Doctrine of the Sabbath

1. There was an Edenic Sabbath established which would be the same in substance as the
Jewish Sabbath.

 Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he
rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the
seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which
God created and made.

 Exodus 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in
them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and
hallowed it.

2. The Jewish Sabbath once established was to was commanded to be observed.

 Exodus 16:22-30 And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much
bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told
Moses. 23 And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is
the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and
seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until
the morning. 24 And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink,
neither was there any worm therein. 25 And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a
sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field. 26 Six days ye shall gather
it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. 27 And it came
to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they
found none. 28 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my
commandments and my laws? 29 See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath,
therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his
place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. 30 So the people rested on the
seventh day.

 Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour,
and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it
thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy
maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days
the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh
day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

 Exodus 35:1-3 And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel
together, and said unto them, These are the words which the LORD hath commanded,
that ye should do them. 2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall
be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall
be put to death. 3 Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath
day.
 Leviticus 19:3-30 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my
sabbaths: I am the LORD your God. 4 Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves
molten gods: I am the LORD your God. 5 And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings
unto the LORD, ye shall offer it at your own will. 6 It shall be eaten the same day ye offer
it, and on the morrow: and if ought remain until the third day, it shall be burnt in the fire.
7 And if it be eaten at all on the third day, it is abominable; it shall not be accepted. 8
Therefore every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the
hallowed thing of the LORD: and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 9 And
when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field,
neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. 10 And thou shalt not glean thy
vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for
the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God. 11 Ye shall not steal, neither deal
falsely, neither lie one to another. 12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither
shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. 13 Thou shalt not defraud thy
neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all
night until the morning. 14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before
the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD. 15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in
judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the
mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. 16 Thou shalt not go up and
down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy
neighbour: I am the LORD. 17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt
in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. 18 Thou shalt not avenge,
nor near any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour
as thyself: I am the LORD. 19 Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle
gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a
garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee. 20 And whosoever lieth carnally
with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor
freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was
not free. 21 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, unto the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering. 22 And the priest shall
make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the LORD for his
sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him. 23 And
when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food,
then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as
uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of. 24 But in the fourth year all the fruit
thereof shall be holy to praise the LORD withal. 25 And in the fifth year shall ye eat of
the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the LORD your
God. 26 Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor
observe times. 27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the
corners of thy beard. 28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor
print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. 29 Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause
her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of
wickedness. 30 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.
  Deuteronomy 5:12-15 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath
commanded thee. 13 Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: 14 But the seventh
day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy
son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine
ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant
and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. 15 And remember that thou wast a
servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through
a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee
to keep the Sabbath day.

 Nehemiah 9:14 And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them
precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:

3. The Sabbath was designed to be a sign of God’s covenanted people in the Old Testament
economy.

 Exodus 31:12-17 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 13 Speak thou also unto
the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between
me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth
sanctify you. 14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one
that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that
soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days may work be done; but in the
seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the
sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall
keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual
covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the
LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

 2 Kings 4:23 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon,
nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.

 Ezekiel 20:12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and
them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

 Lamentations 1:7 Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries
all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand
of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her
sabbaths.

 Hebrews 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

4. The breaking of the Sabbath brought punishment.

 Numbers 15:32-36 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a
man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. 33 And they that found him gathering
sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. 34 And they put
him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. 35 And the LORD
said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone
him with stones without the camp. 36 And all the congregation brought him without the
camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.

 Leviticus 26:33-35 And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword
after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. 34 Then shall the land
enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies' land; even
then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths. 35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall
rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.

 2 Chronicles 36:21 To fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the
land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfill
threescore and ten years.

 Jeremiah 17:19-27 Thus said the LORD unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the
children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out,
and in all the gates of Jerusalem; 20 And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the LORD,
ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by
these gates: 21 Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on
the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; 22 Neither carry forth a
burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the
sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. 23 But they obeyed not, neither inclined their
ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction. 24 And it
shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no
burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to
do no work therein; 25 Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes
sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes,
the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever.
26 And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem,
and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the
south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and
bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD. 27 But if ye will not hearken
unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the
gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it
shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.

 Lamentations 2:6 And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a
garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the LORD hath caused the solemn
feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his
anger the king and the priest.
 Ezekiel 20:12-26 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and
them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them. 13 But the house of
Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they
despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths
they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness,
to consume them. 14 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted
before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. 15 Yet also I lifted up my hand
unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given
them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands; 16 Because they
despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their
heart went after their idols. 17 Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them,
neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness. 18 But I said unto their children
in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their
judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols: 19 I am the LORD your God; walk in
my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; 20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they
shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God. 21
Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither
kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted
my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger
against them in the wilderness. 22 Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for
my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I
brought them forth. 23 I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I
would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries; 24
Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had
polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols. 25 Wherefore I gave
them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live; 26
And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that
openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that
I am the LORD.

 Amos 8:4-14 Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land
to fail, 5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the
sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and
falsifying the balances by deceit? 6 That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy
for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat? 7 The LORD hath sworn by the
excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works. 8 Shall not the land
tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as
a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt. 9 And it shall
come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at
noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: 10 And I will turn your feasts
into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon
all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only
son, and the end thereof as a bitter day. 11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD,
that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of
hearing the words of the LORD: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the
north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall
 not find it. 13 In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst. 14 They
that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of
Beersheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.

5. The Sabbath, when observed with understanding in every age, was designed to be a day of
blessing.

 Genesis 2:2-3 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he
rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the
seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which
God created and made.

 Exodus 16:24 And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink,
neither was there any worm therein.

 Leviticus 24:8 Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being
taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.

 Numbers 28:9-10 And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and
two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering
thereof: 10 This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt
offering, and his drink offering.

 Isaiah 56:1-8 Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is
near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man that doeth
this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it,
and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. 3 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. 4 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; 5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a
place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting
name, that shall not be cut off. 6 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; 7 Even them
will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt
offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be
called an house of prayer for all people. 8 The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts
of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

 Isaiah 58:13-14 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, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking
thine own words: 14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to
ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father:
for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
  John 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark,
unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre; 19 Then the same
day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the
disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and
saith unto them, Peace be unto you; 26 And after eight days again his disciples were
within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the
midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

 Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in
one place. Cf. Leviticus 23:15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the
sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall
be complete:

 Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice,
as of a trumpet,

6. Religious and political rulers should always protect the Sabbath day.

 Exodus 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt
not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy
maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

 Nehemiah 13:15-22 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the
sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and
all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I
testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. 16 There dwelt men of Tyre
also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto
the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah,
and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? 18
Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and
upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. 19 And it
came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I
commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till
after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden
be brought in on the sabbath day. 20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware
lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. 21 Then I testified against them, and said unto
them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that
time forth came they no more on the sabbath. 22 And I commanded the Levites that
they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify
the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according
to the greatness of thy mercy.
7. The Sabbath is to be a day of rejoicing and worship.

 Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in
it.

 Isaiah 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one
sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

 Ezekiel 46:1 Thus saith the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward
the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in
the day of the new moon it shall be opened.

 Mark 2:27-28 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for
the sabbath: 28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

 Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in
one place; 20:6-7 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread,
and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. 7 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.

 1 Corinthians 16:2 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.

 Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice,
as of a trumpet,

8. The question that has concerned the church is whether or not the Sabbath is binding under the
New Testament.

9. It can be argued the Old Testament ceremonial regulations governing Sabbath observances
are no longer in force but have passed away along with the sacrificial system, the Levitical
priesthood, and all other aspects of Moses' law that prefigured Christ.

10. There are compelling reasons for this position.

 In Colossians 2:16-17, Paul explicitly refers to the Sabbath as a shadow of Christ,
which is no longer binding since the substance (Christ) has come. It is quite clear in
those verses that the weekly Sabbath is in view. The phrase "a festival or a new moon
or a Sabbath day" refers to the annual, monthly, and weekly holy days of the Jewish
calendar (cf. 1 Chronicles 23:31; 2 Chronicles 2:4; 31:3; Ezekiel 45:17; Hosea 2:11).
If Paul were referring to special ceremonial dates of rest in that passage, why would
he have used the word "Sabbath?" He had already mentioned the ceremonial dates
when he spoke of festivals and new moons.
  The Sabbath was the sign to Israel of the Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 31:16-17;
Ezekiel 20:12; Nehemiah 9:14). Since we are now under the New Covenant (Hebrews
8), we are no longer required to observe the sign of the Mosaic Covenant.

 The New Testament never commands Christians to observe the Sabbath.

 In our only glimpse of an early church worship service in the New Testament, the
church met on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).

 Nowhere in the Old Testament are the Gentile nations commanded to observe the
Sabbath or condemned for failing to do so. That is certainly strange if Sabbath
observance were meant to be an eternal moral principle.

 When the Apostles met at the Jerusalem council (Acts 15), they did not impose
Sabbath keeping on the Gentile believers.

 The apostle Paul warned the Gentiles about many different sins in his epistles, but
breaking the Sabbath was never one of them.

 In Galatians 4:10-11, Paul rebukes the Galatians for thinking God expected them to
observe special days (including the Sabbath).

 In Romans 14:5, Paul forbids those who observe the Sabbath (these were no doubt
Jewish believers) to condemn those who do not (Gentile believers).
11. Commenting on the concerns of the proper day of worship John Calvin wrote the
following.
“There were three reasons for giving this [fourth] commandment [in Exodus 20]:
First, with the seventh day of rest the Lord wished to give to the people of Israel an
image of spiritual rest, whereby believers must cease from their own works in order
to let the Lord work in them. Secondly, he wished that there be an established day in
which believers might assemble in order to hear his Law and worship him. Thirdly,
he willed that one day of rest be granted to servants and to those who live under the
power of others so that they might have a relaxation from their labor. The latter,
however, is rather an inferred than a principal reason.

As to the first reason, there is no doubt that it ceased in Christ; because he is the truth
by the presence of which all images vanish. He is the reality at whose advent all
shadows are abandoned. Hence St. Paul (Col. 2:17) affirms that the Sabbath has been
a shadow of a reality yet to be. And he declares else-where its truth when in the letter
to the Romans, ch. 6:8, he teaches us that we are buried with Christ in order that by
his death we may die to the corruption of our flesh. And this is not done in one day,
but during all the course of our life, until altogether dead in our own selves, we may
be filled with the life of God. Hence, superstitious observance of days must remain
far from Christians.
 The two last reasons, however, must not be numbered among the shadows of old.
Rather, they are equally valid for all ages. Hence, though the sabbath is abrogated, it
so happens among us that we still convene on certain days in order to hear the word
of God, to break the [mystic] bread of the Supper, and to offer public prayers; and,
moreover, in order that some relaxation from their toil be given to servants and
workingmen. As our human weakness does not allow such assemblies to meet every
day, the day observed by the Jews has been taken away (as a good device for
eliminating superstition) and another day has been destined to this use. This was
necessary for securing and maintaining order and peace in the Church.

As the truth therefore was given to the Jews under a figure, so to us on the contrary
truth is shown without shadows in order, first of all, that we meditate all our life on a
perpetual sabbath from our works so that the Lord may operate in us by his spirit;
secondly, in order that we observe the legitimate order of the Church for listening to
the word of God, for administering the sacraments, and for public prayers; thirdly, in
order that we do not oppress inhumanly with work those who are subject to
us”[Instruction in Faith, Calvin's own 1537 digest of the Institutes, sec. 8, "The Law
of the Lord"].

11. With these thoughts in mind concerning the regulations about Sabbath keeping such as
not picking up sticks upon penalty of death, another question emerges as to whether or
not there is a Christian Sabbath. Does God still require a special day of worship? Does
1/7 our time belong to Him? If so, what are the new regulations to guide activity on the
Sabbath?

12. It does seem clear there is a special spiritual day under the New Testament economy
called The First Day which would be Sunday.

 On this day Christ arose. Mark 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of
the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven
devils.

 On this day the disciples were assembled and blessed. John 20:19 Then the same day
at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the
disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and
saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto
them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even
so send I you.

 On this day the promise of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost which
by law came on the first day of the week. Leviticus 23:15 And ye shall count unto you
from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave
offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: 16 Even unto the morrow after the
seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering
unto the LORD.
  On this day the first gospel sermon on the death and resurrection of Christ was
preached by the Apostle Peter, and 3,000 souls were numbered with the disciples.
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day
there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

 On this day the early church met for worship. Acts 20:7 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. 8 And there
were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

 On this day an offering was taken for the work of the ministry. 1 Corinthians 16:2
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.

 On this day prophecy was given. Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's
day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
13. The early church fathers, from Ignatius to Augustine, taught that the Old Testament
Sabbath had been abolished and that the first day of the week (Sunday) was the day when
Christians should meet for worship, contrary to the claim of many seventh-day
sabbatarians and critics of Christendom who claim that Sunday worship was not
instituted until the fourth century during the time of Constantine.

 Barnabas, AD 120. “We keep the eighth day with joyfulness, the day also on which
Jesus rose from the dead.”

 Justin Martyr, AD 100-165 . “But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our
communion assembly because Jesus Christ, our Saviour, on the same day arose from
the dead.”

 Bardesones of Odessa, Asia, c. AD 180. “On the day, the first day of the week, we
assemble ourselves together.”

 Clement of Alexandria, c. AD 194. “He, in fulfillment of the precept, according to the

Gospel, keeps the Lord’s Day, when he abandons an evil disposition, and assumes
that of the Gnostic, glorifying the Lord’s Resurrection in himself.”

 Tertullian in Africa, c. AD 200. “We solemnize the day after Saturday in contraction
to those who call this day their Sabbath.”

 Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage in Africa, c. AD 250. “The eighth day, that is, the first
day dafter the Sabbath, and the Lord’s Day.”

 Apostolic Constitution, c. AD 250. “On the day of our Lord’s Resurrection, which is
the Lord’s Day meet more diligently.”
14. The Baptist Confession of 1689) chapter 22) addresses the place of the Sabbath in the life
of the believer.
Worship and the Sabbath Day

1. The light of nature shows that there is a God Who has lordship and sovereignty over all, is
just and good, and Who does good to all. Therefore He is to be feared, loved, praised,
called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart and all the soul, and with all the
might.

 Jeremiah 10:7 Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? For to thee doth it
appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their
kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.

 Mark 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and
with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is
more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God has been instituted by Himself,

 Deuteronomy 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt
not add thereto, nor diminish from it. and therefore our method of worship is limited
by His own revealed will. He may not be worshipped according to the imagination
and devices of men, nor the suggestions of Satan. He may not be worshipped by way
of visible representations, or by any other way not prescribed in the Holy
Scriptures.

 Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any
thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water
under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the
LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children
unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto
thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
2. Worship is to be given to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to Him alone;

 Matthew 4:9-10 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall
down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is
written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

 John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship
the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

 Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: not to angels, saints, or any other
creatures.

 Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the
creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
  Colossians 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and
worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly
puffed up by his fleshly mind,

 Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou
do it not: I am thy fellowservants, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of
Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

And since the Fall, worship is not to be given without a mediator,

 John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me. nor by any other mediation than that of Christ.

 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus;

3. Prayer, with thanksgiving, is one part of natural worship, and this God requires of all men.

 Psalm 95:1-7 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the
rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make
a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great
King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the
hills is his also. 5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. 6
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. 7
For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
To day if ye will hear his voice,

 Psalm 65:2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
But to be accepted it must be made in the name of the Son,

 John 14:13-14 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father
may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. by the
help of the Spirit,

 Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what
we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with
groanings which cannot be uttered. and according to His will.

 1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing
according to his will, he heareth us:
It must be made with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and
perseverance; and corporate prayer must be made in a known language.

 1 Corinthians 14:16-17 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that
occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he
understandeth not what thou sayest? 17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the
 other is not edified. 4. Prayer is to be made for lawful things, and for all kinds of
people who are alive now or who shall live in the future,

 1 Timothy 2:1-2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,

intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that
are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
honesty.

 2 Samuel 7:29 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that
it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with
thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever. but not for the dead,

 2 Samuel 12:21-23 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast
done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child
was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. 22 And he said, While the child was yet alive,
I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that
the child may live? 23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him
back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. nor for those who are
known to have sinned the 'sin leading to death'.

 1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask,
and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I
do not say that he shall pray for it.
5. The reading of the Scriptures,

 1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

preaching and hearing the Word of God,
 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke,
exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.

 Luke 8:18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be
given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to
have.
the teaching and admonishing of one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord;

 Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching
and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with
grace in your hearts to the Lord.

 Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; as well as the administration of
baptism

 Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all
 things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto
the end of the world. Amen.
and the Lord's Supper,

 1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew
the Lord's death till he come.
are all parts of the worship of God. These are to be performed in obedience to Him, with
understanding, faith, reverence and godly fear. Also to be used in a holy and reverent
manner on special occasions are times of solemn humiliation, fastings,

 Esther 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye
for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will
fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and
if I perish, I perish.

 Joel 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart,
and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and thanksgivings.

 Exodus 15:1-19 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD,
and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the
horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2 The LORD is my strength and song,
and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation;
my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his
name. 4 Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains
also are drowned in the Red sea. 5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the
bottom as a stone. 6 Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right
hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. 7 And in the greatness of thine
excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy
wrath, which consumed them as stubble. 8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the
waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths
were congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will
overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my
sword, my hand shall destroy them. 10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered
them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. 11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD,
among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing
wonders? 12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. 13 Thou
in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided
them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. 14 The people shall hear, and be afraid:
sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. 15 Then the dukes of Edom
shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all
the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. 16 Fear And dread shall fall upon them;
by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over,
O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. 17 Thou shalt bring
them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD,
which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands
have established. 18 The LORD shall reign for ever and ever. 19 For the horse of
 Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD
brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry
land in the midst of the sea.

 Psalm 107:1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for
ever. 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand
of the enemy; 3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west,
from the north, and from the south. 4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary
way; they found no city to dwell in. 5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. 6
Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their
distresses. 7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of
habitation. 8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his
wonderful works to the children of men! 9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and
filleth the hungry soul with goodness. 10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of
death, being bound in affliction and iron; 11Because they rebelled against the words
of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: 12 Therefore he brought down
their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. 13 Then they
cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. 14 He
brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in
sunder. 15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his
wonderful works to the children of men! 16 For he hath broken the gates of brass,
and cut the bars of iron in sunder. 17 Fools because of their transgression, and
because of their iniquities, are afflicted. 18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat;
and they draw near unto the gates of death. 19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their
trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. 20 He sent his word, and healed
them, and delivered them from their destructions. 21 Oh that men would praise the
LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 22And
let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; 24 These
see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. 25 For he commandeth, and
raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 26 They mount up to the
heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end. 28
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their
distresses. 29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 30 Then
are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 31
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to
the children of men! 32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and
praise him in the assembly of the elders. 33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and
the watersprings into dry ground; 34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the
wickedness of them that dwell therein. 35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing
water, and dry ground into watersprings. 36 And there he maketh the hungry to
dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; 37 And sow the fields, and plant
vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. 38 He blesseth them also, so that they
are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease. 39 Again, they are
minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. 40 He poureth
contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is
 no way. 41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families
like a flock. 42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her
mouth. 43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand
the lovingkindness of the LORD.
6. Under the Gospel neither prayer nor any other part of religious worship is tied to, or made
more acceptable by, any place in which it is performed or towards which it is directed.
God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit and in truth,

 John 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall
neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

 Mal 1:11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my
name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered
unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen,
saith the LORD of hosts.

 1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands,
without wrath and doubting. whether in private families

 Acts 10:2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave
much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. daily,

 Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

 Psalm 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he
shall hear my voice. in secret by each individual,

 Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast
shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in
secret shall reward thee openly. or solemnly in the public assemblies.
These are not to be carelessly or willfully neglected or forsaken, when God by His Word
and providence calls us to them.

 Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of
some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching.

 Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and
in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
7. As it is the law of nature that in general a proportion of time, by God's appointment,
should be set apart for the worship of God, so He has given in His Word a positive, moral
and perpetual commandment, binding upon all men, in all ages to this effect. He has
particularly appointed one day in seven for a Sabbath to be kept holy for Him.

 Exodus 20:8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

 From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ this was the last day of the
week, and from the resurrection of Christ it was changed to the first day of the week and
called the Lord's Day.

 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 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.

 Acts 20:7 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.
This is to be continued until the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the
observation of the last day of the week having been abolished.

 Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great
voice, as of a trumpet,
8. The Sabbath is kept holy to the Lord by those who, after the necessary preparation of their
hearts and prior arranging of their common affairs, observe all day a holy rest from their
own works, words and thoughts about their worldly employment and recreations,

 Isaiah 58:13 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, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor
speaking thine own words:

 Nehemiah 13:15-22 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the
Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs,
and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day:
and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. 16 There dwelt men
of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the
Sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17 Then I contended with the
nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane
the Sabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil
upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the
Sabbath. 19 And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark
before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they
should not be opened till after the Sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates,
that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 So the merchants
and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. 21 Then I
testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so
again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the
Sabbath. 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and
that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me,
O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy
 mercy. And give themselves over to the public and private acts of worship for the
whole time, and to carrying out duties of necessity and mercy.

 Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and his
disciples were an hungered, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2 But
when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is
not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day. 3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read
what David did, when he was an hundred, and they that were with him; 4 How he
entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for
him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have
ye not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane
the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one
greater than the temple. 7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy,
and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of man is
Lord even of the Sabbath day. 9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their
synagogue: 10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they
asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days? that they might accuse
him. 11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have
one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and
lift it out? 12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to
do well on the Sabbath days. 13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand.
And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.