PART 1
Intro.
A. Of the ten commandments given in Ex. 20:1-17 and Deut. 5:1-21,
there is one that is not re-instated in the New Testament.
1. There is no command in the New Testament which binds the
Sabbath on Christians.
B. There are a number of religious bodies around the world that
insist that the Sabbath as the day of Worship.
1. In this lesson, we will examine some of the arguments made
by those who keep the Sabbath.
2. In our next lesson, we will seek to ascertain from the New
Testament which day is binding on Christians.
I. SOME CLAIM THAT THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK WAS INSTITUTED BY THE
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND NOT THE NEW TESTAMENT OF CHRIST.
A. "The first public measure enforcing Sunday observance was the
Law enacted by Constantine, approximately 321 A.D."
B. "It was in behalf of the Sunday that the Papacy first asserted
its arrogant claims; and its first resort to the power of the
state was to compel the observance of Sunday as the Lord's
Day."
C. "When the Sabbath was changed by papal power, the seal was
taken from the Law."
1. All the above references can be found in The Great
Controversy, by Ellen G. White.
D. It is thus asserted that the transformation from the Sabbath
(Saturday) to the first day of the week (Sunday) was due to the
Roman Catholic Papacy and not according to the Gospel of Jesus
Christ.
1. This is a position the Catholic Church readily accepts
because it boasts its claim of authority.
2. In the Catholic book, The Faith of Our Fathers, by James
Cardinal Gibbons, on pages 72-73, Mr. Gibbons says, "Now
the Scriptures alone do not contain all the truths which a
Christian is bound to believe, nor do they explicitly enjoin
all the duties which he is obliged to practice."
a. He gives the example of the Lord's day as one of those
examples. He continued, "But you may read the Bible
from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a
single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The
Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday,
a day which we never sanctify."
b. The N.T. Scriptures enforce "the first day of the week"
as the day of worship. Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2
(1) This should settle the matter once and for all.
II. THEY CLAIM THAT GOD'S SANCTIFICATION OF THE SEVENTH DAY MAKES IT
BINDING FOR ALL MEN.
A. Those who observe the Sabbath claim that God's sanctification
of the seventh day in Gen. 2:1-3 is a command for all men of
all ages to observe the Sabbath.
1. The problem with this key passage is that there is no
command to observe the Sabbath.
2. The command regarding the Sabbath is first found in Exodus
16:23-30 and given regarding the manna.
a. It should be noted that this occurrence was given as a
test to see if they would walk in the commandments of
the Lord. Ex. 16:4
3. Note that the conditions of the Sabbath law were not binding
as of yet, because some went out to gather on the seventh
day and were not punished. Ex. 16:27-28
4. Later, after the Sabbath law was given, a man who gathered
sticks on the Sabbath was stoned to death. Num. 15:32-36
III. IT IS ARGUED FROM THE PASSAGE FOUND IN EXODUS 5:5 THAT THE
ISRAELITES WHERE OBSERVING THE SABBATH BEFORE THE EXODUS.
A. Once again, this is only an assumption. The word Sabbath is not
found in this verse.
1. Neh. 9:13-14 - Why would God need to make known to
them something they already knew and practiced?
2. Clearly, they did not know anything about Sabbath keeping
until the Law was given on Mount Sinai.
IV. IT IS ARGUED FROM EXODUS 20:8 THAT THE WORD "REMEMBER" SHOWS THEY
ALREADY KNEW ABOUT IT; THEREFORE, IT'S BINDING ON ALL MEN TODAY.
A. The command to "remember the Sabbath day" means from that
day forward they were to remember it.
1. God commanded the children of Israel to "remember" the
Passover feast even though this was the first time they had
heard of it. Ex. 13:3
2. From that day forward, they were to remember it.
B. The obvious fact that is overlooked here is the ones to whom
the Sabbath command is directed.
1. Exodus 20:2; Deut. 5:2-3 - Clearly, it is directed to the
Israelites.
2. The Old Testament covenant was made with Israel. Exodus
34:27; Mal. 4:4
3. The New covenant is different from the one made with
Israel. Heb. 8:6-9
C. It is true that God made a comparison to His resting after
creation. Ex. 20:10-11
1. However, the parallel account in Deuteronomy adds some
very important information. Deut. 5:12-15
a. Please notice: "...Therefore the Lord your God
commanded you to keep the Sabbath day." Deut. 5:15
b. They were once slaves in Egypt without a day of rest.
c. They were delivered by the mighty hand of God, and the
Sabbath was given to remind them of this deliverance.
D. Also, the Sabbath was given as a "sign" between God and Israel
throughout their generations. Ex. 31:12-17; Ezek. 20:12
E. Some of those who observe the Sabbath want to make an
argument on the words "perpetual" and "forever."
1. However, this is not the same expression "forever and ever"
that is found in other passages, but it means "age lasting,
or until an indefinite period of time."
2. The words "perpetual" and "for ever" are from the same
word in the original.
3. Jehovah Witnesses use this same word, as found in Eccl. 1:4,
to try to prove that the earth is to abide forever.
4. Notice how the word "for ever" is used in the following:
a. Ex. 12:14 - "Keep it (Passover) a feast by an ordinance
for ever"
b. Ex. 29:9 - "Priest's office shall be theirs for a
perpetual statute"
c. Lev. 24:9 - "Offerings...made by fire by a perpetual
statute"
d. Num. 18:19 - "It is a covenant of salt for ever"
e. 2 Kings 21:7 - "In this house...will put my name for
ever"
f. 2 Chron. 2:4 - "He hath commanded his covenant for
ever"
g. 2 Chron. 33:4 - "In Jerusalem shall my name be for
ever"
h. Jonah 2:6 - "Earth with her bars was about me for ever"
V. WHEN SHOWN THAT THE LAW OF MOSES IS NO LONGER BINDING, THOSE WHO
KEEP THE SABBATH ARGUE: "THE 'CEREMONIAL LAW' WAS TAKEN AWAY BUT
NOT THE 'MORAL LAW.'"
A. Thus, according to them, the ceremonial law, which included
such things as animal sacrifice and the burning of incense, was
done away; but, the moral law, which included the ten
commandments, was not done away.
B. First, they cannot prove that there was any such distinction in
the law.
1. Secondly, keeping the Sabbath appears to be a ceremonial
law rather than a moral law.
2. Thirdly, please consider the following chart. (See chart
below)
Concl.
A. We have shown that those who keep the Sabbath make weak
arguments in order to establish their practice.
B. Remember, in all the instructions to Christians there is not a
single command for a Christian to keep the Sabbath; instead, we
are instructed to not keep it. Col. 2:16
C. While the same sort of restrictions concerning the Sabbath are
not repeated, e.g., no cooking, no work, etc., yet, there
should be a certain reverence regarding the Lord's day.
1. Christians are forbidden to forsake the assembling of
themselves together. Heb. 10:25.
2. We need to take care so that our work, rest, and recreation
do not interfere with our worship on the Lord's Day.
D. The Sabbath is gone forever, but there still remains a God to
be praised and worshiped, and we need to make time in our busy
schedules to faithfully worship Him on the Lord's day.
Chart:
They affirm: "The 'ceremonial law' was taken away but not the 'moral
law.'"
The ten commandments were called the covenant. Ex. 34:28; Deut. 4:13
God made His covenant with them when He brought them out of Egypt. 1
Kings 8:9
The covenant which was made when they came out of Egypt was taken
away. Heb. 8:6-13
That which was written and engraved in stones is part of that which
passed away. 2 Cor. 3:6-11
The ten commandments were written with the finger of God. Ex. 31:18;
Deut. 9:10
The handwriting of ordinance was taken away. Col. 2:14
This, most definitely, includes the Sabbath as shown in Col. 2:16.
PART 2
Intro.
A. In our last study, we examined the arguments made by those who
teach that the Sabbath is binding today.
B. In this lesson we want to examine the New Testament to see
what it teaches regarding the proper day of worship for
Christians.
C. John the apostle said that he was in the spirit "on the Lord's
day." Rev. 1:10
1. What day is "the Lord's day" in the New Testament? Is it
the Sabbath or is it the first day of the week?
2. Definitely, the first day of the week is the Lord's day and
is the day of worship for Christians.
I. THERE WERE MANY EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE
WEEK.
A. As we know, Christ arose on the first day.
1. Notice how carefully the Holy Spirit shows us exactly which
day on which the Lord arose. Matt. 28:1,6; Luke 23:56-24:1
B. Christ appeared to the Disciples on that first day when He
arose, and on the following first day.
1. He appeared first to Mary Magdalene. Mark 16:9
2. On "that same day" He appeared to the two on the way to
Emmaus. Luke 24:13-15
3. He appeared to the eleven on that same day; and then, one
week later, He appeared to the twelve with Thomas present.
John 20:26
4. Thus, these first two appearances to His disciples were on
the first day. We do not know which day the third
appearance by the Sea of Galilee was on. John 21:14
C. Pentecost came on the first day of the week. Lev. 23:15-16
1. Therefore, all the events that took place on that day were
on the first day of the week.
a. The Holy Spirit came in fulfillment of prophecy.
b. The New Testament Law went into effect.
c. The gospel, in its entirety, began to be preached.
d. The church or kingdom had it beginning.
II. THE SCRIPTURES PLAINLY SHOW WHEN THE DISCIPLES MET TO PARTAKE OF
THE LORD'S SUPPER. Acts 20:7
A. This verse show us that the common practice of the early
disciples was to meet on the first day of the week to partake
of the Lord's Supper.
1. Even though Paul was "hurrying" on his journey (Acts
20:16), they stayed seven days (Acts 20:6-7) so that they
could worship with the saints who met on the first day of
the week.
a. This week would have included a Sabbath, but there
was no mention of it as a day of worship.
B. The term "breaking of bread" can refer to both a common meal
and to the Lord's Supper. The context determines which one is
under consideration.
1. Here in Acts 20:7, we see that it is a worship service of
the disciples of Christ. Thus, "breaking of bread" here
refers to the Lord's Supper.
a. See also 1 Cor. 10:16-17 where breaking of bread refers
to the Lord's Supper.
(1) It is also called "the Lord's table." 1 Cor. 10:21
2. Later in this same context of Acts 20:7, it mentions where
only Paul (notice the "he") broke bread for the ordinary
eating of food.
a. Acts 2 also mentions, regarding "breaking of bread."
both the Lord's supper and ordinary eating. Acts
2:42,46
C. As we know, Jesus commanded His disciples to eat the supper
which He instituted. Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke
22:15-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26
1. Consider 1 Cor. 11:20. Paul states the negative, but the
positive was what they should have been doing as he goes
on to show.
a. Though 1 Cor. 11:20-34 does not mention the day, it
shows they were partaking of the Lord's Supper on a
regular basis.
D. Some modern-speech translations use "Saturday night" in Acts
20:7
1. They are giving their own opinion as to what time they think
it was, rather than what the Holy Spirit said.
a. It is the duty of translators to give exactly what is
said, and not a commentary on what they think it means.
b. These people insist that Luke was using Jewish time
(from sundown to sundown) and it could have been
Saturday night here.
(1) They are admitting that even in Jewish time, it
could have been the next day; that is, the next day
when the night was over.
(2) However, their translation does not allow for this.
2. Luke, a Gentile, was writing to Theophilus, a Gentile, and
speaks regarding a church in a Gentile city.
a. He would have no reason to be using Jewish time here.
He would simply use the Roman time they were under
which was from midnight to midnight, the same as
ours.
(1) Luke did not say, "Now on the early part of the
Sabbath, when the disciples came together to break
bread..."
III. GIVING WAS TO BE DONE ON THE FIRST DAY. 1 Cor. 16:2
A. This, again, shows that in that early age the Christians
worshiped on the first day.
B. Again, Paul did not say, "On the Sabbath, let each one of you
lay by him in store."
Concl.
A. The New Testament reveals that the first day of the week is the
Lord's day, the day of worship for Christians.
