Where in the Bible do we find that keeping Sabbath (4th commandment) was abolished)?

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pengy

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#1
There is much controversy regarding this issue and it'd be great to see some point of views based on the Word of God. It's either the 4th commandment remains intact, or it does not, it cannot be both. It's a black or white issue. Please paste your take on the matter! :)
 
Feb 10, 2008
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#2
Well, there are a few things that come to mind.

1) Probably the most clear biblical statement is found in Romans 14 when talking about the believer's freedom Paul specifically addresses "some treat one day as more sacred, while others may not." This is paralleled with statements about some people still feeling bound by the jewish kosher laws.

2) Luke 10:13-17. Jesus demonstrates that there are more important things than following the law.

Abolished? He actually says quite the opposite in Matthew 5. But we do see that with the Holy spirit living inside of us, the most important thing is love, and honoring God. One person may have faith and strength to honor God every day. Some may need a special day to focus on it. In either case, Paul makes it clear that neither should be condemned. Taking a day to slow down and focus on God doesn't seem like a waste to me.
 
Aug 26, 2014
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#3
Good question. I wonder about it myself.
After all, Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-18:

[SUP]17 [/SUP]Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. [SUP]18 [/SUP]For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
 
Sep 10, 2013
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#4
There is much controversy regarding this issue and it'd be great to see some point of views based on the Word of God. It's either the 4th commandment remains intact, or it does not, it cannot be both. It's a black or white issue. Please paste your take on the matter! :)
The laws and the Sabbath represent a covenant between God and the Israel only (the people He chose to prepare the Incarnation); the laws and the prophets have a limited purpose - they are "shadows" (prefigurations) of Christ. In Christ, the laws and the prophets are fulfilled (not abolished). The Sabbath was celebrated only by the Jews because it was for them a reminder of how God freed them from the Egyptian power. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnated, and so, we celebrate Sunday because He frees us all (not only the Jews) from sin and death through His resurrection.
The New Covenant is between God and the entire humanity (John 3:16).
 
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pengy

Guest
#5
We must read Romans 14 from the beginning to get a better picture of what Paul is talking about.
Romans 14:1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to dispute over doubtful things.

There is a difference between a commandment and 'doubtful thing'. Paul was not talking about the 4th commandment, and the Romans knew this perfectly, as we read earlier in the letter:
Romans 7:1 Or do you not know brethren, (for I speak to those who know the law) that the law has dominion over man as long as he lives?

Paul was talking about days that are subject to the opinion of man. For example, you might consider the birthday of a person an important day, but maybe I don't, to me it's just like any other day. You see? We shouldn't argue about these things. But the fourth commandment does not fall under this category.

Luke 10:13-17 nowhere tells us that there are more important things to follow than the law. Besides, which law are you talking about?

I agree that the most important thing to do is to love and to honor God, but this is demonstrated by obedience to Him (by facts). Jesus said that if love Him that we must keep His commandments (John 14:15). Love isn't a separate concept from obedience. Both of are tightly entwined.

LightningClap0002, you need to demonstrate that you as a Christian are not obligated to obey the fourth commandment with biblical support. Or you might be dishonoring God. Please try again.
 
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pengy

Guest
#6
The_Wanderer

The Law of God (10 commandments) are not of a prophetic nature. They simply tell us what sin is.
Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law.

Jesus was referring to the parts of the law of Moses that symbolized His sacrifice and His priesthood, etc. He wasn't talking about the 10 commandments. Once Jesus fulfilled these prophetic rituals, they were abolished. The problem is that the Pharisees thought that while Jesus was alive, that he disregarded the law of Moses and the prophets, and was imposing his own agenda. But Jesus clarified that when He told them that He did not come to abolish the prophets or the Law, but instead He came to fulfill what they prophesied of Him.
 
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pengy

Guest
#8
Simona25

You said many things but did not provide biblical support for anything that you wrote. It seems like you're just repeating what you might have heard, because the Bible nowhere substantiates these claims.

1. The laws and the Sabbath represent a covenant between God and the Israel only
2.
The Sabbath was celebrated only by the Jews because it was for them a reminder of how God freed them from the Egyptian power.
3.
we celebrate Sunday because He frees us all (not only the Jews) from sin and death through His resurrection.
4.
The New Covenant is between God and the entire humanity

I'll address these claims in order.

1. You're forgetting that anybody else who wanted to be part of Israel could enter the covenant if he/she decided to obey God's laws.
Isaiah 56:2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold on it; Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath...
Isaiah 56:6-7 "Also the sons of the
foreigner who joins themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants - Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath; And holds fast my covenant; Even them I will bring to my Holy mountain...
Therefore, your first argument is not valid. Anyone could have entered the covenant, it wasn't ONLY for the Israelites.

2. There were NO Jews when God freed His people from Egypt. These came to exist hundreds of years later when Judah and Israel were divided. They were technically Egyptians. But for the sake of the argument, it wasn't only for "Jews". His laws were given to ALL who were freed from Egypt and wanted the God of Israel to be their God. They then became Israelites.
Exodus 12:37-38 Then the children of Israel journeyed from Ramases to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children.
A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds - a great deal of livestock.
Exodus 12:48,49 And when a
stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it, and he shall be as a native to the land. One law should be for the native-born and for the stranger that dwells among you.
Furthermore, Jesus said that the Sabbath was created for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). He didn't say that it was created for the Jews. Your second argument is not valid.

3. Where in the Bible do we read that we must celebrate anything on Sunday? Please provide biblical support.

4. The new covenant was made with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not with the 'entire humanity'. This doesn't mean however, that nobody else can't enter it. All I am saying is that it wasn't made with everyone. But if we do want to enter this covenant, we must obey His commandments, the same way the 'strangers' had to obey the commandments if they wanted to enter the old covenant.
Hebrews 8:8 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.
Furthermore, t
he church of Christ and Israel are not separate communities. They are the same group. God only has ONE group of people, and that group is known as Israel.
Romans 11:16-17 For if the first fruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, you are a member of Israel. This means that you must obey the commandments given to Israel. God has rejected Israel as a nation, but not individually because not every Israelite according to the flesh rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Whoever turns to Jesus, becomes an Israelite, not according to the flesh.

Simona25, please make sure that you're able to substantiate your claims with the Bible. Make sure that what you are taught is true. Don't just follow what a man says. With love in Jesus Christ.



 
Sep 10, 2013
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#9
1. The old covenant is between God and Israel only.

Exodus 31,16-17:
16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

Deuteronomy 5,15:
15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

Psalm 147, 19-20:19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord.17 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.

Deuteronomy 5,2-22:
2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.
 
Sep 10, 2013
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#10
3. Where in the Bible do we read that we must celebrate anything on Sunday? Please provide biblical support.
Matthew 28,9:
The Women Worship the Risen Lord
9 And as they went to tell His disciples,[a] behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.

Simona25, please make sure that you're able to substantiate your claims with the Bible. Make sure that what you are taught is true. Don't just follow what a man says. With love in Jesus Christ.
Don't worry about me. Worry about those who confuse christianity with judaism.
 
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pengy

Guest
#11
1. The old covenant is between God and Israel only.

Exodus 31,16-17:
16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

Deuteronomy 5,15:
15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

Psalm 147, 19-20:19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord.17 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.

Deuteronomy 5,2-22:
2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.

Simona25

I already demonstrated that anyone could enter the covenant if they decided to obey the commandments of God, and once they did they became israelites. This argument of yours has been exhausted.

Furthermore, you seem to be focused only on the Sabbath. Remember that we're talking about 10 commandments, not just the 4th commandment.

But i will ask you this question: According to the Bible, what is considered sin?
 
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pengy

Guest
#12
God is to be worshipped daily. Matthew 28:9 nowhere tells us that we need to celebrate anything on Sunday. There is no commandment written anywhere in this verse. Please make sure that the verse says what you claim it says.

If you dont know what Judaism is, you cant understand what Christianity is.
 
Sep 10, 2013
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#13
Simona25

I already demonstrated that anyone could enter the covenant if they decided to obey the commandments of God, and once they did they became israelites. This argument of yours has been exhausted.
...I can say the same thing about your argument.

Furthermore, you seem to be focused only on the Sabbath. Remember that we're talking about 10 commandments, not just the 4th commandment.
I thought we were talking about the whole Law (Torah), not only the ten commandments.

But i will ask you this question: According to the Bible, what is considered sin?
Anything which separates you from God is a sin.
 
Sep 10, 2013
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#14
God is to be worshipped daily. Matthew 28:9 nowhere tells us that we need to celebrate anything on Sunday. There is no commandment written anywhere in this verse. Please make sure that the verse says what you claim it says.
Read the verse one more time. Maybe you will understand why Sunday is for us, Christians, a day of joy.
 
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pengy

Guest
#15
The first point is not negotiable. Your argument about it being ONLY for Israel is false. Let's move on.

Im talking about the 10 commandments. The commandments written on two tablets of stone by Jesus Christ Himself, not about the book of the law written by Moses which had more than 600 laws.

You need to be more specific. Here is the definition of sin:

1 John 3:4 KJV

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

My next question, which law is John talking about?
 
Sep 10, 2013
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#16
The first point is not negotiable. Your argument about it being ONLY for Israel is false. Let's move on.
? Of course is not negotiable. Open your Old Testament and see that God makes a covenant with His chosen people (Israel) alone.

Im talking about the 10 commandments. The commandments written on two tablets of stone by Jesus Christ Himself, not about the book of the law written by Moses which had more than 600 laws.
The Leviticus and the Deuteronomy are not God inspired?

You need to be more specific. Here is the definition of sin:

1 John 3:4 KJV

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

My next question, which law is John talking about?
Sin is more than the transgression of the law. Sin is the separation from God, sin is what hinders our union with God, what keeps us away from seeing God. The greek word for sin is "hamartia" which means "failure".
 
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biscuit

Guest
#17
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[TD="width: 593, align: left"][h=1]Does God require Sabbath-keeping of Christians?[/h]
Question: "Does God require Sabbath-keeping of Christians?"

Answer:
In Colossians 2:16-17, the apostle Paul declares, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” Similarly, Romans 14:5 states, “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.” These Scriptures make it clear that, for the Christian, Sabbath-keeping is a matter of spiritual freedom, not a command from God. Sabbath-keeping is an issue on which God’s Word instructs us not to judge each other. Sabbath-keeping is a matter about which each Christian needs to be fully convinced in his/her own mind.

In the early chapters of the book of Acts, the first Christians were predominantly Jews. When Gentiles began to receive the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, the Jewish Christians had a dilemma. What aspects of the Mosaic Law and Jewish tradition should Gentile Christians be instructed to obey? The apostles met and discussed the issue in the Jerusalem council (Acts 15). The decision was, “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood” (Acts 15:19-20). Sabbath-keeping was not one of the commands the apostles felt was necessary to force on Gentile believers. It is inconceivable that the apostles would neglect to include Sabbath-keeping if it was God’s command for Christians to observe the Sabbath day.

A common error in the Sabbath-keeping debate is the concept that the Sabbath was the day of worship. Groups such as the Seventh Day Adventists hold that God requires the church service to be held on Saturday, the Sabbath day. That is not what the Sabbath command was. The Sabbath command was to do no work on the Sabbath day (Exodus 20:8-11). Nowhere in Scripture is the Sabbath day commanded to be the day of worship. Yes, Jews in Old Testament, New Testament, and modern times use Saturday as the day of worship, but that is not the essence of the Sabbath command. In the book of Acts, whenever a meeting is said to be on the Sabbath, it is a meeting of Jews and/or Gentile converts to Judaism, not Christians.

When did the early Christians meet? Acts 2:46-47 gives us the answer, “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” If there was a day that Christians met regularly, it was the first day of the week (our Sunday), not the Sabbath day (our Saturday) (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). In honor of Christ’s resurrection on Sunday, the early Christians observed Sunday not as the “Christian Sabbath” but as a day to especially worship Jesus Christ.

Is there anything wrong with worshipping on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath? Absolutely not! We should worship God every day, not just on Saturday or Sunday! Many churches today have both Saturday and Sunday services. There is freedom in Christ (Romans 8:21;2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:1). Should a Christian practice Sabbath-keeping, that is, not working on Saturdays? If a Christian feels led to do so, absolutely, yes (Romans 14:5). However, those who choose to practice Sabbath-keeping should not judge those who do not keep the Sabbath (Colossians 2:16). Further, those who do not keep the Sabbath should avoid being a stumbling block (1 Corinthians 8:9) to those who do keep the Sabbath. Galatians 5:13-15 sums up the whole issue: “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

Recommended Resources: The End of the Law: Mosaic Covenant in Pauline Theology by Jason Meyer and Logos Bible Software.

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Aug 26, 2014
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#18
The_Wanderer

The Law of God (10 commandments) are not of a prophetic nature. They simply tell us what sin is.
Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law.

Jesus was referring to the parts of the law of Moses that symbolized His sacrifice and His priesthood, etc. He wasn't talking about the 10 commandments. Once Jesus fulfilled these prophetic rituals, they were abolished. The problem is that the Pharisees thought that while Jesus was alive, that he disregarded the law of Moses and the prophets, and was imposing his own agenda. But Jesus clarified that when He told them that He did not come to abolish the prophets or the Law, but instead He came to fulfill what they prophesied of Him.
How could anything be abolished when He clearly stated, "[SUP]18 [/SUP]For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
 
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pengy

Guest
#19
? Of course is not negotiable. Open your Old Testament and see that God makes a covenant with His chosen people (Israel) alone.

The Leviticus and the Deuteronomy are not God inspired?

Sin is more than the transgression of the law. Sin is the separation from God, sin is what hinders our union with God, what keeps us away from seeing God. The greek word for sin is "hamartia" which means "failure".
Your first point has been refuted.

Yes. But we are not questioning the authenticity of these books. Let's not deviate from the question of this forum. We're talking about the 4th commandment of the 10 commandments.

I agree. You forgot to answer the question. Which law is John talking about?
 
Aug 26, 2014
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#20
God is to be worshipped daily. Matthew 28:9 nowhere tells us that we need to celebrate anything on Sunday. There is no commandment written anywhere in this verse.
The sabbath was made for man (Mark 2:27). It's supposed to be a day of rest for us, not celebration. God rested on the seventh day to give us the model to follow. After all, God doesn't need to rest so why else would He do it?