Sabbath

[talmidah]

Pastor,

Can you explain why Gentile believers celebrate the Sabbath on Sunday? I know that the Roman Emperorer Constantine declared it to be the "official" day of worship - partly to separate Jewish and Gentile believers, and partly because he was a sun worshipper and wanted to "replace" a day set aside for heathen practices with a day for the Church to meet. I have also heard it said that because it is the day Yeshua (Jesus) rose, it was a day of celebration. However, no where in the Old or New Covenant does it say that the Sabbath was to be disregarded. It was a day set aside by G-d from the beginning of time to celebrate Creation
and G-d's word is pretty clear that it should be honored by all who call on His name - Jew or Gentile. Yeshua did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it...and He honored the Sabbath all of the time He spent on our little planet.

Thank you for your kind considerations

In His Love

[Mike Miller]

Well, first of all, I'm not really sure any Gentile believers celebrate the Sabbath on Sunday (sundown to sundown, no work at all). For most of us that is our day of worship and rest, but the New Testament makes it clear that we are no longer bound by the law, and more specifically that we are no longer bound by Sabbath regulations.

I suggest you read Romans 14, paying close attention to verses 5-6:

"One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God."

Also, Colossians 2:16-17:

"Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ."

I understand that you want to keep the Sabbath, but please don't insist that your brothers and sisters in Christ be bound by the same restrictions. Jesus did fulfill the law--so I don't have to. His righteousness is now mine--a righteousness that is by faith and not the law (Romans 3:21-31).

Thank you for your question.