Why do you keep Sunday instead of Saturday as the Sabbath?
James from Philippines,
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3 Responses to “Why do you keep Sunday instead of Saturday as the Sabbath?”
Mario Rios
2013-06-02 17:48:57
We believe the Bible is the Word of God, His sacred revelation to ancient prophets and apostles.
Hi friend. The Bible clearly teaches the importance of dedicating at least one day each week exclusively to the Lord (Exodus 20:8). Many modern Christians do not recognize the importance of honoring the Lord's day.
For the Jews, God commanded, through the prophet Moses, that the Lord's day should be the seventh day (Exodus 20:10). As you know, Jesus was a Jew; for him, then, the Sabbath was on Saturday (Luke 4:16).
However, after Christ's death, the leaders of the primitive church, men who had the same prophetic gift that Moses had, received a revelation from God that the day of rest for Christians should be the first day of the week in order to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. After his resurrection, Christ appeared to Mary of Magdala, Peter, and Cleophus, among others, on the first day of the week (Mark 16:9). On another occasion, the resurrected Christ showed himself to His apostles on the first day (John 20:19). He appeared one week later, again on the first day (John 20:26). The day of Pentecost occurred 50 days (seven weeks) after the resurrection, so it also occurred on the first day of the week (Acts 1:9). In Troas, we read that Christians met together on the first day of the week to listen to sermons (Acts 20:7). The churches in Corinth and Galatia also collected religious donations on the first day of the week, suggesting that this day was important for the earliest Christians.
Other extra-biblical texts also indicate that, in the early Christian church, Sunday was the Lord's day. In the primitive church, in fact, there was practically no debate regarding this question. That is why the majority of Christians today consider Sunday to be the Lord's day. In our days, modern prophets and apostles have also taught that the Lord's day should generally be the first day of the week.
Having said that, what is really important is that a community dedicate one day of the week exclusively to God so they can worship together. The specific day chosen is less important. For example, for Mormons, Sunday is generally considered to be the Lord's day. However, in countries like Israel and Saudi Arabia, where there is a preexisting Sabbath tradition, Mormons have adopted the local custom. For example, in Israel, a country that is mostly Jewish, Mormons keep the Lord's day on Saturday. As Jesus said in Mark 2:27, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath."
I hope this answer helps.
Anonymous
2011-05-02 20:53:26
The sabbath day was instituted by God for the purpose of rejuvinating our relationship with God at least once a week. I suppose that just like Old Testament days, it is a symbol of our commitment to God.
It is more important that we keep the sabbath day holy then what day of the week the Lord chooses. However, before Christ, the sabbath was on the seventh day of the week (Saturday). The New Testament reads that after Christ was ressurected, church meetings were held on the first day of the week. I suspect that this is symbolic of the ressurection (which was on Sunday) and the change may have been to recognize the new covenant (or New Testament).
For the Jews, God commanded, through the prophet Moses, that the Lord's day should be the seventh day (Exodus 20:10). As you know, Jesus was a Jew; for him, then, the Sabbath was on Saturday (Luke 4:16).
However, after Christ's death, the leaders of the primitive church, men who had the same prophetic gift that Moses had, received a revelation from God that the day of rest for Christians should be the first day of the week in order to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. After his resurrection, Christ appeared to Mary of Magdala, Peter, and Cleophus, among others, on the first day of the week (Mark 16:9). On another occasion, the resurrected Christ showed himself to His apostles on the first day (John 20:19). He appeared one week later, again on the first day (John 20:26). The day of Pentecost occurred 50 days (seven weeks) after the resurrection, so it also occurred on the first day of the week (Acts 1:9). In Troas, we read that Christians met together on the first day of the week to listen to sermons (Acts 20:7). The churches in Corinth and Galatia also collected religious donations on the first day of the week, suggesting that this day was important for the earliest Christians.
Other extra-biblical texts also indicate that, in the early Christian church, Sunday was the Lord's day. In the primitive church, in fact, there was practically no debate regarding this question. That is why the majority of Christians today consider Sunday to be the Lord's day. In our days, modern prophets and apostles have also taught that the Lord's day should generally be the first day of the week.
Having said that, what is really important is that a community dedicate one day of the week exclusively to God so they can worship together. The specific day chosen is less important. For example, for Mormons, Sunday is generally considered to be the Lord's day. However, in countries like Israel and Saudi Arabia, where there is a preexisting Sabbath tradition, Mormons have adopted the local custom. For example, in Israel, a country that is mostly Jewish, Mormons keep the Lord's day on Saturday. As Jesus said in Mark 2:27, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath."
I hope this answer helps.
It is more important that we keep the sabbath day holy then what day of the week the Lord chooses. However, before Christ, the sabbath was on the seventh day of the week (Saturday). The New Testament reads that after Christ was ressurected, church meetings were held on the first day of the week. I suspect that this is symbolic of the ressurection (which was on Sunday) and the change may have been to recognize the new covenant (or New Testament).