whitestonepublishing.org/sabbath.doc 02/24/2003
Sabbath OR Sunday ?
Is the Sabbath, the Lord’s day, to be observed ?
Is Sunday “the Lord’s day” ?
Is Sunday to be observed ?
“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike.
Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord;
and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it.” Romans 14
The Old Testament sabbath was the seventh day of the week.
God’s people were bound to keep it holy under the old covenant law. (Exodus 20:8-11)
Were they captives under this old covenant law ?
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;
he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives,
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty them that are bruised,” Luke 4:18
“In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old.
Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 8:13
“21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested,
being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ
unto all and upon all them that believe:” Romans 3:21-22
“For the priesthood being changed,
there is made of necessity a change also of the law.” Hebrews 7:12
“8For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. ” Matthew 12:8
The Old Testament sabbath was the “seventh day of the week”.
The New Testament sabbath is the “seventh day”.
“For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past,
and as a watch in the night.” Psalm 90:4
“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing,
that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years,
and a thousand years as one day.” II Peter 3:8
Is the Sabbath, the Lord’s day, to be observed ? Yes.
Notice: Old Testament sabbath days (plural)
New Testament sabbath day (singular)
Many sacrifices (plural) made by the Old Testament priests.
One sacrifice (singular) made by the high priest of the New Testament.
“for this he did once, when he offered up himself.” Hebrews 7
Christians do not observe the Old Testament sabbath days,
but will certainly observe the New Testament sabbath day,
which is the “millennial reign”, which is “the Lord’s day”, ( “the day of the Lord” )
which will be here very soon. Praise the Lord. Come quickly.
Sunday is the first day of the week.
Is Sunday “the Lord’s day” ?
Does “the Lord’s day” in Revelation 1:10 mean “the day of the Lord” or “Sunday” ?
“9I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation,
and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice,
as of a trumpet, 11Saying,
I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia;
unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira,
and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.” Revelation 1:9-11
Is it Biblical NOT TO have faith that Sunday is “the Lord’s day” ?
“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday,
or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” Colossians 2
Is Sunday to be observed ?
Is it Biblical TO have faith that “Sunday” is “the Lord’s day” ?
“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday,
or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” Colossians 2
If you DO have faith that Sunday is “the Lord’s day”, should you regard it as holy ?
“He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord;” Romans 14 (the Lord is Holy)
Is it OK to call Sunday “the Lord’s day” ?
Yes, if you have faith that Sunday is the Lord’s day
OR
Yes, if you call it “the Lord’s day” as symbolic of Christ’s resurrection,
but it should be known to all that hear that it is not a commandment to keep
but rather a reminder or picture of salvation by grace and not of works under the law.
OTHERWISE
Advice: No –
After having received liberty in Christ, if you appear to observe a weekly holy day,
might you inadvertently extend the stumbling block of keeping the sabbath days ?
Is the keeping of the sabbath days under works or under grace ? Let us have grace.
“9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God,
how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements,
whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.” Galatians 4:9-10
Is it OK to be at church on Sunday if I do not have faith that “Sunday” is a holy day ?
Duh - But know the reason.
“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike.
Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” Romans 14
Should a church only accept donations or offerings on Sunday ?
“2Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store,
as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
3And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.” I Corinthians 16:2-3
upon the first day of “the” week,
NOT upon the first day of “every” week ?
Was this gathering for a specific purpose, to be brought to Jerusalem ?
Were they to bring gatherings to send to Jerusalem on the first day of every week ?
Does any church still lay in store to be brought to Jerusalem ? Who sends for it ?
Did Paul preach on “every” Sunday ?
Should preaching only be done on Sunday ?
“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread,
Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow;
and continued his speech until midnight.” Acts 20:7
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” I Corinthians 3:16
“Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father;
to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1
“2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him,
Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
3But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungered,
and they that were with him; 4How he entered into the house of God, and did eat
the showbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were
with him, but only for the priests? 5Or have ye not read in the law, how that
on the sabbath days
the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
6But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
7But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice,
ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
8For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.” Matthew 12:2-8
The key as to how you should observe the “First Day of the Week” is by being “fully” persuaded in your “own” mind as we are commanded. “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” Romans 14:5
For the benefit of those who are not yet “fully” persuaded,
I will attempt to shed some light on this highly coveted topic.
I say coveted, because covetous pastors, as a general rule,
like to fully persuade you using “their” own mind and are also
likely to exalt the purpose of a “local” church above the purpose
that was given to you by God.
The level of this persuasion on “their” part regarding this topic
is second only to level of persuasion used for the false “tithe” observance.
( This “root of all evil” tithe is a whole other discourse, as is water baptisms. )
I beseech you, Hearken to the very clear words of the Lord.
The Lord instructs you to use your “own mind” to be “fully” persuaded.
You must establish your faith. From Romans 14:23,
“for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”
If you allow any “man”, especially a “modern day” pastor,
to fully persuade you using “their mind”,
are you in obedience to the Lord’s clear command ?
NOTE: “modern day” pastor is generic and not intended to describe a specific person, but a manner.
Assuming you worked it out in your “own mind” and are now content to follow this as a required observance for obedience, I only adjure you to “act” on your persuasion and do not remain “partially” persuaded. Be a doer, not just a hearer.
Even if you are still in the process of being “fully persuaded”, do not be beguiled through guilt.
Does guilt usually come from God or the flesh ? ( I guess this also depends on your lifestyle. )
“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink,
or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:” Colossians 2:16
If you follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, He can fully persuaded you.
Again, once your faith is settled one way or another and you should “act” according to your faith.
“And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith:
for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Romans 14:23
Matthew 11:15 “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Observance of days.
Matthew 13:9 “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Observance of tithing.
Mark 4:23 “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”
Oservance of water baptism.
Mark 7:16 “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”
Are these not foolish ?
“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:1-3
Would I willingly act a fool and observe the “First” day ?
Would I willingly act a fool and give a tithe ?
Would I willingly act a fool and be baptized with water ?
IF it will further the gospel and not be a stumblingblock for those who may enter in,
then YES, I gladly become a fool for Christ’s sake.
This is always a “big” IF.
Romans 14:21-22 “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.”
I Corinthians 8:10-12 “For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.”
What if, through my actions, a man believes he is saved because he observes the “First” day ?
What if, through my actions, a man believes he is saved because he gives a tithe ?
What if, through my actions, a man believes he is saved because he gets baptized with water ?
What if, through any of these, my actions, a man shall perish ? Do I now show love to this man ?
“the Lord’s day” - This phrase is only found once in the entire KJV.
Alternatively, it could be due to using “a” Bible instead of using “the” Bible.
The author also fails to correctly identify the proper “context” of this phrase.
The one and only verse containing the phrase “the Lord’s day” is Revelation 1:10.
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,”
While other verses refer to this day in other sundry ways, there are twenty nine verses
prior to Revelation 1:10, which refer to this day as “the day of the Lord”, and every time,
it refers to the day in which the Lord reigns. Revelation 1:10 is the thirtieth and crowning verse,
which transforms the phrase, exalting it to the fullest possessive form.
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