Dispute over Sabbath will continue until “Judgment Day”

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The Sabbath is and remains the central theme when it comes to “disputes” surrounding the written word. This is guaranteed to continue until the “last day,” in the truest sense of the word.

Majority opposes the biblical Sabbath

It’s striking that the biblical Sabbath, the fourth of the Ten Commandments, is the only one to be doubted, rejected, and even fought tooth and nail. This applies less to non-Christians who don’t want anything to do with the Bible in the first place than to those who do call themselves Christians.

Hardly anyone would think of doubting the first commandment (only one God), the 6th commandment (not to kill) or the 8th commandment (not to steal) (the real 10 commandments according to Exodus 20 – Info).

However, the Fourth Commandment, the Sabbath, seems to trigger real allergies. Arguments against the Sabbath fundamentally ignore the fact that this commandment is part of the Ten Laws written by God personally on two stone tablets. Indeed, the early Reformers defined the Sabbath commandment as a “ceremonial law” that was no longer valid. This was already enshrined in the 1530 Creed presented to Emperor Charles V in Augsburg.

Church of Rome has exceptionally correct argument

Thus, even the Roman Catholic Church was right at the Council of Trent in its argument that the Protestants were demonstrating hypocrisy in their proclaimed “Sola Scriptura” because they were following the traditions of the Roman Church and not the Scriptures.

The Church of Rome established Sunday as the “Lord’s Day” after declaring the biblical Sabbath a “Jewish matter” and transferring the day to be sanctified to the first day of the week (Sunday) (Info). In addition, the date of Easter was fixed on a Sunday (Council of Nicaea, 325).

In its argument against the Reformation, the Roman Catholic Church is at least right. Anyone who claims to teach according to Sola Scripura would have to observe the Sabbath.

The confusion of laws

It’s actually not that difficult to distinguish between the Ten Commandments (God’s moral laws) and the ceremonial laws (the laws of Moses). Both sets of laws have different characters, different purposes, and were even preserved in their written form in different places. The ceremonial laws are laws based on statutes or bylaws (Info). However, the Ten Commandments of God are unchanging laws that also reflect the character of the equally unchanging God.

The Ten Commandments help people recognize which acts constitute sin. The ceremonial laws were introduced because people had sinned. These latter laws were actually abolished with the crucifixion of Jesus, as the ceremonial laws symbolized His work of salvation and self-sacrifice. The Ten Commandments, on the other hand, have remained unchanged and always will.

Thus, Christians who consider Sunday their prescribed day of sanctification, but consider the Sabbath, a commandment of God, to be rejected, face a huge problem. For, James 2:10:
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.“

Keeping only 9 of the 10 commandments means not only consistently (not accidentally) breaking one of the commandments, but also maintaining that constant violation. A dilemma, for this is lawlessness, even if it is “only” one of the ten commandments, 1 John 3:4:
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.“

All confusion seems to concern Sabbath

The confusion surrounding the gospel is already enormous, almost impenetrable. However, one gets the impression that this confusion is specifically targeting the Sabbath. It’s not just about the Sabbath explicitly written in stone (the Ten Commandments on stone tablets), but also about the entire context of the Sabbath. What the multitude of confusions has in common is that they attempt to undermine the foundation of the recognition of the Sabbath as a binding commandment. This is also evident in the arguments put forward as to why the Sabbath should no longer be observed.

Undoubtedly, however, it is Jesus Christ himself who is at the center from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, but who is to be marginalized. Through Jesus Christ, everything was created, and He is also Lord over the Sabbath. Thus, fundamentally, all attacks on the written Word are automatically attacks on Jesus Christ, the living Word of God.

Excerpt of common arguments against the Sabbath commandment

The following arguments are an excerpt of what users on social media are putting forward to justify a Sabbath that has been “abolished” for Christians, or to refute any reference to the perfectly valid Sabbath.

1. Where are the Gentiles commanded to keep the Sabbath?
2. What do you do with Acts 15, the Council of Jerusalem for the Gentiles?
3. Was the historically documented Jewish Christians’ abandonment of the Sabbath and their shift to worship on the first day (the Lord’s Day) a departure from the Ten Commandments?
4. What if Christ broke bread on the first day of the week and sent the Holy Spirit in the upper room on the first day of the week?
5. Romans 14:6 – Why would you abuse the Sabbath to attack and send away fellow believers? … In Christ, all who keep it and those who do not are accepted.
6. The Holy Spirit was not poured out on everyone thousands of years before, but specifically in Acts 2 on the first day when Christ was glorified, to give gifts to all people. If Christ did this again in Acts 4 with the Gentiles without a Sabbath, why were these conditions set? Aren’t Christ’s actions the very basis of communication? He accepted the Sabbath and those who do not keep it equally? Why this separation?
7. If the Sabbath in Isaiah 66 is to be kept for eternity, then it is obvious that it is not a weekly Sabbath, since there are no weeks in eternity.
8. The Sabbath in Genesis was for God rest, completion; for Adam and Eve, it was the beginning of God’s finished work; they began their FIRST day in REST.
9. The “strangers” were Gentiles within Israel, not outside. You can ask Daniel, Mishael, Hananiah, and Obadiah. None of them kept the Sabbath. Would you call them apostates? We are not within the borders of Israel.
10. There is no commandment in the New Testament for Gentiles to keep the Sabbath, just as there is no commandment in the New Testament to keep Sunday. Jesus fulfilled all of these laws and redefined the Sabbath so that we can now rest in it and not on a day. Sunday-keepers go to church to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, and Sabbath-keepers go to church on Saturdays. Above all, God sees your heart and intention behind your worship, not churches or holidays.
11. The Bible is an allegory Galatians 4:21-25, which things are an allegory
12. Colossians 2:16-17 (KJV) 16 Therefore let no one judge you in food or drink, or in respect of a certain festival or new moon or sabbath. 17 For these are a shadow of things to come, but the body is Christ’s..

On Argument 1

Isaiah 56:5-8 provides a clear answer to this question. An excerpt:
“Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.“

On Argument 2

Acts 15 clearly deals with the handling of the Laws of Moses, that is, the (abolished) ceremonial laws. There were still some teachers present who wanted to comply with the Pharisees’ demands and impose them on the arriving Gentiles. There is no mention here at all of God’s Ten Commandments, which also include the Sabbath commandment.

On Argument 3

Indeed, isolated early Christian communities did turn away from the commandments. This was especially true of the Sabbath. This affected the first Christians in the Alexandria (Egypt) area and especially in Rome. The ongoing attacks on Sabbath-keepers also originated from Rome (Info).

This is exactly the development that already existed in the time of the apostles, when Paul warned about it in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-10. “…For the mystery of iniquity doth already work…”
This is what apostasy from the true faith looks like, and it began very early in some regions.

On Argument 4

The term “breaking bread” is fundamentally not a sign of a “sacred act.” It is the common expression used when a piece of bread is shared at the beginning of a meal. A quite common tradition in the Middle East. If the expression “let us raise our glasses” is used today, it would also be open to much interpretation if this custom is unknown or not a tradition. This is especially true for people in another region, even a good 2,000 years later..

The Holy Spirit may have come upon the apostles on the first day of the week. Fine. But does this automatically nullify one of God’s commandments? Or is the nullification described differently? They could have met on the third or sixth day. But the situation existed at that time, because on the seventh day, the apostles kept the Sabbath and therefore refrained from collecting donations and offerings. This was made up for on the first day.The Holy Spirit may have come upon the apostles on the first day of the week. Fine. But does this automatically nullify one of God’s commandments? Or is the nullification described differently? They could have met on the third or sixth day. But the situation existed at that time, because on the seventh day, the apostles kept the Sabbath and therefore refrained from collecting donations and offerings. This was made up for on the first day.

On Argument 5

As usual. Romans 14:6 is a single verse presented and interpreted. It would be better to start with the first verse to understand the context. Fundamentally, the young church was dealing with new approaches. Many of them were pagans, with their own customs and traditions. These very traditions, including certain (holiday) days, were to be allowed to remain with them as long as they did not violate God’s will and commandments.

In this context, there is no evidence at all of a statement that it makes no difference whether the Sabbath is observed..

On Argument 6

The argument that the Holy Spirit would not have fallen upon the Gentiles if Sabbath observance were a prerequisite confuses cause and effect. It is the Holy Spirit who points people to their sins. Without the Holy Spirit, people would live out their fallen nature and be completely unconcerned about the Christian faith.

The requirement to keep all of God’s commandments before the Holy Spirit comes would be a contradiction in terms. For only the Spirit of God leads willing people to keep all(!) commandments, and thus also to keep the 4th commandment, the Sabbath.

On Argument 7

Isaiah 66 offers a brief preview of the circumstances on the new earth. New moon festivals and the Sabbath will be observed. However, the conclusion that there will no longer be a weekly schedule in eternity is incomprehensible and the “logic of an individual thought pattern.” Rather, the reason for the Sabbath (creation and salvation from sin) indicates that this day will always be explicitly observed every 7th day in eternity as a reminder.

On Argument 8

It may be true that the 7th day of creation was the FIRST day of REST for Adam and Eve. But to justify this as a day to be sanctified (the 1st day of the week – Sunday) requires a considerable amount of thought-structure contortion. Exodus 2:2-3 makes it clear that the 7th day was blessed and sanctified by God. It is about the period of time “day 7” and not about who experiences what in it and what is related to it.

On Argument 9

The argument is that one was only a Gentile within the territory of Israel, but no longer a Gentile outside its borders. Again, a rather far-fetched explanation. Clearly, God’s admonition was to separate oneself from the Gentile nations and not to enter into any deeper relationships with them. This was especially true for marriages between Israelites and Gentiles. But these Gentiles didn’t become Gentiles only after they set foot on the territory of Israel. After all, the term “Gentile nations” is also used.

Israel, God’s chosen people, had the primary task of setting a shining example for the Gentiles so that they too would be convinced of the true God. However, all the prophetic books of the Bible indicate that they completely and stubbornly messed it up. It was no coincidence that Daniel, Mishael, Hannah, and Obadiah were exiled to Babylon, where, of course, no Sabbath was observed. They were sent into what was essentially a punitive exile for 70 years because, despite repeated exhortations, the people refused to return to God’s path. This particularly concerned their constant disregard for the Sabbath, by no longer closing the gates of Jerusalem but blithely pushing trade goods through, allowing the Gentiles (including those from Tyre) to do the same.

On Argument 10

A valid commandment, once declared, does not lose its validity unless its validity is explicitly or regularly repeated. Furthermore, Jesus did not fulfill “all these laws” to abolish them. “All these laws” is incorrect anyway, since a distinction must be made between the laws of God (the Ten Commandments) and the commandments of Moses (ceremonial laws). Anyone who clings to Matthew 5:17 should urgently read verses 18 and 19 as well.

Jesus’s redefinition of the Sabbath is unfounded and should actually be substantiated by the Bible’s reference to such a statement.

Going to church on Sunday is a human tradition, introduced by the early church in Rome, which eventually collapsed into the Roman Catholic Church. Unfortunately, the Reformation also adopted this tradition. However, all of this does not affect God’s binding Fourth Commandment.

God sees into the hearts of people, that’s true. God accepts all people as they are, that’s true. BUT should people remain as they are? Absolutely not! That’s the catch. Yes, God lets in whoever knocks, but then the cleansing must also take place. People are saved FROM sin if they want to, but never IN sin. Sin must be overcome (Info).

On Argument 11

The claim “the Bible is an allegory” is not a correct statement in itself. While the Bible contains allegories, it is not allegory as a whole. Galatians 4 may be such an example, but then you should first clarify in your own mind what “allegory” actually means.

An allegory is not a representation of fiction. It is a pictorial representation of facts. This represents a fact “symbolically” to make it more understandable to the audience. Allegories thus depict realities, not unreal stories.

On Argument 12

Colossians 2 also speaks fundamentally about the traditions and customs of newcomers to the Christian community. These people, mostly Gentiles, were burdened with their own traditions. They observed their dietary rules on certain special days. So why not? There’s nothing wrong with that as long as they didn’t violate God’s commandments. This also applied to Jewish newcomers who still wanted to adhere to the laws of Moses (ceremonial laws). However, these were abolished by Jesus’ self-sacrifice. This also included certain holidays, new moons, and Sabbaths (plural! That is, various festival days).

Paul warned us not to burden the newcomers with prohibitions and regulations that are actually irrelevant.

The Sabbath will be the “crowning final theme”

Have you ever seen such arguments used to declare any other commandment of God null and void? Not really!

It’s actually quite obvious. The Sabbath, the identifying mark, the seal of God, the recognition of His authority, was already the focus of the adversary’s attacks in the Old Testament. So why should it be any different today? After faith has been generally implemented by doubting the Bible as God’s Word, the theory of evolution has been used to cast doubt on God’s creation, and the rainbow rites have been used to destroy the marriage order between man and woman, the time has now come to attack God’s authority as a whole.

The Sabbath is also expected to be the “crowning conclusion” of the entire drama that has been unfolding for some 6,000 years. First, the command to observe Sunday, followed by a prohibition against observing the true Sabbath. The signs of this are already visible (Info).

This would also address the topic “Mark of the Beast“.

Bible verses from King James Version (1611)