The Sabbath is not, and never has been, for this or any other body
of believers except the nation of Israel.
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Exodus 31:12-17 -
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children
of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between
me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the
LORD that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore;
for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put
to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut
off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh
is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the
sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children
of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their
generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and
the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and
earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
The Sabbath was severely adhered to under threat of punishment.
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Numbers 15:32-36 - And
while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that
gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering
sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done
to him. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death:
all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And
all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with
stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.
And yet, even in the gospels, Jesus Himself did
activity on the Sabbath!
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Matthew 12:1 -
At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples
were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
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Matthew 12:10-12
- And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked
him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might
accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that
shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will
he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than
a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
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Mark 6:2 - And
when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue:...
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Luke 6:6 - And
it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue
and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
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Luke 6:7 - And
the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath
day; that they might find an accusation against him.
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John 5:16 - And
therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because
he had done these things on the sabbath day.
Jesus' response to the complaints of His activity
on the Sabbath:
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Matthew 12:8 -
For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
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Luke 6:9 - Then
said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath
days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
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John 7:23 - If
a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should
not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit
whole on the sabbath day?
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The subject of the Sabbath Day is a constant issue of contention among
Christians and religious organizations.
Some legalistic cults and denominations and Christians themselves even
make it a vital part of their doctrinal teaching and belief.
Some go so far as to base their entire structure of doctrine on the
keeping of the Sabbath.
7th Day Adventists teach that when Sunday becomes the universal 'law'
for everyone to worship, then the antichrist will come. In other words,
worshipping on Sunday - which they believe is the Sabbath, will be the
mark of the beast.
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A certain misapplication of Revelation 13:8 -
And
all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written
in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
The Apostle Paul makes very clear the fact that
we who are saved under the Gospel of the grace of God have no connection
whatever with the keeping of the Sabbath.
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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:
He firmly reprimanded the Galatians:
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Galatians 4:9-11- But
now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn
ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to
be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am
afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
Note: A personal Bible study will show that
to a Christian, the first day of the week is far more important than the
seventh.
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Acts 20:7 - And
upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break
bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued
his speech until midnight.
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I Corinthians 16:2 - Upon
the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as
God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
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