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"The Sabbath day" There have been many questions
regarding the Sabbath day in regard to the Old Testament commandments
to "keep it holy", and as to what the New Testament seems to have altered
through the dispensation of grace. There are those such as the Seventh
Day Adventist's who say that we must worship on Saturday, which according
to them is the true Sabbath day. According to their theology, to keep
any other day than Saturday as the Sabbath is not keeping the Sabbath
day at all. Other Christian sects will maintain with Sunday worship
services, but claim that Saturday must be observed as the Sabbath with
no working, but only rest. Then there are the majority of Should we observe the
Sabbath day as commanded in the Old Testament? Does it matter if it
is on Saturday or Sunday? What significance does it have to the Church
of today? The purpose of this booklet is to answer these questions from
the scriptures. What is the Sabbath Day? Acts
The Sabbath day is the seventh day of the
week, in which God commanded in the Commandments of Exodus 20, that
it should be observed. On this day there was to be no work at all, but
only rest, just as God rested on the seventh day, after the six days
of the creation. But on the Sabbath day the Jews would go to the synagogue
to hear the reading of the Old Testament and receive encouraging words
and instruction. Through this time they were reminded of the deliverance
of their God from heathen nations, victories that God won for them,
and promises of things yet to come. After the day of Pentecost, the
Christians continued to be faithful to this gathering, but to preach
and teach Jesus. They not only went on the Sabbath day, but they went
every day of the week. Acts Many people complain
about going to Church more than once a week, but the first Christians
gathered every day! But they still respected the Sabbath day as the
day of rest, and gathered as tradition had taught them. If any person
that has a very busy life cannot seem to find time to gather with the
Church during the week, they must at least go on Sunday, in reverence
to God, in keeping His commandment. But if they want to really grow
in their Christian life, then they will be at their Church gatherings
whenever the doors are open, and at every possible chance to learn,
grow, and impart Gods Word and faith. It is evident though this scripture
in Acts 13, that even the gentiles wanted to be a part of the Apostles
teachings about Jesus on the next Sabbath day. The Sabbath was still
observed in the New Testament as the day of gathering to hear God's
Word read and spoken by men, so that people might receive encouraging
words and instruction. As this day was given by God in the Old Testament,
to do these things, the Apostles also would go to the Synagogues to
preach and teach Jesus to all who would come, including the gentiles.
The people came to hear God's Word on the Sabbath day each week, as
tradition had taught them. Although they preached at any given opportunity,
this was a time when people were not too busy to stop and listen, as
they could not work on the Sabbath. They had to take time for God's
Word, so they were more receptive and not distracted by other things
they needed to do. This was a great opportunity for them in those days
to preach the gospel. Today, people go to Church and while the minister
is still speaking, they are thinking about all the things they need
to do when they get out of Church. Through the keeping of the Sabbath
day they would not be allowed to do these things. It was God's purpose
in establishing this day to cause men to take a break from their busy
lives and take the time to rest from their work and think about God,
family and relationships with others. If God didn't command it then
men would work and miss out on spiritual growth, instruction in righteousness,
and be ignorant of the things of God. It wasn't that it had to be a
specific day on the calendar, but that at the end of the workweek we
would take this time apart from our busy lives to worship, rest, and
share. To not take this time and reserve it for Gods purpose alone would
be sin! The Jewish community all kept the Sabbath on the same day of
the week. In When is the Sabbath Day?
The Sabbath day, according to the American
calendar, is Saturday. Not because God said "Saturday" is the Sabbath
day, but because God said that six days man was to work, and then on
the seventh he was to rest. Just as God created the earth in six days
and rested on the seventh day. But the reason Saturday is recognized
as the Sabbath day is because it is the seventh day according the layout
of our Calendar. This is why Seventh Day Adventist's argue that all
other Christians worship on the wrong day of the week. While they attend
Church on Saturday, most every other Church in the world worships on
Sunday. It wasn't that it had to be a specific day on the calendar,
but that at the end of the workweek we would take this time apart from
our work to worship, rest, and share. In It is true that we must remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, as commanded by God. But we should not be easily moved by the legalistic approach of people that want to persuade others of what they believe. As long as you are faithful to give that time to God, putting Him first, then do not let this legalism move you, but rather rejoice in that time you give to worship Him freely! Colossians Commitment to the SabbathMatthew 22:37-38 "Love
the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment." This commandment, which is
the greatest of all commandments, is expressed in the first four of
the Ten Commandments. These four commandments were given to command
our reverence to God, always putting Him first, above all things in
our lives. God commanded that we keep the Sabbath for this reason, as
well as for our own good. God's purpose for the Sabbath
was for all men and women to rest from work, but also that we would
reverence Him. It isn't so important which day, as long as we have a
day we can gather in respect to God and honor His name. Going to Church
is part of our commitment to His command to keep the Sabbath. The fourth
of the Ten Commandments is given in Exodus 20:8 "Remember the
Sabbath day, to keep it holy." God never changed or went back
on these commandments! We are not under the strict letter of the law,
but the necessity of keeping God's commands still remains. Law was for
the benefit of man! Without law we would not know which direction to
go and would continually stumble. And so also, if we ignore the purpose
of the law given here, we also will stumble and fall into a pit. Romans
7:7 "What shall we say
then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the
law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not
covet." God established the Church to bless His people and to
direct each person into his righteousness. But many people today cannot
see the purpose, the benefit, or the blessing in going to Church. "Why go to Church?" We live in a day and age that many people who say that they are Christians will also say that they do not need to go to Church. As each decade passes I hear more and more people express their unwillingness to attend Church, saying that they do not need it, but that they still love God. But this is a great deception that Satan has put in the minds of people as we approach the last days before the return of Christ and the tribulation period. Those who believe they don't need Church would say that such belief is foolishness. But it is important to see what the bible says about Church in comparison to what these people are saying. Do we need Church? Did God command that we be part of such a group? Are we justified in not going because of disagreements with doctrines or certain other beliefs? Are people who claim to be Christians truly saved if they are not going to Church? I want to answer all these questions, and more, as we continue in this chapter. The design of the Church Matthew 1
Corinthians 1
Corinthians 12:7-28 "But the manifestation
of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is
given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge
by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another
the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles;
to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers
kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all
these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man
severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members,
and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also
is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether
we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all
made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many..
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets,
thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
governments, diversities of tongues". If you will read the whole chapter
it is clear to see that Paul is talking about the importance of the
body of Christ (The Church) coming together and operating in the gifts
of the Spirit. Although some of these gifts mentioned here could have
some expression outside of the four walls of the Church, they were given
for the edification of the Church during the time of gathering together.
But if a person does not gather with the saints, then they will not
receive edification as God has planned for them, nor can they impart
it to others. Many believe that they get all that they need directly
from God. Although we can receive many things from God directly, if
a person will continue to refuse to be a part of God's Church gatherings,
then they will never know the blessings God has in store for them. And
if they continue to reject Gods ways, which are through the Church,
and going to Church, then they will eventually fall into a pit and make
shipwreck of their faith. 1 Corinthians Divisions are nothing
new to the Church. Many people avoid going to Church because of problems
and disagreements. But even Paul had to confront these issues. The fact
is, wherever there are people there will be problems. And as Christians
we have to learn to work them out and love one another. Too many people
allow pride, selfishness, envy, and other attitudes to get in the way
of their calling to edify their brothers and sisters in Christ. And
if we miss the mark of the calling of God through these works of the
flesh, then we will find divisions as long as we remain in Church and
refuse to repent. Problems are not anything to run away from, but something
we must deal with in a Godly way. Otherwise, those who try to avoid
problems by leaving a Church will leave every Church they every go to,
until they are sick and tired of leaving Churches, so they just give
up and stop going all together. Therefore many don't go to Church because
they missed this vital role as a Christian, to take every problem head
on with prayer, scripture, and Godly council. A person who calls himself
or herself a Christian, but does not attend Church, has either been
hurt, abused, or confused by a ministry, causing fear of the same in
another Church, or they are too full of pride to humble themselves,
admit they are wrong, in sin, and in need of change. And because they
will not go to Church, they cannot be healed, encouraged, and restored
in their relationship with Christ. Then, because they refuse to go to
Church, as God has commanded, they are also in direct rebellion to God's
command. The Commandment
There are a few commandments
that are important for every Christian to be aware of and to obey. The
first and greatest commandments were given in the Old Testament and
were confirmed by Jesus in Matthew 22:37-39 "Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and
with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the
second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." These
two commandments are a sum of the Ten Commandment in Exodus 20. Most
people have no problem accepting the first of these two commandments
in Matthew. But yet, just because a person says they love God does not
mean that they really do. They may feel a great sense of love in their
heart, but never express it through their actions. Jesus said in John
Then he says that the
second commandment is like it. What does it mean to love your neighbor
as yourself? When you really love people you will want to be there for
them when they are in need, just as we want them their for us. You will
sacrifice your time or even money to help them. You will even change
your ways or accept a few things about them that may bother you a little,
because you care for them enough that you don't want to do them any
harm. People that do not want to go to Church do not go for at least
two different reasons. Even other people bother them, whether that means
they had been hurt or they are just irritated by their differences.
Or they are too caught up in their own way of life and recreation to
want to be a part of Church. Others are too proud and are not saved
at all, so they cannot understand the benefits of Christian fellowship.
But God not only commands our obedience to the first commandment, but
also commands our obedience to the second commandment through our giving
to one another in the Church. That is why he established the Church,
so we can learn to work together to encourage one another and to reach
others with the gospel message. When the Church was first established
the people gathered daily for worship, fellowship and sold all they
had so that they could meet all the needs of every person. Acts The question may arise
with many people whether or not a person can even be saved without going
to Church. The way of salvation is through Jesus, and accepting him
as Lord and savior. The Church is not our salvation, which is what many
non-Church goers will also claim. But the Church is Gods method of keeping
those who are saved in the vine, lest they be cut off. A single grape
cannot grow when separated from the vine, which is Christ. But we also
must remember that grapes grow in bunches, not individually! Those who
do not go to Church may possibly be saved, but there may come a point
that they will find themselves far from salvation, while still believing
that they are saved, if they do not abide in the vine and with the bunch
that God called them to grow with. Jesus said in Matthew Hebrews Christian Fellowship One of the greatest
blessings we can find in this commandment given in Hebrews CommitmentAs a new convert I was taught to be there whenever the doors of the Church were open. As one who wanted all I could get from God I listened to those who told me this. I thank God that I listened! Through a life of commitment I learned how to overcome sin, how to witness my faith to others, and how God had so much for my life. I learned the value of Christian friendship that kept me going through the hardest times of my life. If more Christians would learn this kind of commitment, I am convinced that more Churches would see revival and great things would happen in their congregations. This is especially true with those involved in ministry. If a musician showed up to Church only when convenient, then worship services would hit and miss all the time. Some would seem to flow well and others would not. If Sunday school teachers did not show up then many hard issues would arise with children and parents, causing some of them not to come back to the Church. Those who are not in ministry look at those who are in ministry as the people who represent the Church. So what kind of reputation do you think a Church of uncommitted people in ministry will have. And the fact is, every person in a Church should be looking for his or her own place in ministry. And if they desire ministry, they should then be as committed to it as they are to Christ. Through our commitment to God, and to one another in the Church, we will see the same blessings that were experienced by the New Testament Church. But without this commitment we will struggle our way through life, walking in defeat, and never know what God could have done, had we been faithful. Submission to men In Gods designing the Church, He gave authority to men and instructed them to take care of His people. Men are called to instruct, correct, encourage and rebuke as necessary. Although there are many men who have abused this God given authority, it is the responsibility of every Christian to find the ministry that has a man who has a strong relationship with God, a love for Gods people, and a pure heart of love for Gods truth. Although no man is perfect, these are worthy of respect, and to be followed, as they follow Christ.
There are many people today, both out of Church and in Church,
that have a hard time following men. It is not hard to understand why,
as we live in a time when men will lead many astray, fall into sin themselves
while preaching from the pulpit, teaching many different doctrines,
and leaving bad examples to others. Many ministers have even abused
the congregation from the pulpit or in discipleship. How can anyone
follow a man when so many of them appear ungodly or no more spiritual
than anyone else? In addition to this, many people have been abused
in other areas of their lives, many times by those they should have
been able to trust more than anyone else. Because their trust has been
violated in this extreme way, the last thing they need is an abusive
minister that will attempt to use his authority to control or change
people. Many people have a fear of following someone that may only lead
them astray or hurt them. Therefore they come to the conclusion that
they will follow Christ only, and not man. But is this the plan of God?
Of course it is his plan for us to follow Him, but what is God's plan
concerning the leadership of men? Do we need them, or can we do without
then? Hebrews 1 Timothy 5:17 "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine." Hebrews 13:7 "Remember
them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word
of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." The Word of God commands us to submit ourselves, obey, respect, follow, etc., our leaders in the Lord. People who do not go to Church usually have the opposite attitude in which God has commanded us to have towards men and women of God. Many people have expressed fear in this, that if they were to do such a thing that they may be deceived or hurt. Others are simply too full of pride to submit themselves to another person. A praying Christian will know if they are being deceived, and will humble themselves to the authority God placed them under. A mature Christian will not run out the door at a first disagreement or discouraging moment, but will pray and talk with their leaders. These leaders are not to be lifted up to the place of such greatness, as some leaders have wrongfully demanded of their people. But they should be honored as men and woman who labor for the glory of God, to see His will done, who labor in the Word of God for the growth of the Church. God has a place for every Christian to be a part of, in order to build the Church. 1 Timothy 5:17 "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine." It is very important that we know where we are called to attend Church, and stay there, unless we know for sure God is leading us elsewhere. Many Christians have stepped out of God's will for their lives because they did not pray about their decision, and did not talk to their leadership, but used their own logic instead. If they do go to their leadership, it is many times after they have already made up their minds to do whatever they are going to talk about. They may have even prayed and felt they got direction, when it was not God at all. But the bible says in Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Our logic is not always right, even though in our minds it seems so right. With this in mind we need to know that we can easily deceive ourselves, if we do not pray with the most earnest desire for divine direction, and have it confirmed by the leadership that God set us under. We need to be sure that we make decisions as we are in the spirit and following Gods design! If we are not in the Spirit when we make decisions, then we must be in the flesh. 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." Going to Church will become foolishness to a person who is naturally minded. But for those who are spiritually minded, they understand by the Spirit of God that they need Church as God has designed it. After many years in the ministry, I have watched, listened to people's reasons for leaving Churches, and heard their reasons for no longer going to Church. I have found that the majority of the time that it is fault with that person and not the ministry they came out of. But you cannot get then to see that at all! They believe with all that is in them that they are right, but they cannot see that they have deceived themselves with their own logic. Because we are all human and have the same nature as these do, we should fear falling into the same trap of the enemy, to get us out of Gods will and out of Church. If the enemy can get us to not listen to our leadership and to not go to Church, then he will have us right where he wants us! We cannot grow, overcome, be healed inside, or be fruitful outside of Gods divine plan for the Church! If people would talk with their leadership, humbled themselves, and searched their own heart for areas needing change, then God is able to speak to them in a whole different way than their own logic does. God gave us leaders! He will speak things through them that He won't speak to us any other way, because He chose this kind of leadership for the Church, and He uses it. But many have refused Gods ordained leadership for the Church, causing themselves to be in rebellion to Gods ways. There have certainly been ministers who have done wrong, gave wrong council, hurt people, etc. They will give account for what they have done with Gods people! But we must find where God wants us, be faithful to that ministry, and to the leadership, and God will bless those who are obedient. There may be balances to some of these things, because of different situations that arise, but we better be sure to really do right before God in all that we do, and keep His Commandments. Don't let anything, anybody, or any situation, keep you from remembering the Sabbath day, and keeping it holy!
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