CHRISTIAN SABBATH: NO CHANGE TO THE SABBATH

(Message by Tanny Keng)

1. Christian Sabbath

a) Many folk regard Sunday as the “Christian Sabbath”. You may be surprised to learn that this is not so. However Sunday (the first day of the week) is the day on which Christians should meet for the Lord’s Supper.

2. No Change To The Sabbath.

a) The Sabbath or seventh day was the day that God rested from his work of creation (Genesis 2:2-3). On the first day, in contrast, God began his work of creation. That was the day he made light, and made night and day (Genesis 1:3-5). God did not rest on the first day of the week, so he would have no reason to change the Sabbath day of rest to that day.

b) The New Testament never regards the first day of the week as the Sabbath. We read, for example, "when the Sabbath was over... very early on the first day of the week..." (Mark 16:1-2). Here two distinct days are recognized, one as having ended — the Sabbath or last day of the week, and another as having begun — the next day or first day of the week.

c) It is similarly clear in all other New Testament passages mentioning the Sabbath or the first day of the week, that the first day of the week is not regarded as the Sabbath. The Sabbath is the same day as ever, the seventh day, and the first day is the day following the Sabbath day.

d) Occasionally we hear comments to the effect that the actual day of the week that we observe as holy does not matter, so long as we observe one day in seven. However "God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it." Who dares declare another day for Sabbath keeping?  

The End ...