"Sabbath vs. Sunday: A Biblical and Historical Examination" Part 1

[Virtual Presenter] In our exploration of the concept of Sabbath vs. Sunday, we are examining this topic from both biblical and historical perspectives. Let's begin our investigation..

[Audio] The Catholic Church claims that it is above the Bible, which means it has the authority to alter or modify biblical commands, including the Sabbath day..

[Audio] God rested on the seventh day, creating a model for humanity to follow. This rest is not just a physical break but also a spiritual one, allowing us to reflect on our relationship with God..

[Audio] The Bible stresses the importance of adhering to its commandments, emphasizing the need to follow God's instructions precisely. This highlights the gravity of our responsibility to uphold divine commands. In the Sabbath vs. Sunday debate, it becomes clear that this topic has significant implications for our spiritual lives..

[Audio] God's resting on the seventh day after creating the world is described in Genesis chapter 2 verses 2-3. The Hebrew word for this day, Shabbat, means "rest" or "cessation from labor". In Exodus chapter 20 verses 8-11, God commands His people to observe the Sabbath day, setting it apart as a holy day. This commandment is repeated in Deuteronomy chapter 5 verses 12-15. The Sabbath is not just a Jewish tradition, but a universal commandment given by God to all humanity..

[Audio] The Bible establishes the Sabbath as a fundamental institution from creation, reaffirming its importance in the Ten Commandments. Moreover, God commands Gentiles to observe the Sabbath, demonstrating its universal significance. Jesus himself observed the Sabbath, and even the Gentiles begged to continue keeping it. This biblical foundation emphasizes that the Sabbath is not exclusive to the Jewish people but rather a gift to humanity, intended for all people of God..

[Audio] At least six specific Sabbaths are mentioned in the New Testament. These passages include Acts 13:14-44 and Acts 17:2, which show that Paul and his companions observed the Sabbath. Acts 17:2 explicitly states that keeping the Sabbath was Paul's custom, and he used this time to reason with both Jews and Gentiles. Paul and his companions also continued to observe the Sabbath even when they were outside of a formal synagogue setting, as recorded in Acts 16:13. Moreover, the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 did not abolish the Sabbath, but rather, Paul and the apostles continued to keep it..

[Audio] The shift from Sabbath observance to Sunday observance was a gradual process that occurred over several centuries. Christians continued to observe the Sabbath in the early Christian era, but as time passed, they started adopting Sunday as a day of worship. This change was facilitated by the influence of paganism and the rise of the Roman Empire. As Christianity spread throughout the empire, Sunday became a popular day for worship, and eventually, it replaced the Sabbath as the primary day of worship..

[Audio] In the early centuries of Christianity, there was a shift towards Sunday observance. This change occurred after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in AD 70 and the Jewish Revolt. Although Gentile Christians initially continued to observe the Sabbath, particularly in areas with significant Jewish influence, some began to move away from this practice in the early second century. Ignatius of Antioch played a key role in this development, contrasting the "ancient order of things" with the "new hope" found in Christ. He associated the "Lord's Day" with the resurrection of Christ, which was increasingly celebrated on Sundays. Other early Christian texts, such as the Epistle of Barnabas, also promoted Sunday observance over the Sabbath..

[Audio] Jesus taught us to obey God's commands. He said in the book of Matthew, "If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." This means we should follow God's laws and instructions. However, what about the Sabbath? Did Jesus change the Sabbath day? The Catholic Church admits having authority over the Sabbath day. They claim, "The Bible says, 'Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.' The Catholic Church says: 'No. By my divine power I abolish the Sabbath day and command you to keep holy the first day of the week.'" This is astonishing. The Catholic Church claims to have the authority to change God's law. Does this mean Jesus changed the Sabbath day? We will examine this further..

[Audio] The Catholic Church teaches that Sunday observance replaces the biblical Sabbath. According to the Catechism, paragraph 2175, Sunday is distinct from the Sabbath because it is observed ceremonially, whereas the Sabbath is a day of rest commanded by God. This understanding highlights the significance of Sunday as a Christian holiday, separate from the biblical Sabbath..

[Audio] The Church openly admits that the Sabbath was replaced by Sunday to commemorate Jesus' resurrection. This change was made possible by the divine power given to the Church..

[Audio] The Catholic Church claims that Sunday is its mark of authority, indicating that it has replaced God's Sabbath with its own day. This statement is often cited as evidence of the Church's supremacy over Scripture. However, this assertion raises questions about the nature of authority and the relationship between the Church and the Bible..

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[Audio] The Bible warns us that the antichrist power will try to change God's law. According to Daniel 7:25, this power will speak against the Most High, persecute His saints, and attempt to alter times and laws. This is a serious warning, reminding us to stay faithful to God's commands and not compromise on His holy Sabbath day..

[Audio] Because Protestants have fallen away from God's law, they do not protest Sunday keeping. This is evident in Revelation 14:8, where Babylon, representing false religious systems, including apostate Protestantism, is described as having made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. This passage suggests that Protestantism has adopted unbiblical practices like Sunday keeping, leading to disobedience of God's law..

[Audio] Because they are in Babylon, Protestants do not protest Sunday keeping. According to Revelation 18:4, "And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.’" This verse calls for leaving false religious systems and returning to true biblical worship, which includes keeping the Sabbath..

[Audio] Many Protestants are deceived into thinking that Sunday keeping is acceptable, even though it goes against the clear teachings of Scripture. This deception has led many to depart from biblical truth, embracing instead the traditions of men, such as the Catholic Church's doctrine of Sunday observance..

[Audio] The Catholic Church claims that the change from Sabbath to Sunday was its own act, and this act serves as a mark of its ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters. This statement highlights the idea that the Church has the final say in determining what is right and wrong, even if it goes against biblical teachings..

[Audio] The observance of Sunday by Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the Catholic Church..

[Audio] The Catholic Church claims that its teachings have authority over the Bible, stating that they supersede the teachings found within Scripture. This is evident in Father Enright's quote, where he asserts that the Church has abolished the Sabbath day and replaced it with Sunday, despite what the Bible says. This highlights the tension between biblical authority and ecclesiastical authority, with the Church claiming a higher level of authority than the Word of God itself..

[Audio] The Catholic Church acknowledges that there is no scriptural basis for observing Sunday as a day of worship. Indeed, James Cardinal Gibbons himself declared that the Scriptures do not sanction the sanctification of Sunday. Rather, they emphasize the religious observance of Saturday, the seventh-day Sabbath. This admission underscores the necessity for a meticulous investigation into the biblical and historical evidence related to the Sabbath and Sunday..

[Audio] The Catholic Church admits that they have changed the law of God, stating that they changed the day from Saturday to Sunday by virtue of their divine mission. This admission is found in The Catholic Mirror, dated September 23, 1893..

[Audio] The Catholic Church has acknowledged that they changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday, stating that this change was made possible by the divine power given to them by Jesus Christ. This admission is recorded in the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913..

[Audio] The Catholic Church has admitted that Sunday keeping is not biblically justified. According to their own statement, there is no Scriptural basis for transferring the weekly public worship from the last day of the week to the first. This admission highlights the need for a closer examination of the origins and motivations behind the change from Sabbath to Sunday..

[Audio] The Catholic Church has acknowledged that it did not receive its authority solely from Scripture. Instead, it received its authority through its own initiative. This admission is significant because it shows that the Church's shift from observing the Sabbath to observing Sunday was not based on biblical commands, but rather on its own authority..

[Audio] Those who claim to follow the Bible alone, yet reject the Sabbath and observe Sunday instead, are actually submitting to the authority of the Catholic Church and disobeying the authority of God. This is evident in the fact that the Bible does not command Sunday keeping, and those who do so are following Catholic traditions that claim to be above the Bible. Therefore, Protestant Sunday keepers are in apostasy..

[Audio] In the Bible, we find several passages that warn against changing God's laws and commandments. Daniel 7:25 speaks of a time when people will change times and laws, which is often seen as a prophecy about the rise of Sunday observance, where people would replace the Sabbath day with Sunday. Jesus condemns those who make void God's law by their own traditions in Matthew 15:3-9, and similarly, Mark 7:6-9 speaks of replacing God's commandments with human traditions. These passages serve as a warning against changing God's laws and commandments, including the Sabbath day..

[Audio] In this passage from Exodus 20, we clearly see God's instruction to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. The Sabbath is not Sunday, but rather the seventh day of the week, dedicated to the Lord our God. We are reminded that this day is a day of rest, where no one in our household should engage in any work. This includes ourselves, our family members, our servants, our animals, and even foreign visitors. The reason for this commandment is rooted in God's own example, as He rested on the seventh day after creating the universe. As a result, the Sabbath is blessed and set apart as holy..

[Audio] Jesus taught us to obey the commandments of God, rather than following man-made traditions. He warned us not to make void God's law by our own traditions. Instead, we should draw near to Him with a sincere heart, honoring Him with our words and actions. We must not teach as doctrine the commandments of men, but rather follow the commandments given to us by God Himself..

[Audio] In the Old Testament, we find several references that establish the significance of the Sabbath. Genesis 2:2-3 reveals that the Sabbath was established at creation itself. Exodus 16:23-30 reinforces this, showing how the Sabbath was reaffirmed before the giving of the Ten Commandments. The Fourth Commandment, found in Exodus 20:8-11, emphasizes the importance of remembering the Sabbath. Exodus 31:13-17 highlights the Sabbath as a sign of God's covenant, while Isaiah 58:13-14 encourages us to keep the Sabbath as a delight. Finally, Ezekiel 20:12, 20 reminds us that the Sabbath serves as a sign between God and His people..

[Audio] Jesus did not abolish the law, but rather fulfilled it. According to Matthew 5:17-19, He said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." This means that the Sabbath, which was given to man, remains a part of God's law. Mark 2:27-28 tells us that the Sabbath was made for man, not just for the Jews. Jesus Himself observed the Sabbath, as recorded in Luke 4:16. Furthermore, Jesus referenced Sabbath observance in the end times, indicating its continued importance. Matthew 24:20. The New Testament also records instances where Paul and the apostles preached on the Sabbath, such as Acts 13:42-44. Additionally, we see examples of Sabbath worship outside the synagogue, like Acts 16:13, and Paul's custom of Sabbath observance, as described in Acts 17:2. Even in his ministry, Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, as noted in Acts 18:4. Finally, Hebrews 4:9 reminds us that a Sabbath rest remains for the people of God..

[Audio] In this passage, we see references used against Sunday observance. Daniel 7:25 speaks of changing times and laws, warning us about the potential for changes to God's commands. Matthew 15:3-9 condemns those who make void God's law by tradition, emphasizing the importance of keeping God's original commandments. Mark 7:6-9 again condemns the replacement of God's commandments with human traditions, highlighting the need to follow God's original instructions. Revelation 1:10 refers to Jesus holding the seven stars in his right hand, walking among the seven golden lampstands, often misinterpreted as Sunday worship but actually speaking of Jesus' presence among the churches during the time of the apostles. Revelation 14:6-12 calls people to worship the Creator, implying the Sabbath, while Revelation 12:17 reminds us that God's remnant will keep His commandments. These references serve as warnings against Sunday observance and encourage us to follow God's original commands..

[Audio] Sunday observance has been justified by some people using certain passages in the New Testament, but these passages do not support the idea that Sunday became a new worship day. Instead, they show that early Christians continued to observe the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, as commanded by God. In John 20:19, the disciples gathered on Sunday out of fear, not as a new worship day. Paul's meeting on the first day of the week in Acts 20:7-12 was a farewell gathering, not a formal Sunday service. The collection on the first day of the week in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 was done for practical reasons, not as a time of worship. Colossians 2:16-17 refers to ceremonial Sabbaths, not the weekly Sabbath. These passages demonstrate that there is no biblical basis for Sunday observance as a replacement for the Sabbath..

[Audio] Jesus taught us that keeping the commandments is essential for entering into eternal life. He emphasized this point when he was asked what we must do to inherit eternal life. His response was clear: “But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” This statement highlights the importance of obedience to God's laws..

[Audio] The Sabbath versus Sunday debate has been explored through various sources, including biblical passages, historical accounts, and writings from non-Adventist authors. We will now delve deeper into these discussions by examining works written by Seventh-day Adventists, such as the Holy Bible, and materials from Amazing Discoveries and Samuele Bacchiocchi. Additionally, we will consider texts from non-Adventist authors like Ignatius of Antioch and the Epistle of Barnabas. This exploration will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the Sabbath versus Sunday debate..

[Audio] I am grateful to everyone who joined me on this journey through scripture and history. I hope that our exploration has been both enlightening and informative. I appreciate your attention and engagement throughout this presentation. Before we conclude, I would like to express my thanks to each and every one of you for taking the time to listen to my thoughts and ideas. May God bless you all..