A dear friend and supporter of this ministry wrote and asked me:

I am including an e-mail I received from a man who is teaching about keeping the Sabbath holy and it seems to point toward the need to follow this commandment to insure our salvation. This seems wrong to me, but it is compelling with the scripture support.

Would you please share your thoughts on this with me?

My response was as follows.

This individual has not studied his Scripture, but is yet another of those who have crept into the Church and, in an effort to overthrow that which our Lord did on the Cross, bring in the shadow of Judaism. These are the deceived, and the deceivers. The "Seventh Day Adventist" or any "Sabbath Keeper's" arguments are wrong on so many levels I scarcely know where to begin.

Let's start with the common sense approach. If the Sabbath Keeper is keeping the Sabbath, then is he or she doing it right? Many Gentiles do not know that the ancient peoples and especially the Jews (to whom the Sabbath was given in the Law) determined time differently than we do. The Jewish day BEGAN at SUNDOWN, and ended at SUNDOWN, whereas the Gentiles normally determined time from SUNRISE to SUNRISE. This is well documented, though known by few of those who cloak themselves in "Sabbath Keeping". I quote from a site called "Jewish Literacy" (http://www.aish.com/literacy/concepts/Jewish_Time.asp):

"The Jewish day does not begin and end at midnight as does the secular calendar day. Midnight is not a distinguishable astronomic event. In the era before the modern clock, a specific hour of the night could not be precisely known, whereas an hour of the day was easily determined by sighting the location of the sun. Thus, the day had to begin by precise, simple and universally recognized standards. This meant that the day had to be reckoned either from the beginning of night or the beginning of day.

In Jewish time, the day begins with the onset of night (the appearance of the stars) followed by the morning (which technically begins with the appearance of the North Star). According to some Jewish teachers, night and morning begin with sunset and sunrise respectively. For that is how the Torah describes it: "And there was evening and there was morning, the first day."

That is how the Torah describes it: "And there was evening and there was morning, the first day."

For this reason, the SABBATH BEGINS ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND ENDS WITH THE APPEARANCE OF THE STARS ON SATURDAY NIGHT. The same is true for the major holidays such as Passover, Sukkot, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the fast day of Tisha B'Av, and Hanukkah and Purim.

Beginning the day with the night is, in a sense, a metaphor of life itself. Life begins in the darkness of the womb, then bursts into the brightness of the light and eventually settles into the darkness of the grave, which, in turn, is followed by a new dawn in the world-to-come.

Life consists of light and dark: "And there was evening and there was morning." What we make of time is what counts."

End quote. Most Sabbath Keepers believe that we can only keep the Sabbath if we keep it on the "Seventh Day", and they consider the Sabbath to be SATURDAY. But the Sabbath is NOT Saturday, but it was, as we Gentiles reckon time, from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. This is why the Roman guards went around to break the legs of Jesus and those who hung on the Cross:

(John 19:31-34 KJV) "The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day, (for that Sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. {32} Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. {33} But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: {34} But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water."

Because it was consider an abomination to even allow a criminal to hang on the Cross on Sabbath Since Jesus and the two thieves were sacrificed prior to the Sabbath of the Passover, a "high" or "special Sabbath", it was determined that the best way to quicken their deaths were to break their legs (this would keep those crucified from struggling to breath, and the shock would have driven them into death). Of course, Jesus' legs were not broken, for He had already committed His Spirit to the Father, though the other two suffered this horrible fate. The point is this - the Sabbath was coming for the sun was setting. My question: are the Sabbath Keepers keeping the Sabbath by Gentile reckoning (Saturday), or the appropriate way, the Orthodox Jewish way, from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset? All that I have asked were keeping a Saturday Sabbath, which neither Judaism nor the Scripture support.

My second question is this: are the Sabbath Keepers keeping ALL of the Law and ALL of the Sabbaths. Jesus rose from the grave on the FIRST day of the week:

(Matthew 28:1-2 KJV) "In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. {2} And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it."

(Mark 16:2-6 KJV) "And very early in the morning the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, they came unto the sepulcher. at the rising of the sun. {3} And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher.? {4} And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. {5} And entering into the sepulcher., they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. {6} And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him."

Wait a minute ... didn't we just see that the guards went around breaking the legs of the thieves (though they did not break Jesus' legs) to force their death BEFORE the approaching Sabbath Yet here we see that Jesus rose on the FIRST DAY of the week. Isn't the Sabbath the SEVENTH day? And didn't Jesus say that He would be in the grave for THREE DAYS and THREE NIGHTS?

(Matthew 27:62-66 KJV) "Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, {63} Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, WHILE HE WAS YET ALIVE, AFTER THREE DAYS I WILL RISE AGAIN. {64} COMMAND THEREFORE THAT THE SEPULCHER. BE MADE SURE UNTIL THE THIRD DAY, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. {65} Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. {66} So they went, and made the sepulcher. sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch."

(Matthew 12:39-40 KJV) "But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: {40} For AS JONAS WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE WHALE'S BELLY; SO SHALL THE SON OF MAN BE THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE HEART OF THE EARTH."

(Mark 8:31 KJV) "And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and BE KILLED, AND AFTER THREE DAYS RISE AGAIN."

Obviously we have an error in Scripture, for if Jesus died just before the Sabbath, and yet rose the day AFTER the Sabbath, then He wasn't three days and three nights in the tomb as He promised. Or was He? There's no error in Scripture - never has been, NEVER WILL BE. Another thing that most Sabbath Keepers do not know is that there was both a "Seventh Day" Sabbath as well as a "High" or "Special Sabbath" that was invoked in the Law. BOTH TYPES OF SABBATH were commanded to Israel, and were commanded to the Sabbath Keeper - if he or she plans on keeping the Law. The Special Sabbath always fell during one of the feasts or festivals ordered in the Mosaic Law - and yes, if we are going to keep the Law, we MUST keep these, too.

(Leviticus 23:26-30 KJV) "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, {27} Also ON THE TENTH DAY OF THIS SEVENTH MONTH {OCTOBER IN OUR TIME FRAME} there shall be A DAY OF ATONEMENT: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. {28} And YE SHALL DO NO WORK IN THAT SAME DAY: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. {29} For WHATSOEVER SOUL IT BE THAT SHALL NOT BE AFFLICTED IN THAT SAME DAY, HE SHALL BE CUT OFF FROM AMONG HIS PEOPLE. {30} AND WHATSOEVER SOUL IT BE THAT DOETH ANY WORK IN THAT SAME DAY, THE SAME SOUL WILL I DESTROY FROM AMONG HIS PEOPLE."

On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the Jew was to do NO WORK that day. It was a "holy convocation" or a special Sabbath If you failed to keep this special Sabbath, a valid part of God's Mosaic code, you were CUT OFF from Israel, and cursed by God. As the Lord said:

(Leviticus 23:31-32 KJV) "YE SHALL DO NO MANNER OF WORK: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. {32} It SHALL BE UNTO YOU A SABBATH OF REST, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath"

And was just as valid as the "Seventh Day" Sabbath Does the Sabbath Keeper keep Yom Kippur, and do no work on the tenth day of Tishri/ Ethanim in the Jewish Calendar? If not, and keeping the Sabbath is necessary, then they sin before God. And what of the Jewish Feast of SUKKOT, or Tabernacles, or Booths? The Scripture says:

(Leviticus 23:39-43 KJV) "Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, YE SHALL KEEP A FEAST UNTO THE LORD seven days: on the FIRST DAY SHALL BE A SABBATH, AND ON THE EIGHTH DAY SHALL BE A SABBATH {40} And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. {41} And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. {42} Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: {43} That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God."

Here's a special "Sabbath" or day of rest on the first and eighth day of Sukkot/ Booths/ Tabernacles. Is the Sabbath keeper keeping this Law? Why not? Probably because he didn't know that he would open up such a Pandora's Box with his foolish keeping of that which has been fulfilled in Christ.

And does the Sabbath keeper quit his job every seven years, and keep the Sabbatical Year that the Lord commanded Israel to keep?

(Leviticus 25:2-6 KJV) "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, WHEN YE COME INTO THE LAND WHICH I GIVE YOU, THEN SHALL THE LAND KEEP A SABBATH UNTO THE LORD. {3} Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; {4} But IN THE SEVENTH YEAR SHALL BE A SABBATH OF REST UNTO THE LAND, A SABBATH FOR THE LORD: THOU SHALT NEITHER SOW THY FIELD, NOR PRUNE THY VINEYARD. {5} That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land. {6} And the SABBATH OF THE LAND SHALL BE MEAT FOR YOU; for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee,"

Israel, which was an agricultural community, was commanded by God to CEASE FARMING THE LAND every seventh year, and to trust that God would provide their sustenance that year. Israel, in faithlessness, disobeyed this command for 70 years, which led to their 490 year exile under Babylon (70 x 7 = 490. God got what was owed Him, and the land rested when Israel was exiled). If we are to keep Sabbath, this Sabbath is just as valid - being a part of God's Mosaic code - as the seventh day Sabbath So again: is the Sabbath keeper ceasing from all work and relying on God for his sustenance every seventh year? If not, then why not?

Probably because the Sabbath keeper, like most of those who introduce that which is past (the Law) into Christianity have NO IDEA what their foolishness entailed. If any say I judge them too harshly, I say that I only reflect what the Apostle wrote:

(Galatians 3:1-7 KJV) "O foolish {"foolish" is the Greek anoetos [pronounced an-o’-ay-tos], and means "not understanding, unwise, foolish, unintelligent} Galatians, WHO HATH BEWITCHED YOU, THAT YE SHOULD NOT OBEY THE TRUTH, before whose eyes JESUS CHRIST HATH BEEN EVIDENTLY SET FORTH, CRUCIFIED AMONG YOU? {2} This only would I learn of you, RECEIVED YE THE SPIRIT BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW, OR BY THE HEARING OF FAITH? {3} Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? {4} Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. {5} HE THEREFORE THAT MINISTERETH TO YOU THE SPIRIT, AND WORKETH MIRACLES AMONG YOU, DOETH HE IT BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW, OR BY THE HEARING OF FAITH? {6} Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. {7} Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham."

God's method of salvation has ALWAYS been faith, FAITH in His Provision. Abraham, a Gentile from Ur of the Chaldees, BELIEVED God, and God counted this belief for righteousness. Abraham believed God and was saved OVER 400 YEARS BEFORE the giving of the Law to Moses, and there was no indication in Scripture that Abraham kept any Sabbath at all. The first mention of "Sabbath" in Scripture is Exodus 16:23, yet Abraham believed God and was saved ...

(Genesis 15:6-7 KJV) "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. {7} And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it."

... long before any "Law of Sabbath". Those who teach keeping the Law to keep or maintain salvation fail to understand that the Law was NOT given to a righteous people, but it was given to a STIFF NECKED and DISOBEDIENT ISRAEL. As Paul said:

(1 Timothy 1:9-10 KJV) "Knowing this, that THE LAW IS NOT MADE FOR A RIGHTEOUS MAN, BUT FOR THE LAWLESS AND DISOBEDIENT, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, {10} For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;"

God only gave the Law of Moses to Israel after they kept on failing to trust in Him. They failed to trust Him at the Red Sea. They failed to trust Him at Rephedim. They failed to trust Him at Meribah. They cursed Moses and God at every turn, and refused to believe and trust Him by faith. Thus the Law was given as a HARSH SCHOOLMASTER to beat us, to flog us, to force us into seeing our hopeless and helpless condition:

(Galatians 3:22-26 KJV) "But THE SCRIPTURE HATH CONCLUDED ALL UNDER SIN, THAT THE PROMISE BY FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST MIGHT BE GIVEN TO THEM THAT BELIEVE. {23} But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. {24} Wherefore the LAW WAS OUR SCHOOLMASTER TO BRING US UNTO CHRIST, that we might be justified by faith. {25} But AFTER THAT FAITH IS COME, WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER A SCHOOLMASTER. {26} FOR YE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS."

Once that harsh Schoolmaster beat us, pointing out our deficiencies and failures we were forced to look Heavenward and say, "Dear God, where is my Hope? Dear God, where is my Peace? Am I lost and undone, with only Hell to greet me at death?" And once we were shocked and awakened to our hopeless condition we heard that still small Voice with that wondrous Gospel:

(John 14:6 KJV) "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

(John 3:16-18 KJV) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. {17} For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. {18} He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

(Romans 8:16-17 KJV) "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: {17} And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

(Galatians 3:26-29 KJV) "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. {27} For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. {28} There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. {29} And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

I would not cloak what Jesus has done for us by adding the Law, the Schoolmaster that we are no longer under, back into the Christian way of life. We who are believers are supernatural creatures, born again of His precious Blood, Spirit indwelt and led by that Spirit:

(Galatians 5:18 KJV) "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."

Why would any true believer ever want to go back into the Law, that beater of souls, when Christ paid for all? Why would any want to go back to something which had absolutely NO POWER to save:

(Galatians 3:21-22 KJV) "Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for IF THERE HAD BEEN A LAW GIVEN WHICH COULD HAVE GIVEN LIFE, VERILY RIGHTEOUSNESS SHOULD HAVE BEEN BY THE LAW. {22} But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe."

When Christ has provided a true and sure way of salvation. Why would I insult the Cross of Christ by saying that His death was needless - that the Law must still be kept:

(Galatians 2:21 KJV) "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for IF RIGHTEOUSNESS COME BY THE LAW, THEN CHRIST IS DEAD IN VAIN."

Oh, the shame of taking away what our Savior did for us. Like Paul, we who believe need to rely on the leading of God's Holy Spirit, not on the Law which was so pure yet so powerless to save, and count all things as dung - as manure - that do not promote that which our Blessed Savior did for us.

(Philippians 3:8-9 KJV) "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, {9} And BE FOUND IN HIM, NOT HAVING MINE OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH IS OF THE LAW, BUT THAT WHICH IS THROUGH THE FAITH OF CHRIST, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF GOD BY FAITH:"

For I was NOT saved because I was good, nor am I maintained in salvation because I am good. No, no, no - all I have or ever hope to be, I have because of the work of Jesus Christ our Lord:

(Titus 3:5-7 KJV) "NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY HE SAVED US, BY THE WASHING OF REGENERATION, AND RENEWING OF THE HOLY GHOST; {6} WHICH HE SHED ON US ABUNDANTLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR; {7} THAT BEING JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

No, dear Brother, let us rely on Jesus, not on Sabbath Keeping. As the Apostle Paul told us:

(Colossians 2:16-17 KJV) "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: {17} WHICH ARE A SHADOW OF THINGS TO COME; BUT THE BODY IS OF CHRIST."

The Sabbath was a shadow given to a disobedient and hard headed people - Christ fulfilled the Law for us, and that is in the "rear view mirror" now. The Law was but a shadow of Christ, a teacher, a task master, but the Law is no more. We who live by the Spirit follow hard after Jesus, and obey God not because of a written Law, but because of a great loving relationship we have with our King. But if the Sabbath keeper will keep the Law, if he feels that this is necessary, then he must keep ALL the Law:

(James 2:10 KJV) "For WHOSOEVER SHALL KEEP THE WHOLE LAW, AND YET OFFEND IN ONE POINT, HE IS GUILTY OF ALL."

If we must keep a "Sabbath", then it must start at Friday sunset and go till Saturday sunset. We must further keep all the special Sabbaths and feasts as well. Of course, we must keep ALL of the Law, even to the eating of only certain foods (forget what God told Peter in Acts 10:12-16 ... the Law preceded this "word" and we must keep the Law). We must keep the Sabbatical year also, and quit working every seventh year. I'm sure our bosses would support us in that. Yep, all the Law, ALL the LAW, or NONE. That's what Scripture teaches - and what the confused Sabbath keeper forgets.

Before I go, let me explain that worship on the FIRST DAY of the week was NOT instituted by the Roman Catholic Church, as so many Sabbath keepers try to teach - it was a practice that the early Church followed in honor of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. (Yet bear in mind that the Jewish Christians still followed a "Jewish" calendar, and their first day of the week began on Saturday sunset and ended on Sunday sunset):

The Apostles gathered collections for the poor (took up offering) on the first day of the week:

(1 Corinthians 16:1-2 KJV) "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. {2} UPON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK LET EVERY ONE OF YOU LAY BY HIM IN STORE, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."

The Holman Bible Dictionary states:

"LORD'S DAY: A designation for Sunday, the first day of the week, used only once in the New Testament (Rev. 1:10). The Greek word for "Lord's," however, is precisely the same as that used in the term for "Lord's Supper" (1 Cor. 11:20). In fact, the Didache, an early Christian manual for worship and instruction, links the two terms together, indicating that the Lord's Supper was observed each Lord's Day (14:1). Herein may lie the origin of the term. Because the first day of the week was the day on which the early Christians celebrated Lord's Supper, it became known as Lord's Day, the distinctively Christian day of worship.

The earliest account of a first-day worship experience is found in Acts 20:7-12.

(Acts 20:7 KJV) "And UPON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, WHEN THE DISCIPLES CAME TOGETHER TO BREAK BREAD, PAUL PREACHED unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight."

Here Paul joined the Christians of Troas on the evening of the first day of the week for the breaking of bread (probably a reference to the Lord's Supper). The actual day is somewhat uncertain. EVENING OF THE FIRST DAY COULD REFER TO SATURDAY EVENING (BY JEWISH RECKONING) OR TO SUNDAY EVENING (BY ROMAN RECKONING). SINCE THE INCIDENT INVOLVED GENTILES ON GENTILE SOIL, HOWEVER, THE PROBABLE REFERENCE IS TO SUNDAY NIGHT.

The IMPORTANCE OF SUNDAY TO FIRST-CENTURY CHRISTIANS IS ALSO INTIMATED IN 1 CORINTHIANS 16:1-2. Giving instructions about a special relief offering he wanted to take to the Christians in Jerusalem, Paul suggested that the Corinthians should set aside their weekly contributions on the first day of the week. Paul probably mentioned this day because he knew that his readers routinely assembled on that day for worship and that would be the logical time for them to set aside their offering.

Two other second-century documents also shed light on the significance of Lord's Day for the early church. First, Ignatius in his Epistle to the Magnesians (about A.D. 110-117) stressed the importance of Lord's Day by contrasting the worship done on that day with that formerly observed on the Sabbath (9:1). Second, Justin Martyr (about A.D. 150) wrote the first extant Christian description of a worship service. He noted that the early Sunday morning service began with baptism, included Scripture readings, expository preaching, and prayer, and then concluded with the observance of the Lord's Supper (Apology 65-67).

FIRST AND SECOND CENTURY CHRISTIAN DOCUMENTS INDICATE THAT SUNDAY QUICKLY BECAME THE STANDARD DAY FOR CHRISTIAN WORSHIP, BUT THEY DO NOT EXPLAIN HOW OR WHY THIS CHANGE FROM SABBATH TO LORD'S DAY CAME ABOUT. THE MOST OBVIOUS REASON, OF COURSE, WAS THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS WHICH TOOK PLACE ON THAT FIRST LORD'S DAY. Since the earliest collective experiences of the disciples with the risen Lord took place on Easter Sunday evening (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-23), one might naturally expect the disciples to gather at that same hour on subsequent Sundays to remember Him in the observance of the Supper. This pattern, perhaps, is reflected in the service at Troas in Acts 20.

The change in the time of worship from evening to morning, though, probably came about because of practical necessity. Writing to the emperor Trajan at the beginning of the second century, Pliny the Younger, governor of Bithynia, reported that in compliance with Trajan's edict against seditious assemblies, he had ordered that no group, including the Christians, could meet at night. Pliny then described an early morning service of the Christians. Forbidden to meet at night, they met for the observance of the Supper at the only other hour available to them on the first day of the week: early in the morning before they went to work. It is likely that the practice then spread throughout the empire wherever similar regulations against evening worship were in force.

Although some Jewish Christians probably also observed the Sabbath, the early Christians saw Sunday as a day of joy and celebration, not a substitute for the Sabbath The use of the term "Sabbath" to refer to Sunday did not become common until the English Puritans began to do so after A.D. 1500. Evidence from the early centuries clearly shows that Christians regarded Sunday as a day to rejoice in the new life brought by the resurrection. On other days Christians might fast and kneel when praying, but the joyous character of the Lord's day made those actions inappropriate on Sundays. Soon after Christianity became the religion of the Roman Empire. Sunday was officially declared a day of rest. See Didache; Lord's Supper; Sabbath; Worship (Fred A. Grissom and Naymond Keathley)

In conclusion, we as the Church of Jesus Christ have, from the beginning, met and worshipped our Lord on the day that He rose from the grave, victorious, for us. To step back into a "Saturday worship" is not necessarily forbidden in Scripture if you and your Church want to worship Jesus then. But if any are promoting a "Saturday worship" in order to promote regression to the Sabbath of the Law, such a teaching is Scripturally and Spiritually heretical. As believers we can, in faith, meet together ANYTIME and worship Jesus, and this is honorable and pleasing to God. But we must never, NEVER allow these Judaisers, these throwbacks to ancient hardheaded Israel, to come into our midst and dishonor the Cross and what Jesus did on it by their half truths and prideful "I can do all things by my power". None of us were worthy for salvation, but He was worthy. All of us were headed to damnation, but He paid the penalty. None of us could keep the Law, that harsh Tutor, but He kept it, fulfilled it, and if we believe in Him He imputes what He did to our account.

The author of the piece you forwarded to me wrote:

'But, Lord, didn't you abolish the law which contains the Sabbath commandment?

"Do not suppose that I have come to do away with the law or the prophets. I have not come to do away with them, BUT TO ENFORCE THEM." Matt. 5:17'

Where did he get this translation? Here are how several versions translate this verse:

(Matthew 5:17-18 King James Version) "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but TO FULFILL. {18} For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

(Matthew 5:17-18 Rotherham Version) 17 Do not think, that I came to pull down the law, or the prophets,—I came not to pull down, but TO FULFILL. 18 For, verily, I say unto you, until the heaven and the earth shall pass away, one least letter, or one point, may in nowise pass away from the law, till all be accomplished."

(Matthew 5:17-18 Revised Webster's Version) 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but TO FULFILL. 18 For verily I say to you, Till heaven and earth shall pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

(Matthew 5:17-18 Webster's Version) 17 "Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but TO FULFILL. 18 For most assuredly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter {literally, iota} or one tiny pen stroke {or, serif} shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished."

(Matthew 5:17-18 Weymouth Version) 17 "Do not for a moment suppose that I have come to abrogate the Law or the Prophets: I have not come to abrogate them but TO GIVE THEM THEIR COMPLETION. 18 Solemnly I tell you that until Heaven and earth pass away, not one iota or smallest detail will pass away from the Law until all has taken place."

(Matthew 5:17-18 Young's Literal Version) "17 ‘Do not suppose that I came to throw down the law or the prophets—I did not come to throw down, but TO FULFILL.; 18 for, verily I say to you, till that the heaven and the earth may pass away, one iota or one tittle may not pass away from the law, till that all may come to pass."

(Matthew 5:17-18 New King James Version) "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but TO FULFILL. {18} "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."

(Matthew 5:17-18 New International Version) "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but TO FULFILL THEM. {18} I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."

(Matthew 5:17-18 New Revised Standard Version) "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but TO FULFILL. {18} For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished."

(Matthew 5:17-18 New American Standard Version) "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but TO FULFILL. {18} "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished."

Do you notice something? All of these Bible versions, including the beloved King James, translate this same text in this similar way: I have not come to abolish (the Law) but TO FULFILL OR COMPLETE (the Law). This Sabbath keeping "scholar" alone translates the text as "I have not come to do away with them, BUT TO ENFORCE THEM." That's a BIG difference. Did Jesus come to FULFILL the Law, or to ENFORCE the Law? Even if you know nothing of Greek, you can see that ALL of these versions believe that the normal translation of the text should be FULFILL and NOT ENFORCE. But let's go to the Greek. The Greek word that this "scholar" translates "enforce" is pleroo [pronounced play-ro’-o]. It's normal definition is "to fill up a deficiency, to complete, to fulfill", and scholars throughout Christendom - along with all the Bible translations I can find - render the verb just that way. Robertson in "Robertson's Word Pictures" states:

"I came not to destroy, but to fulfill. The verb "destroy" means to "loosen down" as of a house or tent. #2Co 5:1 FULFILL. IS TO FILL FULL. This Jesus did to the ceremonial law which pointed to him and the moral law he kept. "He came to fill the law, to reveal the full depth of meaning that it was intended to hold" (McNeile)."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, in his "Popular Exposition of Matthew" states:

"17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

The Old Testament stands in all it’s parts, both as to "the late and the prophets." The Lord Jesus knew nothing of "destructive criticism." He establishes in it’s deepest sense all that is written in Holy Scripture, and puts a new fullness into it. This he says before he proceeds to make remarks upon the sayings of men of old time. HE IS HIMSELF THE FULFILLMENT and substance of the types, and prophecies, and commands of the law."

John Lightfoot, in his "Commentaries on the New Testament" states:

"[Think not that I am come to destroy the law, &c.] I. It was the opinion of the nation concerning the Messias, that he would bring in a new law, but not at all to the prejudice or damage of Moses and the prophets: but that he would advance the Mosaic law to the very highest pitch, and WOULD FULFILL. THOSE THINGS THAT WERE FORETOLD BY THE PROPHETS, AND THAT ACCORDING TO THE LETTER, EVEN TO THE GREATEST POMP."

The "People's New Testament Notes" states:

" Think not that I am come to destroy the law and the prophets. The preceding verses were so opposed to the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees that some might assert that he was a destroyer of the law. He replies that HE HAS NOT COME TO DESTROY IT, BUT TO FULFILL. HE DOES NOT SAY THAT HE HAS COME TO PERPETUATE IT.

TO FULFILL. TO COMPLETE ITS PURPOSE. HE WAS THE END OF THE LAW. It was a "schoolmaster to bring us to Christ" (#Ga 3:24), but "after faith is come we are no longer under the schoolmaster" [#GA 3:25]. "

The "Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentary" states:

"I am not come to destroy, but TO FULFILL.— Not to subvert, abrogate, or annul, but to establish the law and the prophets — to unfold them, to embody them in living form, and to enshrine them in the reverence, affection, and character of men, am I come."

The Geneva Bible (1599) footnote states:

"(3) CHRIST DID NOT COME TO BRING ANY NEW WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND SALVATION INTO THE WORLD, BUT INDEED TO FULFILL. THAT WHICH WAS SHADOWED BY THE FIGURES OF THE LAW, by delivering men through grace from the curse of the Law: and moreover to teach the true use of obedience which the Law appointed, and to engrave in our hearts the power for obedience. (g) That the prophecies may be accomplished."

Why, when all translations and commentaries that I can find, produced by thousands of true Biblical scholars, why do all of these great teachers and preachers render the text in such a way as to show that Christ came to FULFILL the Law, whereas our Judaizer, our Sabbath keeper renders the text to show that Christ came to ENFORCE the Law? Why? Because there is no truth nor research in his twisting of Scripture; he has merely twisted Scripture to suit his own purpose. He has crept into the Church, just as the Judaizers crept in among the Galatians, in order to rob us of the joy of our salvation. Not only that, he robs Christ of what He did for us on the Cross, namely:

(Colossians 2:13-17 KJV) "And YOU, BEING DEAD IN YOUR SINS and the uncircumcision of your flesh, HATH HE QUICKENED TOGETHER WITH HIM, HAVING FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES; {14} BLOTTING OUT THE HANDWRITING OF ORDINANCES that was against us, which was contrary to us, and TOOK IT OUT OF THE WAY, NAILING IT TO HIS CROSS; {15} And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. {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: {17} WHICH ARE A SHADOW OF THINGS TO COME; BUT THE BODY IS OF CHRIST."

What has Jesus done for us? Praise be to God, as the song says:

Jesus paid it all;
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain;
He washed it white as snow!

Praise our Lord Jesus forever more!