Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 5/4/2008

Question
QUESTION: Why don't baptist call sundayschool, sabbath school so people feel like they are keeping the sabbath like the commandments say to.

ANSWER: Sandra,

Thanks for your question. I suppose tradition is the reason why most call it Sunday School. And that fact that it is on Sunday (the Lords Day), not on the sabbath (Saturday). I do not think that Baptists need to try to get people to "...like they are keeping the sabbath..." because the Bible teaches us (Rom.14:5)that no Christian is to esteem one day over another (including the sabbath).

Baptists worship the Lord on Sunday because Jesus rose from the dead on the day after the Sabbath (see, e.g., Mark 16:1-2-"When the Sabbath was over…very early on the first day of the week"). The first day, namely Sunday, was the Day of Resurrection, and soon became the special day of worship. For example, see Acts 20, verse 7-"On the first day of the week when we gathered together"; 1 Corinthians 16:2-"On the first day of every week." The first day soon came to be known as "the Lord's Day" (see Revelation 1:10-"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day."

Please let me know if this helps.

Elder Greg Madden

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

QUESTION: The reason I am asking about the sabbath being on Sunday is because a family member that has been recently going to a seventhday adventist church says that other churches aren't keeping the sabbath.I have always thought the sabbath is the day you worship God after working for seven and it could be on any day but that most denomenations chose sunday because that is the day our Lord was resurrected. Please let me know if I am right.

Answer
Sandra,

Sunday is not the Old Testiment mandadated "Sabbath". As I stated earlier aptists worship the Lord on Sunday because Jesus rose from the dead on the day after the Sabbath day, and because the earlier Church worship on the first day of the week Sunday (1 Corinthians 16:2) also known as the "Lords Day" (Revelation 1:10). Baptist (and most all who worship on the Lords Day) have our "Sabbath" rest fullfilled inChrist Himself. He is our sabbath...

Hebrews 4:1-10
1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word F9 preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For 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. 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, 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. 8 For if Jesus F10 had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Hebrews 4:1-10
1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word F9 preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For 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. 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, 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. 8 For if Jesus  had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Hope this helps.

Elder Greg Madden