The insistence that
Christians must keep the seventh day is not consistent with Scripture.
(Colossians 2:16) Before the Ten Commandments were given on Mount Sinai, no man
ever kept the seventh day except by special commandment. (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus
16:1-30; 20:1-17)
Where in the Bible is any
Gentile told to keep the seventh day?
All Law and prophecy hang
on love, not the Sabbath. (Matthew 22:34-40; Romans 13:8-10) If the seventh day
was kept before the Mosaic Law, and if this makes us obliged to keep the
seventh day, then we are also bound to the Law on circumcision. (Genesis
17:1-14; Galatians 5:16) If we must keep the seventh day, then aren't we also
obliged to remain home on this day, execute those who work on this day, and
refrain from heating our homes or cooking? (Exodus 16:29; 35:1-3; Numbers
15:32-36)
It would be wrong to keep
the seventh day while neglecting the Sabbath year and the Jubilee year because
the Law did not authorize such a distinction. (Leviticus 25:1-22) If we are
obliged to keep the seventh day, then we are under obligation to also keep the
other Jewish holidays. (Hosea 2:11)
Do you offer a burnt
sacrifice, as part of "a continual burnt offering," since this was a
required part of the seventh day Sabbath? (Numbers 28:3-10)
When enumerating the
Commandments, Jesus did not require keeping the seventh day. (Matthew 19:16-20;
Mark 10:17-22; Luke 18:18-24; also consider Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28; John
7:22, 23) The Apostles preached the Gospel without commanding anyone to keep
the seventh day. (Acts 2:1-47; 8:1-10; 10:1-48; 16:1-40) The Apostles and
Elders left the seventh day Sabbath out of the address to the churches. (Acts
15:1-29)
The seventh day Sabbath
was a sign of the Law Covenant. (Exodus 31:13, 16, 17) It was a type of the
spiritual rest. (Hebrews 4:4-10)
Those who insist on a
seventh day Sabbath miss the point or the reason for the Sabbath, the principle
behind the Sabbath law when they put all the emphasis on which day it should
be. The main purpose or reason for the Sabbath was to put God first, to
commemorate God's goodness, and to keep from becoming over-occupied with
material or commercial pursuits. (Isaiah 56:2; 58:13-14; I Timothy 1:3-7;
Romans 14:6)
The early Christians set
aside the first day, the day on which Christ arose, as the day of worship.
(John 20:19, 26; Acts 2:1; 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1-2) This change was
prophesied. (Psalm 118:22-24)
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