Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 1/30/2008

Question
QUESTION: Since God said "remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD they GOD..." how in the disciples practices overrule God's command?  You quote they met on the first day of the week.  It was Christ's custom on the SABBATH (i.e., Saturday).  He also said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled".


ANSWER:  Hello,

Thank you for this great question.  There is a lot I could share here, but I will try to keep it simple.  Jesus came to fulfill the law and He did.  He is the only person that lived without sin.

The same Bible also gives us a very specific revelation about what Jesus did on the cross:

Colossians 2:14-16
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.  
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:   
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Jesus nailed ordinences to the cross. One of these ordinences that was taken out of the way was the Sabbath.  I do not believe that the Sabbath was changed from Saturday to Sunday, I believe that it was nailed to the cross, and now it is a personal choice what one does with the Sabbath day.

Romans 14:5-6
5 One man esteemeth one day above another:  another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.  6 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. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What scripture can you provide in the New Testament which reads that the ordinance of the "The Seventh Day" Sabbath was "taken out of the way".  And please give me the scripture where the disciples customarily worshipped on Sunday.  I read scriptures wherein God called sun worship an "abomination".  We know the origin of "Sun" Day.  I know there were a number of "Sabbaths" but the Bible speaks only of ONE "Seventh Day Sabbath".  He said the Sabbath was made for man and so I assume woman too.  Can you please explain Hebrews 4:1-11

1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

3For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

5And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

6Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

7Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

8For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.


Answer
Hello again,

I gave you the verses that say that the Sabbath is taken out of the way and nailed to the cross... it is in Colossians 2:14-16.  As for the whole Sun worship thing, I do not KEEP SUNDAY!  I go to church on Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and sometimes all week....  but I do not keep any of those days as the Sabbath because the Sabbath was nailed to the cross.

The Hebrews 4 passage is clearly speaking of the rest of Salvation... resting from works and trusting in faith.  Notice Christ's invitation:

Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Salvation is rest for your souls.  I hope that this helps.

In Christ
Pastor Don