Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 12/7/2007

Question
hi there.thank you for being a expert.i have a bible question,it may seem a little bit wierd but i will like to know the answer.my question is this,why do churches hold sunday service,when they know that the sabbath is saturday?why are they not keeping the sabbath holy?why do the churches preach the word about god but yet break one of the holy commandments?
thank you,this is always something i wanted to know
        greg

Answer
Greg,

Thank you for your questions. I will do my best to answer them. I hope that it is alright with you, but I have been asked these questions before, so I will give you the answers I have already given. This will be rather lengthy so please forgive me, but your questions do deserved an adequate answer.

You see Greg, originally in Genesis 2:3, the Sabbath was to be observed after the six days of work by God.  In the institution of the Sabbath, it is distinctly declared to be a day of Holy rest after 6 days of labor, and it was to be a memorial of creation. In creation God rested on the seventh day. But, since God is all powerful, He doesn't get tired. He doesn't need to take a break and rest. So, why did does it say that He rested? The reason is simple:

Mark 2:27
And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:  

In other words, God established the Sabbath as a rest for His people, not because He needed a break, but because we are mortal and need a time of rest, of focus on God. In this, our spirits and bodies are both renewed.

Notice that it is not mentioned again until the giving of the manna (Ex 16:14-31).  Here the manna is stated to have fallen for 6 days, that is from the 16th to the 21st day of the second month; and that the day following, or the twenty-second, was the first 7th day Sabbath celebrated in the Wilderness of Sin.
 
“See for the Lord has given you the Sabbath, so He has given you on the 6th day the bread of life for 2 days.  So the people rested on the 7th day.”

The Sabbath as a holy rest was re-established at this time.  There is controversy over what day was actually observed.  If the 22 day was a Sabbath day, then the 15th should have been also, but it was not because they marched that day.

Of the 10 commandments listed in Exodus 20:1-17, only nine of them were reinstituted by in the New Testament. (Six in Matthew 19:18, murder, adultery, stealing, false witness, honor parents, and worshiping God; Romans 13:9, coveting. Worshiping God properly covers the first three commandments) The one that was not reaffirmed was the one about the Sabbath. Instead, Jesus said that He is the Lord of the Sabbath (Matt. 12:8).

The O.T. system of Law required keeping the Sabbath as part of the overall moral, legal, and sacrificial system by which the Jewish people satisfied God’s requirements for behavior, government, and forgiveness of sins. The Sabbath was part of the Law in that sense. In order to "remain" in favor with God, you had to also keep the Sabbath. If it was not kept, then the person was in sin and would often be punished.

(Ezekiel 18:4; Deut. 13:1-9; Num. 35:31; Lev. 20:2).

But with Jesus atonement, and justification by faith (Rom. 5:1), we no longer are required to keep the Law and hence the Sabbath which was only a shadow of things to come.

Colossians 2:16
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, F10 or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

2:17
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

This passage is critical to understanding how the New Testament sees the theme of the Sabbath, together with its sub-themes of rest and worship, are fulfilled in the person of Christ. Paul declares that the old Sabbath law is no longer applicable, because the reality to which the law pointed has arrived. The rest which the Sabbath promised is found in Jesus and his finished work, the worship which the Sabbath enjoined is offered through Christ. We are not under Law, but grace (Rom. 6:14-15). The Sabbath is fulfilled in Jesus because in Him we have rest.  

Matthew 11:28
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Therefore we are not under obligation to keep the Law and this goes for the Sabbath as well.

Here is Biblical evidence that for God to be worshipped on the Lord's Day:

1. On the first day Jesus rose from the dead (Mark 16:9).

2. On the first day Jesus first appeared to his disciples (Mark 16:9).

3. On the first day Jesus met with the disciples at different places and repeatedly (Mark 16:9-11; Matthew 28:8-10; Luke 24:34; Mark 16:12-13; John 20:19-23).

4. On the first day Jesus blessed the disciples (John 20:19).

5. On the first day Jesus imparted to the disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 20:22).

6. On the first day Jesus commissioned the disciples to preach the gospel to all the world (John 20:21; with Mark 16:9-15).

7. On the first day Jesus ascended to Heaven, was seated at the right hand of the Father and was made Head of all (John 20:17; Ephesians 1:20).

8. On the first day many of the dead saints arose from the grave (Matthew 27:52-53).

9. The first day became the day of joy and rejoicing to the disciples (John 20:20; Luke 24:41).

10. On the first day the gospel of the risen Christ was first preached (Luke 24:34).

11. On the first day Jesus explained the Scriptures to the disciples (Luke 24:27,45).

12. On the first day the purchase of our redemption was completed (Romans 4:25).

13. On the first day the Holy Spirit descended (Acts 2:1). Pentecost was on the 50th day after the Sabbath following the wave offering (Leviticus 23:15,16). Thus Pentecost was always on a Sunday. Therefore God instituted the "ekklesia" or local church on the first day of the week which is Sunday.

You see, the answer to man's sin is not the keeping of the commandments, but faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross. Anything more that this (faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross) is law. The Bible clearly teaches us that no man is justified by the works of the law.

Remember that the Bible teaches us that we are saved (born-again) by grace (the unmerited favor of God), and grace can ONLY be received through faith. The Word of God teaches us that we are saved by grace, through faith, and this produce evidence (works/fruit).

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  
2:9
Not of works, lest any man should boast.  
2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  

What Paul wrote in Ephesians is still true with the Child of God. We have faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross, and that faith produces corresponding action. Greg, one thing we do not want to do is to put the fruit before the root! Faith comes first, then works/fruit.

The law (which includes the ten commandments) was given to man to show our own sinfulness. Without the law, we would not know what sin was. The law is pure, holy, and just. But it was (and still is) unable to take away sin, only reveal our sins.

Gal. 3:24
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal. 3:25
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

The law was like a poltus that pulls out the infection within a wound. It does not cause the infection, but simply reveals it. The Bible here in Gal.3 clearly teaches that we are no longer under the law (which includes the ten commandments).

Col. 2:16
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:

As I wrote earlier, every one of the ten commandment was carried over into the New Covenant except the Sabbath law. The New Testament Scripture show us that we are not under the law of the Sabbath, but that we are now to live in the Sabbath/rest that we have in received when we receive Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Heb. 3:11,18
Heb. 4:1-11

Jesus fulfill the ten commandments in the New Covenant He made for us with the Father on the Cross. Some He carried over into the New Covenant, and some He simply modified. Here are the commandments and how they are fulfilled, modified, or brought to full revelation in the New Covenant (I will save the Sabbath commandment for last, since it is the one you are asking about)...

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

The revelation of the triune nature of God is revealed in the New
Covenant. This commandment was brought to full revelation.  

1 John 5:7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.  

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
1:2
The same was in the beginning with God.  
1:3
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  
1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.  

2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

The revelation of true worship is revealed in the New Covenant. This commandment was brought to full revelation.

John 4:23
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to
worship him.

John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

3. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

The revelation of the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and the power of His Name is revealed in the New Covenant. This commandment was brought to full revelation.

Acts 2:21
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  

Philippians 2:9
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  
2:10
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  
2:11
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  

Acts 2:21
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Rom. 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

5. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

This commandment was modified. Christ commanded us to truly honor our parents, not just say we do.

Matthew 15:3
But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the
commandment of God by your tradition?  
15:4
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.  
15:5
But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;  
15:6
And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.  

6. Thou shalt not kill (murder).

This commandment is established in the N.C., as well as being modified. In the New Covenant we are not only commanded not to take innocent life, but we are not to have the murder in our hearts as well.

Mark 5:21
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:  
5:22
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.  

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

This commandment is established in the N.C., as well as being modified. In the New Covenant we are not only commanded not to commit sexual acts outside the bonds of marriage, but we are not to do these things in our hearts (mind) as well.

Matthew 5:27
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:  
5:28
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.  

8. Thou shalt not steal.

This commandment is established in the N.C. and has not changed. Taking that which does not belong to you is still a sin.

Eph. 4:28
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

This commandment is established in the N.C. and had not changed. Libeling is still a sin.

Col. 3:9
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his

10. Thou shalt not covet (to lust or to desire in any way shape or form that which does not belong to you).

This commandment is established in the N.C. This is the one commandment that is impossible for anyone to keep.

1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

The revelation of the rest of faith we have in Jesus Christ is revealed in the New Covenant. Jesus fulfilled the Sabbath commandment when He died on the Cross so that we could by faith enter into the "rest" we have in our salvation. This commandment was brought to full revelation.

Mt. 11:28
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Heb. 4:1-11

Colossians 2:16
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:  
2:17
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.  

Finally, the New Covenant sums up all the ten commandments this way...

Rom. 13:9
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

James 2:11
For he that said, do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a
transgressor of the law.

However Greg, we would all do well to recall the words of the Holy Spirit through Paul, who warned against divisions over these matters, saying that the "strong" should bear with the "weak", not causing them to stumble, and that while two may disagree over whether one day is more sacred than another, each should be fully convinced in his own mind (Rom. 14:1–8).

If you feel that God is leading you to worship God on Saturday, then by all means do. To be frank with you, I do too. I worship the Lord on Saturday. I also worship Him on Friday. I also worship Him on Thursday, Wednesday, Tuesday, Monday, and oh yes, I worship the Lord on Sunday as well. My caution to you Greg is that you not fall into the trap of "works". Make sure that you are being lead by the Lord and His Word, and not the laws of man.

I hope this helps.

Elder Greg Madden
http://www.forministry.com/USOKPENTEMMM1