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NASB | Exodus 20:8 ¶ "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Exodus 20:8 ¶ "Remember the Sabbath (seventh) day to keep it holy (set apart, dedicated to God). |
Subject: Must Christians keep the Sabbath today? |
Bible Note: The Sabbath was not only observed in the Old Testament, but also in New Testament times. Jesus himself observed the Sabbath, and taught others to do so, including Paul. Read Hebrews Chapter 4. We are even told in Isaiah 66:22,23 that we will celebrate Sabbath in heaven. Even in death, Christ rested on th Sabbath, and was resurrected on Sunday. We are taught in Romans Chapter 6, particularly verses 2 - 4 that we are to commemorate Christ's resurrection with the ceremony of baptism, not by following man's tradition of Sunday. The Sabbath is part of the moral law, found in Exodus 20. To claim that it is merely ceremonial would necessitate the same treatment of the other 9 commandments. If the Sabbath were only for the Jews -- then so must be the command not to kill, or steal, or lie, etc. There were, however, many ceremonial Sabbaths celebrated in the Old Testament by the Jews which pointed to Christ, and these are the ones that were done away with, along with the sanctuary services and sacrifices (Leviticus Ch.23 lists the seven ceremonial Sabbaths) These are not part of the moral law and are no longer binding for Christians. These are the sabbaths referred to by Paul in Colossians 2:16-17. Paul does not refer to these days as the Sabbath -- but sabbath days. There is a difference! Galatians 4:10,11 makes no reference to Sabbath at all. But if you were to go with the assumption that it does, your observance of Sunday would be scolded by Paul as well -- particlarly since you simply follow the tradition of men -- not God's command. The early fathers you mention were pagans. They introduced Sunday as a Christian institution to make it easier to convert their fellow pagans to "Christianity". By the way, do you think it was OK for the early fathers (who were mortal men)to change a commandment given by God? Do you think God is Ok with it? |