The Sabbath Day in the New Testament - Part 1

***This is a guest post written by my older brother, Clint Anderson, who lives in Sacramento, CA, with his wife and 4 children.***

 

We do not believe that the sabbath changed from Saturday to Sunday; rather, the Sabbath was fulfilled and the ordinance (keeping of the sabbath day) was repealed.

 

Sunday is not the Sabbath. It is the day that the believers assemble together (i.e. go to church)

 

Here is why we worship on Sunday (the 1^st day of the week)

 

Jesus rose on the 1^st day of the week:

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.

The disciples assembled on the 1^st day of the week:

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.

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.

The church at Corinth was commanded to give on the 1^st day of the week:

1 Cor 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.

In the book of Acts, Paul goes to the synagogues to try to convert the unbelieving Jews on the sabbath, but he assembled the churches on the 1^st day of the week.

The Sabbath as an ordinance was repealed along with the dietary restrictions (meat and drink) and feasts (holydays, new moons).

Col 2:14  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;

Col 2:15  And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

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.

The Sabbath was a shadow of things to come, but the ordinance was “blotted out.”  We are told not to let anyone judge us in respect of keeping the sabbath days.

We are told a second time not to judge others with respect to esteeming certain days over others.  Clearly here it is not important which day is chosen, and it is okay to esteem all days alike.

Rom 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Rom 14:5  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Rom 14:6  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

The Sabbath is a picture of us ceasing from our own works and resting in Christ (because salvation is not by our works).  This is the important principal that the Sabbath was instituted to teach.

Heb 4:4  For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

Heb 4:5  And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

Heb 4:6  Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

Heb 4:7  Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Heb 4:8  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

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

Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Christ is our rest and he fulfilled the sabbath

Nowhere in the New Testament is Sabbath keeping taught to Christians.  If it is important for Christians to keep the sabbath, why are we never told to do so? In the whole New Testament, Christians are never once told to keep the Sabbath, but in two places (Colossians 2 and Romans 4, quoted above), we are told not to worry about it!

In our culture, we have singled out the “10 Commandments” as something that Christians must follow; however, they are not given the special prominence in the Bible that we give them in our culture.  We are never told in the New Testament that we need to follow all of the 10 Commandments.  To say we must keep the sabbath because it is part of the 10 commandments does not have a scriptural basis.  

We don’t sacrifice animals, keep the dietary laws, feasts, etc., which are all part of the same Old Testament law. The guiding principal is that we follow the Old Testament except where we are specifically told that we no longer need to in the New Testament.  We are told in two places that we no longer need to keep the Sabbath (Col 2, Rom 4).

Paul continuously warned that if we try to go back to the Old Testament law (carnal ordinances), we are debtors to keep the whole law. For example:

Gal 5:3  For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

The Old Testament law was changed in the New Testament

Heb 7:12  For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

The carnal ordinances were only a figure until the time of reformation (i.e the New Testament)

Heb 9:8  The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

Heb 9:9  Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

Heb 9:10  Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Heb 9:11  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

…

Heb 9:15  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Conclusion: As Christians we are not required to keep the sabbath (i.e. abstain from work on a particular day).  It is not a sin to work on either Saturday or Sunday.  Yes, there is a principal that man needs rest, and we are built that way, so we should endeavor to have the equivalent of a day of rest for health reasons, efficiency, etc.  But we don't need to keep a sabbath day in a legalistic, religious sense. We are, however, commanded to go to church:  

 

Heb 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. 

As you look at this topic, I also highly recommend these two sermons that my brother preached on the "Hebrew Roots Movement."  These sermons cover "sabbath keeping" and other related topics. These sermons are really good and cover the subject very well.

Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpbaK3ePENg

Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi6xgBcCVwc

Trailer for New World Order Bible Versions

Why I Started Running Barefoot

Many people have asked me about why I run barefoot or in very thin sandals or minimalist shoes. I actually discovered barefoot running by accident, and then later I read about the benefits and understood why highly-cushioned running shoes are bad for your feet and will likely lead to running injury.

I discovered barefoot running one day a couple of years ago when I was jumping rope for 20 minutes and wanted to segue directly into a run. I didn't want to stop and put my shoes on because I wanted to go straight into the running without taking a break, so I just took off running barefoot. I ended up running for an hour, which was longer than I had ever run before at that time. I noticed immediately that I could run faster and further when I was barefoot. However, I was doing too much too soon by running for an hour barefoot the first time out, so the bottoms of my feet were hurting when I finished the run.

Because my feet were not ready for that level of barefoot running yet, I went back to my running shoes. However, the more I ran, the more problems I had. First it was my knees, then it was my ankles, then it was my shins, then it was my calves. Finally, I just gave up on running for a while.

Then I read a few books about barefoot running that explained that the injuries I was suffering were due to the cushioned running shoes I was wearing that were causing me to run with bad form and ironically were increasing the impact on my joints. I started running again, rotating between running barefoot and running in minimalist footwear. This time I started out slowly and gave my feet and legs a chance to get used to running barefoot.

Since that time (5 months ago) I have been doing a lot of running and have had absolutely no injuries, knee problems, shin splints, etc. I have also been doing a lot of running on steep hills and slippery slopes at South Mountain in minimalist footwear without so much as a stumble or twisted ankle. I have run 8-10 miles barefoot multiple times and felt great. I have run for over 3 hours straight in minimalist shoes and felt great afterward.

This is my daughter, Rebecca (age 4), who has had absolutely no running training or instruction. Yet she naturally runs with perfect form in bare feet. Why? Because this is the way God designed us to run.

Becca loves running!

Notice her bent knees, foot flat on the ground, straight back, and slight forward lean.

Running in a skirt like a lady!

Here is another picture showing a different stage of her stride.

Because your feet are one of the most sensitive parts of your body, they are great at telling you immediately if you are doing something wrong. If you run barefoot, your body will instinctively change the way you run to minimize pain by minimizing impact. The biggest thing that will instantly change is that your stride will shorten (i.e. you will take smaller steps), and you will land with your forefoot first instead of your heel. After landing forefoot first, the rest of your foot, including your heel, will make light contact.

Shoes provide a false sense of security by cushioning your feet and making them comfortable. This causes you to come down much harder than you would in bare feet. Your feet don't feel the impact, but the impact is still there and shoots up your leg into your knees, hips, lower back, etc.

By cushioning and babying your feet in high-end running shoes, you are also making them weaker. Since they are being supported by the shoes in so many ways, they no longer need to support themselves. Therefore they become weak and lazy which leads to poor running.

Remember, running barefoot is much different than running in traditional running shoes. Therefore, you must start very slowly, even if you are an experienced runner. Running barefoot should be treated as a new activity and should be eased into. For example, if you are running 20 miles per week in running shoes, you can't just start running 20 miles per week barefoot. Start by walking barefoot and then graduate to running very short distances.

Mental Training for Running

One of the hardest things for me (or anyone?) about long distance running is staying mentally focused and not becoming bored. There are a lot of ways to keep from getting bored and to make the time go by quickly. Running on scenic trails, listening to something on an ipod, running with a friend you can chat with, etc, are all helpful. However, scenic trails are not always available, nor is a friend who is willing to run long distances always available. When it comes to the ipod, it can provide some entertainment, but passively listening to something does not fully engage your mind in the way a conversation with a friend does.

I have found that by far the best method of making time go by quickly and enjoyably on a long run is quoting chapters of the Bible from memory. I find that quoting chapters that I know very well works best because if I try to quote chapters that I am a little shaky on, the mental strain tires me out and leaves me with less energy for running. Quoting chapters from the Bible that are well known to me provides the perfect balance of engaging my mind enough to keep me from getting bored without overly straining my mind and making running difficult.

Plus, let's face it - it's hard to justify spending hours per week running when life is already so busy with church, work, family, etc. However, when running time also doubles as a time to meditate on God's word and sharpen up memorized passages, it becomes easier to stay motivated and carve out the time necessary to go running. When I go running, I am also working on Bible memory which is important to me as a preacher and as a Christian in general. When I sit down to memorize the Bible or review a chapter, I am also training my mind for future runs. The more chapters I have down pat, the further I will be able to run, and the less I will have to keep repeating the same chapters over and over again which would eventually become boring.

Why run? Because in my opinion running is the single best and easiest way to improve your health and fitness. It requires little or no equipment and can be done virtually anytime, anywhere. Why memorize the Bible? Because God has promised us that if we meditate upon the word of God day and night, whatsoever we do shall prosper. Combining the two is the ultimate in mind-body-spirit exercise.

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." - Isaiah 40:31

Free Piano Books!

Anyone who agrees to do a blog post about The Complete Church Piano Course will receive a copy of Book One mailed to them absolutely free! The blog post must include the following:

- A link to this site: http://www.sanderson1611.blogspot.com/p/the-complete-church-piano-course.html

- A link to this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrZonzV_lv8

To get your free book, leave a comment in the comment section (I will not publish your comment, so your information will not be public). In your comment, please include:

- The web address of your blog
- Your name and mailing address so I can ship you the book

Once you receive the book, you will do a blog post about what you like or do not like about the book.

  36 pages, soft cover 

The Complete Church Piano Course: Book One
by Pastor Steven L Anderson

This piano course is designed to teach the absolute beginner the skills necessary to become a church pianist.

 In Book One, the basics of piano and chord playing are introduced. Right from the beginning, the student will be playing bona fide hymns in their proper keys which will enable him/her to begin playing in church immediately. All the songs in Book One are either in the key of “G” or the key of “C.”

In subsequent books, the student will learn how to play more elaborate chord patterns in the left hand, how to play in additional keys, how to play directly from the hymnal, the art of improvisation, and much more. Each book will build upon the concepts laid down in the previous book(s).

Songs included in Book One:

All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name

Am I a Soldier of the Cross

At Calvary

Grace Greater Than Our Sin

How Beautiful Heaven Must Be

Jesus Loves Me

Nothing But the Blood

Our Great Saviour

Revive Us Again

There is a Fountain

We Three Kings

When the Battle’s Over

This book can only be purchased by US residents who live outside the state of Arizona. Arizona residents can pick up a FREE copy at Faithful Word Baptist Church. No international shipping available.

Birthday/Anniversary Stay-cation Day 3 (July 25)

Today we left late in the morning to head down to Tucson, so I could spend a gift certificate I had received for Summit Hut. I had wanted to buy a pair of specialty running sandals, and no store in Phoenix seems to carry them. They could have been ordered online, but I figured it would be better to try them on and run around the store in them to make sure that I liked them before buying them. This is the model I ended up going with:

"But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats." - Mark 6:9

Then while we were down in Tucson, we found a nice fish and chips place where we could have lunch. We decided to bring the baby on this particular outing since we were going all the way to Tucson and didn't want to worry about being gone too long.

After fish and chips, we walked over to a gelato place where I had some kind of chocolate and peanut butter gelato, and Zsuzsa had Tiramisu. We then just spent a while wandering around, chatting, and enjoying the nice weather.

After driving back to Phoenix and spending about an hour at the house, we headed out for our next activity: horseback riding!

We rode for about an hour on trails at South Mountain to reach a steak house where we had dinner. Then after dinner, we rode back down the same trails, but this time in the dark since night had fallen.

Birthday/Anniversary Stay-cation Day 2 (July 24)

Today is my birthday and baby Stephen's birthday, so we started out the day by opening presents and having blueberry pancakes for breakfast. I received a book about trail running from Zsuzsa, a gift certificate to an outdoor store, and from my son John I got a pair of swim goggles.

After breakfast, Zsuzsa and I drove up to Scottsdale to go swimming at a hotel there. We were hoping that no one would be swimming at that time because although Zsuzsa and I were dressed modestly, we obviously didn't want to look at anyone else swimming half naked. When we got there, there were several people in the pool, so instead of swimming there, we hopped the fence to the private, elite "seclusion" swimming pool, which we had all to ourselves!

We played a little one on one volleyball while there!

After stopping at the house for lunch, we went out for some afternoon shopping at Ultimate Consignment and a few other stores. Then we went to the Wednesday night church service where we broke our Wednesday night attendance record by having 91 in the service! After church, there was a birthday party for me including barbecued hamburgers, hot dogs, sides, cake, and ice cream. I also received a lot of really cool gifts from some of our church members. What a fantastic birthday!