What Happened to the Sabbath? (Revisited)

 

A while ago I wrote a post entitled What Happened to the Sabbath? in response to a question that I received about the New Testament and the Sabbath. Before you read this post I would highly encourage you to read the original post of What Happened to the Sabbath.

After publishing that post to my Facebook notes it received many comments. Not one of those comments was in support of the position I claimed in the post. A few scriptures were cited and I decided to study those in more detail. Here is what I have come up with.

Let me just be clear so there is no confusion. I have changed my position on the Sabbath. I was wrong. It is not a requirement. I still believe that keeping the Sabbath is based on biblical principals but due to certain scriptures it cannot be a requirement. I would say that it would be wise to keep the Sabbath because it provides physical, mental, and spiritual rest (from the week before) and renewal (for the week to come). The biblical principals that I pointed out in the previous post still stand.

Why do I now say that the Sabbath cannot be a requirement? Because of Colossians 2:13-17.

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,  (14)  by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.  (15)  He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.  (16)  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.  (17)  These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
(Colossians 2:13-17)

 Because Col 2:16 begins with the word "therefore" it indicates the the following is a result of what is described in Col 2:14. The result is then that you may no longer pass judgment on anyone regarding the food they eat, the drink they drink, whether or not they celebrate the festivals and new moon, AND whether or not they celebrate the Sabbath. In the Old Testament you could cast judgment about those things (i.e. If someone was doing something that was forbidden on the Sabbath they could have been killed). It was a capital offense. But not anymore, according to Colossians 2:16.

Apparently the same issue came up (probably about the Sabbath but not necessarily) and Paul addressed it in Romans 14:5-6 (really the argument spans the entire chapter of Romans 14).

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.  (6)  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.
(Romans 14:5-6)

The interesting thing here is that when Paul is apparently asked a question about whether or not they should keep the Sabbath, Paul doesn't take a side. All he says is "If you do it, do it to the Lord. If you abstain, abstain to the Lord". So the Sabbath is no longer a mandate but a personal conviction.

That being said, I do believe that it is a good idea to set one day of each week aside as a special day of rest and corporate worship.  I believe it is wise to give yourself a day to wind down and prepare for the week that is coming. That is what I have decided as my personal conviction that I have founded on biblical principals. If we don't see eye to eye, don't worry, I won't judge you.

I want to thank those of you who participated in this discussion and added in my coming to this conclusion regarding Sabbath worship.

Testifying to the gospel of the grace of God,
Robbie
Acts 20:24