KEEPING THE SABBATH by Pastor Stephen Benton

Keeping The Sabbath This article addresses the issue of observing the Sabbath Day. There are many religions and denominations where the focal point is whether or now we are required to keep the Sabbath Day. The subject at hand is whether the Apostles kept the Sabbath. Before I go into detail and offer up a plethora of evidence such as that which was offered by the Sabbath keepers, let us cut to the chase and establish what we mean by keeping the Sabbath. The real point under consideration is whether or not the Apostles kept the Sabbath according to the Law of Moses as a requirement essential to New Testament salvation. In the fifteenth chapter of Acts, the Church faced a similar issue. The issue was circumcision. “And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said. Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” Acts 15:1 “When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissention and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them , should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. Verse 2 “But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to keep the Law of Moses.” Verse 5 The issue is clear. There were those enforcing the Mosaic law of circumcision as mandatory for New Testament salvation. The apostles did not ratify their view as indicated by Peter’s remarks. “And God which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” Verses 8 - 11 Peter’s comments echo the summation given by God in Romans regarding the success rate of those who were under the Law of Moses, also called the dispensation of law: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Romans 3:19 Translated: Gentiles were not the recipients of the Law of Moses. Those who were the recipients, Israelites, failed to measure up to its demands. That included observing the Sabbath. The following verse tells us that even if God’s chosen people actually kept all 613 ordinances of the law, they still would not have been pronounced justified by God. “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Verse 20 The next verse delineates the difference between the Mosaic Law and the dispensation of grace. Jesus Christ brought salvation to Jew and Gentile alike not by obedience to written ordinances but through faith in the finished work of Christ. Jesus himself told his listeners not to think of him as one who came to destroy the Law of Moses but to view him as the only one whose life successfully fulfilled the Law of Moses. He did not achieve that feat through a checklist routine. Keeping all of the law all of the time was a natural act for Jesus because the Law of Moses itself was written based on the character and life of who Jesus was. It was obvious that those in Jesus’ time who thought they were keeping the Sabbath were not doing so due to their continuous conflict with Jesus regarding his Sabbath day actions. Those who accused Jesus of breaking the law of the Sabbath were guilty of having Sabbath actions but not possessing a Sabbath heart, much like those who enforce keeping the Sabbath today as a requirement for salvation. “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3: 21-23 There are many scriptures such as those posted associating the Apostles with Sabbath meeting and sabbatical affairs but there is not one single passage indicating that they enforced keeping the Sabbath as a requirement for salvation. Why? “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Romans 10:4 For a deeper understanding on this subject, read Paul’s passage in Romans 14: 1 – 7 It should be noted that the Old Testament feast of Weeks was established by God as the birthday of the New Testament church, also known as Pentecost. The church was born on Sunday and the Apostles met in worship on Sunday. Yet even though that was the official day for the birth of the church, it too was never required as the day of worship by the Apostles. Going to church on Sunday is not a requirement of salvation.