Sunday and Sabbath Observance, Rest and
Worship
DID JESUS AND THE APOSTLES CHANGE THE DAY OF WORSHIP FROM THE SEVENTH TO THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK?No one but the Babylonians and the Mithra in Rome worshiped the gods on the Sabbath. Worship to a Jew was falling on his face and is defined by words such as "hard bondage" but this was not on the Sabbath.
Rather, because the pagans worshiped their gods on the Sabbath where the "gods rested" and the people performed the services of feeding, clothing, housing, entertaining and having sex (with the god's agents).
Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. Nehemiah 13:18
Profaning the Sabbath was exactly by the musical worship Israel had participated in for over 400 years in Egypt. For that reason, God turned them over to "worship the starry host" but protect the faithful few by restricting their activities on the Sabbath.
It is not possible to keep the Sabbath in the Jewish, legal sense and still hold "church" services:
Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. Je.17:22
Polluting self was doing what pleased self. No where in the Bible and ancient history is there any thing more polluting or profaning God than attempting to, as in Babylon, influence either god or the worshipers with music.
God through Isaiah even shut the mouths of preachers (sermonizing) on the Sabbath:
If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Isaiah 58: 13
Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Isaiah 58:14
Moses was the first to give the Sabbath as "rest" as part of the Book of the Covenant to protect Israel from the pagan sabbaths.
And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant: Neh 9:14
However, the leaders of Israel made the Sabbath into a "worship" ritual just as they had worshiped in Egypt:
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, Neh 9:16
Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations; Neh 9:18
Profaning self broke the Sabbath at Mount Sinai. Here is the way it was usually done in paganism or most of Jewish rituals
Chalal (h2490) khaw-lal'; a prim. root [comp. 2470]; prop. to bore, i. e. (by impl.) to wound, to dissolve; fig. to profane (a person, place or thing),denom. (from 2485) to play (the flute): - begin (* men began), defile, * break, defile, * eat (as common things), * first, * gather the grape thereof, * take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound.
Profaning the Sabbath by doing their own things and "improvizing like David" was always with music which said to God: "We will not listen to your Word."
Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. Nehemiah 13:18
Profaning self broke the Sabbath at Mount Sinai. Here is the way it was usually done in paganism or most of Jewish rituals
Chalal (h2490) khaw-lal'; a prim. root [comp. 2470]; prop. to bore, i. e. (by impl.) to wound, to dissolve; fig. to profane (a person, place or thing),denom. (from 2485) to play (the flute): - begin (* men began), defile, * break, defile, * eat (as common things), * first, * gather the grape thereof, * take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound.
"The triumphal hymn of Moses had unquestionably a religious character about it; but the employment of music in religious services, though idolatrous, is more distinctly marked in the festivities which attended the erection of the golden calf." (Smith's Bible Dictionary, Music, p. 589).
"...these same people were punctilious in their religious observances. Never did such abundant sacrifices smoke to Yahweh from the altars at Dan and Bethel and other sanctuaries in Israel; and the note of praise rose regularly and loudly from tongue and harp.
Was not this the worship in which Yahweh delighted? So they thought, but the voice of yahweh through His prophet told a different story." (F.F. Bruce, Israel, p. 58).
There was no congregational singing with instrumental accompaniment among the "people's" congregation. There was no praise service in the Synagogue.
Red E-mail Comments from: Redemption; or the Temptation of Christ --in-- The Wilderness, page 24, paragraph 1
The word Sunday is not found in the Bible. In the New Testament the first day of the week is mentioned eight times. In none of the eight instances is the first day said to be a day of worship, never is it said to be the Christian substitute for the Old Testament Sabbath, and never do the texts suggest that the first day of the week should be regarded as a memorial of Christ's resurrection. Let us briefly consider each of the eight New Testament passages that mention the first day of the week.
That is a fact: Nor can you find Saturday in the Bible. Sabbath is "seven of the seven, First is 'first of the seven.'" Both the first day and seventh day at times were sabbaths. That does not mean Saturday but REST.
Jesus removed "worship" from times and physical places. The NT does not speak of "worshiping on the Sabbath" either. Sabbath means "rest" and not "worship."
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain (PLACE), nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. John 4:21
Nor does the word Jesus uses of worship mean "rest."
Proskuneo (g4352) pros-koo-neh'-o; from 4314 and a prob. der. of 2965 (mean. to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (lit. or fig.) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): - worship.
This is what the Jews did in a physical religion. However, the way to "bow" to God "in the spirit" or in the mind is to "give heed" to His Word which is Truth:
Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship; for salvation is of the Jews. John 4:22
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit (PLACE) and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. John 4:23
If you can make contact with a Spirit God with the "works" of mankind then you probably don't need Christ.
In fact you CANNOT worship a Spirit God with the works of human hands: all that we do on Saturday or Sunday is "the works of human hands" and guarantees that no "in spirit' worship can take place.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
By understanding the concept of worship "in spirit" the woman understood that Messiah would reveal the Spirit of God which is the Mind of Christ:
The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. John 4:25
Anaggello (g312) an-ang-el'-lo; from 303 and the base of 32; to announce (in detail): - declare, rehearse, report, show, speak, tell.
And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Ac.20:20
But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand. Ro.15:21
Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. John 4:26
The operative "worship" word in the New Testament is not defined by the meeting or assembly except as it "gives attendance to the reading of the Word." Worship in both the Old and New Testament has always been the bondage of falling on the face or, in a spiritual, sense to seek God through His Word: David did that.
The only person who is said to have worshiped in the assembly would be the poor outsider who would fall on his face if he actually heard everyone speaking the word one to another. This is prophesying only if you can say: "Thus saith the Lord."
Giving of our Means
Christ paid the temple tax and Paul said that giving was not a command. Therefore, "in spirit" giving may or may not be in the collection plate:
TAKE heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Matt 6:1
The WORSHIP WORD here and throughout the NT is "take heed."
Prosecho (g4337) pros-ekh'-o; from 4314 and 2192; (fig.) to hold the mind (3563 impl.) towards, i.e. pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to: - (give) attend (-ance, - ance at, -ance to, unto), beware, be given to, give (take) heed (to, unto) have regard.
So, make sure that if you are going to keep the Sabbath you do not ask the poor to give for buildings and grounds for worship because the Sabbath originally restricted one to their own home.
Praying on the Sabbath:
Jesus, therefore, insisted that to "worship in spirit" in the sense of speaking to God must be in the secret place:
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. Mt.6:5
Now, Jesus could have said: "Pray in public without being a hypocrite" but that is an oxymoron.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Mt. 6
Therefore, you cannot charge people to come to a "praying ritual" on the Sabbath because Jesus issued a direct command and an approved example of praying in private: your own home preferably.
Here goes the Church House for Sabbath Worship:
God only seeks or looks for us in the spirit or mind (nous) which is the holy place (naos) of worship. Paul said that:
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Ph.3:3
Praying always with all prayer and supplication
in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Eph 6:18
Even the "singing passages" demand instead that we teach the Word and the singing and melody is in the heart. Therefore, no "praise services" on the Sabbath because they never existed in the synagogue.
In fact, what we do as allowable on Sunday would never be allowed as "keeping the Sabbath" as a day of Worship.
Matthew 28:1, "After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake. . . ." Jesus was crucified on Friday. He rested in the tomb over the Sabbath and rose early on Sunday morning. The verse indicates that the women disciples returned to the tomb at the very first opportunity after the death and burial of Jesus. Because the Sabbath came so soon after His burial, they could not approach the tomb again until after sundown on Sabbath evening. (The Sabbath began at sundown on the sixth day and ended at sundown on the seventh day; compare Lev. 23:32; Neh. 13:19; Mark 1:21, 32) Early Sunday morning was the most convenient time for them to visit the tomb.
If Jesus was three days and three nights in the tomb we might want to look for something other than the Seventh Day Sabbath. If Jesus was crucified on Fridy then Scriptures clearly lie.
OR, you have to have Jesus resurrect on the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK to get "parts" of three days and you are still left with only two days.
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. Matt 28:1
The Sabbath ended at sun set on Saturday. It then became the first day of the week which we call Sunday: Sunday does not appear in the Bible because it is an english word. Neither does the word "worship" appear in the Bible: it is an english word.
Possibly 12 hours later the DAY LIGHT of the first day of the week began to dawn. Dawn is not the beginning of the first day or a few seconds after the end of the Sabbath but it is:
Epiphosko (g2020) ep-ee-foce'-ko; a form of 2017; to begin to grow light: - begin to dawn, * draw on.
Dawn is explained elsewhere:
ARISE, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. Isa 60:1
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Isa 60:3
The Jews were turned over to worship the starry host and so they did for most of their existence including right there in the temple.
Astrology is one of the primary methods of obtaining a message from the dead.
"Manesseh also cultivated star and planetary worship (II Kings 21:3, 5) and the cult of Moloch, an Ammonite deity, whose worship was closely connected with astral divination (Amos 5:25, 26 Acts 7:41-43) and whose ritual was characterized by parents sacrificing their children by compelling them to pass through or into a furnace of fire." (Unger, Merrill, Archaeology and the Old Testament, Zondervan, P. 279)
Therefore, Jesus is not the S.U.N. God but the God of light. We do not serve the Sun or Saturn or any planet as the creature. Rather, we worship the Light of the World Who created the S.U.N.
When Jesus Dawned He did so as the Light of the World:
The Day of Light is S.O.N. day rather than S.U.N. day:
Owr (h216) ore; from 215; illumination or (concr.) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.): - bright, clear, / day, light (-ning), morning, sun
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Isaiah 9:2
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. Isa 58:8
Owr (h215) ore; a prim. root; to be (caus. make) luminous (lit. and metaph.): - * break of day, glorious, kindle, (be, en-, give, show) light (-en, -ened), set on fire, shine.
Christ is the Light which replaces the S.U.N. which the Jews were turned over to when they rose up in musical idolatry at Mount Sinai.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Romans 13:12
Phos (g5457) foce; from an obsol. phao, (to shine or make manifest, espec. by rays; comp. 5316, 5346); luminousness (in the widest application, nat. or artificial, abstr. or concr., lit. or fig.): - fire, light
Christ cast out the old and brught in the new as light.
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:4
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you,
that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5
Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 1Jn.2:8
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12
True worship is IN SPIRIT or in the mind. The "light" which Jesus brought is the seven spirits (Isa. 11:1-4) all of which are related to the Mind of Christ (the Spirit of God) in contact with the mind or spirit of mankind:
Phaino (g5316) fah'ee-no; prol. for the base of 5457; to lighten (shine), i.e. show (trans. or intrans., lit. or fig.): - appear, seem, be seen, shine, * think.
Phemi (g5346) fay-mee'; prop. the same as the base of 5457 and 5316; to show or make known one's thoughts, i.e. speak or say: - affirm, say. Comp. 3004
Christians should continue to keep the Sabbath holy if they wish as a day of rest. However, let no one tell you that you have to "worship" on the Sabbath:
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Gal 4:9
Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years Gal 4:10
I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. Gal 4:11
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Col 2:14
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Col 2:15
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Col 2:16
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Col 2:17
The Sabbath kept the Jews away from the temptation to the "principalities and powers" clearly understood from the Babylonian system which was the originator of the Sabbath as a day of rest for the "gods" (priests, prophets, musicians, prostitutes).
However, we are not under bondage to those things since Christ emptied Satan of his power over the believer.
The synagogues were used by Christians until the Jews tossed them out. However, the teaching still took place at "school" on the Sabbath but this is never called "worship."
For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach (publish) him,
being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. Ac.15:21
They asked Willie Sutton why he robbed banks. He responded quite logically "because that is where the money is."
So ask Jesus and the Apostles why they went to the Synagogue. And they answer "because that is where the Jews are gathered."
And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. Mark 1:21
Did Jesus go into the synagogue to "worship." No, He went in to teach and this is the fundamental reason for the church meeting:
Didasko (g1321) did-as'-ko; a prol. (caus.) form of a prim. verb dao, (to learn); to teach (in the same broad application): - teach
Did Paul worship in "our" synagogue? No, he did not.
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. Ac.17:10
Paul attended the synagogue to reason with the Jews. Synagogue was like an open forum or school. You could go there and speak with or confront the rabbi if you wished. Paul went there to convert the Jews and not to defend their practices which included keeping the Sabbath as a legal day.
Is Sunday the Christian Sabbath? Of course not. The Sabbath is still the Sabbath although we call it Saturday. However, the Sabbath was never a day of worship but of study of the Word and rest.
Paul made it clear that the Corinthians didn't assemble to eat the Lord's Supper. Aside from teaching the Word like the synagogue, the Lord's Supper has always been the fundamental reason for meeting "at a stated time for a stated purpose."
First means "one" and week is the Sabbath.
Sabbaton (g4521) sab'-bat-on; of Heb. or. [7676]; the Sabbath (i.e. Shabbath), or day of weekly repose from secular avocations (also the observance or institution itself); by extens. a se'nnight, i.e. the interval between two Sabbaths; likewise the plur. in all the above applications: - sabbath (day), week.
Therefore, the Jews rested on the "seventh of the Sabbath" but Christians assembled on the "one of the Sabbath."
Seventh or ceasing is symbolic of something which is finished or reached the end of its life: one is the symbol of a new beginning.
'A question developed, however, about when to mark the beginning of this time-keeping unit ["a day"]. Two points seemed to make the most sense: sunrise or sunset. Hebrew culture chose to designate sunset as the beginning of a day.
As a result, their sabbaths and holy days began at sunset on the evening
before the daytime of the festival.
This tradition [Hebrew] carried over into Christian traditions and gave rise to the celebrations of "eves" such as Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, and Halloween (All Hallow's Eve). Other groups chose sunrise as the beginning of the day.' [4]. http://www.christianism.com/articles/13.html
Christians in many places met every day of the week but Sunday was the only time Christians are said to have met for teaching, taking the Lord's Supper and looking out for the poor: there are no "seven of the sabbath" meetings of the church in the New Testament.
Some First Day of the Week Events which never happened on the Sabbath.
God began His creative and redemptive work on "the first day of the week." God didn't "worship" on the Sabbath but ceased his work.
The disciples began their ministry to Christ on the first day of the week: the day of new beginnings:
And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. Mk.16:2
Jesus was killed by the Sabbath keepers and He made His first appearance on the first day of the week:
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. Mk.16:9
From the expression "morining" and "early" we know that this was not the Jewish First day late in the EVENING after the Sabbath.
The disciples were meeting on the first day of the week. They shut the doors showing that they had already met. When Christians meet it is not "church" but assembly or Synagogue:
Sunago (g4863) soon-ag'-o; from 4862 and 71; to lead together, i.e. collect or convene; spec. to entertain (hospitably): - / accompany, assemble (selves, together), bestow, come together, gather (selves together, up, together), lead into, resort, take in.
Sunagoge (g4864) soon-ag-o-gay'; from (the redupl. form of) 4863; an assemblage of persons; spec. a Jewish "synagogue" (the meeting or the place); by anal. a Christian church: - assembly, congregation, synagogue.
It was the first day of the week that Jesus met with the assembled disciples. He could have waited until the Sabbath but He did not.
Then the same day at evening (afternoon but not night), being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. Jn.20:19
Many events are being undertaken "at evening." This and the definition of the word indicates that this was the afternoon and it was not "night time." Therefore, it was not "monday."
Scripture calls it the first day of the week and we accept that it was the first day of the week!
This may also mean that Jesus walked through the door as proof that He was the resurrected Christ.
This would also mean that Jesus performed His first post resurrection miracle on the first day of the week.
In no case can this meeting be said to be on the sabbath.
People met together to break bread on the first day of the week.
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. Ac.20:7
If Paul preached on Thursday this does not mean that the stated time for the stated purpose of participating in the Lord's Supper was violated.
No, it cannot be proven that every church every week met on the first day of the week. However, the "approved examples" are all that we have. To change the Sabbath rest into a Sabbath worship demands that you also have to have some overpowering reason for rejecting all of the evidence God saw fit to give you.
The only reason for assembling to "break bread" wold be the weekly communion. This happened on the first day of the week in all of the New Testament passages:
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 1Co.10:16
The STATED PURPOSE was to eat the Lord's Supper: the Corinthian church failed to honor Christ by honoring others:
For first of all, when ye come together (sunerchomai g4905) in the church (ekklesia), I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 1 Cor 11:18
For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 1 Cor 11:19
When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lords supper. 1 Cor 11:20
They came together or "synagogued" as an "ekklesia" supposedly to break bread. This was not a FEED YOUR FACE meal but a memorial: you don't need a potluck to eat and drink a memorial. It is probably the case that people brought food to the places of assembly because they did not assembly by the clock. In this they were engaging in something dangerous because the "kingdom of God is not in eating and drinking."
For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 1 Cor 11:21
This was a specified PLACE. However, Paul asked:
What have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. 1 Cor 11:22
The Lord's Supper was instituted within the context of the Passover which was a Babylonian innovaton in which everyone was to eat and drink to the point of drunkeness: even little children got drunk usually. See the Babylon origin of the Passover which substituted bread for flesh.
The Lord's Supper was instituted with the fifth cup which the Jews had reserved for the time of John the Baptist and Messiah. This was not intoxicating. Therefore, the memorial was to be a "token" meal and no more the REAL THING than baptism meant that they had to be crucified:
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: 1 Cor 11:23
The purpose for taking the Lord's Supper was not a celebration but to remember the sacrifice of Christ.
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 1Co.11:24
While the place of "laying by" or "treasuring up" for a charitable (the only kind) is debatable, the only evidence that we have is that this was done on the first day of the week. Why? Why, because they always met on the first day of the week.
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. 1Co.16:2
If this means storing up at home, which is probable, it still shows that the first day of the week was the time to consider how much service one would give to the poor.
This would certainly outlaw either considering or "taking up a collection" on the Sabbath. Therefore, it must cease.
Up to the time of the Exodus the Jews worshiped the sun, moon and planets. The Sabbath was a "fence" to keep them from worshiping like the Babylonians and not to worship God. When Israel "fired" God and during the Monarchy, the worship was "like the nations" because that is what God granted them to destroy them:
The "sabbaths and the full moon" are mentioned together in numerous passages of the Old Testament. The derivation of the word "sabbath" is from the Babylonian "Shabattum," meaning the day of the full moon, and the designation of the seventh day by the Hebrews is attributed to the Babylonian "U-hul-gallum," which means the "evil day" and "a day of rest for the heart."
By adopting the Sabbath, the wandering Jews were forced to abandon any connection with the Babylonian Shabattum.
Even the color associated with Saturn was significant of evil. While gold and silver were the colors applied to the sun and the moon,
black -- the color nearly always associated with misfortune symbolized Saturn.
The Seven Ages of man are based upon the influence of the seven planets,
and the last stage, dealing with old age, infirmity and death,
is under Saturn, the "evil" planet.
Therefore, the day of rest is also the end of the line for an old system which was about as much Babylonian as Godly.
Is the lust to restore a priestly class, temples, musical Levites and the Sabbath the sign of the end of the ages?
Christianity is a New Creation: don't bind the Old after it has been replaced with a spiritual world where we worship 'in spirit" all of the time even if we meet on the First Day of the Week for specific purposes.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2Co.5:17
The Old is the first creation:
Archaios (g744) ar-khah'-yos; from 746; original or primeval: - (them of) old (time).
Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female, Mt.19:4
The sign of the covenant no longer exists.
Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. Ga.6:15
This means that the covenant does not bind believers.
Summary:
- God began the creation on the first day of the week.
- God "rested" and did not "worship" on the Sabbath.
- God continued His "work" on the eighth or first day.
- Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week.
- People first ministered to the risen Lord on the first day of the week.
- The people had assembled on the first day of the week.
- Jesus "was in the midst" of the assembly on the first day of the week. This was "one of the sabbath."
- Jesus performed His first miracle on the first day of the week.
- All of the meetings of the church we are aware of were on the first day of the week. No church is ever said to have assembled on the "seven of the sabbath."
- Jesus replaced the sun and planet worship from which the "seven of the Sabbath" protected the Jews.
- Jesus is always identified as the spiritual LIGHT of the world.
- While churches met any day of the week, the stated time for the stated purpose of eating the Lord's Supper was from the beginning on the First Day of the Week.
- Constantantine did not change the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday. Rather, he extended an additional day of rest which favored the Christians.
- The church assembled on the first day of the week and therefore insisted that the believers could not participate with the pagans in the typical fun and games on the Sabbath. This made sure that people participated in church funcitons such as prayer or study.
- Sabbath "worship" makes "rest" into "worship" and is forced to violate all of the spiritual principles of the new Covenant and of the clear statements that the church gathered for all of its stated purposes on the stated day of the first day of the week: we now call it Sunday.
- Christians met on the Lord's Day or First Day of the Week before it was called Sunday. Here are some examples:
- 90 AD DIDACHE:
- 100 AD EPISTLE OF BARNABAS chapter 15:
- Justin Martyr
- Ignatious, To the Magnesians
- 250 AD The Apostolic Constitution Books I-VI mentions the Lord's day 18 times.
- 250 AD The Apostolic Constitution Book VII Didache mentions the Lord's day 10 times.
- 250 AD The Apostolic Constitution Books VIII mentions the Lord's day 10 times.
- 300 AD Victorinus: On the Creation of the World
- 300AD EUSEBIUS: History Book I
Don't be fooled that many people down through history kept the Sabbath as a day of rest.
See the Saturn, Sabbath, horned god, mother goddess of Catholicism, the sun and Satan connection.
Why churches of Christ do not defend the Sabbath as claimed.
See the Saturn-Sabbath-Sun worship and the Mark of the Beast and the Musical Worship connection.
Catholic Sabbath Resurrection and Fire Worship
Saturn Worship at Mount sinai: "Apis: Another name for Saturn, "the hidden one". The calf Apis, known in Egypt as Hepi, or Hapi, mystically representative of the Egyptian, Osiris. In Chaldea Hap means "to cover", in Egyptian "to conceal" Centaurus: Same as Kronos , or Saturn. Represented the same as the astrological sign Saggitarius, "the archer" Pluto: (A synonym for Saturn) From the word lut, "to hide"; with the Egyptian prefix becomes P'lut. Rome: The original name for Rome was Saturnia, "the city of Saturn". Saturn: "The hidden god". In Chaldee pronounced Satur, but is spelt stur. Note how close the Chaldee pronunciation Satur is to the "Dance of the Satyrs". The Babylonian fire-god, who is, although an infernal god, identified also, as Phoroneus, the "deliverer". The Latin and, Roman "god of the mysteries". Saturnalia: A festival that celebrated the birth of Saturn. Hislop Definitions.
See Saturn and Child Worship in Rome
See Saturn and the Seed of the Serpent Connection
The Babylonians were forced to serve their gods in worship on the Sabbath. Sabbath or end time Shabatum restoration.
See Walk To Emmaus and the Restoration of Sabbath Eucharist: Highland church of Christ.
See Instrumental Music and Orphic and Saturn worship.
Saturn, Sun and Great Red Dragon
Saturn and Sabbath Worship Connection
Saturn and the Wax Candle "light giving" claim
Sabbath added "because of transgression" and the Saturn connection. Justin Martyr. They were to remember that God HAD COMPLETED His work and they did not have to "assist Him."
All things are passed away; behold all things are become new.
Counter added 1.07.05 11:30a 1030 1.11.10 4000
