As with many of these clear and specific text that establish as firm clear position Biblically. A good rule to go by:

Re: Scripture "meanings" is:

If a text is clear in it’s sense, seek no other sense or you probably end up with Non-sense.

So many of these text do make clear literal sense and are in harmony, to seek another meaning from clear text, example: the Seal of God is the Holy Spirit or that we are not under and told to cast out the Old Covenant (The10 Commandments) its adultery to be under both Covenants. To seek another sense in the full balance of Scripture is to go beyond the clear instruction pertaining to these teachings, ones runs the risk of ending up with non-sense.

As Born Again Christians we are to be living sacrifices, we are not our own we have been bought with a price, it is no longer I that live but Christ that lives in me.

We are to live by faith, yielding and led by the Holy Spirit.

So what day do we worship God on? Saturday? Sunday? NO!

Every day!

What Day is the Sabbath? Saturday ? Sunday? NO! The Sabbath is a Sign and Jesus is the Revealed Rest. Today is the Day! Today if you here HIS voice do not harden your heart, enter in to the true rest that Christ provides, make every effort to enter in.

Is there a Scripture that says what day we are to worship God on? NO!

Not ONE Bible verse gives us instruction on how to WORSHIP on the Sabbath!

The only Scripture is forsake not the fellowship of the Brethren.

Again the scenario of modern day Sabbatarians who judge people for worshipping on any day other than Saturday as "deceived"- "worshipping satan". This is yet another UNFOUNDED doctrine of man that condemns some, to elevate and seemingly pat on the back the one’s spreading this teaching yet it is Biblically lacking in any Scriptural merit.

Paul's letters were to Gentile Christians who had no background in Sabbath-keeping.

How strange that they had no instruction, warning or encouragement from Paul on this matter! They certainly needed reproof and instruction on nearly every other fundamental matter.

Yet the Apostle Paul taught the Full Gospel of God (Romans 15:9) and (Acts (20:27) yet there is no evidence that Paul taught Gentiles to whom his ministry was devoted anything on the Sabbath Day being Saturday or any other Day for that matter.

God knows the Beginning to the End, should this "special message" be true yet God failed to lead Paul who was Clearly led by the Holy Spirit in this truth of Saturday Sabbath to the non Sabbatarian Community of his Day. God failed to lead any of the New Covenant writers on this "Special message truth".

Paul taught these gentiles explicitly what sinning was, in very clear terms yet again no mention of Sabbath Day breaking or teaching, a few examples are

Gal5: 19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissension, heresies, 5:21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Cor 5:9-11 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 5:10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 5:11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner-not even to eat with such a person.

Eph 5:5-7 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 5:7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Galatians 5:13 Do not allow your freedom as a opportunity for the Flesh

Remember: Scripture meaning’s

If a text is clear in it’s sense, seek no other sense, or you might end up with non-sense.

FLASH BACK ON ALL RECAPS:

1^st Recap: The Old Covenant is specifically:

That which is on 2 Tablets of stone, The Tablets of the Covenant, The Tablets of the 10 Commandments. Duet 4:13, Duet 9:9, Duet 9:11, Exodus 34:28, Duet 9:15. & Duet 10:4

In Corinthians the tablets of stone (2 Cor 3:3) of the "Old Covenant"(2 Cor 3:14) is described as:

In Galatians speaking of the Old Covenant:

The Old is of the FLESH [Gal 4:23] (Works)

The New is of the SPIRIT [Gal 4:29] (Faith).
We are Biblically commanded to "cast out the Old Covenant" [Gal 4:30],

The Old Covenant is put aside "IN" Christ. [2 Corinthians 3:vs11,13,&14].

Those holding onto the Old Covenant -10 Commandments- will persecute those of the New Covenant. [Gal 4:29]

There is a New Covenant coming that is NOT like the Old Covenant of Moses.[Jeremiah 31:31]

In Romans Paul speaks of the Old Covenant / Moral Law in this manner:

We die to the Old Covenant so to bear fruit for God [Romans7:4]

It is ADULTERY if one joins with another wife (New Covenant) while alive to the other

wife (Old Covenant). [Romans 7:3]

But now we have been delivered from the law (Old Covenant) In Christ. [Romans 7:6]

We are delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by. [Romans 7:6]

It is NOT the same as the Old Covenant but now on our hearts because it would have the same fruit.

Changing the location from tablets of stone to the heart, doesn’t make it adultery.

The changing of location doesn’t make it adultery! (Same wife, different bed)

Changing of the covenants does make it adultery (Different wife, while alive to the other).

Again IF the covenant is the SAME then how can it be adultery to join the two together? (ROM 7:1-4)

BUT it is not adultery if the first wife dies.

That is why we are to die to the Mosaic Covenant. (Which the Bible specifies, specifically as the Ten Commandments) Why?

So we can serve in the "new way" of the Spirit NOT in the "old way" of the "written code"(law) "Romans 7:6

2) Recap…. When the Bible says:

The Bible says the Law was ADDED because of transgressions. Then it was added! [Gal319]

The Bible says the law made sin abound. Then that is what it does. [Romans 5:20]

The Bible says the law makes known to us what sin is. Then it is so. [Romans 7:7]

The Bible says the law is in charge to bring people to Christ. Then that is what it does. [Gal 3:24]

The Bible says the law is NOT for the righteous, then it is indeed so. [1 Tim 1:8]

The Bible says the law leaves us helpless in need of a Saviour. It is so. [Romans 8:2-3]

The Bible says the law brings death, then that is what it does. [Romans 8:2] [2 Cor 3:7]

The Bible says that the law is put aside "IN CHRIST" then that is what happens. [2 Cor 3:14]

The Bible says we are to cast out the bondwoman (10 Commandments), then it is to be done.[Gal 4:30]

The Bible say after faith has come you are not under the law, then that is indeed so. [Gal 3:25]

The Bible says Christian’s are dead to the law, then that is what you are. [Romans 7:4]

When the Bible says Christ is the end of the Law for Believers. It is indeed so. [Romans 10:4]

When the Bible says the law was added UNTIL Christ. Then that is indeed so. [Gal 3:19]

When the Bible says the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in me through Christ, then it is so.

When the Bible says the law incl. (10 Commandments) is fulfilled IN me not BY me, then that is indeed so. [Romans 8:4]

3) Recap:

SDA point of view is that "The whole law and the prophets hang on the 10 Commandments".

Jesus and Scripture’s view is "That the 10 Commandments and the prophets hang on 2 Commandments outside of the 10 Commandments".

Jesus quoted the greatest law as 2 Ceremonial laws, not 2 of the 10 Commandments! And the WHOLE law and the prophets depend upon two laws outside of the 10 Commandments. (Matt 22:40)

The Ten Commandments are not pre-existent or eternal they were give through Moses (Duet 5:3)

And Specifically the Ten Commandments was not given BEFORE Moses (Duet 5:3)

"The law" came though Moses (John 1:17 & Romans 5:13-14)

Sin was BEFORE the law. (Romans 5:13)

Sin was not accounted UNTIL Moses. (Romans 5:14)

The law was added 430 later and is UNTIL Christ (Gal 3:19)

The Sabbath was made known (for the first time through Moses) not reminded. [Nehemiah 9:13-14]

Even Gods Direct words state that he gave (not reminded) the Mosaic Covenant (10 Commandments) through Moses. God did this in the full knowledge that the 10 Commandments had 6 times in Moses writing been called the Covenant. When did God in his own words give them his Covenant of 10 Commandments? After he took them out of Egypt!! [Jeremiah 31:32]

Is God himself misleading us when he gave mankind his 10 Commandments!

The Sabbatarian Doctrine suggests so.

Before Moses, The Bibles silence on the forefathers keeping the Sabbath is in harmony with all Scripture.

The modern day ceremonial / Moral law Doctrine and specifically the 10 Commandments existing before the fall and /or given before Moses’ time does not stand up to the Biblical test and is in conflict with the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit.

Why? A=(All the above scriptures)

The source of such teaching is out of step with the Holy Spirit.

4) Recap

Circumcision:

Are we to keep it? After all we are Abraham’s heirs.

It is an everlasting Covenant.

God tells us to keep it, establishing that he is, "GOD to us". (Genesis 17:7)

There is a severe warning if you break it! You’ll be cut off from God’s people.!!!

However the REVEALED TRUTH is:

The circumcision of the foreskin was a shadow.

Christ is the fulfilling and TRUTH of the shadow.

When we are "IN HIM" we do fulfill the truth of shadow and keep it requirements.

To go back and try to fulfill and adhere to the shadow requirements (foreskin circumcision) Christ profits you nothing!

And again to try to fulfill the requirements of the shadow (foreskin circumcision) even with the best of intentions and out of an act of love toward God. "Faith without works is dead". Is to deny what Christ has fulfilled for us.

INDEED Christ profits you nothing.

For one has undermined and negated the work of the Cross.

Recap 5

If Isa 66:23 Is a proof text for Sabbath keeping then we must also keep the NEW MOON feast (A ceremonial law)

No-one is a commandment keeper in themselves it is only by faith IN Christ.

It is only by "Adoption that we qualify" to pass the test THUS

We are no longer under the Old Covenant / Government any more.

The Old Covenant/ Government no longer has a "hold" on us.

The Old Covenant Laws "Held us"(Romans7:6) we were in "Bondage to them" (Gal 4:3) the Hand writing of requirements that stood against us"(Colossians 3:13-16) -"these weak and basic principles"(Gal 4:3-11)&(Colossians 2:8-10) we are to not walk in the old way of the law but in the New way of the Spirit.(Romans 7:6).

Recap 6

There are Blood types associated with important Covenants.

Abrahamic Covenant =Blood of "Man made in God’s image".

Mosaic Covenant =Blood of animals definitely not made in God’s image

New Covenant = The Blood of God’s only Son. God himself.

By all accounts the Mosaic Covenant (10 Commandments) is the lesser blood type of the Covenants.

The Sabbath day is a sign of the Old Covenant.

The Old Testament Believer did not enter the true rest OF God. (Hebrews 4:11).

They did not enter it with Faith.

However we New Covenant believers are encouraged to enter the Rest of God.

The creation account of days "morning and evening" demonstrates entering the constant rest on the seventh day, confirmed with the Holy Spirit not writing evening and morning on that seventh day. (God did not go back to creating.)

The cutting away of the flesh in circumcision (a sign) did not cast away the Adamic flesh, it did not cast away the sinful nature of the old man.

But the "New Covenant" revealed Truth "IN CHRIST" does!

The keeping of the Sabbath Day (a sign) does not provide the rest from mans labour to appease God- the peace of eternal security of walking in freedom from sins bondage. But the "New Covenant" revealed truth "IN CHRIST" does!

Circumcision was a "TYPE", of "casting away the flesh nature" that Christ provides.

So is the Sabbath a "TYPE" of the Rest that Christ provides.

The Sabbath day is a shadow.

The revealed true rest is not the Sabbath Day, but Christ himself.

And again to try to fulfill the requirements of the shadow (foreskin circumcision) even with the "best of intentions" and out of an act of love toward God. "Faith without works is dead". Is to deny what Christ has fulfilled for us. INDEED Christ profits you nothing. For one has undermined and negated the work-or power of the Cross.

The same is true for the other sign "the Sabbath" one may justify if you love God and want to please him then surely you are going to obey his commandment on Sabbath keeping, it is a ever lasting Covenant, Quoting: "faith without works is dead". To follow Sabbath keeping on this basis is to deny and negate the power of the cross and the TRUE rest that Christ provides. Indeed one has missed the whole point.

The Christian walk is based on faith not works.

Galatians 3:12 "The (Mosaic) Law is not based on faith"…

The Covenant (10 Commandments) of Moses looks to the outside don’t commit adultery, but the Law of Christ looks to the heart and teaches and leads us to not even look lustfully.

The Covenant of Moses says, "do not murder" But the law of Christ teaches us to love (Deals with the Heart) so as to not hate and therefore have murdered already in your heart.

The New Covenant/ Government has similar laws to the Old Covenant/ Government.

However the New Covenant /Government does not teach Sabbath Day keeping nor Can the Old Covenant /Government have any hold over us, for those of us who are in the New Covenant relationship.

The Book of 1 John is directed to Born Again New Covenant believers.

1 John says commands NOT 10 Commandments

John explains what the Commandments of God are: that is to believe in Jesus Christ his son.

The law and the prophets spoke of Jesus.

Christ our example kept the law until the time set by his Father.

Christ kept ceremonial laws and circumcision as well; we however are commanded not too.

God made many things Holy not only the Sabbath an invalid argument for Sabbatarians.

The only Sunset to sunset instruction for Sabbath keeping is in a Ceremonial Sabbath.

The Seal of God is clearly taught 3 times in the Bible, specifically that it is the Holy Spirit.

Paul’s ministry was to Gentiles yet:

In all the instruction that was required to the Gentile Community and despite much of this foundational teaching there is no mention of Saturday Sabbath instruction.

Paul never teaches Sabbath keeping to Gentiles yet he taught the full council of God.

And the list goes on and on.

These are true New Covenant Biblical perspectives.

All other types of justifications for keeping the 10 Commandments are really red herrings.

Such as the Catholic Church claim they changed the Day.

Because they say it, does that make it RELIABLE?

There are screeds of documents of the early Church keeping other than the Saturday Sabbath. Some provided at the end of this study.

However the real issue is this.

1) THE OLD COVENANT IS SCRIPTURALLY & SPECIFICALLY THE 10 COMMANDMENTS. PERIOD!

2) WE AS CHRISTIANS "IN CHRIST" ARE NOT UNDER THE OLD COVENANT. PERIOD!

3) WE AS CHRISTIANS "IN CHRIST" ARE UNDER THE NEW COVENANT.PERIOD!

4) WE CANNOT BE UNDER THE OLD AND THE NEW COVENANTS AT THE SAME TIME THAT IS ADULTERY. PERIOD! (Romans 7:1-7) There are No "COMBO DEALS" IN CHRIST.PERIOD!

5) THE NEW COVENANT IS NOT THE SAME AS THE OLD COVENANT. PERIOD!

6) THERE IS NO INSTRUCTION FOR NEW COVENANT BELIEVERS TO KEEP A SABBATH DAY.PERIOD!

There is a definite cutting away from the Old to belong to the New

The NEW gives us UNDERSTANDING and fulfillment of the OLD.

Much of the Old is in the New!

Not ALL of the Old is in the New!

To try to sustain Saturday Sabbath for the New Covenant Believer there is a ton of clear concise Scripture one needs to explain and rationalize away.

Some other Groups have prioritized their "special remnant beliefs" ahead of clear concise Scripture and have ended up writing their own bibles to substantiate their position. {(JW’s and Mormons) whom also believe they are "the true Remnant Church"}.

Adventism is not in good healthy company in this regard.

Although I must qualify: I’m in no way suggesting they are anywhere in the same category. The Focus of this study being not on the SDA people and their faith in Christ but on the doctrines of the Special Message & Moral law that is shown to be Biblically unfounded!

The writings of EGW and Church doctrine –or- the Holy Spirit & the Bible.

Furthermore Sabbatarians believe that the Sabbath in the lasts days is to be 1 last final test to determine those that are truly loyal to God and those that are not.

Those that accept the Sabbath receive the "seal of God". (lacking scriptural evidence)

Those that do not accept this "truth" (final test) of Saturday Sabbath keeping will receive the "Mark of the Beast" and lose their Salvation.

Romans 5:9-11 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 5:11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

John 10:28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

John 7:3"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

John 3:15"that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

In essence Sabbatarians suggest that: The sealing of the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 1 & 4 some how is not good enough of a seal. This seal that God places is broken. These New Covenant Believers in Jesus Christ, bought by the Blood of Jesus, being filled by the Holy Spirit, Sealed by the Holy Spirit are actually damned and eternally lost by a Doctrine that is not even explained clearly in the Scriptures and lacks Scriptural support!

For such an important test, God in his word has left this aspect of the Sabbath Keeping resoundingly silent. In addition there is so much clear literal specific text that tells us to cast out , die to etc…(10 Commandments) Is God a deceiver that those who follow New Covenant COMMANDS to "Cast out" Die to etc ..are in fact being deceived by God.

Isn’t God, a God of LOVE who desires ALL to come into repentance?

If the "Special message" is to be believed then God has placed misinformation in his Word that deceives New Covenant Bible believers from the "real truth". This "real truth" (special message) is substantiated primarily though human reasoning and writings outside of Scripture and much emphasis on a few individual isolated text that require much interpretation and human reasoning.

If the sabbatarian message is to be believed, God is then misleading and deceptive,

Sabotaging his own method of guidance (the Bible) from the "real truth".

Thwarting his own plans for all men to come into a knowledge of him.

Although Sabbatarians are genuine and sincere people with big hearts.

The Sabbatarian "Special Message" does not stand up to the Scriptural test.

This is not to say you can’t worship on Saturday, of course one can and should! Just as much as and equally any day. But not as a fulfilling of the 4^th Commandment. The Special Message is unbiblical, condemning and lacking Scriptural evidence. In essence it is a false teaching. The source of such teaching is fallible and in error according to Scripture. Running against the Holy Spirits inspiration of the Word.

If one feels uncomfortable with this line of questioning, why?

Its just the same line of questioning that the "special message" challenges to the non Sabbatarian Bible believing community.

If you’re a Sabbatarian:

The very same standard of judgement that you’ve asked of others, is now being asked of you!

That’s fair isn’t it?

Furthermore this same standard of judgement that you judged others on, is asked of you on the very same topic. The 10 Commandments, the Saturday Sabbath.

Does one love Church more than God?

Prepared to defend Doctrines and E.G, White --more --than the Bible and God Himself?

If you are feeling agitated at this line of questioning despite it being based on clear Scriptural grounds, Imagine how Non Sabbatarians feel when they are being told that they are worshipping satan are deceived and are Babylon! This study is not saying you are worshipping satan no need for name calling and nasty accusations, it is the Scriptures themselves that are addressing any Denominations Doctrines that don’t line up with the full view of Scripture. (Balance).

And we as a Church Body are all subject to the same scrutiny and all should conform to the revealed Truth of God’s Word.

Where is the Scripture that says people bought by the Blood of Christ, filled by the Holy Spirit, who are the body of Christ, the temple of God, those who place their trust in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and nothing else, are somehow worshipping satan because they don’t believe the Sabbatarian special message? (Which by the way is lacking Scriptural substantiation as we have seen).

So again where is that Scripture proving non Sabbatarians worship satan"? [None!]

Selected Messages Book 3, page 52, paragraph 2

Not One Heretical Sentence.--I am now looking over my diaries[* SEE FOOTNOTE, P.
32.] and copies of letters written for several years back. . . . I have the most
precious matter to reproduce and place before the people in testimony form. While
I am able to do this work, the people must have things to revive past history,
that they may see that there is one straight chain of truth, without one
heretical sentence, in that which I have written. This, I am instructed, is to be
a living letter to all in regard to my faith.--Letter 329a, E.G. WHITE 1905.

One is left with a decision.

Does one defend the Word of God – or - Church doctrine & E.G. White.

Does one love Church more than the God.

TRUTH IS NOT A THING

TRUTH IS NOT A DENOMINATION !!!

TRUTH IS A PERSON AND HIS NAME IS JESUS THE SON OF GOD.

A closing remark, this message addresses:

For the Seventh Day Adventist to accept this study I personally find difficult to reconcile.

Why?

Not only does it challenge their Doctrinal belief which is hard enough for any one, but it would be undermining their baptism into Christ.

Why?

Because of some of the Seventh Day Adventist baptismal VOWS.

Some of the baptismal vows depict not a Baptism into the Body of Christ but Baptism into the Doctrinal organization of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Out of the 13 Baptismal vows the following ones hold them to the SDA organization regardless of later revealed Biblical truth.

Vow 13 I accept that the Seventh-day Church is the remnant church of Bible prophecy, and that people of every nation, race, and language are invited and accepted into its fellowship. I desire to be a member in this local congregation of the world church."

Think about it, how can an Adventist Challenge the SDA Denomination on some Doctrine that maybe is non Scriptural with out jeopardizing their baptism.

(E.G. White)

I Believe its very subtle but also very real. No wonder so may SDA’s are so defensive, the very foundation of their baptism, their declaration of obedience to Christ is in jeopardy.

Surely someone can see my point?

However I desire this not to be the focus of replies but rather your Scriptural replies to the study would be appreciated, should the above objection of Baptism not cloud ones objectivity.

Yes this study has turned out to rebut the Sabbatarian position of the "Special Message" It does so from a "Balanced Biblical perspective", many of the claims of Sabbatarians as shown in this study have significant flaws and are based on E.G. White & reasoning rather than Scripture and the Balance thereof.

No need to resort to name calling of "Deceived" - "satan worshippers"- "Sunday is satan’s Sabbath" or Babylonians, the Scriptures in full balance, say what they say, and the Sabbatarian position of accusation is found lacking evidence. Of the Biblical kind.

I believe it important to outline nothing in these messages takes away from ones relationship In Jesus Christ on the contrary it should enhance it. Nothing here challenges ones relationship with Jesus Christ.

But rather it may well challenge ones faith in a denominational doctrine or writings of E.G. White.

None the less, this does not undermine one’s FAITH in Jesus Christ but can enhance it.

As opposed to calling one deceived or a satan worshipper or Babylon now that is somewhat different, that attacks one faith so as to say that that person is not worshipping Jesus Christ. The premise for such an attack, has in this study I believe shown that these accusations are lacking Scriptural merit. Those holding to such "Special Message" teaching, have much Scriptural clear text to wade through with none other than non Scriptural writings and Human reasoning or much emphasis on singular out of context isolated texts.

Again I recap: In essence Sabbatarians suggest that: The sealing of the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 1 & 4 some how is not good enough of a seal. This seal that God places is broken. These New Covenant Believers in Jesus Christ, bought by the Blood of Jesus, being filled by the Holy Spirit, Sealed by the Holy Spirit are actually damned and eternally lost by a Doctrine that is not even explained clearly in the Scriptures and lacks Scriptural support!

May God bless your walk IN him.

Regards

Brandon Neuhaus

For comments

Email me at:

brandon@enternet.co.nz

EVIDENCE THAT CHRISTIANS KEPT OTHER DAYS THAN SATURDAY

Please note this is not saying that Sunday is THE Sabbath.

It is proof that Saturday Sabbath was not always the day of worship for the early Christian.

The common remark that Constantine changed the day is false, Constantine formalized a day, but the day already existed.

• 74 AD The Letter of Barnabas "We keep the eighth day [Sunday] with joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose again from the dead" (Letter of Barnabas 15:6-8).

• 90 AD The Didache "But every Lord's day . . . gather yourselves together and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one that is at variance with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned" (Didache 14).

• 90AD DIDACHE: ...every Lord's day, hold your solemn assemblies, and rejoice: for he will be guilty of sin who fasts on the Lord's day, being the day of the resurrection... (Constitutions of the Holy Apostles, Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 7, pg. 449)

• 90AD DIDACHE: And on the day of our Lord's resurrection, which is the Lord's day, meet more diligently, sending praise to God that made the universe by Jesus, and sent Him to us, and condescended to let Him suffer, and raised Him from the dead. Otherwise what apology will he make to God who does not assemble on that day to hear the saving word concerning the resurrection...? (Constitutions of the Holy Apostles, Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 7, pg. 423)

• 90AD DIDACHE: On the day of the resurrection of the Lord, that is, the Lord's day, assemble yourselves together, without fail, giving thanks to God, and praising Him for those mercies God has bestowed upon you through Christ, and has delivered you from ignorance, error, and bondage, that your sacrifice may be unspotted, and acceptable to God, who has said concerning His universal Church: "In every place shall incense and a pure sacrifice be offered unto me; for I am a great King, saith the Lord Almighty, and my name is wonderful among the heathen, [Malachi 1:11, 14] (Constitutions of the Holy Apostles, Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 7, pg. 471)

• 107AD IGNATIUS: Be not deceived with strange doctrines, nor with old fables, which are unprofitable. For if we still live according to the Jewish law, we acknowledge that we have not received grace... If, therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order of things have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord's Day, on which also our life has sprung up again by Him and by His death (which some deny), through which mystery we received faith, and on account of which we suffer in order that we may be found disciples of Jesus Christ our only teacher, how shall we be able to live apart from him for whom even the prophets were looking as their teacher since they were his disciples in the spirit?... let every friend of Christ keep the Lord's Day as a festival, the resurrection-day, the queen and chief of all the days of the week. It is absurd to speak of Jesus Christ with the tongue, and to cherish in the mind a Judaism, which has now come to an end. for where there is Christianity there cannot be Judaism.... These things I address to you, my beloved, not that I know any of you to be in such a state; but, as less than any of you, I desire to guard you beforehand. That ye fall not upon the hooks of vain doctrine, but that you may rather attain to a full assurance in Christ... (Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians, chp 9. Ante-Nicene Fathers , vol. 1, pg. 62-63.)

• 130AD BARNABAS: Moreover God says to the Jews, 'Your new moons and Sabbaths 1 cannot endure.' You see how he says, 'The present Sabbaths are not acceptable to me, but the Sabbath which I have made in which, when I have rested from all things, I will make the beginning of the eighth day which is the beginning of another world.' Wherefore we Christians keep the eighth day for joy, on which also Jesus arose from the dead and when he appeared ascended into heaven. (15:8f, The Epistle of Barnabas, 100 AD, Ante-Nicene Fathers , vol. 1, pg. 147)

• 150AD EPISTLE OF THE APOSTLES.- I [Christ] have come into being on the eighth day which is the day of the Lord. (18)1

• 150AD JUSTIN: ...those who have persecuted and do persecute Christ, if they do not repent, shall not inherit anything on the holy mountain. But the Gentiles, who have believed on Him, and have repented of the sins which they have committed, they shall receive the inheritance along with the patriarchs and the prophets, and the just men who are descended from Jacob, even although they neither keep the Sabbath, nor are circumcised, nor observe the feasts. Assuredly they shall receive the holy inheritance of God. (Dialogue With Trypho the Jew, 150-165 AD, Ante-Nicene Fathers , vol. 1, page 207)

• 150AD JUSTIN: But if we do not admit this, we shall be liable to fall into foolish opinion, as if it were not the same God who existed in the times of Enoch and all the rest, who neither were circumcised after the flesh, nor observed Sabbaths, nor any other rites, seeing that Moses enjoined such observances... For if there was no need of circumcision before Abraham, or of the observance of Sabbaths, of feasts and sacrifices, before Moses; no more need is there of them now, after that, according to the will of God, Jesus Christ the Son of God has been born without sin, of a virgin sprung from the stock of Abraham. (Dialogue With Trypho the Jew, 150-165 AD, Ante-Nicene Fathers , vol. 1, page 206)

• 150AD JUSTIN: But Sunday is the day on which we hold our common assembly, because it is the first day of the week and Jesus our saviour on the same day rose from the dead. (First apology of Justin, Ch 68)

• 150AD JUSTIN: Moreover, all those righteous men already mentioned [after mentioning Adam. Abel, Enoch, Lot, Noah, Melchizedek, and Abraham], though they kept no Sabbaths, were pleasing to God; and after them Abraham with all his descendants until Moses... And you were commanded to keep Sabbaths, that you might retain the memorial of God. For His word makes this announcement, saying, "That you may know that I am God who redeemed you." (Dialogue With Trypho the Jew, 150-165 AD, Ante-Nicene Fathers , vol. 1, page 204)

• 150AD JUSTIN: The commandment of circumcision, requiring them always to circumcise the children on the eighth day, was a type of the true circumcision by which we are circumcised from error and evil through the resurrection from the dead on the first day of the week of Jesus Christ our Lord. For the first day of the week, although it is the first of all days, yet according to the number of the days in a cycle is called the eighth (while still remaining the first). (Dialogue 41:4)

• 150AD JUSTIN: There is no other thing for which you blame us, my friends, is there than this? That we do not live according to the Law, nor, are we circumcised in the flesh as your forefathers, nor do we observe the Sabbath as you do. (Dialogue with Trypho 10:1. In verse 3 the Jew Trypho acknowledges that Christians 'do not keep the Sabbath.')

• 150AD JUSTIN: We are always together with one another. And for all the things with which we are supplied we bless the Maker of all through his Son Jesus Christ and through his Holy Spirit. And on the day called Sunday there is a gathering together in the same place of all who live in a city or a rural district. (There follows an account of a Christian worship service, which is quoted in VII.2.) We all make our assembly in common on the day of the Sun, since it is the first day, on which God changed the darkness and matter and made the world, and Jesus Christ our Savior arose from the dead on the same day. For they crucified him on the day before Saturn's day, and on the day after (which is the day of the Sun the appeared to his apostles and taught his disciples these things. (Apology, 1, 67:1-3, 7; First Apology, 145 AD, Ante-Nicene Fathers , Vol. 1, pg. 186)

• 190AD CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: Plato prophetically speaks of the Lord's day in the tenth book of the Republic, in these words: 'And when seven days have passed to each of them in the meadow, on the eighth they must go on." (Miscellanies V.xiv.106.2)

• 200AD BARDESANES: Wherever we are, we are all called after the one name of Christ Christians. On one day, the first of the week, we assemble ourselves together (On Fate)5

• 200AD TERTULLIAN: "We solemnize the day after Saturday in contradistinction to those who call this day their Sabbath" (Tertullian's Apology, Ch 16)

• 200AD TERTULLIAN: Let him who contends that the Sabbath is still to be observed a balm of salvation, and circumcision on the eighth day because of threat of death, teach us that in earliest times righteous men kept Sabbath or practiced circumcision, and so were made friends of God. .. ...Therefore, since God originated Adam uncircumcised, and inobservant of the Sabbath, consequently his offspring also, Abel, offering Him sacrifices, uncircumcised and inobservant of the Sabbath, was by Him commended... Noah also, uncircumcised - yes, and inobservant of the Sabbath - God freed from the deluge. For Enoch, too, most righteous man, uncircumcised and inobservant of the Sabbath, He translated from this world... Melchizedek also, "the priest of most high God," uncircumcised and inobservant of the Sabbath, was chosen to the priesthood of God. (An Answer to the Jews 2:10; 4:1, Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 3, page 153)

• 200AD TERTULLIAN: To us Sabbaths are foreign. (On Idolatry, 14:6)4

• 220AD ORIGEN "On Sunday none of the actions of the world should be done. If then, you abstain from all the works of this world and keep yourselves free for spiritual things, go to church, listen to the readings and divine homilies, meditate on heavenly things. (Homil. 23 in Numeros 4, PG 12:749)

• 220 AD Origen "Hence it is not possible that the [day of] rest after the sabbath should have come into existence from the seventh [day] of our God. On the contrary, it is our Savior who, after the pattern of his own rest, caused us to be made in the likeness of his death, and hence also of his resurrection" (Commentary on John 2:28).

• 225 AD The Didascalia "The apostles further appointed: On the first day of the week let there be service, and the reading of the Holy Scriptures, and the oblation, because on the first day of the week our Lord rose from the place of the dead, and on the first day of the week he arose upon the world, and on the first day of the week he ascended up to heaven, and on the first day of the week he will appear at last with the angels of heaven" (Didascalia 2).

• 250AD CYPRIAN: The eight day, that is, the first day after the Sabbath, and the Lord's Day." (Epistle 58, Sec 4)

• 300 AD Victorinus "The sixth day [Friday] is called parasceve, that is to say, the preparation of the kingdom. . . . On this day also, on account of the passion of the Lord Jesus Christ, we make either a station to God or a fast. On the seventh day he rested from all his works, and blessed it, and sanctified it. On the former day we are accustomed to fast rigorously, that on the Lord's day we may go forth to our bread with giving of thanks. And let the parasceve become a rigorous fast, lest we should appear to observe any sabbath with the Jews . . . which sabbath he [Christ] in his body abolished" (The Creation of the World).
• 300AD EUSEBIUS: [The Ebionites] were accustomed to observe the Sabbath and other Jewish customs but on the Lord's days to celebrate the same practices as we in remembrance of the resurrection of the Savior. (Church History Ill.xxvii.5)

• 300 AD Eusebius of Caesarea "They [the early saints of the Old Testament] did not care about circumcision of the body, neither do we [Christians]. They did not care about observing sabbaths, nor do we. They did not avoid certain kinds of food, neither did they regard the other distinctions which Moses first delivered to their posterity to be observed as symbols; nor do Christians of the present day do such things" (Church History 1:4:8).

• 300 AD Eusebius of Caesarea "[T]he day of his [Christ's] light . . . was the day of his resurrection from the dead, which they say, as being the one and only truly holy day and the Lord's day, is better than any number of days as we ordinarily understand them, and better than the days set apart by the Mosaic Law for feasts, new moons, and sabbaths, which the Apostle [Paul] teaches are the shadow of days and not days in reality" (Proof of the Gospel 4:16:186).

• 345 AD Athanasius "The sabbath was the end of the first creation, the Lord's day was the beginning of the second, in which he renewed and restored the old in the same way as he prescribed that they should formerly observe the sabbath as a memorial of the end of the first things, so we honor the Lord's day as being the memorial of the new creation" (On Sabbath and Circumcision 3).

MODERN AUTHORITIES:

ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA: Sunday, first day of the week; in Christianity, the Lord's Day, the weekly memorial of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead. The practice of Christians gathering together for worship on Sunday dates back to apostolic times, but details of the actual development of the custom are not clear. Before the end of the 1st Century AD, the author of Revelation gave the first day its name of the "Lord's Day" (Rev. 1:10). Saint Justin Martyr (c. 100-c. 165), philosopher and defender of the Christian faith, in his writings described the Christians gathered together for worship on the Lord's Day: the gospels or the Old Testament was read, the presiding minister preached a sermon, and the group prayed together and celebrated the Lord's Supper. The emperor Constantine (d. 337), a convert to Christianity, introduced the first civil legislation concerning Sunday in 321, when he decreed that all work should cease on Sunday, except that farmers could work if necessary. This law, aimed at providing time for worship, was followed later in the same century and in subsequent centuries by further restrictions on Sunday activities. (15th edition, vol. 11, pg. 392)

ENCYCLOPEDIA AMERICANA: From the apostolic era to the present it has been customary for Christians to assemble for communal Sunday services... Civil laws requiring the observance of Sunday date back at least to Emperor Constantine the Great, who designated Sunday as a legal day of rest and worship in 321. This law, however was not specifically Christian, since Sunday was the day of the sun-god for pagans as well as the Lord's day for Christians. While Constantine thus managed to please the two major religious groups in the Roman empire, numerous later law regulating behavior on Sunday have been avowedly Christian. (Sunday, 1988, pg. 21)

COLLIER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA: The New Testament contains clear evidence that from a very early period the first day of the week was observed by Christians as a day of assembly for "the breaking of bread" and perhaps for the collection of freewill offerings. (Acts xx:7 and 1 Corinth xvi:2). Justin Martyr in the middle of the second century describes how "on the day called Sunday" all town and country Christians assembled for instructions in holy writings, for prayer distribution of bread and wine, and the collection of alms. Tertullian declared that the Christians "made Sunday a day of joy, but for other reasons that to adore the sun which was not part of their religion. (Sunday, , 1985, pg. 632-633)

HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH: The celebration of the Lord's Day in memory of the resurrection of Christ dates undoubtedly from the apostolic age. Nothing short of apostolic precedent can account for the universal religious observance in the churches of the second century. There is no dissenting voice. This custom is confirmed by the testimonies of the earliest post-apostolic writers, as Barnabas, Ignatius, and Justin Martyr. (Philip Schaff, , vol. 1, pg. 201-202)

HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH: Hence, the first day was already in the apostolic age honorably designated as "the Lord's Day." ...it appears, therefore, from the New Testament itself, that Sunday was observed as a day of worship, and in special commemoration of the Resurrection, whereby the work of redemption was finished. The universal and uncontradicted Sunday observance in the second century can only be explained by the fact that it has its roots in apostolic practice. (Philip Schaff, , vol. 1, pg. 478-479)

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