Commentary: History of the Sabbath

by Guy C. LaMar

Brethren and Friends – I feel compelled by God’s Spirit to share this revealed truth. I haven’t got the time at the moment to fully expound upon this – although it is all throughout God’s living word. The factual history of the Sabbath.

First and foremost – our Lord Jesus Christ kept the Sabbath. The apostles kept the Sabbath long after our Lord Jesus had ascended to the upper heavenly realms. They also kept and obeyed the LAW OF GOD! And, the Law of God is not grievous. Sadly, mankind only makes them grievous because they stubbornly do not keep them or obey them!

During the latter part of the 2nd Century A.D., Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr (who is not considered a saint in any way by those of us in The Independent Christian Church of God or affiliated churches), Irenaeus, and Clement of Alexandria all attacked the observance of the LORD God’s Sabbath!

During the 3rd Century A.D., at the First Council of Nicaea in 321, Roman Emperor Constantine the Great issued a civil decree – making Sunday a day of rest from labor. Stating, “All judges and city people and the craftsmen shall rest upon the venerable day of the Sun.” It was Emperor Constantine the Great in 321 AD who proclaimed the Day of the Sun as the day of worship for the Roman Empire. They would not keep any day that the Jews kept!

The Church of England, run by the Roman Catholic Church – from the Vatican – under the rule of the pope, had a rebellion in the 16th Century – known as the Protestant Reformation against the Roman Catholic Church. The Separatist Movement of England during the 16th and 17th centuries separated from the Church of England, forming what is known as Protestantism. Independent churches, that didn’t want to be under the rule of the pope of Rome.

Yet, the majority of Protestant churches continue keeping and observing the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church! Such as the keeping and observing of Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween – and keeping and observing Sunday instead of the Lord’s Sabbath!

Who instituted the Sabbath?

It was the Lord GOD – the Eternal Creator of all things! Not any man.

This world’s stiff-necked rebellious people clamor to keep SUNday over the LORD God’s holy Sabbath!

The modern-day Baptist Church was in this Separatist Movement of England in the 16th Century. And through the centuries the Baptists, the Methodists, and the Episcopalians, along with all the other branches – with smaller splinter groups here and there – all continue to cling to the doctrine that came from the Roman Catholic Church in the 3rd Century!

Understand, my friend, your good Baptist, Episcopalian, Methodist, Church of Christ, and so on and so forth churches all stem from the Roman Catholic Church – called “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” – Revelation 17:5.

And what makes them “daughter churches”!? Because they all stemmed from the Roman Catholic Church! And they are all rebellious against the LORD God!

One thing that grieved our Lord Jesus – false religions.

Our Lord Jesus has warned us that there would be people who would worship Him in vain – ‘teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’ – Matthew 15:9.

Sadly, these organizations can praise our Lord Jesus (Matthew 24:4-5) till they are blue in the face. Yet, our Lord Jesus when He returns will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who [practiced] lawlessness!’ – Matthew 7:23. So says our Lord Jesus Christ!

Our peoples that continue to keep and celebrate the Day of the Sun are unknowingly and ignorantly keeping the day that Satan the Devil influenced the Roman Catholic Church to keep (cf. Genesis 3:1; this possibly was on the first day of the week – known today as Sunday) They are blindly allowing themselves to accept a lie over the living truth of God! The plain truth of God!

As a minister and servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, I will not waver from proclaiming the living TRUTH OF GOD as revealed to us. No matter how it might offend others. Instead of being bound by fear or the spirit of accusation, we can speak and write about God’s Word in a spirit of power. In boldness, we can testify of His promises, His faithfulness, and what He will accomplish and has accomplished in our lives.

We pray that this revealed truth may pierce the heart of YOU – to come to the living truth of God over a lie of Satan the Devil.

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” – John 8:12.

Honoring and worshiping God the Father and our Lord Jesus correctly is to keep and obey the LAW OF GOD – summed up in the TEN COMMANDMENTS – that They established in Their love for all mankind. If mankind would only abide in God’s love then they would keep and obey the Law of God. But mankind as a whole is rebellious because we are born carnal – born under sin (Romans 5:12). So those who are flesh cannot please God. But, brethren, we know – “But [we] are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if ANYONE does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” – Romans 8:6-9.

Let us, brethren, continue to obey the LORD God!

The FOURTH COMMANDMENT is the commandment that the LORD God tells all mankind to remember and to keep holy. Yet, mankind as a whole has chosen to not remember or keep it holy. “’ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.’” – Exodus 20:8. Let us never make excuses!

If you go to your regular job of employment on the LORD God’s holy Sabbath day (from Friday at sunset to Saturday at sunset) you are breaking the LORD God’s Commandments! - James 2:10. You are not obeying the LORD God!

Let us, brethren, continue to be a soldier for Christ Jesus – who died for our sins – so that we can continue to abide in His love and do His will and keep, follow, and obey His Commandments!

The Law of God was made for all mankind. It is the LORD God’s love being shown to all mankind if they will only abide in Their Law. If mankind doesn’t keep and obey the Law of God, then they outright reject the love of God! Yet, when mankind keeps and obeys the LORD God’s Law, then they are showing the LORD God that they truly love God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!

Brethren and Friends – do not let this glorious opportunity pass you by! Don’t mess it up! OBEY GOD with every fiber of your being! □

Additional Commentaries - Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries: Commentaries (owensborocojc.com)