Did the Early Church worship on Sabbath?

[St. SteVen]

This is a refreshing and welcome departure from the kind of responses I usually get in this kind of situation and my appreciation for that could hardly be understated.

Yes.
Hopefully we are modeling something that others will adopt in time.

My inclusion of the inserted "[Books of the]" in these two scriptures aids in understand what they mean.
Too many think that they are promotion the laws themselves. Which makes no sense in close analysis.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the [Books of the] Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. - Matthew 5:17 NIV
And...
He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is
written about me in the [Books of the] Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” - Luke 24:44 NIV

/

 

[WalterandDebbie]

Not only did the Jews come for Sabbath but the Gentiles, and in Acts we see almost the whole city wanted to be there on the Sabbath.

Acts 13:42-44
King James Version (KJV)
42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Now we see the Gentiles keep the Sabbath in Antioch as we see Paul when he came there, meeting with them in the synagogue on the Sabbath day.

Acts 13:14
But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

We see much the same in the early church in Thessalonica when Paul as was his manner, entered on three Sabbath days and reasoned with them out of the scriptures.

Acts 17:2
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

And we see more of the same in the early church in Corinth were Paul went every Sabbath and we clearly see it says "persuaded the Jews and the Greeks."

Acts 18:4
And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

And we see it was the same thing that Christ had done when He was in His ministry before Paul.

Mark 6:2
And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

Luke 4:16
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

Luke 4:31
And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.

As had Christ, the Paul worshiped in the early church on the seventh-day Sabbath. We clearly see that in his travels Paul attended the synagogue on the Sabbath with Gentiles and Jews, and preached Christ. Even in places where there was no synagogue, he searched for where the early church met for Sabbath worship.

We find much in history that shows the early church observing the seventh day Sabbath which nearly all Protestant, Orthodox, or Roman Catholic theologians agree was true, and showed that the Sabbath was clearly spread throughout the world in the early church.

Josephus
"There is not any city of the Grecians, nor any of the Barbarians, nor any nation whatsoever, whither our custom of resting on the seventh day hath not come!" M'Clatchie, "Notes and Queries on China and Japan" (edited by Dennys), Vol 4, Nos 7, 8, p.100.

Philo
Declares the seventh day to be a festival, not of this or of that city, but of the universe. M'Clatchie, "Notes and Queries," Vol. 4, 99

Early Christians
"The primitive Christians had a great veneration for the Sabbath, and spent the day in devotion and sermons. And it is not to be doubted but they derived this practice from the Apostles themselves, as appears by several scriptures to the purpose." "Dialogues on the Lord's Day," p. 189. London: 1701, By Dr. T.H. Morer (A Church of England divine).

Early Christians
"...The Sabbath was a strong tie which united them with the life of the whole people, and in keeping the Sabbath holy they followed not only the example but also the command of Jesus." "Geschichte des Sonntags," pp.13, 14

2nd Century Christians
"The Gentile Christians observed also the Sabbath," Gieseler's "Church History," Vol.1, ch. 2, par. 30, 93.

Early Christians
"The primitive Christians did keep the Sabbath of the Jews;...therefore the Christians, for a long time together, did keep their conventions upon the Sabbath, in which some portions of the law were read: and this continued till the time of the Laodicean council." "The Whole Works" of Jeremy Taylor, Vol. IX,p. 416 (R. Heber's Edition, Vol XII, p. 416).

You can find even more in this study..
at The Sabbath and First-Day During the First Five Centuries

Yes Sir, Great post Hobie

Love, Walter And Debbie

 

[Ziggy]

On the 6th day God finished all his work and restedin the 7th day.
When Jesus died upon the cross and gave his spirit back to God, He said, it is finished.

The work he had come to do, to bring salvation to a dying world was fulfilled.
We are in the 7th day. The day of Grace. We don't know how long this day will last but we do know:

Heb 3:12
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Heb 3:14
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Heb 3:15
While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.


Because Tomorrow is going to bemuch different than to day.

Rev 6:17
For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

If we are made partakers of Christ, and Christ is Lord of the Sabbath, then our worship should be in him, daily while it is called To day.

And God rested IN the Sabbath. We rest IN Christ.

God gave man the Sabbath, God gave man his Son.


It's not the day that's important. It's who the one your worshipping that's important.

Rom 14:5
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

So you do you and be content therein. And don't try to persuade others from their contentment.
Hugs

 

[Ronald Nolette]

Not only did the Jews come for Sabbath but the Gentiles, and in Acts we see almost the whole city wanted to be there on the Sabbath.

Acts 13:42-44
King James Version (KJV)
42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Now we see the Gentiles keep the Sabbath in Antioch as we see Paul when he came there, meeting with them in the synagogue on the Sabbath day.

Acts 13:14
But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

We see much the same in the early church in Thessalonica when Paul as was his manner, entered on three Sabbath days and reasoned with them out of the scriptures.

Acts 17:2
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

And we see more of the same in the early church in Corinth were Paul went every Sabbath and we clearly see it says "persuaded the Jews and the Greeks."

Acts 18:4
And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

And we see it was the same thing that Christ had done when He was in His ministry before Paul.

Mark 6:2
And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

Luke 4:16
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

Luke 4:31
And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.

As had Christ, the Paul worshiped in the early church on the seventh-day Sabbath. We clearly see that in his travels Paul attended the synagogue on the Sabbath with Gentiles and Jews, and preached Christ. Even in places where there was no synagogue, he searched for where the early church met for Sabbath worship.

We find much in history that shows the early church observing the seventh day Sabbath which nearly all Protestant, Orthodox, or Roman Catholic theologians agree was true, and showed that the Sabbath was clearly spread throughout the world in the early church.

Josephus
"There is not any city of the Grecians, nor any of the Barbarians, nor any nation whatsoever, whither our custom of resting on the seventh day hath not come!" M'Clatchie, "Notes and Queries on China and Japan" (edited by Dennys), Vol 4, Nos 7, 8, p.100.

Philo
Declares the seventh day to be a festival, not of this or of that city, but of the universe. M'Clatchie, "Notes and Queries," Vol. 4, 99

Early Christians
"The primitive Christians had a great veneration for the Sabbath, and spent the day in devotion and sermons. And it is not to be doubted but they derived this practice from the Apostles themselves, as appears by several scriptures to the purpose." "Dialogues on the Lord's Day," p. 189. London: 1701, By Dr. T.H. Morer (A Church of England divine).

Early Christians
"...The Sabbath was a strong tie which united them with the life of the whole people, and in keeping the Sabbath holy they followed not only the example but also the command of Jesus." "Geschichte des Sonntags," pp.13, 14

2nd Century Christians
"The Gentile Christians observed also the Sabbath," Gieseler's "Church History," Vol.1, ch. 2, par. 30, 93.

Early Christians
"The primitive Christians did keep the Sabbath of the Jews;...therefore the Christians, for a long time together, did keep their conventions upon the Sabbath, in which some portions of the law were read: and this continued till the time of the Laodicean council." "The Whole Works" of Jeremy Taylor, Vol. IX,p. 416 (R. Heber's Edition, Vol XII, p. 416).

You can find even more in this study..
at The Sabbath and First-Day During the First Five Centuries

Jesus certainly went to synagogue on Sabbath. He was Jewish.

Teh early church being almost exclusively Jewish would go to sabbath synagogue and then afterwards meet for Christian teaching. this usually was after sundown so was considered Sunday. But that is why you see many writers speaking of the early church keeping Saturday- it was mostly Jewish. And as for Paul going to towns outside of Israel, He went to the Jews first. He would argue in the synagogues using the OT to prove Jesus was Messiah. Then afterwards, If a gentile crowd had gatherd, they would be outside of th esynagogue and Paul would teach them in the streets. the early church did not have very organized services like we do. They were mostly gatherings in homes or on the streets to hear a teaching from an elder.

Paul spoke in Corinthins of layhing aside an offering for the starving Jewish believers on teh first day of the week (Sunday) The church ha sno formal Sabbath day. OUr command is simplyh to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

If memory serves me, the 3rd commandment has no direct reiteration in the NT, either

Sure it's OK now to use God's Name in vain???

You don't see anything in the New Testament on this topic at all?

Do not swear – not by heaven or by earth or by anything else.
James 5:12

Here's the rest of them....

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Matthew 22:37

Dear children, keep yourself from idols.
1 John 5:21

Honor your father and mother.
Matthew 19:16-21

You shall not murder.
Matthew 19:16-21

You shall not commit adultery.
Matthew 19:16-21

You shall not steal.
Matthew 19:16-21

You shall not give false testimony
Matthew 19:16-21

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Colossians 3:5


The Missing Commandment
There is no command in the New Testament to observe any sabbath days. All of the other commandments are repeated, but not that one. Why? Because, unlike the others, there is no longer any need for a sabbath. The sabbath was instituted as a remembrance of God’s work in Genesis, and pointed to God’s work of dying on the cross for the sins of the world. The sabbath was a shadow of a coming reality, and that reality has come Who is Jesus Christ in Whom we have our rest.

 

[BarneyFife]

Sure it's OK now to use God's Name in vain???

Only according to your twisted, obstinate "God must chew His cabbage twice for me" logic.

You see, many Christians don't require a specially worded command from their favorite part of Scripture in addition to what God has already etched in stone with His own finger, recorded in another part of Scripture—the only part that the Apostles had available to them as they presided over the Jerusalem Council, by the way.

You don't see anything in the New Testament on this topic at all?

Do not swear – not by heaven or by earth or by anything else.
James 5:12

I'm not seeing "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain"—certainly not in the sense that you're demanding a retread of "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy."

Honestly, this would be utterly hilarious if it weren't so tragic.

The low standard you set for upholding the 3rd commandment from NT Scripture thoroughly impeaches the high standard you set for even allowing consideration of the 4th.

If you just stop the hasty, ill-conceived equivocating now you can possibly preserve some minute degree of credibility.

I suppose it would be untoward of me to turn your question back on you, albeit with the 4th commandment in place of the 3rd:

You don't see anything in the New Testament on this topic (the 4th commandment) at all?

(...like the Sabbath being mentioned by name roughly 50 times?)

Because, unlike the others, there is no longer any need for a sabbath. The sabbath was instituted as a remembrance of God’s work in Genesis, and pointed to God’s work of dying on the cross for the sins of the world. The sabbath was a shadow of a coming reality, and that reality has come Who is Jesus Christ in Whom we have our rest.

There is nothing in the Bible to suggest that the 7th-day Sabbath is a shadow of Christ's sacrifice. The sabbaths that were shadows, spoken of in Colossians 2, are the festival sabbaths listed in Leviticus 23, clearly distinguished from the Sabbath of the LORD in verse 38 of the same chapter.

And, keep in mind, just a few decades ago, NO ONE had to have this explained to them. It is entirely an Information Age-era, neo-Christian, neo-New Covenant aberration.

Exodus 20:8-11 says plainly that the Sabbath is a memorial of a past event—creation, just as Deuteronomy 5 does in pointing back to the Exodus.

The Sabbath of the 4th commandment is not an antitype or shadow of anything to come—it points backward to things that have already occurred and is a moral imperative that has been downgraded by man to an inconvenient relic of Judaic elitism.

The Lamb of God was slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). His promise was as good as the deed itself in Heaven's estimation, and ensured the salvation of all who would cling to it—from Adam to the last child born prior to the Parousia.


.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

The Sabbath of the 4th commandment is not an antitype or shadow of anything to come

Colossians 2:16,17
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:
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Now that Jesus is come... the old testament ways are obsolete because Jesus is here now, and He take preeminence over all.

 

[BarneyFife]

Colossians 2:16,17
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:
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Now that Jesus is come... the old testament ways are obsolete because Jesus is here now, and He take preeminence over all.

The Sabbath of the 4th commandment was never a shadow of things to come. It is a memorial to creation and the Exodus—which, itself, apart from the Sabbath, is a prefiguring symbol of redemption.

The distinction between the weekly Sabbaths of the LORD and the feast sabbaths referred to in Colossians 2 is made clear in Leviticus 23:37-38.

.

 

[Ziggy]

Thou shalt not take the Lord thy God's name in vain.

I see this as ...
When one says that they are a "Christian" thereby taking the Lord's name to identify themselves as belonging to him,
And then doesn't live by the name ... denying the power thereof...
2Pe 2:1
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Vain, is vanity it mean worthless,

Exo 20:7
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

1. emptiness, vanity, falsehood
   1. emptiness, nothingness, vanity
   2. emptiness of speech, lying
   3. worthlessness (of conduct)

Jhn 10:25
Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.

If Jesus had come and said, I and my Father are one. And he did nothing to show for it.
To me that would be taking the Lord's name in vain.
There is power in the name of Jesus.

Act 4:7
And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

Col 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

I hear, Thou shalt not take (wear, adorn, put on, apply) the name of the Lord thy God in vain ( emptiness, worthless, powerless)
For the Lord will not hold him guiltless, (denying the power thereof) that taketh his name in vain.

If I say I am Christ's and I don't live like a Christian, then I am taking the Lord's name in vain.

That's how I hear it.
Hugs

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

The Sabbath of the 4th commandment was never a shadow of things to come

OK, so take Colossians 2:16,17 out of your bible and play like the old covenant has not be taken away by the Lord so He could establish the New Covenant which is based on better promises.

 

[Writer]

The Sabbath represents God's rest on the seventh day. By using only our own understanding, we can create a Religion out of this; by using God's perspective and revelation, we can create a relationship with God from this.

In the 1st chapter of Genesis we only see God. God speaks, and He acts on His word. However, in the 2nd chapter we see "The Lord God", we don't see Just God anymore...Why? Because God rested on the 7th day and the Lord God took over. In other words, God rested on His word, because nothing that was created was created apart from God's word and therefore God handed His word the Lordship of everything that was created through Him. Later, His word became flesh and dwelt among us as the only begotten of the Father. The Sabbath is God's "Perfect Rest". When Jesus said come, let us go to the other side and then rested on His word, his disciples became frightened by the storm that was brewing and woke Jesus from His rest. Jesus said "you men of little faith". Why? Because His disciples should have rested on His word as well. That's what following Jesus means. He said it, now rest. Thus, the Sabbath.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

Because God rested on the 7th day

And, He's been at rest CONTINUALLY ever since.

Under the New Covenant we should also be at rest CONTINUALLY.... not just one day a week because we abide IN Him... something the old testament saints could not do..

 

[St. SteVen]

The Sabbath of the 4th commandment was never a shadow of things to come. It is a memorial to creation and the Exodus—which, itself, apart from the Sabbath, is a prefiguring symbol of redemption.

The distinction between the weekly Sabbaths of the LORD and the feast sabbaths referred to in Colossians 2 is made clear in Leviticus 23:37-38.

.

What does this mean then?

Colossians 2:16,17
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:
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

/

 

[St. SteVen]

The Sabbath of the 4th commandment was never a shadow of things to come. It is a memorial to creation and the Exodus—which, itself, apart from the Sabbath, is a prefiguring symbol of redemption.

The distinction between the weekly Sabbaths of the LORD and the feast sabbaths referred to in Colossians 2 is made clear in Leviticus 23:37-38.

.

This reference broadens the shadow aspect to "the law". (the whole law?)
Probably defined as the law God gave to the Israelites through Moses. ???

Hebrews 10:1 NIV
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.
For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year,
make perfect those who draw near to worship.

/

 

[Taken]

Did the Early Church worship on Sabbath?

The Early Church was a “gathering” of People, (primarily Jews), being gathered together in their Synagogs, being taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ, BY Jews. (Ie. Jesus, Disciples and Jewish Rabbi’s).

Gentiles were also invited and many attended Services in Synagogs on the Sabbath.

My Understanding, is the “stir” that was caused by the ‘gathering’ together of Jews and Gentiles in Synagogs and Teachings of Christ Jesus, the Messiah, was not favorable to ALL Jews….and thereafter a transitional period of separation ensued bit by bit amid the contentions and accusations.

It appears during the transitional period, interest of many Gentiles were thirsting to learn about the Jewish God, while the welcome mat into the Synagogues was fading away, as the pressures from “Groups” of Jews who opposed Gentiles being present in the Synagogues.
(Considering, a Synagogues protocol was similar to the Temple…One Speaker, and every one else quiet and Listening. Which seemingly was not so much the case with eager Gentiles (men and women) speaking, asking, talking up, during the ONE readings of scripture.)

Homes, Taverns, Inns, began as meeting places for Gentiles to hear about the Jewish God and speak the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Thereafter, not much different than today…as materials, funds, skills were available, buildings were erected and used for duel purposes of meeting halls, schools, churches.

There appears to be within the “transition”
From Gentiles meeting in Jewish Synagogues on the Sabbath, to Gentiles also at some point meeting on the First day of the week.

Why? One can speculate…
The Synagogues like the Temple was a place to attend, be silent, and listen.
My speculation IS, Gentiles were intrigued, were curious, had many wonderments, had many questions and desired discussions.

Paul gives a HINT in Scripture which seems to point to Gentiles “gathering” on SUNDAY’S and a reference to monetary offerings gathered at that time.

1 Cor. 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.

Another reference in Scripture about the first day of the week, is it being the Day Christ the Lord rose up from the Dead.

John 20:
[1] The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

Also interesting to note…regarding the Transition period…
* Jews steeped in the Knowledge Of God were processing to hear and learn something new…
ie Christ Jesus their Messiah.
* Gentiles steeped in the Knowledge of numerous idols and gods were processing to hear and learn something new…
Ie the Heavenly God AND Christ Jesus Gods Messiah.

Also interesting to note…To this day…Gentiles “Churches”…have morning…
Sunday “school”…speaking, asking, discussions allowed and encouraged.
Sunday “church’….one speaker, congregation quiet and listening.
( A mix of early Jewish tradition with the added necessity of discussions that Gentiles missed for 4,000 years. )

Sunday….First day of the Week….a Celebration of Christ the Lord Jesus rising up from the Dead….and Praise to God?

An issue with the Lord God?
I doubt it.

While Jews were appointed to be the Teachers of Gods Word to the world….
The World was not appointed to become Jews.

Every day is a day the Lord hath made.
I believe the Lord God is pleased with Jew or Gentile who Believes and Worships Him.

Glory to God,
Taken

 

[BarneyFife]

And, He's been at rest CONTINUALLY ever since.

Pure, delusional fantasy—we'd all be dead.

But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now [He has never ceased working], and I too am working.” (John 5:17)

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)


There are probably a hundred or more places that say God is working right now. Honestly, it's like you just say whatever the Bible doesn't say—like the Bizarro world in Superman comics.

Under the New Covenant we should also be at rest CONTINUALLY.... not just one day a week because we abide IN Him... something the old testament saints could not do..

Have you ever read the Psalms?

Just type "rest in the Psalms" into Google and have yourself an "old testament saint" good time.

"Old testament saints" needed the rest of Hebrews 4 as badly as New Testament saints (whatever that is) need the rest of Exodus 20:8-11.

God never changes. The New Covenant is the Everlasting Covenant—forward and backward. No one has ever been saved but by the blood of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).

.

 

[Ziggy]

And, He's been at rest CONTINUALLY ever since.

Under the New Covenant we should also be at rest CONTINUALLY.... not just one day a week because we abide IN Him... something the old testament saints could not do..

I don't see Him resting at all. He is working in us all everyday. It's us who rest in him, and he who works through us.
Eph 3:20
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Phl 2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

But I understand what your saying. That his work is truly rest. It's like staying home with the family instead of going off to war.
He abides with us and we abide with him, and we are at rest.
And his work is light and his burden is easy, it is more blessed to give than to recieve, and he gives us himself daily.

The sun is shining today

Hugs

 

[BarneyFife]

This reference broadens the shadow aspect to "the law". (the whole law?)
Probably defined as the law God gave to the Israelites through Moses. ???

Hebrews 10:1 NIV
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.
For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year,
make perfect those who draw near to worship.

/

(This post was kinda rushed because I gotta be somewhere, so it might be a little disjointed.)

Not a word about moral law until verse 16 of chapter 10, SS.

Theocratic civil law turns up in verse 28.

The law that was changed was Sacrificial/Ceremonial law, from Aaron of Levi to Melchizadek, the kingly priest that prefigured Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

For it is not possible that the {Aaronic} blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. (10:4)

This is kind of a long read, but it's pretty informative:

Feast Days and Sabbaths | Bible Prophecy Truth

There's one truth about the Ten Commandments that Satan's taken pains to hide. Uncover the incredible reason why Sabbaths in the Bible still matter today.

www.bibleprophecytruth.com

Civil law was abrogated with the end of Theocracy which took place in stages—the rejection of God as king in favor of a Canaanite model of government with Saul; the Babylonian captivity; and, finally, the rejection of Christ when the veil between the second and third apartment of the Sanctuary/Temple was rent in two as Christ breathed His last. The taking of the Gospel to the Gentiles was the final straw for national Israel, marked by the stoning of Stephen. This is foretold in the prophecy of Daniel 9:24:

.

 

[BarneyFife]

What does this mean then?

Colossians 2:16,17
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:
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

/

SS, up until about 25 or 30 years ago virtually no one believed it had anything to do with the 4th commandment, except for maybe rich kids going to forward-thinking seminaries.

I've asked repeatedly for someone to post some scholarly work dated from the mid 20th century or earlier citing the nullification of the 4th commandment. I haven't had a single taker.

About 25 years ago I read a paper on Harold Camping's (of all people) Family Radio website arguing Sunday vs Saturday that was so good it was almost scary. I can't find it anymore. It's honestly the only anti-Sabbatarian piece that's ever given me any cause for concern. But even that wasn't anti-Sabbatarian in the sense that we see today. It was just a "which day" argument.

My dad was raised Southern Baptist and, unlike me, he was at church every time the doors were unlocked until he was 17 years old. It was no backwater church, either. His dad owned all the grocery stores in town.

I asked him about a year ago if he'd ever heard of the Ten Commandments being nailed to the cross. He said "What?!"

I've asked people if they believed the Ten Commandments or even just the 4th was nailed to the cross 30 or more years ago.

Crickets.

It's a scam, SS. And the thing is, once you decide you're not falling for it, you're still not off the hook. My dirty rags are still just as filthy as anyone's. We ain't outta here yet. And I'm no better than anyone who rejects the 7th-day Sabbath—only better off, in a manner of speaking. I have the advantage of the benefit that the Sabbath affords, but I'm still completely dependent on Christ for a debt I can never pay. There's no way around the simple Gospel of Romans 5:6-10. While we were yet without strength, while we were yet sinners, nay, while we were the enemies of God, Christ died for our sins.

But the Sabbath is not a burden at all. It's rest. And when kept properly, I tell you, it's like being a kid at Christmastime once a week. I remember feeling that way somewhat on Sunday when I was a kid.

But now that I've had 34 years to study it seriously, I don't know what I'd do without it. And, so far from taking the idolatrous place of rest in Christ from my own works for salvation, it's made me appreciate that rest all the more.

When you get used to putting every unnecessary thing on hold for 24 hours once a week so you can concentrate on Who Jesus really is to you, it makes it very hard for you to forget what He's done for you in creation and redemption for the rest of the week.

I know I may be going a little overboard with this and I know some folks are standing by ready to vomit all over it but, honestly, I feel sorry for them. And not in the condescending way that people do when they indulge in self-righteous indignation, but the way you would if you got so many presents for Christmas that they wouldn't fit under the tree, and you went outside to play with your new stuff and saw a really poor kid playing all alone in the street with a rock and a stick. And no matter how hard you tried to give him a couple of your presents, his parents just wouldn't let him take them.

Some people are open-minded. Others think you're trying to buy their souls. I just gotta do what I gotta do, you know? And I'm aware that I have to bear the brunt of the damage that legalistic Sabbatarians (including myself) have done to the cause of Sabbath restoration to some degree.

I know I can be aggressive at times, especially with folks I perceive to be spiritual bullies (because I've got a deep-seated complex about bullying—long story).

But I don't need for anyone to believe what I say. My word means nothing. I'm just expressing my own experience of what God talks about in Isaiah 58:

Isa 58:1-14 ISV
1 “Shout aloud! Don’t hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Declare to my people their rebellions, and to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 They seek me day after day, and are eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practices righteousness and has not forsaken the justice of their God. “They ask me to reveal just decisions; they are eager to draw near to God. 3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they ask, ‘but you do not see? ‘Why have we humbled ourselves,’ they ask, ‘but you take no notice?’” “Look! On your fast day you serve your own interest and oppress all your workers. 4 “Look! You fast only for quarreling, and for fighting, and for hitting with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice heard on high. 5 “Is this the kind of fast that I have chosen, merely a day for a person to humble himself? Is it merely for bowing down one’s head like a bulrush, for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is this what you call a fast, an acceptable day to the LORD? 6 Isn’t this the fast that I have been choosing: to loose the bonds of injustice, and to untie the cords of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, and to bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him with clothing, and not to raise yourself up from your own flesh and blood?” 8 “Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will spring up quickly; and your vindication will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will guard your back. 9 Then you’ll call, and the LORD will answer; you’ll cry for help, and he’ll respond, ‘Here I am.’ “If you do away with the yoke among you, and pointing fingers and malicious talk; 10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the needs of afflicted souls, then your light will rise in darkness, and your night will be like noonday. 11 And the LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in parched places, and they will strengthen your bones; and you’ll be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. 12 And your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; You’ll raise up the age-old foundations, and people will call you ‘Repairer of Broken Walls,’ ‘Restorer of Streets to Live In.’ 13 “If you keep your feet from trampling the Sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’s holy day honorable; and if you honor it by not going your own ways and seeking your own pleasure or speaking merely idle words, 14 then you will take delight in the LORD, and he will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; and he will make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob, your father. “Yes! The mouth of the LORD has spoken.”


.

 

[St. SteVen]

But the Sabbath is not a burden at all. It's rest. And when kept properly, I tell you, it's like being a kid at Christmastime once a week. I remember feeling that way somewhat on Sunday when I was a kid.

But now that I've had 34 years to study it seriously, I don't know what I'd do without it. And, so far from taking the idolatrous place of rest in Christ from my own works for salvation, it's made me appreciate that rest all the more.

When you get used to putting every unnecessary thing on hold for 24 hours once a week so you can concentrate on Who Jesus really is to you, it makes it very hard for you to forget what He's done for you in creation and redemption for the rest of the week.

I know I may be going a little overboard with this and I know some folks are standing by ready to vomit all over it but, honestly, I feel sorry for them. And not in the condescending way that people do when they indulge in self-righteous indignation, but the way you would if you got so many presents for Christmas that they wouldn't fit under the tree, and you went outside to play with your new stuff and saw a really poor kid playing all alone in the street with a rock and a stick. And no matter how hard you tried to give him a couple of your presents, his parents just wouldn't let him take them.

Thanks.
That's EXACTLY what Christians need to hear about the seventh day Sabbath. (or any day, I suppose) ???

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