Sabbath

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  • #6810
    Rahab
    Participant

    Sabbath definition

    (Heb. verb shabbath, meaning "to rest from labour"), the day of rest. It is first mentioned as having been instituted in Paradise, when man was in innocence (Gen. 2:2). "The sabbath was made for man," as a day of rest and refreshment for the body and of blessing to the soul. It is next referred to in connection with the gift of manna to the children of Israel in the wilderness (Ex. 16:23); and afterwards, when the law was given from Sinai (20:11), the people were solemnly charged to "remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." Thus it is spoken of as an institution already existing.

    In the Mosaic law strict regulations were laid down regarding its observance (Ex. 35:2, 3; Lev. 23:3; 26:34). These were peculiar to that dispensation. In the subsequent history of the Jews frequent references are made to the sanctity of the Sabbath (Isa. 56:2, 4, 6, 7; 58:13, 14; Jer. 17:20-22; Neh. 13:19). In later times they perverted the Sabbath by their traditions. Our Lord rescued it from their perversions, and recalled to them its true nature and intent (Matt. 12:10-13; Mark 2:27; Luke 13:10-17). The Sabbath, originally instituted for man at his creation, is of permanent and universal obligation.

     The physical necessities of man require a Sabbath of rest. He is so constituted that his bodily welfare needs at least one day in seven for rest from ordinary labour. Experience also proves that the moral and spiritual necessities of men also demand a Sabbath of rest. "I am more and more sure by experience that the reason for the observance of the Sabbath lies deep in the everlasting necessities of human nature, and that as long as man is man the blessedness of keeping it, not as a day of rest only, but as a day of spiritual rest, will never be annulled. I certainly do feel by experience the eternal obligation, because of the eternal necessity, of the Sabbath. The soul withers without it. It thrives in proportion to its observance. The Sabbath was made for man. God made it for men in a certain spiritual state because they needed it. The need, therefore, is deeply hidden in human nature. He who can dispense with it must be holy and spiritual indeed. And he who, still unholy and unspiritual,would yet dispense with it is a man that would fain be wiser than his Maker" (F. W. Robertson). The ancient Babylonian calendar, as seen from recently recovered inscriptions on the bricks among the ruins of the royal palace, was based on the division of time into weeks of seven days. The Sabbath is in these inscriptions designated Sabattu, and defined as "a day of rest for the heart" and "a day of completion of labour."

     The change of the day.

    Originally at creation the seventh day of the week was set apart and consecrated as the Sabbath. The first day of the week is now observed as the Sabbath. Has God authorized this change? There is an obvious distinction between the Sabbath as an institution and the particular day set apart for its observance. The question, therefore, as to the change of the day in no way affects the perpetual obligation of the Sabbath as an institution. Change of the day or no change, the Sabbath remains as a sacred institution the same. It cannot be abrogated. If any change of the day has been made, it must have been by Christ or by his authority. Christ has a right to make such a change (Mark 2:23-28). As Creator, Christ was the original Lord of the Sabbath (John 1:3; Heb. 1:10).

    It was originally a memorial of creation. A work vastly greater than that of creation has now been accomplished by Him, the work of redemption by dying on the cross. We would naturally expect just such a change as would make the Sabbath a memorial of that greater work. True, we can give no text authorizing the change in so many words. We have no express law declaring the change. But there are evidences of another kind. We know for a fact that the first day of the week has been observed from apostolic times, and the necessary conclusion is, that it was observed by the apostles and their immediate disciples. This, we may be sure, they never would have done without the permission or the authority of their Lord. Jesus Christ bestowed all of His power and authority to the apostles and sent them the Holy Spirit to indwell in them.  It is through the Holy Spirit that the apostles and their immediate disciples work in their ministries. 

    After His resurrection, which took place on the first day of the week (Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1), we never find Christ meeting with his disciples on the seventh day. But he specially honoured the first day by manifesting himself to them on four separate occasions (Matt. 28:9; Luke 24:34, 18-33; John 20:19-23). Again, on the next first day of the week, Jesus appeared to his disciples (John 20:26). Some have calculated that Christ's ascension took place on the first day of the week. And there can be no doubt that the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was on that day (Acts 2:1). Thus Christ appears as instituting a new day to be observed by his people as the Sabbath, a day to be henceforth known amongst them as the "Lord's day." The observance of this "Lord's day" as the Sabbath was the general custom of the primitive churches, and must have had apostolic sanction (comp. Acts 20:3-7; 1 Cor. 16:1, 2) and authority, and so the sanction and authority of Jesus Christ. The words"at her sabbaths" (Lam. 1:7, A.V. ) ought probably to be, as in the Revised Version, "at her desolations."

  • #44038

    Joshua
    Participant

    Just as you have shown here I choose to follow the example set by Jesus Christ after the resurrection.

    #44039

    Simon
    Participant

    There is a flaw in the reasoning even if WMSCOG is wrong about Acts 20:7 being first fruits breaking bread still doesn't mean worshipping God for a regular weekly service. and 1 Cor 16 says to set money aside not to collect it.

    #44040

    Joshua
    Participant

    You really do miss Gods heart with all of this legalism.

    #44041

    Simon
    Participant

    Joshua wrote:

    You really do miss Gods heart with all of this legalism.

    Legalism is Takanot not God's law.

    loocpoc wrote:

    The sabbath starts at sundown Friday. Ends Saturday evening. That is how Jesus worshipped on the sabbath… Your church does not celebrate the true sabbath.

    Biblicaly unsound.

    #44042

    Joshua
    Participant

    Shimon, check out Liftons example of what cults do. Your displaying key parts of it with your answers. Nice job! How does it feel to fit into that mould?

    #44043

    genny
    Participant

    shimon wrote:

    loocpoc wrote:

    The sabbath starts at sundown Friday. Ends Saturday evening. That is how Jesus worshipped on the sabbath… Your church does not celebrate the true sabbath.

    Biblicaly unsound.

    There is evidence of both sunrise-to-sunrise and sunset-to-sunset day keeping in the Bible.  And if your salvation hinges on whether you count your day as starting at sunrise or sunset, then what kind of God are you worshipping?  Think about it.

    Read here for the evidence of both reckonings:

    http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/books/crucifixion/4.html

    #44044

    Simon
    Participant

    There was no erev before God created light the first day so even ignoring the word and came before erev the first day cannot have started with erev like you claim with Genesis 1:5

    #44045

    Joshua
    Participant

    What kind of logic is this? In case you missed it, which you may not have read this part of the Bible because it doesn’t support the WMS, the Sabbath was implemented after God created light. That brings up a different question. God created light. He’s the creator. Where’s the supposed mother during this time? There’s no mention of her at all. Maybe she was on Sabbath or more likely she didn’t exist at all.

    #44046

    Simon
    Participant

    Nope

    וַֽיְהִי־  [and came]

    עֶ֥רֶב [setting]

    וַֽיְהִי־ [and came]

    בֹ֖קֶר [morning]

    י֥וֹם [day]

    אֶחָֽד׃ [one]

    #44047

    Simon
    Participant

    You are aware it says Elohim created light not Yehovah created light.

    #44048

    Joshua
    Participant

    That’s right! In context Elohim yields the greatness or superiority of God. Christians know that we have a great and superior God. He’s the creator. He created the light. Is your god great or superior? Our God created everything. What has Ahn or Zahng done? Don’t try to give them credit for things that our God has done. What have those two done? Jesus did many things while he was among us. What has Zahng or Ahn done?

    #44049

    Simon
    Participant

    How do you prove the Jewish "demon possesed" "sorcerer" is God?

    #44050

    Joshua
    Participant

    What kind of crazy nonsense are you dribbling on about now? Does it have anything to do with the Sabbath? Are you announcing that your gods are demon possessed and sorcerers?

    #44051

    Simon
    Participant

    It has to.do with your question to me

    #44052

    Joshua
    Participant

    So your answer is what?

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