Expert: Sal - 12/12/2009

Question
Dear Sal:
The Sabbath was kept after Calvary. Doesn't that show that we are obligated to still keep the day since it was kept after Calvary?
God Bless,
Paul

Answer
Dear Paul:

The fact that the Sabbath was still being observed after Calvary does not alter the fact that it is still obsolete for Christians. Many Jewish things continued after Calvary. It is not the continuance of a practice that is important. It is the validity of the practice that must be determined. Jewish dietary laws, circumcision, and temple sacrifices all continued after Calvary. No doubt that Jewish converts to Christianity kept observing the Sabbath. It was a part of their custom and culture. It had been a practice that was very precious to them. They could not give it up immediately. It would take some time for all that Jesus did in inaugurating the New Covenant to become fully understood and appreciated. Therefore, Christians keeping the Sabbath after Calvary doesn’t prove validity or necessity of the practice. It only proves that they were slow to understand that the Sabbath as well as other Jewish practices had been rendered obsolete by Jesus. “In speaking of ‘a new covenant’, he has made the first one obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old will soon disappear” (Hebrews 8:13). Here Paul relates that the entire Mosaic Covenant (which included the Sabbath) had been made obsolete, but that it was not completely gone yet. It was growing old and would soon disappear. The New Covenant reality was overtaking it (cf. Hebrews 9:7-10).Please note that the reason for Paul going to the synagogue is never given as “to keep the Sabbath law.” It is always given as “to preach Christ.” I will quote two passages as examples of what the Bible says was Paul’s reason for going to the synagogue on the Sabbath. “He explained many things, showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead: ‘This Jesus I am telling you about is the Messiah!” (Acts 17:3). “When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was absorbed in preaching and giving evidence to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah” (Acts 18:5). It is also important to realize that the New Testament never says that Christians went to the synagogues to observe the Sabbath obligation. The reason that the New Testament mentions Christians (particularly Paul) going to the synagogues was in order to make coverts not fulfill the 4th commandment. The mentioning of a practice does not mean that that practice is a necessity for Christians. The day of unleavened bread is mentioned in Acts 12:3 & 20:6. Does that “prove” that it’s a necessary practice for Christians? We know that Paul kept the Jewish feast of Pentecost (Acts 20:16). “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem…” (Acts 18:21 NKJV). Is Paul teaching Christians the necessity of keeping the mentioned Jewish feast? The Holy Spirit was given to the church on the Jewish feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). These were Jewish feast days not Christian holy days. Paul submitted to the Jewish rite of purification (Acts 21:26). Does this mention “prove” Christians must follow Paul’s example? All the aforementioned practices were mentioned to show Jewish practices or to show the time of the year. Luke included them in his narration of events as what historically happened not to teach their necessity for Christians. In conclusion, the continuance of a practice does not equal its validity or necessity. The New Testament gives no evidence of the Sabbath being a valid practice among Christians. One may keep the Sabbath, but it is not at all a necessary practice among Christians (cf. Romans 14:5). “Remember the Sabbath” is now replaced with “Remember Jesus and him raised from the dead” (cf. 2 Timothy 2:8).

Thanks for the question, my brother!

May God Bless You,
Sal