of Binding and Loosing to the Apostolic leadership of the Church. The authority of binding and loosing was the authority to allow or forbid practices as application of the law.

This is why the Apostles in Acts could make this decision and have it be binding upon the Church. They had the authority to say "you are loosed from the Jewish laws regarding the Sabbath, but you are bound to obey the rules regarding food sacrificed to Idols.

That authority remains with the Church and later on the Church loosed the restrictions on eating blood and things strangled. Those restrictions are no longer in place. Specifically, these restrictions were lifted at the Council of Florence, in session 11

However, even if you believe they are, in the United States, the meat industry does not kill animals by strangling. It would be too inefficient for one thing. The vast majority of meat animals are killed by use of a "rod gun" which effectively shoots the animal in the head. Others, like chickens are killed by decapitation. Animals that are hunted privately are shot.

I agree it’s basically the same thing the apostles did in Acts 15 at the first ecumenical council.

 

[Soyeong]

In Acts, the Apostles held a council to decide what laws of the OT were required for Christians to keep.

This is in Acts 15:22-29 if you would like to read it for yourself.

Here are the requirements they placed upon Christians
+abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols
+from blood
+from what has been strangled
+from sexual immorality

You will notice that the Sabbath is not mentioned.

Either Acts 15:19-21 contains an exhaustive list of everything that would ever be required of a mature Gentile believer or it does not, so it is contradictory to treat it as being a non-exhaustive list by holding the position that there are obviously other laws that Gentiles should follow, such as the greater two commandments or those things spoken against in Romans 1:26-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:19-21, and Titus 3:1-3 while also treating it as being an exhaustive list by trying to use it to limit which laws Gentiles should follow. It was not given as an exhaustive list for mature believers, but as stated it was a list intended to avoid making things too difficult for new believers, which they excused by saying that they would continue to learn about how to obey Moses by hearing him taught every Sabbath in the synagogues. Christ spent his ministry teaching his followers to how to walk in obedience to the Mosaic Law by word and by example, and we are told to follow his example (1 Peter 2:21-22) and that those who are in Christ are obligated to walk in the same way he walked (1 John 2:6), so those verses should not be interpreted as ruling that Gentiles shouldn't follow Christ outside of four things.

The Bible, and the writings of early Christians also make it clear that the Church worshipped on Sunday since the very beginning.

The Israelites worshipped God on every day of the week, so there is nothing wrong with someone following their own tradition of worshiping God on Sunday in addition to obeying God's command to keep the 7th day holy, but there is something wrong with someone hypocritically setting aside the commands of God in order to establish their own traditions (Mark 7:6-9).

Jesus Christ gave the authority of Binding and Loosing to the Apostolic leadership of the Church. The authority of binding and loosing was the authority to allow or forbid practices as application of the law.

This is why the Apostles in Acts could make this decision and have it be binding upon the Church. They had the authority to say "you are loosed from the Jewish laws regarding the Sabbath, but you are bound to obey the rules regarding food sacrificed to Idols.

That authority remains with the Church and later on the Church loosed the restrictions on eating blood and things strangled. Those restrictions are no longer in place. Specifically, these restrictions were lifted at the Council of Florence, in session 11

However, even if you believe they are, in the United States, the meat industry does not kill animals by strangling. It would be too inefficient for one thing. The vast majority of meat animals are killed by use of a "rod gun" which effectively shoots the animal in the head. Others, like chickens are killed by decapitation. Animals that are hunted privately are shot.

So you're arguing that Gentiles should only obey the four things that you listed and then that Gentiles shouldn't even do that much?

The Bible often uses the same terms to describe aspects of the character of God as it does to describe aspects of the character of God's law, such as with it being holy, righteous, and good (Romans 7:12) or with justice, mercy, and faith being weightier matters of the law (Matthew 23:23), which is because it is God's instructions for how to testify about those aspects of His character. So the laws that God has chosen to give paint us a picture of His character, and if God has done something like command to commit adultery instead of commanding against it, then that would have revealed something very different about His character. This means that following a different set of laws would involve following a different God with a different set of character traits than that of the God of Israel, which is why He prohibited adding to or subtracting from His law (Deuteronomy 4:2). So the authority of binding and loosing refers to having the power to determine whether God's law prohibits or permits a particular action, but does not include the authority to countermand God or to make changes to His law in violation of Deuteronomy 4:2.

 

[rockytopva]

All who are justified by the law are debtors to keep the whole law...

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. - Galatians 5

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. - James 2:10

 

[John G.]

So let no one make rules about what you eat or drink or about holy days or the new moon festival OR THE SABBATH.
All such things are only a shadow of things of the future; the reality is Christ.
Colossians 2:16

 

[Soyeong]

All who are justified by the law are debtors to keep the whole law...

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. - Galatians 5

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. - James 2:10

The fact that God’s law was never given as a way of earning our justification as the result of our obedience does not mean that we are not obligated to obey it for the purposes for which it was given.

 

[Soyeong]

So let no one make rules about what you eat or drink or about holy days or the new moon festival OR THE SABBATH.
All such things are only a shadow of things of the future; the reality is Christ.
Colossians 2:16

The Colossians were celebrating God’s feasts on obedience to His commands in accordance with the example that Christ set for us to follow, they were being judged for doing that by pagans who were promoting human precepts and teachings, self-made religion, asceticism, and severity to the body, and Paul was encouraging them not to let anyone prevent them from obeying God, so it is ironic when people quote that verse to justify their refusal to obey God.

 

[BNR32FAN]

All who are justified by the law are debtors to keep the whole law...

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. - Galatians 5

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. - James 2:10

I think Galatians 5 has relevance as well.

”It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves. For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.“
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭18‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

 

[BNR32FAN]

The Colossians were celebrating God’s feasts on obedience to His commands in accordance with the example that Christ set for us to follow, they were being judged for doing that by pagans who were promoting human precepts and teachings, self-made religion, asceticism, and severity to the body, and Paul was encouraging them not to let anyone prevent them from obeying God, so it is ironic when people quote that verse to justify their refusal to obey God.

The example Christ “set for us to follow” was to keep THE ENTIRE JEWISH LAW. Jesus kept ALL 613 COMMANDMENTS BECAUSE HE WAS A JEW. Are you following that example?

 

[BNR32FAN]

So let no one make rules about what you eat or drink or about holy days or the new moon festival OR THE SABBATH.
All such things are only a shadow of things of the future; the reality is Christ.
Colossians 2:16

And the SDA judge people for what they eat and observing the sabbath because they also include the dietary laws as a necessary observance.

 

[Soyeong]

The example Christ “set for us to follow” was to keep THE ENTIRE JEWISH LAW. Jesus kept ALL 613 COMMANDMENTS BECAUSE HE WAS A JEW. Are you following that example?

Indeed, Jesus set a sinless example for us to follow of hue to walk in obedience to the Mosaic Law and as his followers we are told to follow his example (1 Peter 2:21-22) and that those who are in Christ are obligated to walk in the same way he walked (1 John 2:6). Being a Christian is about following Christ’s example, not about trying to turn God’s word against following Christ.