July 6, 2008 / Volume 12, Issue 27
Why Don't We Keep The Sabbath Day?William J. Stewart
A visitor to our web site e-mailed a good question this past week, asking why we do not keep the Sabbath day, since it is the day of worship given by God in the Ten Commandments.
Indeed, the Sabbath day was the prescribed day of worship in the Law of Moses. Exodus 20:8, 11 reads: Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ...the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
In Leviticus 26:2, again we read:You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD.
So, why don't we keep the Sabbath today? Quite simply, we are not commanded to. The observance of the Sabbath was commanded in the Law of Moses, which was given to the nation of Israel (Exodus 25:2; 31:13-17; Deuteronomy 4:44-45). The Law of Moses was given to the national Israel, when they were the chosen people of God.
The New Testament reveals time and again that we are no longer subject to the Law of Moses. Notice what the inspired writers have said:...having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man, from the two, thus making peace.
(Ephesians 2:15)
Again, Paul wrote the same message to the Colossians. Hear his words:...having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
(Colossians 2:14)
As a result, the apostle tells the Colossians to,...let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
(Colossians 2:16-17)
The practices of the law were not to be laid upon the Gentiles; that was not the law by which they (or their Jewish brethren) would be judged. The Law of Moses had been nailed to the cross. It had been abolished. The Hebrew writer plainly stated:...if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says, Behold the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah -- ...In that He says, 'A new covenant,' He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
(Hebrews 8:7-8, 13)
We are no longer subject to that which Paul refers to as the "ministry of death" and again, "the ministry of condemnation" (2 Corinthians 3:9, 11). It has passed away (v 11).
When false teachers came teaching the Gentiles, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved," (Acts 15:1), Paul and Barnabas disputed with them, and eventually went to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and elders. During the discussion at Jerusalem, some rose up declaring that "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." (v 5). Peter stood up in their midst and asked,...why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers, nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.
(Acts 15:10-11)
The letter which eventually went forth from Jerusalem to the Gentile Christians stated,Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, 'You must be circumcised and keep the law' -- to whom we gave no such commandment...
(Acts 15:24)
We are subject to no part of the Law of Moses. Oour instruction for doctrine and practice comes from the law of Christ - the New Testament.
That being the case, Christians do not keep the Sabbath, which was the day of worship given through Moses for the Jews. Rather, Christians assemble on the first day of the week, as instructed in the New Testament. It is on this day that the early Christians
- partook of the Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7)
- took up a collection (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
- received a message / instruction (Acts 20:7)
The first day of the week is the day revealed by God for Christians to meet and worship upon. The Sabbath observance is no more, though we wait for the eternal sabbath - our rest with the Lord Jesus in heaven (Hebrews 4:9).
Click here for this week's Answering The Atheist
When did God kill Leviathan and the sea dragon? Did He do so sometime in the past (Psalm 74:13-14), or will He do it sometime in the furutre (Isaiah 27:1)? Is there a contradiction?
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