Sabbath, Sunday, Or…?
by
Bernie Koerselman
Table
of Contents
I.
THE SABBATH
Introduction.
2
God’s
Command to New Testament Believers.
2
Jesus
is Lord of the Sabbath.
3
Jesus
Taught Healing (Helping) On the Sabbath.
3
Jesus
Admitted Working on the Sabbath.
3
Sabbatarian
Arguments Defending Sabbath-Keeping.
4
Sabbatarians
Say Jesus is Author of Old Testament Law..
4
Sabbatarians
Say Jesus Said the Law Will Last
5
Sabbatarians
Say Blessings and Curses Show Law In Effect
5
“The
Law” vs. Christ’s Law..
6
What
Did New Testament Writers Say (and Not Say)?.
6
Critical
Question: Is the Old Testament
Law Still In Effect?.
7
God
Canceled the Written Code, Nailing It To The Cross.
7
CHRISTIANS
ARE RELEASED FROM THE LAW. 7
What
Was the Purpose of the Law?.
8
Could
“The Law” Make Men Righteous Before God?.
8
How
Are Christians Made Righteous Before God?.
9
The
Law Was Temporary.
9
Sabbatarians
Claim No Real Change.
10
Burdened
by a Yoke of Slavery.
11
No
One Is Justified Before God By the Law..
12
If
Led By the Spirit, You Are Not Under Law..
12
What
About Those Who Insist on Following the Law?.
13
Sabbath
Rest as a Type of Rest in Jesus.
13
To
Whom Was the Sabbath Command Given?.
14
A
Sign Between God and Israel
15
Is
the Sabbath a Creation Ordinance?.
16
God
Stated Purpose of Sabbath.
17
Paul
Warns the Galatians.
17
Paul’s
Teaching On Accepting One Another
18
Remain
In the Situation You Were.
18
Paul
Regularly Went to the Synagogues.
19
Paul
Tried to Reach All Peoples By Being Like Them..
19
Instructions
For the Churches.
19
Love
is the Fulfillment the Law of Christ
20
Sabbath-Keeping
As An Issue of Salvation.
20
Continuing
Activities/Sins That Will Deny Salvation.
20
Circumcision
– A Parallel to Sabbath-Keeping.
22
Sabbath-keeping
Similar to Circumcision.
23
Do
Sabbatarians Keep the Sabbath?.
23
Is
the Seventh Day Sabbath the Only Sabbath Observed?.
24
II. Sunday.
25
The
Early Church (from the Scriptures)
25
Beliefs and Practices of the Early Church.
25
Writings
of the Early Church.
25
Dictionary
of Early Christian Beliefs.
26
Theological
Bias.
26
Scope
of this Article.
26
Understanding
the Early Church Quotations.
26
Scriptures
Cited by the Early Church Regarding the Sabbath.
27
Most
Early Christians Did Not Observe the Sabbath.
27
Early
Church Believed Jews Were Wrong.
28
Christ’s
Law Requires a Perpetual Sabbath.
29
Before
the Law Righteous Men Kept No Sabbath.
30
Sabbath
Was Temporary.
30
Choose
Unity When Possible.
31
Kneeling
in Prayer
31
Sunday
Was Established By Secular Order As the Christian Day Of Worship.
31
III. Or . . . What Does
Scripture Say?.
31
There seems to be great
confusion over which commands of God to obey.
Paul said, “Keeping God’s commands is what counts” (1 Corinthians
7:17). The thrust of the Old and
New Testaments is to be obedient to God’s commands. The question is: What
are the commands of God that the New Testament believer is to keep and obey?
I first answered that question in the article “Which Law Does the
Christian Obey?” found on this website www.bereanpublishers.co.nz
under the heading “Important Issues.”
Nevertheless, the specific
issue of whether to worship on the Sabbath (Saturday) or Sunday or some other
day continues to arise so this article will attempt to fully explore this issue.
As part of this discussion
we will look at the tradition of the early church. Unfortunately, many look at this quite differently, each
drawing their own conclusion. Others
point to the fact that it was first the Roman Emperor and then the Roman
Catholic Church that dictated (commanded) that Sunday be the official day of
worship and so claim it must be the wrong day because of the source of the
command.
As in all our writings our
source is neither tradition nor opinion. We
simply seek to find what God said in his word – the Bible.
This sometimes requires more than blindly following a given favorite
translation. Sometimes it is
necessary to revert to the Greek or Hebrew texts to plumb the depths of meaning.
Or sometimes it is revealing to check several different translations and
see how different Greek (or Hebrew) language experts chose to interpret the
original texts. But, above all, it
is the word of God that must explain which commands we are to follow.
Finally, as we examine the
scriptural texts, let us keep in mind both the context and the persons to whom
the passages were directed. Also,
in this particular subject – the Sabbath – let us pay attention both to what
is said and what is not said.
If the Sabbath must be observed by Gentiles believers, then surely God
will clearly specify that.
As Jesus was about to ascend
into heaven, he gave his last and most complete instruction to his followers
about what they were to do after he left them:
Matthew
28:18 “All authority in heaven and
on earth has been given to me. 19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the
age.” 2
Sabbatarians say that Jesus
told us at Matthew 5:18 that nothing whatsoever will disappear from the Law
until heaven and earth disappear. Let’s
see what the Scripture says:
Matthew
5:18 I tell you the truth, until
heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a
pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is
accomplished.
Did Jesus say what the
Sabbatarians claim? No, not really.
He said the Law would last indefinitely until everything is
accomplished! When would everything be accomplished? When the Law and the Prophets were fulfilled.
What did Jesus say he came to do?
Matthew
5:17 “Do not think that I have
come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to
fulfill them.
Jesus said he came to
fulfill them. Did he? I believe he did, but what does Scripture say? At
Matthew 26:56, Jesus said,
“56
But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might
be fulfilled.”
When Jesus said, “It is
finished!” (John 19:30) on the cross, I believe he was stating that the
fulfillment of the law and the prophets was finished.
For corroboration, consider what Jesus said at Luke 18:31:
Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them,
“We
are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by
the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.” (Luke
18:31).
This much misunderstood
passage, claimed to say that the Old Testament Law will last until heaven and
earth pass away, is indeed misstated and misunderstood.
The law and prophets, according to Jesus, have been fulfilled and
accomplished. IT IS FINISHED!
The Sabbatarians argue that Jesus, at Matthew
5:19, spoke about those who break the commandments (Old Testament Law) and the
blessings for those who practice and teach them.
But is this so? The problem with this passage may be partly punctuation (not
in the Greek) and the way it is set forth in the text of the various
translations. Let’s look at
Matthew 5:19-20 in the NIV:
Matthew
5:19 Anyone who breaks one of the
least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be
called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these
commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the
Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom
of heaven.
What was Jesus talking about
in verses 19 and 20? Notice that in
verses 17 and 18 (see verses in previous section) Jesus is talking generically
about the law. There are no
specific commandments mentioned. But
in verse 19 he speaks of “these” commandments and “these
commands.” Jesus was teaching and
giving specific commands (Matthew 5:1-16) to the crowd of listeners and
continued to do so throughout the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:19-7:27).
All of a sudden (at Matt. 5:18), it is though he turned aside to say he
has not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it and that nothing will
disappear from the law until everything is accomplished.
(Remember he said, “It is finished!”
All accomplished!)
Interpretation of verse 19
is easier to understand if we realize that “these” commands referred
to what Jesus was speaking to the crowd, not referring back to an
earlier statement about the Law.
Consider the opposite
interpretation – that Jesus was referring to the Old Testament Law.
If that were so, what commands was Jesus saying we would be blessed if we
practice and teach them? Washing
your hands? Animal sacrifice? That doesn’t make sense, does it?
Even stronger proof is found
in verse 20. The Pharisees kept the
law to the jot and tittle (KJV) just as Paul said he did as a Pharisee – he
said he was blameless. How could
anyone have a righteousness that surpassed that of the Pharisees and teachers of
the law?
Jesus’ commands are of the
heart and heart attitude (God looks at the heart). The external legalism of the Pharisees was a magnitude below
the righteous behavior (of the heart) that Jesus taught. By following Jesus’ teachings and commands a person will
indeed have a righteousness (of the heart) that surpasses that of the Pharisees
and the teachers of the law. Is
it any wonder the Lord Jesus commanded that his commands be
taught to all new disciples? (Matthew
28:20).
Please note that throughout this article “the law”
refers to the Old Testament law, NOT the teachings and commands of Jesus.
Paul continually faced opposition from those who tried to compel the
Gentile Christians to observe (obey) the Old Testament law – the Judaizers.
Jesus’ teachings and commands – Christ’s law –
are what all Christians are to obey (see Matthew 28:20). Paul made the distinction between “Christ’s law”
and “the law” when writing the Corinthians:
1 Cor. 9:21 To those
not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I
am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as
to win those not having the law.
Paul’s statement could be restated, “To those
Gentiles not under the Jewish law, I became as one not having the Jewish law
(though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to
win those not having the Jew’s law.
In 1 Corinthians 9:21, Paul equates “God’s law”
with “Christ’s law.” Note
that Paul has recognized that God’s law for the Christian
church is the same as Christ’s law – the teachings and
commands of Jesus, exactly what Jesus said we are to teach all disciples to
obey (Matthew 28:20). Paul
instructed the Galatians: “Carry
each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ”
(Galatians 6:2).
This question is critical to
our study and of utmost importance to Sabbatarians (Sabbath-Keepers).
For Sabbatarians, the Old Testament Law must be still in force today
because they know it is the ONLY authority they can point to for keeping the
Sabbath. They have advanced many
arguments over the ensuing years to show why Christians must keep the Sabbath
including, for example, that the Sabbath is a creation ordinance and that Israel
is now the church. We’ll examine
each of their arguments to see whether they are founded in Scripture.
Colossians 2:13 When
you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God
made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled
the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood
opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle
of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
16
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. 17
These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however,
is found in Christ.
What did God do with the
written code and its regulations? He
took it away! He nailed it to the
cross! Doesn’t that seem
transparently clear?
The problem is that
Sabbatarians say the written code and its regulations which were abolished –
taken away, nailed to the cross – do not apply to the ten commandments.
Let’s take a closer look
at vs. 16. The first part of the
verse deals with the regulations pertaining to what can be eaten or drunk.
Next it applies to the religious festivals.
Finally it speaks specifically about the Sabbath.
Surely that must be the end of the matter.
It could hardly be more clear.
But no, again the
Sabbatarians say this does not mean the 7th day Sabbath.
They say it refers to the feasts that were special Sabbaths.
Of course the text doesn’t say special Sabbaths and the rule of
interpretation of Scripture should always be to accept the plain, literal, and
clear meaning of Scripture unless the context forces another interpretation.
Another writer advanced still a different idea, causing a
complete misunderstanding of Colossians 2:14.
His misunderstanding, from the King James Version, had to do with the
term “handwriting of ordinances that was against us.” The parallel in the NIV is “the written code, with its
regulations.”
Colossians
2:14 Blotting out the handwriting
of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out
of the way, nailing it to his cross [KJV]
Colossians
2:14 having canceled the written
code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to
us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. [NIV]
The writer stated the
“handwriting of ordinances” literally means a list of judgments or offenses
– a sentence of guilt rather than a statement of the prevailing law.
I’m a lawyer.
When I read ordinance I read law. I’ve
always thought that is what it means. But
since I’m not new at being wrong, I immediately checked Webster’s dictionary
to see what that learned document had to say.
It defined ordinance as follows: 1(a):
an authoritative decree or direction:
Order; (b) regulation; 2: something
ordained or decreed by fate or a deity;
3: a prescribed usage,
practice, or ceremony.
Definitions 1 and 2 both fit
all the laws and decrees of God, don’t they?
The King James Version does bring up an interesting point.
Why would it say “handwriting” of ordinances?
Could that point directly to the Ten Commandments which were handwritten
on stone by the finger of God? The
NIV version is more likely the correct understanding – the written code vs.
oral rules.
In Romans 7, Paul used the example of being bound in
marriage so long as the spouse is alive. But
when the spouse dies, the person is released from the law of marriage.
Using the example of a woman who marries again while the spouse is alive,
he says such a woman is called an adultress.
However, if the husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an
adultress even if she marries another man.
Paul says that is the example that is to apply to us –
those who have died to the law through the body of Christ. He says, “But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have
been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not
in the old way of the written code” (Romans 7:6).
Paul, in particular, was the
writer who discussed the question of the Jewish law and its applicability to the
Christian. He was in a unique
position to do so having been a Pharisee who had been taught by Gamaliel (Acts
22:3), an esteemed teacher of the law.
There seem to be many
reasons for the law. At Romans
3:20, Paul said “through the law we become conscious of sin.” At Romans 5:20 he wrote the Romans, “The law was added so
that the trespass might increase.” At
Galatians 3:19 Paul asked, “What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added
because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had
come.” At Galatians 3:24 Paul
summarized the purpose of the law: “So
the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified
by faith.”
Over and over, Paul answers
this question. It must have been a
hot topic of conversation in the days of the early church as the Judaizers tried
to convince the new Christians to follow the Jewish law as well as Jesus.
Paul did not mince words. He
stated:
Romans
3:20 Therefore no one
will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather,
through the law we become conscious of sin.
Galatians
2:15 “We who are Jews by birth and
not ‘Gentile sinners’ 16 know
that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus
Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified
by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law
no one will be justified.
Galatians
3:11 Clearly no one is justified
before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”
But some still seem to rely
on observing the law to be regarded as righteous before God.
This seems to be true of Sabbatarians.
Paul crushed that notion when he told the Galatians:
Galatians 3:10 All
who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written:
“Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book
of the Law.”
Unequivocally Paul has established that rather than being
declared righteous in God’s eyes by observing the law (imperfectly),
law-keepers are under a curse because they cannot keep the law perfectly and
rely on their efforts to obtain favor with God.
Paul made this answer equally clear.
Over and over he established:
Galatians 3:13 Christ
redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is
written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14
He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to
the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the
promise of the Spirit.
Romans 3:23 for all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that came by Christ Jesus. . . . 28 For we maintain
that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
Romans 5:1 Therefore,
since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through
whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now
stand.
Romans 5:9 Since we
have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved
from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled
to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been
reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus
Christ, through whom we have now received reconci