AboutSal Expertise I am privileged to be able to offer an alternative insight into the complicated world of Seventh-Day Adventists (SDA) theology. I will rely heavily on the Bible, but will also consider history and use logic in exposing deficiencies in SDA teachings. I would ask anyone who is considering becoming a SDA or if you are already in the SDA church, but are searching for the truth, to please allow me to offer a different explanation for the claims of the SDA. Remember : "The truth will set you free" (John 8:32). I can answer your questions pertaining to the beliefs and history of the SDA. I am not able to answer questions concerning spirituality or church discipline.
Experience I have extensively studied the theology of the Seventh-Day Adventists (SDA) for a number of years. I have many books and tape sets produced by experts in this field of study. I have debated current members of the SDA church. I have a great desire to help these people see the truth.
Education/Credentials M.S. degree in Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics
Question QUESTION: Hello, I am Adam currently a 17 year old. And will be looking for the truth untill the day I die. I am a Seventh Day Adventist but have always wondered is the Sabbath Biblical? I have done much research into the early history of the church to find that surprisingly that besides Rome and Alexandria most of the Christians were Sabbath keeping. So my first question is where in the Bible did the Sabbath get changed to sunday? Please dont state revelation 1:10 as it does not say Sunday but the Lord's day, which does not mean sunday. Also breaking of bread was done not every day, I have dont study into that as well. Please dont quote col 2:16 because that is quoting Sabbath ordnances.
My second question is that when Christianity first hit off. It was very very Jewish, similar to the Adventist church. Even Paul in Acts calls himself a Jew. To say that He did not believe the Jewish doctrine is foolish, yes Paul believed in Jesus but He was the messiah which is mentioned in the OT. So if Christianity was Jewish-Christian. Why has it changed?
I'm just a guy who is looking for the truth.
BTW. In the NT is the wine really non alcoholic? when communion is done should it be with alcoholic or non alcoholic wine? thanks. God bless
ANSWER: Dear Adam:
First let me commend you for being so interested in God’s truth. Most young people are not so interested in religion. I admire you for your great devotion to God. Hopefully you will influence other young people to be concerned with God and His truth.
It should not be too surprising that the first Christians kept the Sabbath. After all they were largely Jews who knew Sabbath keeping since birth.
The Sabbath was never changed to Sunday. The Sabbath was always the 7th day of the week and Sunday is the first day. Briefly, the Sabbath was not changed, but became obsolete as the sign of God’s covenantal people. The Sabbath was the sign of the Old Covenant (Exodus 31:13, 16-17; Ezekiel 20:12, 20). Jesus’ life, death, and Resurrection rendered that covenant as well as its sign obsolete. “By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear” (Hebrews 8:13).
I don’t quite understand your second question. Christianity was originally entirely Jewish. However, God’s design was for the New Covenant to include all people not just the Jews. Therefore, there was a change from Jewish to multinational. If that doesn’t answer your question then please clarify the question for me.
The wine used by Jesus at the Last Supper was an alcoholic wine. It may have been cut with water as was common for the time, but it contained alcohol. If one wishes to emulate Jesus and the early Church in this then one would have to use alcoholic wine. If not, then grape juice would suffice.
Thanks for the questions and God Bless You,
Sal
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QUESTION: Thank you very much for your reply so quickly.
But if the Sabbath was a sign of the Old covenant, which the Sabbath is part of the ten commandments, wouldn't that mean that the entire decalogue be abolished? That also includes idolatry and taking God's name in vein. I believe that Christians were keeping the Sabbath for example, the Celtic church, Indian Christians, Persian Christians etc.
Also, What I understood about the passover, there was not any fermentation done at the Passover, what so ever. To get alcoholic wine one must ferment it first?
I asked in my 2nd question. Why has Christianity changed so much from Jewish-Christian? Afterall, it was very Jewish to begin with. the only difference was they thought the Messiah was Jesus.
Thank you very much and God bless
Adam
Answer Hello Adam:
Thank you for writing again. You state, “But if the Sabbath was a sign of the Old Covenant…” There is no “if” about it. The Sabbath was the sign of the, now obsolete, Old Covenant. “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites, You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy’” (Exodus 31:12-13). And, “It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested" (Exodus 31:17). And, “Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy” (Ezekiel 20:12). Also, “Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God" (Ezekiel 20:20).
You ask if the entire Ten Commandments are abolished. Yes, the Old Covenant is obsolete as per Hebrews 8:13, and the heart of that covenant were the Ten Commandments. “Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments” (Exodus 34:28). And, "So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone” (Deuteronomy 4:13).
As I said before, I have no doubt that some early Christians kept the Sabbath. There is nothing wrong with Christians keeping the Sabbath (Romans 14:5).
Wine was and still is used at the Passover. Grape juice is allowed for children and those who cannot drink wine for medical reasons. Jesus drank wine with his disciples not grape juice. Remember that there was no refrigeration at the time and so any grape juice would ferment in the sun. The wine harvest took place about 7 months before the Passover ; therefore, all grape juice would have been fermented by the Last Supper.
My answer to your second question would be the same as previously made. Perhaps I can give a better answer if you would let me know what changes you are referring to.
Please ask any future questions as a new question and not a follow-up.
