Should We Keep the Sabbath?

Creation Research Institute ^ | 2003 | James A. Borland

[imardmd1]

Some groups today, such as the Seventh-day Adventists, teach that keeping the seventh-day Sabbath is a perpetual moral law meant for all people, and that not keeping it is a sign of apostasy and disloyalty to God. They base their belief on Genesis 2:1–3, which tells of God resting after His creative work and then sanctifying the Sabbath day, and on the fourth commandment. They also argue that the New Testament teaches the continuity of seventh-day Sabbath observance by Christ’s followers, even after Christ’s death. These beliefs, however, are misguided. There is no universal moral obligation given in Genesis 2 to keep the Sabbath. Christ’s finished work on the cross, moreover, abrogated the Mosaic law, and thus the fourth commandment no longer applies to Christians.
< snip >

What would be possible on the Sabbath? Jesus attended synagogue, worshiped God, taught and applied the Scriptures, performed deeds of mercy and encouraged others to do the same, and He no doubt rested from some of His usual labor.

If there is a principle that one day in seven belongs to God, then it should be used to arrest us from our normal pursuits and allow us to devote more attention to God’s Word and work, but Christians are not obligated to observe the Sabbath, nor are they committing apostasy if they exercise their Christian liberty not to observe the Sabbath.

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This article first appeared in the Christian Research Journal, volume 26, number 2 (2003)

[imardmd1]

A doctrine that divides Bible believers.

[wiseprince]

How about worshipping other Gods, false idols and stealing? Also forgone?

[SkyDancer]

Keep the Sabbath? So, Nu, you Jewish?

[Secret Agent Man]

Left has alrewdy abandoned not murdering others.

[BipolarBob]

Sin is transgression of the Law. No law = No Sin. Yiippeee! We can do what we want.

@ Thess. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the Man of Lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

[impactplayer]

Very good - Thanks!
ALL of the old covenant must die that the new covenant may live! For 40 years the two covenants existed side by side, but in the end the old had to pass away for the new. That is why the Temple was destroyed - and why it can never be built again.

[SisterK]

Christ’s finished work on the cross, moreover, abrogated the Mosaic law, and thus the fourth commandment no longer applies to Christians.

Little bit of a difference between the Ten Commandments and the Mosaic Law.

[BipolarBob]

Gen. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

[nothingnew]

I am a Seventh Day Adventist and I have no idea what this guy is talking about...

FMCDH(BITS)

[mountn man]

“Therefore, the law is indeed holy, and the commandment holy and righteous and good . . . For I delight in the law of God” (Romans 7:12, 22)

[imardmd1]

With respect, this issue is about Bible believers, not heathen. God's Full Written Revelation of His Will and their hearts govern their response to the other issues that are considered in the Mosaic Code.

[BipolarBob]

Matt. 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

[mountn man]

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill . . . until the heaven and the earth shall pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no way pass from the Law . . . (Matthew 5)

[.45 Long Colt]

Of course not. They are reiterated in the New Testament. The only one of the Ten Commandments not in the New Testament is the sabbath requirement. Instead we have Colossians 2:16 which tells us not to allow others to pass judgment on us regarding a sabbath day. Christ is the true sabbath. He gives us rest. All that said, I’m a faithful church goer, only not out of obligation or law, but because I want to worship and enjoy the assembly of the saints.

[impactplayer]

Jesus did fulfill (complete) the law, in our place, because we could never do that. Now that the requirements of the law have been fully meant (satisfied) in Jesus, we are fully restored to the position previously held by Adam before the first sin. FULLY RESTORED! Why would the Son of God come for less!

[Phinneous]

How does one “keep” or “guard” or “remember,” the Sabbath (”... to keep it holy...”) cuz it has a death penalty tacked onto it for a violation, right?

[impactplayer]

Exactly! Well said.

[BipolarBob]

I hate to tell you this but Colossians is NOT about the weekly Sabbath. The next verse tells you it is about the law "Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is Christ". The Ten Commandments are not a "shadow". The Mosaic ordinances which foreshadowed Christs coming was. Those were nailed to the Cross. The Ten Commandments were permanent. Wrote in stone, as it were.

[hinckley buzzard]

Jesus of Nazareth was a first century Jew, probably a Pharisee himself, who cast his parables in terms familiar to his audience. Issues of what constituted "work" on the Sabbath was a known topic of debate. The consensus was that acts of mercy were exempt. Rescuing animals, more questionable. But Jesus never overturned the observance of the Sabbath.

[BipolarBob]

Matt 5:17 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 own words says He did NOT come to Abolish the Law. How much plainer does He have to make it?