Attacks on the Sabbath and those who uphold the God-given special 7th day of the week are increasing. The arguments against the Sabbath, as always, naturally completely miss the point of the gospel, but the tone is becoming louder and more aggressive.
A current example
At least there’s still some life on social media when it comes to belief in the gospel. However, the proponents of narratives that focus solely on the gospel and attack it with every possible means appear much more lively. This also happens to those who uphold the gospel.
If someone wants to trigger numerous reactions to a post on social media, the best way to do so is by defending the Sabbath, the 7th day of the week. Because, like Pavlov’s dog’s reflex, the “protesters” suddenly swarm in, and even a normally quiet room suddenly becomes chaotic.
The following is such an argument from a user who clearly has a problem with the God-given Sabbath. His comment has been split into individual sections (grammatically corrected). The unaltered quote can be found at the end of the post.
No matter when the Sabbath really is
Argument:
“What’s wrong with you people? It doesn’t matter when the Sabbath actually is.“
It does matter when the Sabbath “really” occurs. For God established the Sabbath at the completion of His creation. The 7th day after 6 days of creation has since been the blessed and sanctified 7th day by Him (Genesis 2:2-3). Not the 2nd, not the 6th, nor even the 1st day, but the 7th day of the week.
God explicitly reiterated the 7th day in Exodus 20:9-10, among other places:
“Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:“
and in Deuteronomy 5:13-14:
“Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.“
God never changed the Sabbath, the 7th day of the week. What He has made holy remains holy, so also the law (10 Commandments) and the Sabbath is the Fourth Commandment of the Law.
2 Chronicles 30:8:
“Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.”
Romans 7:12;
“Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.”
Psalm 119:142:
“Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.“
Godm is real
Argument:
“God is real and is watching you all.“
Yes, we can, may, and should assume that God is real and is observing us all. The argument itself is strange. Because it concerns the law of God. How one could come up with the idea of remembering that God (the Lawgiver) actually exists remains a mystery.
The observation is even described in the Gospels that God “keeps an eye” on all of us in order to record exactly what we do in our lives, or rather, what we fail to do.
Revelation 20:12 describes such a scene:
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.“
What are eyes used for? To see. The fact that humans are under constant observation is also demonstrated by the (symbolic) equipment of the “living creatures” described by Ezekiel and also John (on Patmos).
Ezekiel 1:18:
“As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four.“
Revelation 4:6;8
“…and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.”
“…and they were full of eyes within:“
What’s happening here on Earth is an example for the rest of the universe. Not only God is watching closely, but also “everyone else,” 1 Corinthians 4:9:
“for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.“
God sanctifies what He does not like
Argument:
“It is faith that pleases God, not the Sabbath.“
A strange statement. Yes, man’s (true) faith certainly pleases God. But doesn’t the Sabbath, which God has blessed and sanctified, please Him? The sign that He is the true, living Creator and leads humanity out of sin, the sign that He Himself established so that humanity receives not only a mark of recognition (a seal) but also a mark of recognition for His exclusive authority, shouldn’t it please God Himself?!
The Sabbath is the Fourth Commandment of His Law. True faith leads to keeping the Law, which consists of a total of 10 Commandments. Thus, also to keeping the Fourth Commandment, the Sabbath commandment. For (true) love is the fulfillment of the Law (Romans 13:10).
The dead Jesus Christ
Argument:
“Jesus died for all of you, and he wants you to remember his death until he comes.“
This statement “literally reeks” of occultism or the Roman Catholic perspective. Jesus Christ died on the cross, but that was only half the journey. For this was followed by the resurrection and then the ascension to heaven to take the throne at the right hand of God. At least equally important is that Jesus Christ has since then been the High Priest of us all in the Heavenly Sanctuary (Info).
Jesus’ death was the price for the sin He did not inflict, but for all our sins, which He took upon Himself. Jesus Christ Himself was without sin, and therefore He could rise again, with all righteousness.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is an absolute prerequisite for the resurrection of dead man, 1 Thessalonians 4:14:
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.“
1 Corinthians 15:12-14:
“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.“
Remembering ONLY His death is the “wishful thought” of the Roman Church and, in general, of those who prefer to see Jesus Christ dead. Represented, among other things, by the popular crucifix of the Church of Rome, in which Jesus hangs dead on the cross and, in this sense, remains dead. For, according to the dogma of the Roman Church, Jesus did not die to forgive sins, but to establish the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church (Alphonsus Liguori).
Sabbath is not a day of salvation
Argument:
“The Sabbath cannot save you, only Jesus can if you believe in him.“
The Sabbath (the 7th day of the week) is indeed not an explicit “day of salvation.” Just as “you shall not steal” or “you shall not covet” are not each a recipe for salvation. But no matter how you twist and turn it, the Sabbath is the fourth of the Ten Commandments. Written by God personally on two stone tablets. Anyone who lacks (true) love will stumble in keeping the commandments, for love is the fulfillment of the law.
This lack of love is also present when (almost) all the commandments are kept, but “only” one is not. For example, the Sabbath commandment, which describes the blessed and sanctified day on which fellowship with God takes place. James 2:10:
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
The Ten Commandments are to be understood as a whole. The transgression of one of the “articles” contained in the law means the transgression of the entire package. For the transgression of the law IS sin, 1 John 3:4:
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.“
And the violation of a king’s law is rebellion against the king. It doesn’t matter which law is violated, because full recognition of the king leads to the deliberate observance of all his laws.
Jesus broke the law without sin
Argument:
“Jesus broke the Sabbath and is without sin.“
How does one come to such a conclusion, or rather, what must have happened to draw such a conclusion? The argument could just as easily have been, “Jesus stole (or murdered, or committed adultery, etc.) and is without sin.” An oxymoron.
If it had been stated that Jesus “abolished” the Sabbath, then this argument would have a different basis. But no, “broke” but remained without sin.
That would be arbitrary, just as the adversary accuses the Father in heaven with a raised finger. For Jesus Christ came as a human being, from the “flesh of sin” (Romans 8:3). He reduced himself to a creature like us (Philippians 2:5-8), exposed to temptations and also subject to the law, if Jesus had remained in the flesh and not in the spirit. This is the reason why Jesus was able to overcome this world and remain completely without sin.
Jesus Christ neither broke the Sabbath (nor abrogated it – Info), nor in any other way arbitrarily exalted Himself above a law established by Himself. Since the law of God is an equivalent of His character, namely love, any breaking of the law would be evidence of a lack of love. 1 John 2:4:
“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.“
The claim that Jesus broke the Sabbath and (yet) remained without sin portrays the Son of God as an arbitrary, devious liar. Furthermore, it suggested that Sabbath disregard was not a sin at all. Again, the vinegar of occultism, or rather, Roman Catholic doctrine, is evident here. Babylonian confusion.
Reversal of the Pharisee position
Argument:
“You all behave like the scribes and Pharisees. Luke Chapter 6 Verse 1. And it happened on the second Sabbath after the first, that Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples were plucking heads of grain and rubbing them in their hands and eating.“
The classic. Accusing others of what you do yourself. The Pharisees concocted countless, mostly completely nonsensical rules for the Sabbath. They imposed this set of rules on people and thus kept them in check and under control. Plucking ears of grain, rubbing them in one’s hands, and finally eating them was never a violation of God’s Sabbath. But it was an affront to the Pharisees’ unspeakable set of rules. Jesus Christ didn’t care about the gagging regulations of these scholars with the spirit of Babylon. It’s that simple.
This also doesn’t constitute “Sabbath violation” if grain from the field is eaten. However, the Pharisees insisted that this should not be done. Rather, the behavior like “the scribes and Pharisees” is found in the one who put forward this argument, because he himself takes the position of these scholars, since he declares the Sabbath to be broken by eating grain.
This approach of turning the tables on the argument in order to denounce, with seemingly innocent hands, a crime that one oneself commits with great regularity, is also reminiscent of the Church of Rome and thus of the poisonous mendacity of the serpent in the Garden of Eden (Info).
“You are filled with madness”
Argument:
“Luke Chapter 6 Verse 11. And they were filled with madness and consulted with one another about what they might do to Jesus. They were filled with madness, just as you all are right now.“
Anyone who doesn’t have any (better) arguments simply attacks personally. We’re already familiar with this. This doesn’t really require any justification or counterarguments. Anyone who equates the defense of the Sabbath, God’s Fourth Commandment, with an attack, even a mad attempt to kill Jesus Christ, has obviously rejected the work of the Holy Spirit too many times.
The mere attempt to follow this line of thought is exhausting and futile. Completely irrational.
“Any” faith is enough
Argument:
“When Jesus comes, he isn’t looking for a Sabbath; he’s looking for faith. Let your faith grow in him. Luke chapter 18 verse 8. Yet when the Son of Man comes, he will find faith on earth.“
Yes, Jesus will not seek a Sabbath. What is that supposed to mean? Jesus is Lord even over the Sabbath. He doesn’t need to seek it, because it comes automatically, every 7th day of the week (Info). However, at His return, Jesus Christ will still find some people on earth who remember this 7th day (Exodus 20:8) and absolutely reject the human law that requires observing the 1st day.
Those who have a true love for the truth will research the Bible with motivation and enthusiasm. This includes comparing Bible editions and, especially, researching the original text, i.e., in Hebrew and Greek. Some Bible editions exhibit significant differences. This applies especially to the (not recommended) modern Bibles (Info).
The “small” difference
Just as the English King James Bible (1611) has been the target of some fierce attacks, this Bible is equally recommendable. German equivalents are the Luther 1912, the old Elberfelder 1871, and the Schlachter 2000. In the case of Luke 18:8, however, the translators of the King James had a less fortunate hand, but the makers of Schlachter 2000 did. A look at the original Greek text, however, provides reassurance.
Luke 8:18 (Schlachter 2000 – translated):
“I tell you, he will quickly bring justice to their cause. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find the faith on earth?”
Luke 8:18 (King James 1611):
“I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
Luke 8:18 (textus receptus, Stephanus, 1550):
“λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ποιήσει τὴν ἐκδίκησιν αὐτῶν ἐν τάχει πλὴν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐλθὼν ἆρα εὑρήσει τὴν πίστιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς”
The last words, “τὴν πίστιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς”, do not describe “faith on earth” but “THE faith on earth”.
Of course, Jesus Christ will find faith on earth when He returns. A great deal of it, in fact. But is it “just any” faith, or is it “THE” faith, that is, true faith in the gospel as found in the Word of God? This is precisely where the “small but subtle” difference lies. Because even atheists have “faith,” whether they know it or not (Info). Humanity is moving directly toward a faith that, while containing something “divine,” essentially focuses on creation rather than the true Creator, and “deifies” humanity itself (Info).
Everything goes its way
Such attacks on the Sabbath and those who uphold God’s Fourth Commandment have become a regular occurrence. It’s no surprise, but it’s even explicitly predicted that at the end of time, the true followers of Jesus Christ, who believe, speak, and live according to the Law and the Prophets, will be the ones who are persecuted.
However, all of these attacks can easily be refuted or countered if one simply takes the Gospel and argues with, “Thus says the Lord…” or, “It is written…”
That’s it, nothing more is needed. On the other hand, if arguments come from the realm of esotericism, occultism, or from the Roman Catholic Church and its Catechism and Social Teaching, then one also remains limited to referring solely to the written Word of God..
For the acceptance or rejection of the Word of God is the self-testimony of the believer or unbeliever. The world watches, witnesses, and God, and no one else, passes judgment.
Jesus Christ is the truth (John 14:6)
The Word is the truth (John 17:17)
The law is the truth (Psalm 119:142)
That’s all it takes!
The one who presented the arguments “for his own good” gives the impression that he was firing off with purpose, rather than being caught in “blind error.” He employed a number of familiar narratives as well as rhetorical strategies, only with the relative “novelty” of equating Sabbath-keepers with “insane people.” The tone becomes harsher.
For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
3 John 1:3-4
Bible verses from King James Version (1611)
The original text of the comment:
“what is wrong with you people it doesn’t matter when the Sabbath really is God is real and is watching you all it’s faith that pleases God not Sabbath Jesus died for you all and he wants you to remember his death until he comes Sabbath can’t save you only Jesus can when you believe in him Jesus broke the Sabbath and is sinless you all are behaving like the scribes and pharisees
Luke chapter 6 v 1 and it came to pass on the second Sabbath after the first that he went through the corn fields and his disciples plucked the ears of corn and did eat rubbing them in their hands Luke chapter 6 v 11 and they were filled with madness and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus they were filled with madness just like you all are doing right now Jesus not looking for no Sabbath when he comes he is looking for faith grow your faith in him Luke chapter 18v8 nevertheless when the son of man comes shall he find faith on the earth“
