Christian Sabbath

[Dr. Bob]

In the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, after explaining Christian worship, there is detail on the "Christian Sabbath".

22:7. As it is the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time, by God’s appointment, be set apart for the worship of God, so by his Word, in a positive moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages, he has particularly appointed one day in seven for a sabbath to be kept holy unto him, [Ex 20:8] which from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week, and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week, which is called the Lord’s Day: [1 Cor. 16:1,2; Acts 20:7; Rev. 1:10] and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the last day of the week being abolished.

22:8. The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe a holy rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations, [Isa. 58:13; Neh. 13:15-22] but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy. [Matt. 12:1-13]

Summary of this teaching of historic Baptists on the Christian Sabbath:

• God set a proportion of time for man to worship
• Commandment span all ages
• One day in seven to be kept holy
• Started with LAST day of the week in old times
• Changed to FIRST day of the week (Lord's Day)
• Continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath
• Kept holy by preparation, not involved in "common" affairs
• Observe holy rest all day (from works, words, thoughts, employment, recreation)
• Public/private worship, necessary work, good deads

I have no issue with this summary of the Baptist Confession. Which would be problematic for you?

 

[webdog]

Started with LAST day of the week in old times
Changed to FIRST day of the week (Lord's Day)

To me, that's problematic. The Sabbath is a reflection on God's creation where He rested on the seventh day. If we can "change" the day of the Sabbath, what is keeping us from changing any portion of the 10 Commandments or God's law in general?

Besides, much Scripture running contrary to this belief like Colossians 2, Galatians 4, Romans 14 and Hebrews 4.

 

[Iconoclast]

My struggle is mostly failing to prepare in advance, so I can avoid reasons to fail to keep the day.
Raking leaves,washing the car, fishing,etc ...good things but we have six days to do these things.

How about preparing in advance to do good works......visit the sick in hospitals,and nursing homes.....open your home up for hospitality....visitors,widows orphans, new christians, poor etc.


In other words.....keep it positive praying that God would bless these efforts.

Can we do these things on other days? yes.....but do we? not often enough.

13If 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:

14Then 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.

I struggle with how often my mind wants to drift off, thinking about the cares of this life.....to think of spiritual things and speak to edify others takes alot of work and to stay focused.
I think we sin when we fail to do what God calls us to. No one wants to be put in someone elses legalistic straight jacket. We are free in Christ.
Not free to sin......but free to serve.

 

[freeatlast]

Bob while that is very nice and very religious sounding it does not agree with scripture. If God wanted a special day then I really think that He would have appointed one in NT scripture. There is absolutely no mention of a preference or of using any part of the Sabbath law as a pattern. Also I think that Romans 14:5,6 refutes any kind of idea that there is still any link to the Sabbath and its traditions directly or indirectly;

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

Unlike the Jew who had one day of the week to worship we are to worship every day with our lives. It is not the day that is set apart it is our lives. We are those who worship in spirit and truth and no day of the week is set apart as above another to do it.
The day for the Sabbath has not been changed and there is no "Christian Sabbath" at least in scripture.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

In the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, after explaining Christian worship, there is detail on the "Christian Sabbath".

22:7. As it is the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time, by God’s appointment, be set apart for the worship of God, so by his Word, in a positive moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages, he has particularly appointed one day in seven for a sabbath to be kept holy unto him, [Ex 20:8] which from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week, and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week, which is called the Lord’s Day: [1 Cor. 16:1,2; Acts 20:7; Rev. 1:10] and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the last day of the week being abolished.

22:8. The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe a holy rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations, [Isa. 58:13; Neh. 13:15-22] but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy. [Matt. 12:1-13]

Summary of this teaching of historic Baptists on the Christian Sabbath:

• God set a proportion of time for man to worship
• Commandment span all ages
• One day in seven to be kept holy
• Started with LAST day of the week in old times
• Changed to FIRST day of the week (Lord's Day)
• Continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath
• Kept holy by preparation, not involved in "common" affairs
• Observe holy rest all day (from works, words, thoughts, employment, recreation)
• Public/private worship, necessary work, good deads

I have no issue with this summary of the Baptist Confession. Which would be problematic for you?

It seems clear. And I agree with it but ignoring the "common" must that mean resigned from anything apart from the glorification of God? Is it then prohibited to watch the superbowl, or a tv show I like, or go to a movie, or play basketball?

 

[freeatlast]

It seems clear. And I agree with it but ignoring the "common" must that mean resigned from anything apart from the glorification of God? Is it then prohibited to watch the superbowl, or a tv show I like, or go to a movie, or play basketball?

If you believe this stuff let us all know how you are doing. By the way the way the answer to your question is YES!
Observe holy rest all day (from works, words, thoughts, employment, recreation)

If this is what the Lord had given the church I would be first in line, but He did not give this so I am not in this line at the front or back. :tongue3:

 

[Iconoclast]

If you believe this stuff let us all know how you are doing. By the way the way the answer to your question is YES!
Observe holy rest all day (from works, words, thoughts, employment, recreation)

If this is what the Lord had given the church I would be first in line, but He did not give this so I am not in this line at the front or back. :tongue3:

Hey Free,

Many in the church.....have believed "this stuff". Jesus believed it.

8For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

Do you think the ten commandments are no longer in effect? Is that why you are not "on the line"?
The Romans 14 passage does not do away with the ten commandments,it was speaking of ceremonial feast days,as was col2

 

[Alcott]

Do you think the ten commandments are no longer in effect?

Only 8 1/2 of them are, for they are repeated to NT Christians.

 

[percho]

When Jesus returns and establishes the kingdom of God on the earth if that is what the bible teaches will there be a sabbath day and what day of the week will it be?

 

[freeatlast]

Hey Free,

Many in the church.....have believed "this stuff". Jesus believed it.

Do you think the ten commandments are no longer in effect? Is that why you are not "on the line"?
The Romans 14 passage does not do away with the ten commandments,it was speaking of ceremonial feast days,as was col2

My friend Jesus believed it and obeyed it because He was under the law,and He was a Jew, we are not. Just as important noone who calls for sabbath obediance today obeys it themselves. It is a call to hypocracy.

I am not suggesting that the commands of God are usless. Every child of God will seek to honor the Lord by keeping them, 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.
but the Sabbath was for Israel not the church. EXD. 31:16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, [for] a perpetual covenant.
The law is what it is. Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
But the Sabbath was for Israel not the church.

 

[freeatlast]

When Jesus returns and establishes the kingdom of God on the earth if that is what the bible teaches will there be a sabbath day and what day of the week will it be?

The same day it has always been, the 7th day of the week. :thumbs:

 

[Iconoclast]

Jesus has established the kingdom of God on earth and he is ruling now in the midst of His enemies

 

[Iconoclast]

Only 8 1/2 of them are, for they are repeated to NT Christians.

Were only 8 1/2 commandments put into the ark of the covenant?
or into our hearts?

Is beastiality okay now because it is not repeated to Nt christians?

 

[Alcott]

No; makes us wonder why the ark ain't here if it and its contents are relevant to us.

 

[rstrats]

Dr. Bob,

re: "Started with LAST day of the week in old times... Changed to FIRST day of the week (Lord's Day) "
　
As has been stated, there is absolutely no scripture that assigns the first day of the week as a day of rest and worship.

 

[Alcott]

How about "the first shall be last, and the last first?"