Showing posts with label sabbath. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sabbath. Show all posts

Thursday, March 18, 2010

"No hunting on Sunday"

http://www.lcg.org/cgi-bin/tw/commentary/tw-comm.cgi?category=Commentary1&item=1268862523

As a sportsman, I was disappointed when, upon moving to North Carolina, I encountered the “Sunday law.”  No deer hunting on Sunday.  Period.  As a Sabbath-keeper, this has brought me no little consternation!  I will not hunt on Saturday, and according to the laws of the State, I may not hunt on Sunday.  That leaves Monday through Friday – not ideal for getting in quality hunting time.


But far beyond my own personal pain, this brings up a bigger question:  “Why rest on Sunday at all?”  Most Christians believe that “Sunday rest” originated in the Bible.  What honest truth-seekers are shocked to find is there is absolutely no biblical command to rest on Sunday.  None.  So, why do some rest on Sunday if the Bible doesn’t command it?

Good question.

The answer is right in front of our faces.  In fact, the newspaper in our hometown recently ran a story, “Pray or play?” with the answer.  On page 8E of the article, the editors reproduced the widely recognized edict by the Roman emperor Constantine in 321ad.  It reads thus:
On the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed.  In the country, however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits because it often happens that another day is not suitable for grain-sowing or vine planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost (The Charlotte Observer, January 10, 2009).
So, where did “rest on Sunday” come from?  A Roman emperor?  Certainly not the Bible.  In fact, if we honestly look at Scripture, the only day ever spoken of as a rest day is the seventh.  Take a look at a few examples:
“Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest” (Exodus 31:15).
“The seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it” (Leviticus 23:3).
“The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work” (Deuteronomy 5:14).
Interestingly, resting on the seventh day of the week was commanded as a way of following God’s exampleHe rested on day seven after the six days of Creation.  Christians who observe the weekly Sabbath – by worshipping and resting – are acknowledging the Creation many millennia ago!
“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God … For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:9-11).
So, which day do you rest on?  We challenge you to ask yourself “Why?”  Is it because of tradition, traced back to the edict of an unconverted Roman Emperor?  Or do you obey what you find written in your Bible?  (For additional help in your study, be sure to read our free booklet, Which Day is the Christian Sabbath?)

Sabbath-keeping is actually the wave of the future!  The book of Isaiah foretells a coming day when all nations will observe God’s Holy Days, including the weekly Sabbath.  That prophecy is found in Isaiah:
“‘And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,’ says the Lord” (Isaiah 66:23).
I’m looking forward to that day, when people everywhere will worship – and enjoy the revitalizing rest of the Sabbath – together in harmony and unity.

Until then, you may find me hunting on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday  –  but not on Saturday.

And – at least in North Carolina – never on Sunday.

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Remember the Sabbath
Did you ever stop to think why Christians keep Sunday? Did they get it from the Bible? Is there a clear-cut command that says, "Thou shalt keep Sunday?" Why did Jesus worship on Saturday? Was it only because He was a good Jew? Or does it go beyond that?

Roman Catholic and Protestant Confessions about Sunday
The vast majority of Christian churches today teach the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, as a time for rest and worship. Yet it is generally known and freely admitted that the early Christians observed the seventh day as the Sabbath. How did this change come about?

http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Friday, November 20, 2009

Fascinating Sabbath Read

Re: Random Thoughts
Friday, November 20, 2009
It’s been one of those weeks. People who don’t know the Sabbath might look forward to their weekends, but I honestly believe only a few of them can really relate to the relief of coming to the end of a really hectic week. A relief because in just over 24 hours, I will be with God’s people again, worshiping and putting most everyday concerns out of my mind. When you don’t know God, it’s hard to relate to the blessing that is the Sabbath.

Read more...

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Perhaps you would find Origins of Life by Gerald Schroeder a fascinating read this Sabbath. The Torah-observant Jew and MIT scientist helps to reveal how our Great Creator God had "wisdom" inherent in His Creation from the beginning to know which way to go and what to do, etc.

Shabbat Shalom/Sabbath peace,

David Ben-Ariel

Monday, November 9, 2009

Remember the Sabbath!

Did you ever stop to think why Christians keep Sunday? Did they get it from the Bible? Is there a clear-cut command that says, "Thou shalt keep Sunday?" Why did Jesus worship on Saturday? Was it only because He was a good Jew? Or does it go beyond that? Does it make any difference which day we observe, as long as we keep one day in seven? What does the Bible actually say? "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day....Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all the work He had created and made" (Gen. 2:2- 3).

Which day is the Christian Sabbath? Go grab a calendar. See which day is the seventh day and then you'll know the biblical Sabbath. And remember, GOD GAVE MANKIND the gift of the Sabbath from creation. Adam and Eve weren't Jewish! And yet God expected them to remember the seventh day Sabbath as a memorial of creation.

When we assemble on our God-given Sabbath, we know we're worshipping the King of Creation. Any other "sabbath" is simply man-made. The Great Creator God only blessed the seventh day with His Presence, and therefore set it apart as special. We shouldn't accept any cheap imitations or substitutes, whether it's the Muslim Friday or traditional Sunday.

Since mankind lost or neglected the truth about God's Sabbath, the Creator chose to reveal it again when He was in the process of making Israel into His Servant-Nation. God instructed them, in order that they could teach others: "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work.... For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it" (Ex. 20:8-11).

Notice: God claims the Sabbath as His. He doesn't refer to it as the "Jewish Sabbath." Though it became known as that to distinguish it from the various pagan days of worship (Ga. 4:10). "The Lord's day" was meant for all mankind to enjoy and appreciate (Matt. 12:8; Isa. 56:6). And the early Church, composed of both Jews and Gentiles, did celebrate the proper Sabbath together for over THREE HUNDRED YEARS! That's longer than the U.S. has known independence.

When God restored the Sabbath to Israel, it was the same seventh day Sabbath instituted at Creation. It wasn't changed to a different day. And its purpose remained the same: to reveal the CREATOR and commemorate His majestic works of art.

Jesus honored His Father by keeping God's commandments. The fourth commandment is to remember the Sabbath day. Christ didn't forget the importance of attending Sabbath services (Luke 4:16) - NEVER ON A SUNDAY- and the apostle Paul encourages us to avoid the habit of skipping Church services (Heb. 10:25). After all, it is a commanded assembly (Lev. 23:3) that offers us a chance to better understand the Scriptures (Acts 19:8). Why miss out?

As well as reminding us of God's awesome ability, the Sabbath is a memorial of Israel's deliverance from Egypt (Deut. 5:15). It also foreshadows our future redemption from European tyranny and portrays our ongoing deliverance from sin (Isa. 14:3; Ga. 5:1). The plagues God sent against Egypt identified Him as the Creator God: the One who could control the forces of nature and intervene in the affairs of nations. When God pours out the seven last plagues on Europe's Babylonish system, bringing it to its knees, it'll reveal Him alone as the Most High God and Holy Father (Dan. 2:44; Rev. 14:7).

The Sabbath day, a memorial of creation and Israel's liberation, reminds us relief from sin is coming. We'll finally be able to rest from temptation and enjoy righteousness (II Pet. 3:13). When we're truly born again we'll be free from sin; it'll be a thing of the past (1 John 3:9). This serenity awaits us in the Promised Land of God's Kingdom (Heb. 4:1- 11). God is reproducing Himself - Christ in us - and will add the "finishing touch" at our resurrection (Rom. 8:21-23).
Jesus cut through all the red tape of entangling human traditions, and kept the Sabbath day as God intended (Mark 7:7). Yet it was prophesied that some would tamper with how and when we're to observe God's Sabbath day, and forcibly attempt to replace it with their own (Dan. 7:25; Rev. 17:5).

This Sabbath question is destined to become a bloody issue again (Rev. 13:17; 14:13). But for those who really want to know the truth, God's entrusted the Jews to keep the knowledge of the true Sabbath day (Rom. 9:4). And the Jews don't worship on Sunday! They follow the biblical practice of celebrating the Sabbath: from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. God even pronounces a blessing on everyone who's properly keeping the Sabbath just before Christ's return, despite political pressure to do otherwise (Isa. 56:1-2).

Why not take time out to get to know God? Although He enjoys our contact daily, God's set aside every seventh day as a special opportunity to learn more about Him and life. Don't settle for counterfeits or attempt to adopt days copied from others (Deut. 12:30).

God's reserved the Sabbath day for His People. It was a regular part of Jesus' life and the early Church's custom. In fact, all the righteous priests and prophets, patriarchs and kings, throughout biblical history, have kept God's holy Sabbath. Why not follow their example? Don't forget!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

The Sabbath remains the same

Shabbat Shalom!
That's Hebrew for "Sabbath Peace." The seventh day Sabbath starts from Friday sunset and lasts until Saturday sunset, just as it always has since God created it from the Beginning! Here's an article to give you some kosher food for thought on this holy subject:

Remember the Sabbath
Did you ever stop to think why Christians keep Sunday? Did they get it from the Bible? Is there a clear-cut command that says, "Thou shalt keep Sunday?" Why did Jesus worship on Saturday? Was it only because He was a good Jew? Or does it go beyond that?


http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Constantine or Christ? Sabbath or SUNday?

"On the venerable day of the Sun [SUNday] let the Magistrates and the people residing in the cities rest, and let all workshops be closed."
Edict of Constantine A.D. 321


I have yet to be shown any historical record of such a command regarding Saturn day. It's evident to honest observers that those who foolishly continue to follow Constantine and keep pagan SUNday, rather than follow Christ and keep the holy Sabbath, also swallow hook, line and sinker pagan Easter and pagan Christmas (and other unclean doctrines of idolatrous men) like the spiritual drunks and whores they are, inviting disaster upon our nations.

Constantine or Christ? Sabbath or SUNday? What a choice!

Plea to Diehard Catholics & Protestants to Repent

Friday, March 6, 2009

Why Do You Observe Sunday?

Why Do You Observe Sunday?

We have been reared in a Sunday-observing world.
Naturally, we have taken Sunday-observances for granted. Naturally, the idea of a different day as the true Sabbath-day strikes us as fanatical and absurd.
Yet today some are telling us SATURDAY is the right day. They insist the SEVENTH day is the only day the Bible anywhere commands us to keep. They even claim we are sinning-that we have the "Mark of the Beast" and shall suffer the seven last plagues-if we observe Sunday instead of keeping the seventh day.

Many False Prophets

Jesus warned that many false prophets would appear, deceiving many. So what is the TRUTH? How can we know?
Let all remember each of us shall stand before the judgment-seat of Christ! We shall be JUDGED, not by our sincerity in what we have always believed thru careless assumption, nor by our sincerity in following some NEW teaching without proof! We shall be judged by the BIBLE, God's Word!

How to PROVE the Truth

"All Scripture," we read in II Tim. 3:16, "is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction." Again, the command to us is, "PROVE ALL THINGS."
We must be willing to be corrected, if wrong. We must be careful not to be blown about "with every wind of doctrine." We must free our minds of all prejudice.
We must be able and willing to study BOTH sides honestly, laying our ideas and desires on the shelf, prayerfully asking God for guidance.
If we already are right, honest investigation will but confirm it.
If we are WRONG, we should want to know it. And we shall quickly, willingly, as a little child accept the TRUTH as God reveals it, whatever that truth may be, if our hearts are right with Him! Perhaps this very study may be the TEST!
On the following pages is a brief, terse, outline of ONE PHASE of this many-sided question. Explanation of other phases, answering other questions that may come up, will be supplied on request.
These three facts are self-evident.
(1) Sunday is the first day of the week. See any calendar, dictionary, or encyclopedia. Is it, then, by BIBLE authority, "the Christian Sabbath," or truly the "Lord's Day," as it is popularly called today?
(2) Jesus kept the SABBATH (Luke 4:16). It was His custom. The Sabbath He kept was the same day of the week the Jews observed, for the minister and congregation were all in the synagogue (verse 20), and the Pharisees continually rebuked Jesus for healing on the Sabbath day.
(3) The Sabbath Jesus kept was the seventh day of the week. Three days after His crucifixation, this Sabbath still was the day before the first day of the week (Mat. 28:1). Therefore it was not just any day in seven, it was the seventh day of the week. See also Luke 23:56 and 24:1.
...BUT,
...was the day CHANGED by Christ or the apostles, after this, to the first day of the week so that Sunday is now the New Testament Christian Sabbath?
...does the NEW TESTAMENT someplace show us that SUNDAY is the true Lord's Day and command Christians to observe it?
LET US SEE!

Is "Sunday" Mentioned in the New Testament?

This change could not be made-a different day, the FIRST day of the week, could not be established by New Testament BIBLE authority, except in some text or texts employing the phrase "first day of the week," or the word "Sunday."
The word "Sunday" does not appear any place in the Bible.
But the phrase "first day of the week" is found in the New Testament. It occurs in exactly EIGHT places. So it will not take long to examine these eight texts employing this phrase.
IF the day was changed by BIBLE authority,-if Christians are to find any BIBLE AUTHORITY whatsoever for observing Sunday as the "Lord's Day" today, then we must find that authority in one of these eight texts!
Let us acknowledge at the outset, since the seventh day of the week is clearly established as the Bible Sabbath up until the time of the Cross, that there can be no BIBLE AUTHORITY for Sunday observance unless we find it clearly and plainly stated in one of these eight New Testament passages.
So let us examine them carefully, honestly, prayerfully.

The Day AFTER Sabbath

(1) Matthew 28:1: "In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre." This is the first place in the Bible where "the first day of the week" is mentioned. Matthew wrote these words, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, many years after the New Testament Church came into being. The text says that late on the Sabbath day it was drawing TOWARD the first day of the week. So this Scripture, we must admit, tells us plainly that three days and three nights after all that was done away had been securely "nailed to the Cross," the Sabbath was still the day BEFORE the first day of the week-still the seventh day of the week.
One point is here plainly proved. Many tell us that the Sabbath command was merely for "one day in seven"-that it did not have to be THE seventh day of the week, but merely the seventh part of time. They argue that Sunday, being one day out of seven, fulfills the command. But here is a passage in the NEW Testament, inspired by the Holy Spirit many years after the beginning of the NEW Testament Church, stating in plain language that, three days after all abolished things had been done away, the Sabbath still existed and that it was the seventh day of THE WEEK-the day before the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK. That much is proved, and must remain settled for all who honestly seek and accept BIBLE authority. But, was the day changed later?
(2) Mark 16:2: "And very early in the morning THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun." This is merely Mark's version of the sunrise visit to the tomb. It was written several years after the crucifixion. The first day of the week, also, was "AFTER the Sabbath was PAST," according to verse 1. So this text proves the same thing as the one above-that the first day of the week was not at that time (three days after the crucifixion) the Sabbath, but the day AFTER the Sabbath. The Sabbath, then, still was the SEVENTH day of the week.

A Common Work Day

(3) Mark 16:9: "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." This text speaks of Jesus' appearance to Mary Magdalene later the same day,-the day AFTER the Sabbath.
Nothing here calls the first day of the week the Christian Sabbath, we must admit. Nothing here calls it "The Lord's Day." Nothing here hallows Sunday or says God made it holy. Nothing here commands us to observe it. Nothing here sets it apart as a memorial of the Resurrection, or for any purpose. No command or example of REST on this day-no authority for observing Sunday here.
(4) Luke 24:1: "Now UPON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing their spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them."
This text tells again the same event recorded by Matthew and Mark, and it shows that on THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK these women came to do the work of a common week-day, AFTER having rested the Sabbath day "according to the commandment." For we read, in the verse just before this, "And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment." Shall we say these women did not yet know the commandment was abolished? No, we cannot, for this statement was not made by the women, but inspired by the HOLY SPIRIT, who did know it was not abolished. And it was written, at least twenty five years after the establishing of the New Testament Church! The Holy Spirit THEN inspired the direct statement that the rest of these women on the Sabbath day was according to the commandment, which statement would not be possible had the commandment been abolished.
This text, then, establishes Sunday as a common work day, three days after the crucifixion, and it further established that at that time the command to rest on the Sabbath had not been abolished.
(5) John 20:1: "THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre."
This, written many, many years after the crucifixion, is John's version, describing the same visit to the tomb. It confirms the facts above.
Was This a Religious Meeting, to Celebrate the Resurrection?
(6) 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, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you."
Let us examine this carefully, for some claim this was a religious service called for the purpose of celebrating the Resurrection. But notice this is the same first day of the week that FOLLOWED the Sabbath. It was Jesus' first opportunity to appear to His disciples. For three and a half years He had been constantly with them, on ALL days of the week. His meeting with them, of itself, could not establish any day as a Sabbath.
Were they assembled to celebrate the Resurrection, thus establishing Sunday as the Christian Sabbath in honor of the Resurrection? The text says they were assembled "for fear of the Jews." The Jews had just taken and crucified their Master. They were afraid. The doors were shut because of their fear- probably bolted. Why were they assembled? "FOR FEAR OF THE JEWS" according to this text, and also because they all lived together in this upper room (Acts 1:13). They could not have assembled to celebrate the Resurrection for THEY DID NOT BELIEVE JESUS WAS RISEN (Mark 16:11; Luke 24:37, 39, 41). Nothing in this text calls this day "Sabbath," or "Lord's Day," or any sacred title. Nothing here sets it apart, makes it holy. No authority here for changing a command of God!

Lord's Supper Day-or Work Day-WHICH?

(7) Acts 20:7: "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. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together."
Here, at last, we find a religious meeting on the first day of the week. But it was not a SUNDAY meeting!
Notice, Paul continued his speech until midnight! "And there were many LIGHTS in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together." It was AFTER SUNSET, prior to midnight, the first day of the week. Now at that time the first day of the week did not begin at midnight, as men begin it today. It began, and the seventh day ended, AT SUNSET! All Bible days begin and end at SUNSET. Throughout the Roman world at that time, and for a few hundred years afterwards, days began and ended at sunset. The practice of beginning the new day at midnight was started much later. Therefore this meeting, and Paul's preaching, took place during the hours we now call SATURDAY NIGHT-it was not a Sunday meeting at all!

WHY Paul Remained Behind

Let us, now, pick up the thread of the narrative related in this passage. Begin verse 6:
'We sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them at Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. 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."
Paul and his companions had been in this town of Troas seven days. His companions had left by ship after sunset. Paul remained behind for a farewell meeting. He preached until midnight, "ready to depart on the morrow." At break of day- ~mrise Sunday morning-Paul departed (verse 11).
Now notice what his companions had done. "And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot. And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in." (Verses 13-14).
Look at this on the map. Paul's companions had to sail around a peninsula-a distance of fifty or sixty miles, while Paul, afoot, walked across, a distance of 191/2 miles. He was able to walk this distance in shorter time than they could sail the much longer distance, which gave Paul the opportunity to remain behind after they left, for this last farewell sermon and visit.
Now do you see what actually happened? Paul's companions were engaged in the LABOR of rowing and sailing a boat while Paul was preaching that Saturday night and early Sunday morning-on the first day of the week. They had set sail Saturday night, AFTER THE SABBATH HAD ENDED. Paul remained behind for one more last farewell sermon. Then, at break of day Sunday morning, Paul set out afoot, indulging in the labor of a 191/2 mile walk from Troas to Assos! He waited till the Sabbath was past for this long walk-a good hard day's work, if you ever tried it! He did it on the first day of the week! Again, a common work day!

What "Break Bread" Means

But does this text not say, as many claim today, that the disciples always held communion every first day of the week! NOT AT ALL!
In the first place, it says nothing about anything being done EVERY first day of the week. It relates the events of this one particular first day of the week, ONLY. It is not speaking of any CUSTOMS, but of the events occurring as Paul and his companions concluded their seven-day visit in passing by this town.
Jesus had introduced the Lord's Supper as part of the Passover, at the beginning of the annual "days of unleavened bread." No longer could they kill lambs or eat the roasted body of Passover Lambs, after Christ, OUR Passover, had been once slain for us. Yet the Passover was ordained FOREVER (Ex. 12:24). At His last Passover supper Jesus substituted the wine as the emblem of His blood, instead of the blood of the slain lamb. He substituted the unleavened bread for the roast body of the lamb as the symbol of His body, broken for us. The disciples continued to observe Passover annually, now in the form of the Lord's Supper using only the bread and wine, as a MEMORIAL (I Cor. 11:24) of Christ's DEATH, (I Cor. 11:26), showing His death till He come again. They continued to observe the days of unleavened bread (Acts 20:6).
This year they had observed the days of unleavened bread and the Communion service at Philippi, after which they came to Troas in five days where they remained seven days.
After the Sabbath day had ended, at sunset, "upon the first day of the week, . . . the disciples came together to BREAK BREAD."
People have ASSUMED this expression means the taking of Communion. But notice! Paul preached, and continued preaching until midnight. They had no opportunity to stop and "break bread" until then. When Paul "therefore was come up again"-after restoring the one who had fallen down from the third balcony-and had broken bread. AND EATEN."
Note it! "Broken bread AND EATEN." This breaking bread was not Communion-simply eating a meal. This expression was commonly used of old to designate a meal. It still is used in that sense in parts of even the United States.
Notice Luke 22:16, where Jesus was introducing the Lord's Supper, taking it with His disciples. He said, "I will not any more eat thereof until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God." Yet, the day after His resurrection, after walking with the two disciples to Emmaus, as "He sat at MEAT with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them." (Luke 24:30). Here Jesus "brake bread" but it was not the Lord's Supper, which He said He would NOT take again. It was a meal-"He sat AT MEAT"
Notice Acts 2:46. The disciples, "continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness." Here again "breaking bread" means EATING MEAT. Not on the first day of the week, but DAILY.
Again, when Paul was shipwrecked on the voyage to Rome, the sailors had been fasting out of fright. But "Paul besought them all to take MEAT, saying, "This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. Wherefore I pray you to take some MEAT: for this is for your health-And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat." (Acts 27:33-35). Here Paul broke bread to give to unconverted sailors who were hungry.
The truth is, NOWHERE IN THE BIBLE is the expression "breaking of bread," or "to break bread," used to signify observance of the Lord's Supper. In all these texts it means, simply, eating a meal. So, when we read in Acts 20:7, 11, "the disciples came together to break," and how Paul had "broken bread and EATEN," we know by Scripture interpretation it referred only to eating food as a meal, not to a Communion service.

What Was This COLLECTION?

We come now to the 8th and last place where the term "first day of the week" occurs in the Bible.
(8) I Corinthians 16:2: "Upon the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK let everyone of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him."
Often we see this text printed on the little offering envelopes in the pews of popular churches, and we have been told that this text sets THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK as the time for taking up the church collection for the carrying on of God's work, paying the minister, etc.
Let us begin with the first verse and really catch the true intended meaning of this verse.
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon 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."
This speaks of a collection-but for WHOM- for WHAT? Note it! Not for the preacher-not for evangelism-but "the collection FOR THE SAINTS." The poor saints at Jerusalem were suffering from drouth and famine. They needed, not money, but FOOD. Notice Paul had given similar instruction to other churches. Now observe his instruction to the Romans:
"But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia (where the Corinthian Church was located) to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.. . When, therefore, I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain." (Rom. 15:25-28).
Ah! Did you catch it? It was not money, but FRUIT that was being sealed for shipment to the poor saints at Jerusalem!
Now turn back to I Corinthians 16. Paul is speaking concerning a collection FOR THE SAINTS. Upon the first day of the week each of them is instructed to do what? Look at it! Does it say drop a coin in the collection plate at a church service? Not at all!
It says "let everyone of you lay by him in STORE." Note it! LAY BY! STORE UP! Store up BY HIMSELF-at home! Not lay by at the church house-lay by HIM-at home.
Now WHY? "That there be no GATHERINGS when I come." Men GATHER fruit out of the orchard-they GATHER vegetables out of the ground, to be STORED UP. But putting coins in a collection plate at church, or handing in your tithe-envelope could not be called a GATHERING, but an offering or collection.
Notice further: "And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. And if it be meet that I go also, they (more than one) shall go with me." (verses 3-4).
Apparently it was going to require several men to carry this collection, gathered and stored up, to Jerusalem. If it were tithe or offering for the minister or the spread of the Gospel, Paul could have carried the money alone.
So, once again, the last and final text in the Bible where we find "THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK" mentioned, it is a WORK DAY-a day for gathering fruit and food out of the orchards and the fields and gardens, and storing it up. It was to be the FIRST labor of the week, hence the first day of the week, as soon as the Sabbath was past!

No Bible Authority

So, finally, we find upon honest examination that NOT ONE of the texts speaking about "THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK" sets it apart as a rest day. Not one makes it holy, calls it the Sabbath or by any other sacred title. In EVERY case, the first day of the week was a common work day.
In NONE of them was there a religious meeting and preaching service being held on the hours we now call SUNDAY. In NONE of them can we find a single shred of BIBLE AUTHORITY for Sunday observance! There is no record in the Bible of celebrating the Resurrection on Sunday.
Sometimes Revelation 1:10 is used as Bible authority for calling Sunday "The LORD'S DAY." It says: "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice." But this does not say the "first day of the week," or "Sunday" is the "day" here called "the Lord's day." As a matter of fact, it is not speaking of ANY day of the week at all, but of "the Day of the Lord,"-the time of the coming PLAGUES, climaxing in the coming of Christ, and the millennium. This is the THEME of the Revelation. But, if one wants to argue, and insist upon this text applying to some definite day of the week, he shall have to look elsewhere to see WHICH day THE BIBLE calls "The LORD'S DAY." For this text does not designate ANY day of the week.
But Jesus said He was Lord of the SABBATH, and if He is LORD of that day, then it belongs to Him, and is His day, and therefore the Sabbath is the Lord's Day (Mark 2:28). Isaiah 58:13 calls the Sabbath (the seventh day of the week) "MY HOLY DAY." God is speaking. So the Sabbath is THE LORD'S DAY.
In the original commandment, in Exodus 20:10, we read: "The seventh day is the Sabbath OF THE LORD THY GOD." No MY day, or your day. Sunday is MY day. So is Tuesday, and every other weekday, for my labor and my own needs. But the seventh day is NOT mine-it is THE LORD'S! It belongs to HIM, and He made it HOLY, and commanded us to KEEP it that way. We have no right to use it for ourselves. It is HIS DAY!

The TRUE SABBATH of the NEW Testament

Now briefly let us look thru the New Testament to find WHICH DAY Paul kept, and taught Gentile converts to keep.
Notice which day Paul and Barnabus used for preaching to Gentiles:
(1) Acts 13:14-15, 42-44: "But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue ON THE SABBATH DAY, and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any work of exhortation for the people, say on."
Then Paul stood up, and spoke, preaching Christ to them.
"And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the GENTILES besought that these words might be preached to them THE NEXT SABBATH.
Now since Paul was preaching "the grace of God" (verse 43), here was his opportunity to straighten out these Gentiles, and explain that the Sabbath was done away. Why should he wait a whole week, in order to preach to THE GENTILES on THE NEXT SABBATH? If the day had now been changed to Sunday, why did not Paul tell them they would not have to wait a week, but the very next day, Sunday, was the proper day for this service? But notice what Paul did.
"And the NEXT SABBATH DAY came almost the whole city together to hear the Word of God." Here Paul waited a whole week, passing up a Sunday, in order to preach to the GENTILES upon the Sabbath day.

Gentiles Met on SABBATH

(2) Acts 15:1-2, 5, 14-21: Study this whole passage carefully. Certain men had come down from Judea to Antioch, teaching that the Gentile converts there must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses to be saved. Quite a dissension arose between them and Paul and Barnabus. So it was decided Paul and Barnabus should go to Jerusalem to the apostles and Elders about the question.
At the conference at Jerusalem, James gave the decision.
"Wherefore my sentence is;' he pronounced, (verses 19-21).. . . that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood?"
He did not say they should not keep the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments were not in question-but it was circumcision in question, (Acts 15:1), which was an altogether DIFFERENT law than the Ten Commandments.
But why WRITE this sentence to them? Note it!
..."For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues EVERY SABBATH DAY." (Verse 21).
Do you see it? Judaizing teachers were reading the Law of Moses and teaching people in the synagogues EVERY SABBATH DAY. The apostles were WRITING this decision concerning the Law of Moses, BECAUSE GENTILE CONVERTS WERE GOING TO CHURCH ON THE SABBATH DAY, and would hear this false teaching. In order to counteract it, and protect the Gentiles from it, the written message was sent. It shows that the GENTILE CONVERTS HAD STARTED KEEPING THE SABBATH DAY, AND WENT TO CHURCH ON THAT DAY! And the Apostles' letter did not reprove them for this Sabbath-keeping, or even mention it.
This is very significant, since GENTILES HAD NEVER KEPT THE SABBATH. Therefore it is something these Gentiles had STARTED doing after they were converted under the teaching of Paul and Barnabus!

A Sabbath in Philippi

(3) Acts 16:12-15: Here we find Paul and Silas at Philippi. And "we were in that city abiding certain days. And ON THE SABBATH we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened,. . . and when she was baptized..
Here again Paul and his companions waited until the Sabbath, and then went to a place of worship, and preached, and this woman, probably a Gentile, was converted. The passage indicates it was the CUSTOM to meet there on the Sabbath, and that it was CUSTOM for Paul and his companions to go to a place of prayer and worship when the Sabbath day came.

Paul Worked Week-days, and Kept the SABBATH

(4) Acts 18:1-11: "After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; and found a certain Jew named Aquila. . . with his wife Priscilla. . . and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought; for by their occupation they were tentmakers, and he reasoned in the synagogue EVERY SABBATH, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks."
If we could find one text in the New Testament giving as strong authority for Sunday observance as this one does for Sabbath-keeping, we should certainly have Bible AUTHORiTY for it! Here Paul WORKED weekdays, but went to church and taught GENTILES as well as Jews every SABBATH.
Now the Commandment says: "Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work," just as much as it says "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy?" There is just as much command to work six days as there is to rest the seventh. And so if the day had been changed, Paul would have had to work Sabbaths, in order to go to church and preach every Sunday. But here he WORKED week days and went to church and preached EVERY SABBATH-not just on one particular occasion-it says EVERY SABBATH.
He preached Christ, and the Gospel of the Kingdom. And when the Jews became offended and blasphemed, he turned away from the Jews altogether, and from then on preached TO GENTILES ONLY, (verse 6), and he continued there a year and six months (verse 11),- working week days-preaching to Gentiles ONLY- EVERY SABBATH!
What MORE conclusive proof could we desire? What STRONGER Bible evidence than this, as to the true Sabbath of the NEW Testament? For a year and a half Paul continued working week-days-six days- including Sundays-and preaching to GENTILES exclusively EVERY SABBATH! Certainly it was his • custom and manner! Certainly he could not have done this had the Sabbath been done away, or changed.

Paul COMMANDS Gentiles to Keep the Sabbath

To these Gentile-born at Corinth, Paul COMMANDED: "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ?' (I Cor. 11:1).
And Paul "as his manner was, went in unto them, and free SABBATH DAYS reasoned with them out of the Scriptures." (Acts 17:2) It was his MANNER-his CUSTOM, as we have seen by ample evidence showing a total of eighty-four different Sabbaths Paul is shown specifically to have kept.
Did he follow Jesus in this? Why, CERTAINLY! Jesus, "as His custom was.. . went into the synagogue ON THE SABBATH DAY?' (Luke 4:16).
It was Jesus' custom. Paul followed Him, and COMMANDED the Gentile converts to follow Him, even as he followed Christ
The question for us today is Are WE willing to follow m His steps7 Jesus came to set us an example that we should FOLLOW HIS STEPS If we like Paul ate CRUCIFIED with Christ, and HE lives HIS life IN us, Christ IN us will still keep the Sabbath, for He is the SAME, yesterday, today, and forever!
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Remember the Sabbath
Did you ever stop to think why Christians keep Sunday? Did they get it from the Bible? Is there a clear-cut command that says, "Thou shalt keep Sunday?" Why did Jesus worship on Saturday? Was it only because He was a good Jew? Or does it go beyond that?

Monday, November 5, 2007

Never on a Sunday!

1 John 2:4-6

4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments [rather than traditional error], is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

The Sabbath

Beware the Big Lie of Sunday!