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Is The Seventh Day The Sabbath—Yes or No?
Part 2, Does It Matter To God?
Part 2 Preview: When is the Christian Sabbath? Which day is the seventh? What day are we supposed to go to “church” or have a Sabbath assembly? Does it matter to Elohim (God) which day we keep? With all the billions of professing Christians in the world studying theology, the answers to these questions should be obvious! With the entirety of Christendom professing to believe the Bible, it should be absolutely impossible for Christianity to overlook Elohim’s appointed day of worship. After all, what could be more basic than to worship the one true Elohim on the correct day? The correct day to worship Elohim is obviously Sunday—or is it? Can billions of people be wrong? Have sincere people been duped into going to “church” on the wrong day? Is it even remotely possible that virtually all of Christendom has been deceived? To even contemplate such a scenario seems absurd—but is it true? Has Christianity, as a whole, fallen victim to one of the most successful hoaxes in history? Who is right—the majority or the minority? Read on to discover the astonishing truth!
What about the new moons? Some people treat them as Sabbaths. What are they all about? The following is a list of verses that mention new moons.
1 Chronicles 23:31 and at every presentation of a burnt offering to the LORD on the Sabbaths and on the New Moons and on the set feasts, by number according to the ordinance governing them, regularly before the LORD ....
2 Chronicles 2:4 Behold, I am building a temple for the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to Him, to burn before Him sweet incense, for the continual showbread, for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, on the New Moons, and on the set feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance forever to Israel.
2 Chronicles 8:13 according to the daily rate, offering according to the commandment of Moses, for the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and the three appointed yearly feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles.
2 Chronicles 31:3 The king also appointed a portion of his possessions for the burnt offerings: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and the New Moons and the set feasts, as it is written in the Law of the LORD.
Ezra 3:5 Afterwards they offered the regular burnt offering, and those for New Moons and for all the appointed feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and those of everyone who willingly offered a freewill offering to the LORD.
Nehemiah 10:33 for the showbread, for the regular grain offering, for the regular burnt offering of the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and the set feasts; for the holy things, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God.
Isaiah 1:13 Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.
Isaiah 1:14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them.
Ezekiel 45:17 Then it shall be the prince’s part to give burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings, at the feasts, the New Moons, the Sabbaths, and at all the appointed seasons of the house of Israel. He shall prepare the sin offering, the grain offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings to make atonement for the house of Israel.
Ezekiel 46:3 Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the entrance to this gateway before the LORD on the Sabbaths and the New Moons.
Hosea 2:11 I will also cause all her mirth to cease, Her feast days, Her New Moons, Her Sabbaths—All her appointed feasts.
So what do new moons have to do with the calendar? The answer is in Genesis:
Genesis 1:14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years.
Here is the clue: signs, seasons, days and years. The new moon was used to mark the calendar. This calendar originated in Israel. Jerusalem was the capital city of that nation. This is the reference point. When the new moon is visible from Jerusalem that signifies the beginning of a new month. How did they determine the beginning of the year? Ancient Israel used the green ears of barley. The Hebrew for “green ears of barley” is Abib.
Exodus 13:4 On this day you are going out, [of Egypt] in the month Abib.
Today, those who want to keep the correct calendar use naturalized (wild) barley found in Jerusalem, which is the same kind that was used in ancient days. Modern varieties are not used because they ripen on a different date than the naturalized variety. In the spring when the barley begins to ripen it develops green ears. The first new moon after the appearance of the green eared barley in Jerusalem is when the New Year begins. For more information regarding God’s calendar go to The Karaite Korner. This is a Jewish web site of a minority sect that seeks to observe the original Torah teachings. Unfortunately they don’t realize that Jesus is their Messiah. However, they do reject “improvements to” God’s calendar. Most Jews observe the Hillel 2 calendar, which was invented in the fourth century under threat of death by the Romans. This is not the calendar to use—in fact God hates it. By altering the calendar one, by default, loses track of the correct dates for the Holy Days to be celebrated. God has appointed their starting times. If man decides to change the Holy Day’s starting times by using a new calendar, then those days are not God’s days, they are man’s days. The following verses depict God’s thoughts on this matter:
Isaiah 1:13-14 Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them.
If one observes God’s Holy Days, one must observe them the way God instructs or He won’t be pleased. The same is true with the Sabbath. One can either decide to observe God’s appointed Sabbath or man’s appointed day—Sunday. In regard to Isaiah 1:13–14, which day pleases God?
Additionally some argue that the Sabbath was a shadow of things to come and that Christ was the one who cast that shadow. When He died for our sins and was resurrected He fulfilled its meaning. Consequently, He changed the day of worship to Sunday upon His resurrection. This is not the case as explained earlier. Colossians 2:16 cannot be truthfully used to justify switching the Sabbath from the seventh day of the week to the first day. It is the Holy days and the Feast days that are being addressed in this verse. Each of these days has very specific meanings. They are “a shadow of things to come” because outside of the Old Covenant Passover and the New Covenant Passover, which I prefer to call the Messiah’s Feast, rather than the Lord’s supper, none of God’s Holy Days have been completely fulfilled. This is true even for the Days of Unleavened Bread, which is about Israel’s exodus and deliverance from sin and slavery. A much bigger end time fulfillment of this day will happen in the future. The Holy Days represent specific events that will happen at the appointed time in God’s master plan. When it says, “the substance belongs to Christ” it is true. Christ is going to make sure that the substance and meaning of these Holy Days happen. When He makes the purpose of these Days come to pass they will no longer be a shadow of things to come because the events represented by these days will be accomplished by Jesus the Christ!
For more information on the Sacred Days read: Israel’s Sacred Days
The Spin (Yea but No. 7):
“The early Christian church kept the first day of the week.”
Acts 20:7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
The Truth (No.7):
To use Acts 20:7, as proof of Sunday observance is a very weak argument! All one has to do is read the chapter and one can determine that it is not the case. Here is the context:
Acts 20:1-12 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. 2 Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece 3 and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him, as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia–also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. 5 These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas. 6 But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days. 7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. 9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” 11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.
Reading the context, we can see that Paul spent a little time in one city and then left to go to the next city. When he came to Troas he only spent seven days there. Does that mean he spent six days twiddling his thumbs waiting for Sunday to finally get here so he could break bread with the brethren and discuss scripture? I really don’t think so. I would surmise that he broke bread with the brethren and shared scripture with them throughout the whole week—along with observing the Sabbath on its God appointed day. Now the first day of the week was the last day of his stay. Who knows when Paul would return so he stayed extra late that night discussing scripture. Now here is why this first day of the week account gets mentioned in the Bible. A young man named Eutychus went into a deep sleep and fell three stories to his death. Paul used his God given gift of healing to resurrect him from the dead! After all, look at the first six verses of the chapter. He went to several different cities and stayed in Greece for three months. His entire journey to all of those cities spanned at least a three-month period, and had less press coverage than one day in Troas. This day was recorded not because Paul over stepped his authority and declared Sunday to be the new day of rest. This day was documented because a man died and was resurrected. Now that is news!
The Spin (Yea but No.8):
“Yes, the early church did keep the first day of the week and it is recorded right here in John 20:19. “Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, Peace be with you.” Here is proof they kept Sunday as the Sabbath.”
The Truth (No.8):
This verse cannot be used to support Sunday as being the day of rest. Let’s read the context:
John 20:11-21 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. 19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Here is the scenario. It is three days and several hours ago since Christ was crucified. On the first day of the week the Apostles and disciples were not in the temple but were hiding in a building with the door shut in fear of the Jews. The main purpose was to hide from the Jews—it was not to worship God on Sunday! After Christ greeted Mary, already wide-awake early in the morning, He went to see His Father. Upon coming back to earth He visited the Apostles and by the time He met with them He had been resurrected for almost a day. By the way, as mentioned earlier, Mary and other women went to the tomb, after the Sabbath and early in the morning to find the tomb empty. Christ was resurrected on the Sabbath perhaps even on the very last second of the seventh day and not on Sunday morning. This subject will be addressed in detail later.
The Spin (Yea but. No.9):
“Paul instructed the Corinthians to make contributions to the churches “on the first day of he week,” which is Sunday. This is because the primary day of Christian worship is Sunday. (I Corinthians 16:2)”
The Truth (No. 9):
I Corinthians 16:1-4 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: on the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come, and when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.
I wish I could read the specifics of the orders he gave in Galatia, but they did not make it into the Bible. It is an enormous assumption to determine from this text that because they were contributing food “for the saints” (not for the ministry), due to a famine on that first day of the week that they kept Sunday as their day of rest! It is interesting to note that Paul did not want the collections taken when he arrived. When he observed the Sabbath, he did not pass the hat to the congregation. Rather than trying to twist this scripture to mean Sunday keeping, can we actually find an example of the day Paul observed?
Acts 17:1-3 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”
It was Paul’s custom to observe the Sabbath and reason from the Scriptures. (I can picture Paul reasoning “with” a scroll). Most of scriptures used in the attempt to support Sunday keeping come from Paul’s writings. Since it was Paul’s custom to keep the Sabbath, he naturally never taught anything contrary to this belief. Every scripture used to support Sunday as becoming the new Sabbath has been distorted from its true meaning.
2 Peter 3:16 It is the untaught and unstable people who twist Paul’s epistles to their own destruction.
The Spin (Yea but No. 10):
“Paul tells us the real purpose of the entire Ten Commandments.”
Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
The Truth (No 10):
These verses are twisted to show that the Sabbath, the Law, and the Ten Commandments are either elementary or obsolete.
Let’s see what Christ had to say about the Ten Commandments:
Matthew 5:17-19 Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Since this verse uses the word “fulfill”, and since so many people teach that “fulfill” means “nullify”, let’s consider how the word is defined from the Greek:
“Fulfill” is defined as: 1) to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full.
By the way, Christ did not “destroy” the Law, the Ten Commandments, the statutes, and the judgments as so many teach, rather He made the Law even more significant!
Since there are also misconceptions about what “destroy” means, the following definition is included:
“Destroy” is defined as: [1b) metaph. to overthrow i.e. render vain, deprive of success, bring to naught 1b1) to subvert, overthrow]
Christ did not do any of the above defined things to the Law!
The Ten Commandments are not only a part of the Old Covenant. They will be a part of the New Covenant, which is still to come. It is very dangerous business to twist God’s law as the Sunday keeper’s teachers do. Read this warning and heed it well!
The Spin (Yea but No.11):
Matthew 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.
“This is why the Sabbath is not a part of the New Covenant. Seventh Day Adventists cannot answer this point.”
The Truth (No.11):
I am not a Seventh Day Adventist so let’s see if I can respond to it. Let’s read the next verse.
Luke 16:17 It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail” The Law was not abolished. It will always exist.
The Spin (Yea But no. 12)
John 5:7-12 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.
“Jesus had him break the fourth commandment by having him work on the Sabbath. Moreover, He also had him break the specific command not to carry a load on the Sabbath.
Jeremiah 17:21-24 Thus says the LORD: Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; 22 “nor carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. 23 “But they did not obey nor incline their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear nor receive instruction.24 “And it shall be, if you heed Me carefully,” says the LORD, to bring no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work in it.
“The Jews were right that the law, as given in the Old Testament was broken. Therefore since Christ had the man walk on the Sabbath carrying his bed the Sabbath is hereby nullified.”
The Truth (No.12):
Who is Lord of the Sabbath?
Matthew 12:8 For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.
Mark 2:28 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.
Luke 6:5 And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath”.
Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, is the Being who enforces the rules concerning the Sabbath. Since He instructed a man to carry his bed, should we automatically have the knee jerk conclusion that Christ just threw the Sabbath into the trashcan? The Pharisees of Christ’s day made the Sabbath oppressive! They made many do and don’t rules that God never intended to be a part of the Sabbath. They made rules on how far one could walk in a day. Some Jews today, following in this example, even pre tear their toilet paper before the Sabbath–not doing so would be working. Let’s remember Titus 1:14 “not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.” The Pharisees always despised Christ for healing on the Sabbath:
Luke 13:14 & 15 But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?
It is perfectly fine to do good deeds on the Sabbath, as Christ did in healing the sick. It was no more a sin for the newly healed man to carry his bed back home than it was for the Pharisees to loose their ox and water it. Nor was it a sin for the disciples to harvest a hand full of grain to eat on the Sabbath:
Matthew 12:1-9 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!” 3 But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 “how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 “Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6 “Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. 7 “But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 “For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue.”
Rather than siding with the Pharisees and concluding that Christ threw out the Sabbath by telling him to carry his bed and walk. Why not ponder the question and delve deeper into the Bible and find out what the answer is. This is a good rule to always follow when one finds an apparent contradiction. The contradiction is not with the Bible but with one’s understanding of it.
Now let’s examine what Jeremiah said:
Jeremiah 17:21 Thus says the LORD: Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem.
This verse is true but what does it mean? Moreover, what was happening in Judah to cause the Lord, through Jeremiah, to make this statement?
Jeremiah made it very plain what was going on in Judah:
Jeremiah 11:1-5 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 3 “and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel: “Cursed is the man who does not obey the words of this covenant 4 “which I commanded your fathers in the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and do according to all that I command you; so shall you be My people, and I will be your God,’ “That I may establish the oath which I have sworn to your fathers, to give them ‘a land flowing with milk and honey,’ as it is this day.” And I answered and said, “So be it, LORD.
There are five important points to notice. First, Judah played the harlot and turned her back on God. She forgot her agreement with Him. The Ten Commandments were the cornerstone of their covenant (actually marriage).
Second, Judah was even worshiping a pagan god:
Jeremiah 17:2 While their children remember their altars and their wooden images by the green trees on the high hills.
Third, Judah worshiping a false god could not possibly observe the Sabbath commandment even if they worshiped their pagan god on the seventh day.
Fourth, unless Judah repented quickly they would end up in captivity.
Fifth, God did not want this to happen. That is why God sent Jeremiah to Jerusalem to plead with Judah.
Verses 19 through 27 show how Jeremiah was pleading with anybody who would listen to keep the Sabbath. This is why God, through Jeremiah, preached “bears no burden on the Sabbath.” Judah was treating the Sabbath like any other day of the week. They were working at their jobs earning money. They forgot their God! Read the account for yourself .in Jeremiah chapter 17.
Jeremiah 17:19-27 Thus the LORD said to me: “Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, by which the kings of Judah come in and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem; 20 “and say to them, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter by these gates. 21 ‘Thus says the LORD: “Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; 22 “nor carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. 23 “But they did not obey nor incline their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear nor receive instruction. 24 “And it shall be, if you heed Me carefully,” says the LORD, “to bring no burden through the gates of this city [i.e. to sell] on the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work in it, 25 “then shall enter the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, accompanied by the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall remain forever. 26 “And they shall come from the cities of Judah and from the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin and from the lowland, from the mountains and from the South, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and incense, bringing sacrifices of praise to the house of the LORD. “But if you will not heed Me to hallow the Sabbath day, such as not carrying a burden when entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
Therefore, when the recently healed man carried his bed he was not violating the command in Jeremiah 17:21-24. This command is prohibiting working on the Sabbath—conducting business. Moreover, the consequences for breaking the Sabbath were very grave!
The Spin (Yea but No. 13):
“What ever the church binds on Earth is bound in heaven. Since the resurrection, Mass has been primarily observed on Sunday:
Matthew 16: 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
“The church is to hold fast to apostolic tradition, whether it is oral or written. The 2,000-year-old tradition of the Church is that the apostles changed the Sabbath day of worship from Saturday to Sunday.”
2 Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
The Truth (No. 13):
Did the “Church” or the Apostles have the authority to veto God?
Deuteronomy 4:2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Was Christ ever a rebellious son who tried to usurp authority from His Father and trash the Commandments?
John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
What does the Bible specifically say about binding and loosing?
Matthew 18:15 Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 “But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’17 “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. 18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.
Binding and loosing has nothing to do with picking and choosing what part of God’s law one wants to observe. It has to do with relationships between men. God never intended for man’s decisions to trump His own.
What about tradition?
Tradition is not something to be blindly accepted. If the tradition was actually taught by Christ and his disciples it is good. Any “Church” tradition that compromises any of the commandments is evil! The following verses show what Christ thought about tradition. They are specifically directed toward the Pharisees, but their intent can apply to any group that meddles with the Commandments.
Matthew 15:2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
Matthew 15:3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
Matthew 15:6 ... ‘then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
Mark 7:3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.
Mark 7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”
Mark 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”
Mark 7:9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.
Mark 7:13 ... making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.
1 Peter 1:18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers ....
The Spin (Yea but No. 14):
“John specifically pointed out that he witnessed the heavenly Eucharistic liturgy on Sunday, the Lords day, the new day of rest in Christ.”
Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet ....
The Truth (No 14):
The apostrophe (’) shows ownership. If one is ever in doubt about whether or not to use an apostrophe, then use the “of ” test.
Examples: Joe’s wife means the wife of Joe. Jim’s car means car of Jim. The Lord’s Day means the Day of the Lord.
Does this mean the Lord owns Sunday and that it is a day of rest? Let’s see how the Bible defines the Day of the Lord:
Acts 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come.
1 Corinthians 5:5 To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
Joel 2: 1-2 Blow the trumpet in Zion and sound an alarm in My holy mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord is coming, for it is at hand: a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, like the morning clouds spread over the mountains.
Joel 2:11 ... the day of the Lord is great and very terrible: Who can endure it?
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Does mainstream Christianity really want to argue that the Lord’s day is a happy day of rest? This is a day of war, fire, darkness, and gloominess! The entire book of Revelation describes the Day of the Lord. Read about the seven trumpets and the seven bowls. The people who will experience these plagues will not be resting they will be anguishing! For example, men will get loathsome sores, the sea will turn to blood, men will be scorched, there will be darkness and pain, the Euphrates River will dry up, and the Earth will be utterly shaken, etc. Does this seem like a Sunday keeping happy day to you? For more information about the Lord’s Day read: The Great and Awesome Day of the Lord.
The Spin (Yea but No. 15):
“Both Matthew 28:1 and Mark 16:2-9 reveal that the Gospel writers purposely reveal Jesus’ resurrection and appearances were on Sunday. This event made Sunday the most important day in a Christian’s life. Christ’s resurrection on Sunday morning gave the church the authority to ordain Sunday as the Sabbath.”
The Truth (No.15):
Aspects of this argument have been mentioned throughout this essay. However, since this doctrinal theory holds the sole authority for switching the Sabbath to Sunday, complete analysis of this erroneous doctrine is crucial!
Now let’s analyze Mark 16, the main question that needs to be asked when studying this chapter is exactly when was Christ resurrected? Sunday keepers say it is Sunday. Is this the case? An objective examination of the scriptures will reveal the answer.
Mark 16:1-14 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. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher AT THE RISING OF THE SUN. 3 and they said among themselves, who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher? 4 and when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. 5 And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6 And he saith unto them, be not affrighted: ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. 8 and they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulcher; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. 9 now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 and they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. 12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. 14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen {at meat: or, together}
Here is the scenario. After the Sabbath, on the first day of the week, while the dawning sun was beginning to rise, the two Marys went to Christ’s tomb (John 20:1 clarifies that it was still dark). She found an Angel in his tomb, but not Christ. The angel said, “He is not here. He is risen” Notice that the Angel did not say: “Watch and see Him rise!” Christ was resurrected late Sabbath evening!
Need additional proof? Can Sunday keepers count to three? What was the only sign that Christ gave as proof of His being the Messiah?
Matthew 12:38-40 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, an evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Three days and three nights, that is three twenty four-hour periods or 72 hours. Is it possible to squeeze 72 hours between Good Friday to Sunday morning? No, it is not mathematically possible. Christ did not die on a Friday and He was not resurrected on a Sunday morning!
When did Christ die? He was crucified on the preparation day for the Passover and was buried just before the Old Covenant Passover began. Who is our Passover?
1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Let’s analyze the text:
John 19:25-42 & 20:1 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. 31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” 38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. 39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby. 1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark.
Verses 31 and 42 reveal the proof that Christ was crucified on the preparation day. This particular preparation day was used to get ready for the Annual Sabbath Day. This was not a weekly Sabbath it was a Feast day.
Matthew 26:2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
The phrase “Feast of the Passover” includes the Feast of Unleavened bread, which followed immediately after the Passover. The Jews wanted all three crucified victims to be dead before the Passover began. Therefore they decided to break the victims legs. Christ was already dead, so they did not break his legs. Joseph and Nicodemus buried Christ just before Passover began. Passover was on Wednesday. Passover would begin at sunset. Let’s count to three. Wednesday sunset to Thursday sunset is one day. Thursday sunset to Friday sunset is two days. Friday sunset to Saturday sunset is three days. Christ was buried shortly before sunset three days previously. Therefore, Christ was resurrected shortly before sunset on the Sabbath—perhaps on the very last second. He was not awakened on Sunday morning. Christ said that He would be in the “heart of the earth” for three days and three nights. If Christ, being buried on Wednesday, spent any more than 72 hours in the grave, it would make Him a liar! Christ has never lied! Moreover, to claim that Christ was buried on Friday and resurrected on Sunday morning also makes Christ out to be an imposter because that is only a day and a half. Jesus’ prophecy and strongest proof of His being the Messiah (Luke 11:29-30) holds true.
Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The fact that there was a major controversy over circumcision is very telling! This was a minor point in the Law, yet it became such a large and divisive issue that all of the Apostles were called to the Jerusalem Conference to settle the matter. The very fact that there is not any controversy mentioned in the New Testament about the Sabbath speaks volumes in its silence. The Sabbath is a major point in the Law. It is part of the big ten. Yet there is not one single accusation recorded in the Bible charging Christ or the Apostles of observing the wrong day. As willing as the Pharisees were to trump up charges against Christ and the Apostles, they certainly would not have over looked such a massive infraction of the Law! They most likely would have caused a riot over the change and sought to kill the Apostles all the more!
Fifteen different arguments against the Sabbath have been cited. The fallacies of each of those arguments have been thoroughly explained. Can Sunday keepers come up with even more excuses? Yes they can. It was never my intention to refute every frivolous argument. It is my hope that after studying these explanations as to why their doctrines are wrong, that you will now have the ability to see through their arguments yourself. The main rule is to read the Bible and study the context. If there are verses that seem to conflict with each other, then study further to find the answers. The conflict will be in your understanding. The conflict will not be with the Bible. I recommend that you get a Bible program for your computer. It makes looking up verses so much easier! Let’s be Bereans and be fair-minded and receive the word with all readiness and search the scriptures daily to see whether these things are so! It is important to note the wording of the fourth commandment in Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” God, through his infinite wisdom, knew in advance that of all of the Ten Commandments, the one that mankind would want to ignore the most would be the Sabbath commandment. That is why it is expressly written to remember it. The English word “remember” is correctly translated from the Hebrew word Zaw-kar’ which means: “to remember, recall, and call to mind”. Christianity, as a whole, wants to forget the Sabbath commandment. We are commanded to remember it! Is the Seventh Day the Sabbath true or false? The answer is true! The minority is right!
When is Sunset in your US Zip Code? Click the sunset. (US Naval Observatory Site)
Notable Quotes:
Peter R. Kraemer- Catholic Church Extension Society (1975), Chicago, Illinois. “Regarding the change from the observance of the Jewish Sabbath to the Christian Sunday, I wish to draw your attention to the facts:
1) “That Protestants, who accept the Bible as the only rule of faith and religion, should by all means go back to the observance of the Sabbath. The fact that they do not, but on the contrary observe the Sunday, stultifies them in the eyes of every thinking man.”
2) “We Catholics do not accept the Bible as the only rule of faith. Besides the Bible we have the living Church, the authority of the Church, as a rule to guide us. We say, this Church, instituted by Christ to teach and guide man through life, has the right to change the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament and hence, we accept her change of the Sabbath to Sunday. We frankly say, yes, the Church made this change, made this law, as she made many other laws, for instance, the Friday abstinence, the unmarried priesthood, the laws concerning mixed marriages, the regulation of Catholic marriages and a thousand other laws”.
“It is always somewhat laughable, to see the Protestant churches, in pulpit and legislation, demand the observance of Sunday, of which there is nothing in their Bible.” Peter Geiermann, C.S.S.R., The Converts Catechism of Catholic Doctrine Third Edition) 1).
“Question: Which is the Sabbath day”? Answer: “Saturday is the Sabbath day”. 2) “Question: Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday”? Answer. “We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church in the Council of Laodicea, transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.” Martin J. Scott- Things Catholics Are Asked About (1927)
“Question: Which is the Sabbath day? Answer: Saturday is the Sabbath day. Question: Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday? Answer: We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church in the Council of Laodicea transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.” —Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine by Reverend Peter Giermann
“The Catholic Church, ... by virtue of her divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday.” -The Catholic Mirror, official publication of James Cardinal Gibbons, Sept. 23, 1893 The Catholic Press said, “Sunday is a Catholic institution, and its claims to observation can be defended only on Catholic principles.... From beginning to end of Scripture there is not a single passage that warrants the transfer of week public worship from the last day of the week to the first.”- CATHOLIC PRESS, (Sydney, Australia), Aug. 25, 1900.
James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore (1877-1921), in a signed letter.“Is Saturday the seventh day according to the Bible and the Ten Commandments? I answer yes. Is Sunday the first day of the week and did the Church change the seventh day-Saturday-for Sunday, the first day? I answer yes. Did Christ change the day? I answer no!” Faithfully yours, J. Card. Gibbons”
