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The Sabbath - Everything You Ever Wanted To Know |
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[Sabbath Arguments]
Introduction
There are a large number of web-sites that specialize in disparaging the seventh-day Sabbath, Sabbath-keepers, or both. Unfortunately, there are disproportionately few web-sites standing in defense of the seventh-day Sabbath and those who observe it. Of course, seventh-day Sabbath-keepers are in the minority of Christians, so perhaps the disparity in number of web sites is proper.
However, truth is not dependent upon or discovered by majority rule. So, this web site is devoted to providing the "other side" of the debate surrounding the "Christian Sabbath". While the views presented herein are certainly unpopular, we hope that you will evaluate the arguments and supporting documentation on their own merits. Religious history demonstrates that the majority has rarely been correct or in harmony with the requirements of God. Remember: "&ldots;narrow is the way, and few there be that find it&ldots;" that leads to Heaven. So, let us lay aside bias as we proceed to a careful examination of the Sabbath of the Bible.
You may feel overwhelmed or intimidated by the large, scholarly manuscripts that contain the most comprehensive studies about the Sabbath. Especially when your questions are simple, you don't want to wade through a great mass of writing to find answers. This site is intended to make available a comprehensive study on the subject of the Sabbath, while at the same time, putting it into a format that will help and clarify rather than baffle or intimidate. Our goal has been to provide answers to a very wide array of Sabbath questions, while also making it easy for you to find the answer to your specific question.
Before you begin your study, a few points deserve mention. First, you may (at least initially) disagree with some, many, or all of the conclusions reached on this site. If so, please examine all the footnoted material as you progress. In many cases the most studious chain of reasoning is inconclusive if only part of it is examined. Please consider all the points that relate to your question.
Second, you must keep in mind that any discussion of doctrine has a much more important, though hidden, facet. Every doctrine not only guides our daily living, but also affects our conception of God, Himself. This is to say that a wrong perception of doctrine inevitably results from a wrong perception of God. Because Jesus is God, and claimed to be the "Lord of the Sabbath," the Sabbath cannot be studied without understanding that our perception of the Sabbath is reflected in our perception of Jesus Christ. Jesus promised that, because we want to know truth, we can expect the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. Then, as that truth helps us to see Jesus more clearly, it can indeed set us free.
Third, this site is an ongoing project that has enjoyed the benefit of useful critique and comment from our readers. We encourage you to write in with your comments and suggestions. We respond to our email and look forward to hearing from you. To those who have already written: Thank you, and may the Lord richly bless you.
Finally, what is the strategy of this site? We will examine three primary viewpoints concerning Sabbath observance:
Abrogation of the Sabbath: this view assumes that the Sabbath was abolished or "done away with" for any of a variety of reasons. Some believe that the entire Jewish law was abolished, the Sabbath included. Others hold that we are "under grace" now and so are not "under the law." On this view, Christians need not observe any day as special or as a "sabbath". [See topic 140a]
Transference of the Sabbath: this view maintains that Sunday is now to be kept by Christians as the Sabbath. Many believe that the solemnity of the seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) mentioned in Scripture has been "transferred" to Sunday by virtue of the Resurrection or other factors. On this view, observance of Sunday is considered to satisfy the requirement (if any requirement still remains) of the Fourth Commandment. [See topic 140b]
Permanence of the Sabbath: this view holds that the Sabbath has never been changed, abolished, transferred, etc. Some believe that the Sabbath is still to be kept as the seventh-day "Jewish" Sabbath (Saturday) and that observation of this holy day is a "permanent" institution of God. [See topic 140c]
Whatever are your present beliefs regarding the Sabbath, they fall within one of these three viewpoints. You will find that this site discusses all three in great depth. Of course, it should be clear at the outset that we will defend the third viewpoint.
Unfortunately, this site cannot be the "last word" simply because of space constraints. To make available the most in-depth proofs on every conceivable question and the greatest quantity of data would take many, many megabytes of server space and involve gigantic menu structures. So, a line must be drawn between simplicity and quantity. Hopefully you will think we drew the line in the right place. However, if not, please contact Dr. Richard Jensen, and he will attempt to answer your questions. In addition, this site is always growing in response to questions and observations received at the email address given previously
Except where otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from either the King James Version or the New American Standard Version of the Bible. It should be easy for those who are familiar with these manuscripts to tell which of the two is being used for a particular verse.
Fundamentally, we believe that the Bible Sabbath is far more of a spiritual issue than a historical or factual one. The Bible Sabbath can and should have a profound impact on one's spiritual life. Jesus wants to set people free, and He promised in the fourteenth chapter of John that He would send us the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth so that we could be free. So, before embarking on any study of the Sabbath, we urge you pray to be led into all truth. Our prayer is that the Holy Spirit will give you discernment and wisdom as you consider this important subject.
Finally, this site incurs significant costs. If you find this site useful, you can contribute to its support at no cost to you! If you would like to contribute to this site without it costing you anything, please click here to find out how.
Thank you for visiting!
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CREDITS
WRITTEN by:
Dr. Richard Jensen |0+|
Mark Smith |1|
EDITED by:
Donna Conant |2|
Dana Jensen
Dr. Richard Jensen
Mark Smith
RESEARCH by:
Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi |3|
Dr. Richard Jensen
Mark Smith
www.sabbath-day.com