Christians Always Met on the Lord's Day not the Sabbath

[james1523]

We find from the New Testament Scriptures and early Christian writings that Christians always met on the first day of the week, Sunday, which was not a "Christian Sabbath", but properly termed "the Lord's day", the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead (Markk 16:9):

Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord's Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight.
1 Cor 16:2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

This is also further confirmed historically by many New Testament era Christian writings, such as the Didache and Espistle of Barnabas:

"Christian Assembly on the Lord's Day: 1. But every Lord's day do ye gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. (Didache 90AD : The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, Chapter XIV)

"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 [heaven: Heb 4] 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)

We do find that the early Christians ministered and worshiped also on the Sabbath (e.g. it was Paul's custom to preach on the Sabbath Acts 17:2–3), but this was primarily to engage with the Jews on their holy day. The early Christians kept the Sunday, the Lord's day as the special day of meeting to break bread and remember the Lord, nonetheless.

Whilst it is technically true that Christians can decide to meet on any day of the week.. there is no rule about that (well, unless you lived in medieval times).. meeting together on the Lord's Day is not only historical custom; it has much spiritual significance.

To meet on the Lord's day of resurrection is to declare that we believe in a real , living, resurrected person. It is to testify that the church, the Body of Christ is a living entity in the resurrection power of Christ. When Christians all over the world meet together on the Sunday, the day of resurrection, we testify that the Lord is risen, and we too shall live because of Him.

But Christians who insist that we should break bread together on the Sabbath Saturday have no ground in scripture nor historical fact to say so.

A problem with meeting on the Saturday is that Jesus Christ was in the grave on the 7th day of the week, and so the message that this conveys is that we believe in a buried, dead Savior, and not the resurrected Christ. Even the Jews today believe Jesus stayed in the grave and they too meet on the Sabbath. If we meet on the Sabbath we stand together with the Jews to declare that Jesus is dead, not risen.

Jesus did not rise on the first day of the week by coincidence or chance. Jesus rose on the first day of the week for a reason. He could have risen on the Sabbath, but He chose not to. Why? I believe to demonstrate that He enacted a perpetual rest for His people.. a rest that did not end when the sun went down on the Sabbath, but which continues forever and ever.

The pattern set before the Jews was to work for 6 days and rest on the 7th... following the order of God's creation. But the pattern set for us Christians is to rest on the first day, and then work for the 6. Jews rest after they work, but Christians rest and then work in and out of that rest. The Jew rests on the Sabbath to recover from their own work. The Christian has ceased from his own work and labors from a position of resting in Christ's accomplished work on the cross (Heb 4:10).

The number 7 signifies completion, perfection in Creation... , but the number 8.. the 8th day , signifies a new beginning, a new creation, new birth, and resurrection of believers to eternal life.

So we should see that maintaining the Lord's day, Sunday, as the day of meeting, is not only Christian tradition and custom, it has deep spiritual significance for the believer.

May we all enjoy the Lord's rest as we seek our satisfaction and enjoyment in Him, not just on the first day of the week, but continually, in whatever we do.

 

[sintheticg]

The pattern set before the Jews was to work for 6 days and rest on the 7th... following the order of God's creation. But the pattern set for us Christians is to rest on the first day, and then work for the 6. Jews rest after they work, but Christians rest and then work in and out of that rest. The Jew rests on the Sabbath to recover from their own work. The Christian has ceased from his own work and labors from a position of resting in Christ's accomplished work on the cross (Heb 4:10).

I never made that connection, thanks for your post brother, love it.

 

[farout]

We find from the New Testament Scriptures and early Christian writings that Christians always met on the first day of the week, Sunday, which was not a "Christian Sabbath", but properly termed "the Lord's day", the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead (Markk 16:9):

Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord's Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight.
1 Cor 16:2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

This is also further confirmed historically by many New Testament era Christian writings, such as the Didache and Espistle of Barnabas:

"Christian Assembly on the Lord's Day: 1. But every Lord's day do ye gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. (Didache 90AD : The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, Chapter XIV)

"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 [heaven: Heb 4] 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)

We do find that the early Christians ministered and worshiped also on the Sabbath (e.g. it was Paul's custom to preach on the Sabbath Acts 17:2–3), but this was primarily to engage with the Jews on their holy day. The early Christians kept the Sunday, the Lord's day as the special day of meeting to break bread and remember the Lord, nonetheless.

Whilst it is technically true that Christians can decide to meet on any day of the week.. there is no rule about that (well, unless you lived in medieval times).. meeting together on the Lord's Day is not only historical custom; it has much spiritual significance.

To meet on the Lord's day of resurrection is to declare that we believe in a real , living, resurrected person. It is to testify that the church, the Body of Christ is a living entity in the resurrection power of Christ. When Christians all over the world meet together on the Sunday, the day of resurrection, we testify that the Lord is risen, and we too shall live because of Him.

But Christians who insist that we should break bread together on the Sabbath Saturday have no ground in scripture nor historical fact to say so.

A problem with meeting on the Saturday is that Jesus Christ was in the grave on the 7th day of the week, and so the message that this conveys is that we believe in a buried, dead Savior, and not the resurrected Christ. Even the Jews today believe Jesus stayed in the grave and they too meet on the Sabbath. If we meet on the Sabbath we stand together with the Jews to declare that Jesus is dead, not risen.

Jesus did not rise on the first day of the week by coincidence or chance. Jesus rose on the first day of the week for a reason. He could have risen on the Sabbath, but He chose not to. Why? I believe to demonstrate that He enacted a perpetual rest for His people.. a rest that did not end when the sun went down on the Sabbath, but which continues forever and ever.

The pattern set before the Jews was to work for 6 days and rest on the 7th... following the order of God's creation. But the pattern set for us Christians is to rest on the first day, and then work for the 6. Jews rest after they work, but Christians rest and then work in and out of that rest. The Jew rests on the Sabbath to recover from their own work. The Christian has ceased from his own work and labors from a position of resting in Christ's accomplished work on the cross (Heb 4:10).

The number 7 signifies completion, perfection in Creation... , but the number 8.. the 8th day , signifies a new beginning, a new creation, new birth, and resurrection of believers to eternal life.

So we should see that maintaining the Lord's day, Sunday, as the day of meeting, is not only Christian tradition and custom, it has deep spiritual significance for the believer.

May we all enjoy the Lord's rest as we seek our satisfaction and enjoyment in Him, not just on the first day of the week, but continually, in whatever we do.

James: Thank you for giving this information, I have needed it for a long time. Where id you get the information, I would like to read more about thinga I have wondered about.
By the way this gives you five gold stars for the day! Way to go James.


farout

 

[brakelite]

The Seventh Day Sabbath
In over one hundred languages throughout the world the seventh day is called ‘sabbath’ or its equivalent. Thus historically, the seventh day has never been just a day of rest for the Jews, but a day of rest for all peoples, recognised anciently as such in numerous cultures. This idea is confirmed for us in both the old testament and new testament of the scriptures. In Isaiah 56 the Lord declares through His prophet: “Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold upon it: that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord speak, saying, the Lord hath utterly separated me from his people; neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths and choose the things that please me and take hold of my covenant; even unto them will I give in my house and within my walls a place and a name better than the of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and taketh hold of my covenant; even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer.” Isaiah 56:2-7
And in the NT Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for man. Man in that context was a generic term meaning mankind.

444 ανθρωπος anthropos anth’-ro-pos

from 435 and ops (the countenance, from 3700); man-faced, i.e. a human being; TDNT-1:364,59;n m

AV-man 552, not tr 4, misc 3; 559

1) a human being, whether male or female
1a) generically, to include all human individuals
1b) to distinguish man from beings of a different order
1b1) of animals and plants
1b2) of from God and Christ
1b3) of the angels
1c) with the added notion of weakness, by which man is led into a mistake or promptedto sin
1d) with the adjunct notion of contempt or disdainful pity
1e) with reference to two fold nature of man, body and soul
1f) with reference to the two fold nature of man, the corrupt and the truly Christian man, conformed to the nature of God
1g) with reference to sex, a male
2) indefinitely, someone, a man, one
3) in the plural, people
4) joined with other words, merchantman





The Jewish people were blessed with something unique and very special. It was something which God intended they share with gentiles, for God always intended that all peoples should know Him. The pagan nations around Israel had their fertility rites, their initiations, their icons, their statues and idols. But Israel had a day. This day set them apart. But rather than share the Sabbath with others, Israel repeatedly ignored, neglected, or polluted it by introducing pagan practices into their religion. Israel's time in Babylon cured them of this malady, but by the time of Christ they had moved to the other extreme and burdened the Sabbath with so many additional laws and regulations the day had become a curse rather than a blessing.



Jesus came to reveal how the Sabbath was intended to be kept and to free it from the encumbrances of legalism. To heal on the Sabbath was scandalous to the rabbis. They accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath, and because Jesus had such huge support and influence, it was partly through fear that the whole nation would begin ‘desecrating’ the Sabbath and of the subsequent judgments of God that the leaders of the nation sought to kill Him, “But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.” John 11:49, 50 and that finally led to His crucifixion.


Jesus had numerous opportunities to speak of how the Sabbath was going to be changed or done away with. But rather than do this, all His discussions, debates and arguments with the rabbis were focused on how the Sabbath was to be kept. He defied the human traditions and yes, Jesus did break the Sabbath: He broke it free from the rigid guidelines that made it a burden, and a rigid formality.



The early Christians saw the Christian faith as a progression, not a new religion. Calvary gave the Sabbath new significance, but did not annul it. Christians were worshipping alongside Jews in the synagogues every Sabbath, but over a period of time Jews became less tolerant of this arrangement and the rabbis actually devised prayers that were to be said which exposed the Christians within the community. This made it very uncomfortable for Christians to continue meeting in the synagogues, but they did not forsake the Sabbath. They began to meet in their houses and in places like the riversides as Paul found in Thyatira. Eventually, Christians found it impossible to worship in the synagogues and about that same time found themselves questioning their connections to the Jews, and with good reason. Much conflict around the early second century between the Jews and Rome began to impact the church. Not wanting to be recognized by Rome as being sympathetic or in any way involved with the Jews, some Christians began to abandon the Sabbath in favour of Sunday, which became an attractive alternative.


At this time also Sun worship increased in popularity with Rome. Mithra was particularly popular with the military, and Sunday became increasingly significant throughout the empire. Constantine established the first Sunday law in 321ad, and the church of Rome shortly thereafter adopted that day as its own. As late as the 5th century however there were still a majority of Christian churches that were still observing the Sabbath. The church leaders in Rome strongly encouraged resting on Sunday in accordance to the law, while at the same time imposing fasts and other strictures on the Sabbath. Councils such as that of Laodicea in the mid 4th century recognized the continuing popularity of the Sabbath observance, and instituted canons to further enforce Sunday and demote the Sabbath. Churches that abandoned the Sabbath altogether however were very much in the minority, as attested to by Socrates scholasticus when he wrote in the 4th century “ For although almost all churches throughout the world celebrate the sacred mysteries on the Sabbath every week, yet the Christians of Alexandria and Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, have ceased to do this.”



Despite theological arguments, anti-jewish prejudice, and empirical decrees, the Sabbath was still honoured well into the 5th century. It was not dead. In fact, the Sabbath issue became a greatly heated debate between popes and patriarchs throughout the ensuing centuries, and became a test of authority. Sunday became the sign of submission to papal authority, and was a major cause of the great rift within the Christian faith that remained for 900 years.

In addition to that, there were pockets of resistance to the papal persecutions re Sabbath keeping throughout the ensuing dark ages, and ironically it was only when coming into connection with the Protestant churches in the reformation period that those Sabbath keeping churches relented.


With that history in mind, let us forever lay to rest the idea that Jesus or the apostles, or the scriptures themselves for that matter, had anything to do with any change or annulment of the seventh day Sabbath. Let us, at least in this matter, agree with the Church of Rome that responsibility for such a change can be laid squarely upon her shoulders. For it was the leaders, the popes, cardinals and bishops of that church who down through the ages from the 3rd century to the present day deliberately exalted Sunday and erroneously named that day the Lord’s Day; meanwhile persecuting Sabbath keepers, labelling them, among other things as Judaisers and heretics, and have trampled upon the true Lord’s day and cast it aside.

It remains for the Christian today to “choose this day whom ye will serve”. It is for you friend to decide upon whose authority your faith is surrendered to. The Creator of the “heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and all that in them is”, or the prelates and lawmakers of the Catholic church, the foster parents of the counterfeit day of rest and worship, the day of the Sun.

 

[james1523]

The Seventh Day Sabbath
In over one hundred languages throughout the world the seventh day is called ‘sabbath’ or its equivalent. Thus historically, the seventh day has never been just a day of rest for the Jews, but a day of rest for all peoples, recognised anciently as such in numerous cultures. This idea is confirmed for us in both the old testament and new testament of the scriptures. In Isaiah 56 the Lord declares through His prophet: “Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold upon it: that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord speak, saying, the Lord hath utterly separated me from his people; neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths and choose the things that please me and take hold of my covenant; even unto them will I give in my house and within my walls a place and a name better than the of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and taketh hold of my covenant; even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer.” Isaiah 56:2-7
And in the NT Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for man. Man in that context was a generic term meaning mankind.

444 ανθρωπος anthropos anth’-ro-pos

from 435 and ops (the countenance, from 3700); man-faced, i.e. a human being; TDNT-1:364,59;n m

AV-man 552, not tr 4, misc 3; 559

1) a human being, whether male or female
1a) generically, to include all human individuals
1b) to distinguish man from beings of a different order
1b1) of animals and plants
1b2) of from God and Christ
1b3) of the angels
1c) with the added notion of weakness, by which man is led into a mistake or promptedto sin
1d) with the adjunct notion of contempt or disdainful pity
1e) with reference to two fold nature of man, body and soul
1f) with reference to the two fold nature of man, the corrupt and the truly Christian man, conformed to the nature of God
1g) with reference to sex, a male
2) indefinitely, someone, a man, one
3) in the plural, people
4) joined with other words, merchantman





The Jewish people were blessed with something unique and very special. It was something which God intended they share with gentiles, for God always intended that all peoples should know Him. The pagan nations around Israel had their fertility rites, their initiations, their icons, their statues and idols. But Israel had a day. This day set them apart. But rather than share the Sabbath with others, Israel repeatedly ignored, neglected, or polluted it by introducing pagan practices into their religion. Israel's time in Babylon cured them of this malady, but by the time of Christ they had moved to the other extreme and burdened the Sabbath with so many additional laws and regulations the day had become a curse rather than a blessing.



Jesus came to reveal how the Sabbath was intended to be kept and to free it from the encumbrances of legalism. To heal on the Sabbath was scandalous to the rabbis. They accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath, and because Jesus had such huge support and influence, it was partly through fear that the whole nation would begin ‘desecrating’ the Sabbath and of the subsequent judgments of God that the leaders of the nation sought to kill Him, “But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.” John 11:49, 50 and that finally led to His crucifixion.


Jesus had numerous opportunities to speak of how the Sabbath was going to be changed or done away with. But rather than do this, all His discussions, debates and arguments with the rabbis were focused on how the Sabbath was to be kept. He defied the human traditions and yes, Jesus did break the Sabbath: He broke it free from the rigid guidelines that made it a burden, and a rigid formality.



The early Christians saw the Christian faith as a progression, not a new religion. Calvary gave the Sabbath new significance, but did not annul it. Christians were worshipping alongside Jews in the synagogues every Sabbath, but over a period of time Jews became less tolerant of this arrangement and the rabbis actually devised prayers that were to be said which exposed the Christians within the community. This made it very uncomfortable for Christians to continue meeting in the synagogues, but they did not forsake the Sabbath. They began to meet in their houses and in places like the riversides as Paul found in Thyatira. Eventually, Christians found it impossible to worship in the synagogues and about that same time found themselves questioning their connections to the Jews, and with good reason. Much conflict around the early second century between the Jews and Rome began to impact the church. Not wanting to be recognized by Rome as being sympathetic or in any way involved with the Jews, some Christians began to abandon the Sabbath in favour of Sunday, which became an attractive alternative.


At this time also Sun worship increased in popularity with Rome. Mithra was particularly popular with the military, and Sunday became increasingly significant throughout the empire. Constantine established the first Sunday law in 321ad, and the church of Rome shortly thereafter adopted that day as its own. As late as the 5th century however there were still a majority of Christian churches that were still observing the Sabbath. The church leaders in Rome strongly encouraged resting on Sunday in accordance to the law, while at the same time imposing fasts and other strictures on the Sabbath. Councils such as that of Laodicea in the mid 4th century recognized the continuing popularity of the Sabbath observance, and instituted canons to further enforce Sunday and demote the Sabbath. Churches that abandoned the Sabbath altogether however were very much in the minority, as attested to by Socrates scholasticus when he wrote in the 4th century “ For although almost all churches throughout the world celebrate the sacred mysteries on the Sabbath every week, yet the Christians of Alexandria and Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, have ceased to do this.”



Despite theological arguments, anti-jewish prejudice, and empirical decrees, the Sabbath was still honoured well into the 5th century. It was not dead. In fact, the Sabbath issue became a greatly heated debate between popes and patriarchs throughout the ensuing centuries, and became a test of authority. Sunday became the sign of submission to papal authority, and was a major cause of the great rift within the Christian faith that remained for 900 years.

In addition to that, there were pockets of resistance to the papal persecutions re Sabbath keeping throughout the ensuing dark ages, and ironically it was only when coming into connection with the Protestant churches in the reformation period that those Sabbath keeping churches relented.


With that history in mind, let us forever lay to rest the idea that Jesus or the apostles, or the scriptures themselves for that matter, had anything to do with any change or annulment of the seventh day Sabbath. Let us, at least in this matter, agree with the Church of Rome that responsibility for such a change can be laid squarely upon her shoulders. For it was the leaders, the popes, cardinals and bishops of that church who down through the ages from the 3rd century to the present day deliberately exalted Sunday and erroneously named that day the Lord’s Day; meanwhile persecuting Sabbath keepers, labelling them, among other things as Judaisers and heretics, and have trampled upon the true Lord’s day and cast it aside.

It remains for the Christian today to “choose this day whom ye will serve”. It is for you friend to decide upon whose authority your faith is surrendered to. The Creator of the “heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and all that in them is”, or the prelates and lawmakers of the Catholic church, the foster parents of the counterfeit day of rest and worship, the day of the Sun.

Thankyou for posting the SDA perspective on this matter.

As the Scriptures and the New Testament era writings I posted show, the Christians were meeting on the Sunday and believed the Sabbath was done away with, long before the 3rd Century. The Didache was not the view of a single Christian nor minority, it was one of, if not the oldest catechism.

Yet is it not true that the SDA beliefs concerning the history of the Sabbath were not from primary sources of inspired Scripture nor history, but the angel-accompanied visions of Ellen White ?:

Ellen G. White: "I saw that God had not changed the Sabbath, for He never changes. But the Pope had changed it from the seventh to the first day of the week: for he was to change time and laws." A Word to the Little Flock, "A Vision, April 7, 1847", p. 18.

Ellen G. White: "In a view given June 27, 1850, My accompanying angel said, "Time is almost finished. ..."The Pope had changed the day of rest from the seventh to the first day of the week." Early Writings, "Mark of the Beast", p. 65.

 

[DHC]

Thankyou for posting the SDA perspective on this matter.

As the Scriptures and the New Testament era writings I posted show, the Christians were meeting on the Sunday and believed the Sabbath was done away with, long before the 3rd Century. The Didache was not the view of a single Christian nor minority, it was one of, if not the oldest catechism.

Yet is it not true that the SDA beliefs concerning the history of the Sabbath were not from primary sources of inspired Scripture nor history, but the angel-accompanied visions of Ellen White ?:

Ellen G. White: "I saw that God had not changed the Sabbath, for He never changes. But the Pope had changed it from the seventh to the first day of the week: for he was to change time and laws." A Word to the Little Flock, "A Vision, April 7, 1847", p. 18.

Ellen G. White: "In a view given June 27, 1850, My accompanying angel said, "Time is almost finished. ..."The Pope had changed the day of rest from the seventh to the first day of the week." Early Writings, "Mark of the Beast", p. 65.

Hello James.

Did you notice the title of the early writings, "Mark of the Beast".

They believe that anyone who goes to church a day after them
has the mark. They believe we are in the end times.

The one true remnant church, just like all the other true churches.

Why is it that all true churches always have one leader?

 

[james1523]

Hello James.

Did you notice the title of the early writings, "Mark of the Beast".

They believe that anyone who goes to church a day after them
has the mark. They believe we are in the end times.

The one true remnant church, just like all the other true churches.

Why is it that all true churches always have one leader?

My church is the true church and has one leader .. Jesus Christ :shade:

 

[james1523]

The early Christians saw the Christian faith as a progression, not a new religion. Calvary gave the Sabbath new significance, but did not annul it. Christians were worshipping alongside Jews in the synagogues every Sabbath, but over a period of time Jews became less tolerant of this arrangement and the rabbis actually devised prayers that were to be said which exposed the Christians within the community. This made it very uncomfortable for Christians to continue meeting in the synagogues, but they did not forsake the Sabbath

As late as the 5th century however there were still a majority of Christian churches that were still observing the Sabbath.

I don't believe this is according to historical fact. There was clear and distinct difference between the Jew and Gentile Christians in the 1st and 2nd Century. Gentile Christians did not adopt Jewish practice, but continued in their manner of living, except where they departed from grace unto the Law, such as the Galatians. This is evident in the 150 AD writing by Justin Martyr, "dialogue with Tryphos the Jew", where it is shown that Christians did not keep Sabbath, and it is confirmed that the Sabbath was not intended for the Gentiles, nor those before Moses:

The position of the Jews and their observation of Christian practice:

"If, then, you are willing to listen to me (for I have already considered you a friend), first be circumcised, then observe what ordinances have been enacted with respect to the Sabbath, and the feasts, and the new moons of God; and, in a word, do all things which have been written in the law: and then perhaps you shall obtain mercy from God."

But this is what we are most at a loss about: that you, professing to be pious, and supposing yourselves better than others, are not in any particular separated from them, and do not alter your mode of living from the nations, in that you observe no festivals or sabbaths, and do not have the rite of circumcision; and further, resting your hopes on a man that was crucified, you yet expect to obtain some good thing from God, while you do not obey His commandments.

Marytr to the Jews:
"Is there any other matter, my friends, in which we are blamed, than this, that we live not after the law, and are not circumcised in the flesh as your forefathers were, and do not observe sabbaths as you do?

The new law requires you to keep perpetual sabbath, and you, because you are idle for one day, suppose you are pious, not discerning why this has been commanded you:

Speaking of Noah, Abraham, Enoch:
Moreover, all those righteous men already mentioned, though they kept no Sabbaths, were pleasing to God; and after them Abraham with all his descendants until Moses

Martyr confirming that the Sabbath was given specifically to the Jew for remembrance of being taken out of Egypt:
And you were commanded to keep Sabbaths, that you might retain the memorial of God. For His word makes this announcement, saying, 'That ye may know that I am God who redeemed you.'

The Sabbath was given to the Jew not as a work for righteousness but due to the hardness and sinfulness of their hearts:
As, then, circumcision began with Abraham, and the Sabbath and sacrifices and offerings and feasts with Moses, and it has been proved they were enjoined on account of the hardness of your people's heart

Do you see that the elements are not idle, and keep no Sabbaths? Remain as you were born. 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.


Just as those before Moses did not keep the Sabbath, neither are those after Christ required to keep the Sabbath. Christ has secured a perpetual rest for His people. It is this perpetual rest that the Christian abides in constantly by faith. Ellen G. White was obviously not acquainted with history, nor with the Scriptures, nor the purpose of the Sabbath, preferring instead to rely upon her angelic visitations and mystical experiences for invention of history.

 

[sintheticg]

My church is the true church and has one leader .. Jesus Christ :shade:

amen, but a cult always has 1 leader whose word trumps the bible. they accept the bible to the point it is in contention with their Antichrist. If the bible is the mind of Christ to deny its teaching and write your own must be the spirit of Antichrist. see ellen g white, joseph smith, albert pike, so on so forth. interesting is ellen's words "my accompanying angel" there are quite a few fallen angels roaming the earth, I wonder?

(Galatians 1:8) "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."

 

[farout]

The Seventh Day Sabbath
In over one hundred languages throughout the world the seventh day is called ‘sabbath’ or its equivalent. Thus historically, the seventh day has never been just a day of rest for the Jews, but a day of rest for all peoples, recognised anciently as such in numerous cultures. This idea is confirmed for us in both the old testament and new testament of the scriptures. In Isaiah 56 the Lord declares through His prophet: “Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold upon it: that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord speak, saying, the Lord hath utterly separated me from his people; neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths and choose the things that please me and take hold of my covenant; even unto them will I give in my house and within my walls a place and a name better than the of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and taketh hold of my covenant; even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer.” Isaiah 56:2-7
And in the NT Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for man. Man in that context was a generic term meaning mankind.

444 ανθρωπος anthropos anth’-ro-pos

from 435 and ops (the countenance, from 3700); man-faced, i.e. a human being; TDNT-1:364,59;n m

AV-man 552, not tr 4, misc 3; 559

1) a human being, whether male or female
1a) generically, to include all human individuals
1b) to distinguish man from beings of a different order
1b1) of animals and plants
1b2) of from God and Christ
1b3) of the angels
1c) with the added notion of weakness, by which man is led into a mistake or promptedto sin
1d) with the adjunct notion of contempt or disdainful pity
1e) with reference to two fold nature of man, body and soul
1f) with reference to the two fold nature of man, the corrupt and the truly Christian man, conformed to the nature of God
1g) with reference to sex, a male
2) indefinitely, someone, a man, one
3) in the plural, people
4) joined with other words, merchantman





The Jewish people were blessed with something unique and very special. It was something which God intended they share with gentiles, for God always intended that all peoples should know Him. The pagan nations around Israel had their fertility rites, their initiations, their icons, their statues and idols. But Israel had a day. This day set them apart. But rather than share the Sabbath with others, Israel repeatedly ignored, neglected, or polluted it by introducing pagan practices into their religion. Israel's time in Babylon cured them of this malady, but by the time of Christ they had moved to the other extreme and burdened the Sabbath with so many additional laws and regulations the day had become a curse rather than a blessing.



Jesus came to reveal how the Sabbath was intended to be kept and to free it from the encumbrances of legalism. To heal on the Sabbath was scandalous to the rabbis. They accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath, and because Jesus had such huge support and influence, it was partly through fear that the whole nation would begin ‘desecrating’ the Sabbath and of the subsequent judgments of God that the leaders of the nation sought to kill Him, “But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.” John 11:49, 50 and that finally led to His crucifixion.


Jesus had numerous opportunities to speak of how the Sabbath was going to be changed or done away with. But rather than do this, all His discussions, debates and arguments with the rabbis were focused on how the Sabbath was to be kept. He defied the human traditions and yes, Jesus did break the Sabbath: He broke it free from the rigid guidelines that made it a burden, and a rigid formality.



The early Christians saw the Christian faith as a progression, not a new religion. Calvary gave the Sabbath new significance, but did not annul it. Christians were worshipping alongside Jews in the synagogues every Sabbath, but over a period of time Jews became less tolerant of this arrangement and the rabbis actually devised prayers that were to be said which exposed the Christians within the community. This made it very uncomfortable for Christians to continue meeting in the synagogues, but they did not forsake the Sabbath. They began to meet in their houses and in places like the riversides as Paul found in Thyatira. Eventually, Christians found it impossible to worship in the synagogues and about that same time found themselves questioning their connections to the Jews, and with good reason. Much conflict around the early second century between the Jews and Rome began to impact the church. Not wanting to be recognized by Rome as being sympathetic or in any way involved with the Jews, some Christians began to abandon the Sabbath in favour of Sunday, which became an attractive alternative.


At this time also Sun worship increased in popularity with Rome. Mithra was particularly popular with the military, and Sunday became increasingly significant throughout the empire. Constantine established the first Sunday law in 321ad, and the church of Rome shortly thereafter adopted that day as its own. As late as the 5th century however there were still a majority of Christian churches that were still observing the Sabbath. The church leaders in Rome strongly encouraged resting on Sunday in accordance to the law, while at the same time imposing fasts and other strictures on the Sabbath. Councils such as that of Laodicea in the mid 4th century recognized the continuing popularity of the Sabbath observance, and instituted canons to further enforce Sunday and demote the Sabbath. Churches that abandoned the Sabbath altogether however were very much in the minority, as attested to by Socrates scholasticus when he wrote in the 4th century “ For although almost all churches throughout the world celebrate the sacred mysteries on the Sabbath every week, yet the Christians of Alexandria and Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, have ceased to do this.”



Despite theological arguments, anti-jewish prejudice, and empirical decrees, the Sabbath was still honoured well into the 5th century. It was not dead. In fact, the Sabbath issue became a greatly heated debate between popes and patriarchs throughout the ensuing centuries, and became a test of authority. Sunday became the sign of submission to papal authority, and was a major cause of the great rift within the Christian faith that remained for 900 years.

In addition to that, there were pockets of resistance to the papal persecutions re Sabbath keeping throughout the ensuing dark ages, and ironically it was only when coming into connection with the Protestant churches in the reformation period that those Sabbath keeping churches relented.


With that history in mind, let us forever lay to rest the idea that Jesus or the apostles, or the scriptures themselves for that matter, had anything to do with any change or annulment of the seventh day Sabbath. Let us, at least in this matter, agree with the Church of Rome that responsibility for such a change can be laid squarely upon her shoulders. For it was the leaders, the popes, cardinals and bishops of that church who down through the ages from the 3rd century to the present day deliberately exalted Sunday and erroneously named that day the Lord’s Day; meanwhile persecuting Sabbath keepers, labelling them, among other things as Judaisers and heretics, and have trampled upon the true Lord’s day and cast it aside.

It remains for the Christian today to “choose this day whom ye will serve”. It is for you friend to decide upon whose authority your faith is surrendered to. The Creator of the “heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and all that in them is”, or the prelates and lawmakers of the Catholic church, the foster parents of the counterfeit day of rest and worship, the day of the Sun.

Would you please give the source of this mterial. I's important when we post someone elses material they get credit. If it's all yours that credit it for your self. I have a friend who sent me something almost like this. Blessings


farout

 

[DHC]

amen, but a cult always has 1 leader whose word trumps the bible. they accept the bible to the point it is in contention with their Antichrist. If the bible is the mind of Christ to deny its teaching and write your own must be the spirit of Antichrist. see ellen g white, joseph smith, albert pike, so on so forth. interesting is ellen's words "my accompanying angel" there are quite a few fallen angels roaming the earth, I wonder?

(Galatians 1:8) "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."

Hello sintheticg.

The world is controlled by the spirit of the air.

Ephesians 2:2
in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

Colossians 2:18
Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and
the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without
cause by his fleshly mind,

 

[brakelite]

Would you please give the source of this mterial. I's important when we post someone elses material they get credit. If it's all yours that credit it for your self. I have a friend who sent me something almost like this. Blessings


farout

Hi farout. This is a copy of an entry to my blog from a year ago. It was pieced together from a number of sources, some web sites, and a couple of books. Both written by Adventist historians, one B G Wilkinson and the other C Goldstein. I would be the first to admit that nothing I write about or post on this site, or any site, is entirely original. Although it may be written in my own words, the subject matter or the information therein is wholly second hand. No knowledge I have did not come from elsewhere.

 

[brakelite]

Not only Adventist scholarship....

Just to establish that my information regarding the Sunday/Sabbath issue does not come from solely Adventist sources.

“Sunday (dies solis. . . .’day of the sun,’ because dedicated to the sun), the
first day of the week, was adopted by the early Christians as a day of
worship. The ‘sun’ of Latin adoration they interpreted as the ‘Sun of
Righteousness.’ . . . . No regulations for its observance are laid down in the
New Testament, nor, indeed, is its observance even enjoined.” The Schaff-
Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, (New York: Funk &
Wagnalls, volume 4, article, ‘Sunday,’ third edition, 1891), p. 2259.

its numbered week days, but by the close of the third century A. D. this
began to give way to the planetary week; and in the fourth and fifth
centuries the pagan designations became generally accepted in the western
half of Christendom. The use of the planetary names by Christians attests
the growing influence of astrological speculations introduced by converts
from paganism. . . . During these same centuries the spread of Oriental
solar worship, especially that of Mithra, in the Roman world, had already
led to the substitution by pagans of dies solis for dies Saturni, as the first
day of the planetary week. . . . Thus gradually a pagan institution was
ingrafted on Christianity.” Hutton Webster, Ph. D., Rest Days (New York:
Macmillan & Co., 1916), pp. 220, 221.

“The Gentiles were an idolatrous people who worshiped the sun, and
Sunday was their most sacred day. Now, in order to reach the people in this
new field, it seems but natural, as well as necessary, to make Sunday the
rest day of the Church. At this time it was necessary for the Church to
either adopt the Gentiles’ day or else have the Gentiles change their day.
To change the Gentiles’ day would have been an offense and stumbling
block to them. The Church could naturally reach them better by keeping
their day.” Dr. William Frederick, Sunday and the Christian Sabbath, pp.
169, 170.

"For when there could not be produced one solitary place in the Holy Scriptures which testified that either the Lord Himself or the apostles had ordered such a transfer of the Sabbath to Sunday,then it was not easy to answer the question: who has transferred the Sabbath, and who has had the right to do it?"
George Sverdrup 'A New Day'
Lutheran Free Church.

"And where are we told in the scriptures that we are to keep the first day at all? We are commanded to keep the seventh,but we are nowhere commanded to keep the first day."
Canon Eyton The Ten Commandments
Anglican

"It is true that there is no positive command for infant baptism. Nor is there any for keeping holy the first day of the week. Many believe that Christ changed the Sabbath. But from His own words, we see that He came for no such purpose. Those who believe that Jesus changed the Sabbath base it only on supposition."
Amos Binney Theological Compendium pp180-181
Methodist

"The sacred name of the seventh day is Sabbath. The fact is too clear to require argument...on this point the plain teaching of the word has been admitted in all ages...Not once did the disciples apply the Sabbath law to the first day of the week-that folly was left for a later age,nor did they pretend that the first day supplanted the seventh.
Joseph Judson Taylor 'The Sabbath Question' pp 14,15 16-17,41
Southern Baptist

 

[Greatness4life]

I just felt I should chip in this..It might help. I am not being particular about day or no day..
In Isaiah 58:13 the Lord says If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him(note HIM not it), not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:


From studying of the scriptures..I've found out that Sabbath is a Person not just a day. We can choose a day and not have the Sabbath . For me, I don't wanna debate on a day, but more importantly on a Person..

The Lord says If I will honour Him(the Sabbath by not doing my own things, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words.... the condition here is if. We can actually follow a day or choose a day as our Sabbath but should we failed to honor him, should be doing our own thing, saying our own word, finding our own pleasure... it does not matter how beautiful that day may sound..it is not the Sabbath of the Lord.

Every-time and day I devout my attentions to honour him, to not find my own pleasure or do my own thing then I'm keeping the Sabbath.. I'm honoring Him.

As we should all know that there are three types of Sabbath in the Old testament... The Sabbath of the Lord, the Sabbath of the Land, The Sabbath of The People.. These three as still very much at work in this dispensation of Grace.. In fact, in your following God you will be observing them. You may know and you may not know.
I don't wanna say much on that.
God bless

 

[Boanerges]

Jesus walked as a practicing Jew to fulfill the Old Covenant. After the birth of the church (the Book of Acts -were it was used only to specify a specific time, or the span of a journey) the Sabbath was only mentioned once in the entire New Testament:

Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.


It was never used in reference to the church as Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament demands when He cried "it is finished"- Jesus Christ is the Sabbath rest for a believer:
We rest from our own works
We dedicate our time to fellow-shipping with God (in Christ)
We are priests before God an offer worship, and the sacrifice of praise.
And etc.
By faith we enter into the rest of God which is only found in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

[farout]

Hi farout. This is a copy of an entry to my blog from a year ago. It was pieced together from a number of sources, some web sites, and a couple of books. Both written by Adventist historians, one B G Wilkinson and the other C Goldstein. I would be the first to admit that nothing I write about or post on this site, or any site, is entirely original. Although it may be written in my own words, the subject matter or the information therein is wholly second hand. No knowledge I have did not come from elsewhere.

When you think about, maybe most things we think about someone else has already said or printed. Thank's My friend is an Adentist too. Blessings


farout

 

[james1523]

Just to establish that my information regarding the Sunday/Sabbath issue does not come from solely Adventist sources.

“Sunday (dies solis. . . .’day of the sun,’ because dedicated to the sun), the
first day of the week, was adopted by the early Christians as a day of
worship. The ‘sun’ of Latin adoration they interpreted as the ‘Sun of
Righteousness.’ . . . . No regulations for its observance are laid down in the
New Testament, nor, indeed, is its observance even enjoined.” The Schaff-
Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, (New York: Funk &
Wagnalls, volume 4, article, ‘Sunday,’ third edition, 1891), p. 2259.

its numbered week days, but by the close of the third century A. D. this
began to give way to the planetary week; and in the fourth and fifth
centuries the pagan designations became generally accepted in the western
half of Christendom. The use of the planetary names by Christians attests
the growing influence of astrological speculations introduced by converts
from paganism. . . . During these same centuries the spread of Oriental
solar worship, especially that of Mithra, in the Roman world, had already
led to the substitution by pagans of dies solis for dies Saturni, as the first
day of the planetary week. . . . Thus gradually a pagan institution was
ingrafted on Christianity.” Hutton Webster, Ph. D., Rest Days (New York:
Macmillan & Co., 1916), pp. 220, 221.

“The Gentiles were an idolatrous people who worshiped the sun, and
Sunday was their most sacred day. Now, in order to reach the people in this
new field, it seems but natural, as well as necessary, to make Sunday the
rest day of the Church. At this time it was necessary for the Church to
either adopt the Gentiles’ day or else have the Gentiles change their day.
To change the Gentiles’ day would have been an offense and stumbling
block to them. The Church could naturally reach them better by keeping
their day.” Dr. William Frederick, Sunday and the Christian Sabbath, pp.
169, 170.

"For when there could not be produced one solitary place in the Holy Scriptures which testified that either the Lord Himself or the apostles had ordered such a transfer of the Sabbath to Sunday,then it was not easy to answer the question: who has transferred the Sabbath, and who has had the right to do it?"
George Sverdrup 'A New Day'
Lutheran Free Church.

"And where are we told in the scriptures that we are to keep the first day at all? We are commanded to keep the seventh,but we are nowhere commanded to keep the first day."
Canon Eyton The Ten Commandments
Anglican

"It is true that there is no positive command for infant baptism. Nor is there any for keeping holy the first day of the week. Many believe that Christ changed the Sabbath. But from His own words, we see that He came for no such purpose. Those who believe that Jesus changed the Sabbath base it only on supposition."
Amos Binney Theological Compendium pp180-181
Methodist

"The sacred name of the seventh day is Sabbath. The fact is too clear to require argument...on this point the plain teaching of the word has been admitted in all ages...Not once did the disciples apply the Sabbath law to the first day of the week-that folly was left for a later age,nor did they pretend that the first day supplanted the seventh.
Joseph Judson Taylor 'The Sabbath Question' pp 14,15 16-17,41
Southern Baptist

Some of your quotations are addressing a different, but related issue - did the Christians change the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday? The answer to that would be 'no'. The keeping of the Lord's Day is an entirely separate day. The Sabbath is and always has been the 7th day.. but Christians are not obligated to keep this day as Christ has secured a perpetual rest for His people.

The myth that Christians changed the Sabbath from Sat to Sunday was started by the Catholics. In order to keep consistency in beliefs, the works-based Catholics changed the Sabbath from Sat to Sunday so that they can say they "keep the 10 commandments", and for that purpose they redefine the 10 commandments. But they also claim that Peter was the first Pope, so really their view of history is distorted also. In other words, don't rely on the Catholic view of history (of changing Sabbath to Sunday) in order to reject their view and impose your own. Your view is likely to be just as wrong as it is based on false premise. Then there are the agnostics/atheists, who say Christianity came from Mithraism, and in supporting your position, as I noticed a reference to Mithras.. you would have to be careful you are not quoting from the same sources.

I have provided Scriptures showing the Christians met on the first day to break bread (Acts 20:7), where are your scriptures that they broke bread on the Sabbath? New Testament-era quotations showing that the Sabbath was not kept by "most churches", is also provided. There was a distinction between Gentile and Jew believers, and ignorance of the Sabbath day by Gentile Christians was practiced from the New Testament era, starting with Paul, Peter and others who though were Jews, over time lived more and more like Gentiles. As Christianity grew with more and more Gentile converts, the keeping of the Sabbath was not observed except by the groups of Messianic Jews. Their insistence that the Gentiles keep the Law, including the Sabbath, are the very things Paul writes against in his epistles, and explains that both have been grafted into Christ, so there is no "Jew or Gentile" for the believer.

In defending the Gentile Christians against the requirements of the Sabbath-keepers Paul writes:
Col 2:16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
Col 2:17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

Then he goes further to warn of those involved with angels and visions, such as Ellen G. White:
Col 2:18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.

"If, as we may easily imagine, these pretenders were accustomed to say with an imposing and mysterious air, 'I have seen, ah! I have seen,' - in relating alleged visions of heavenly things, the Colossians would understand the reference well enough" (Findlay)

 

[judge not]

According to Jesus the Sabbath was made for all mankind, not just the Jews - Mark 2:27,28.
God created the Sabbath in Genesis and made it holy -Exodus 20:8,11
The seventh day Sabbath is the only day on which God only ever commands a weekly assembly- Lev 23:3
Man cannot make something holy or command holy observances -that is God's right only.
God set apart one day a week for us to have a spiritual rejuvenation with God
Where in the Bible does either the Father or Jesus Christ ever grant permission to change the time of the Sabbath from the seventh day of the week to Sunday the first day of the week? We cannot follow man's vague interpretations of scripture to make something sacred.
Shouldn't we follow the example Jesus set rather than man's concept?

 

[DHC]

“The Gentiles were an idolatrous people who worshiped the sun, and
Sunday was their most sacred day. Now, in order to reach the people in this
new field, it seems but natural, as well as necessary, to make Sunday the
rest day of the Church. At this time it was necessary for the Church to
either adopt the Gentiles’ day or else have the Gentiles change their day.
To change the Gentiles’ day would have been an offense and stumbling
block to them. The Church could naturally reach them better by keeping
their day.” Dr. William Frederick, Sunday and the Christian Sabbath, pp.
169, 170.

Hello brakelite.

Does W.Frederick have any idea at all about the gentile nations in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd centuries?

What Gods each gentile nation followed?

The number of days in the different calendars?

He is most certainly not a doctor of ancient history, brakelite.

Every line from the first to the last was incorrect.

 

[james1523]

According to Jesus the Sabbath was made for all mankind, not just the Jews - Mark 2:27,28.
God created the Sabbath in Genesis and made it holy -Exodus 20:8,11
The seventh day Sabbath is the only day on which God only ever commands a weekly assembly- Lev 23:3
Man cannot make something holy or command holy observances -that is God's right only.
God set apart one day a week for us to have a spiritual rejuvenation with God
Where in the Bible does either the Father or Jesus Christ ever grant permission to change the time of the Sabbath from the seventh day of the week to Sunday the first day of the week? We cannot follow man's vague interpretations of scripture to make something sacred.
Shouldn't we follow the example Jesus set rather than man's concept?

If you want to obey God's commands from the Old Testament, God also commands to put to death anyone who does not obey the Sabbath:
Exo 31:15 For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death.

This command to put others to death for working on the Sabbath is just as much God's command as the one you quoted to keep the Sabbath.

We can't pick and choose which parts of God's law we want to follow. Which is precisely why we can either keep all of it, all 613 laws including the punishments for disobedience, or keep none of it. God prefers us to be either hot or cold not lukewarm, not some laws mixed with some grace.