The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Don't work on Sunday

What authority does the Sabbath have on anyone as Pilgrim said ?

We are not under ANY LAW NOR THEIR CURSES.

It is good to go to church a few times on Sunday(if possible)and visit the old and infirm etc , but this hardly constitutes Sabbath keeping does it.

Do you cook, drive, wash, clean , play with the pc , listen to the radio etc, etc, on a Sunday ? We ALL do and are therefore all Sabbath breakers.

Scriptures and conscience must dictate what we do on the Sabbath (Saturday or Sunday ?), not traditions of men.

As a former SP baptist with a legalist hypercalvinist pastor I know all about how it feels to be kept under the law . I am FREE from legal deception- by the Grace of God.

This is true ONLY in the matter of "Justification", Mark. And even there, technically it is indisputable that we are saved by the keeping of the Law, albeit vicariously and substitutionally by the active and passive work of the Lord Christ.

But as to "Sanctification", we are certainly "under law" as God's immutable rule of life for those who claim to believe on Jesus Christ Who came so save His people from their sins, not in their sins. The Spirit of Christ gives both the desire and power to do that which was afore time impossible, i.e., to live a life of "holiness, righteousness and with true knowledge" (Eph 4:24; Col 3:10) before God, which is defined by His moral LAW; aka: Ten Commandments.

The very purpose of God in salvation which He purposed in eternity is said to have been:

Romans 8:29 (ASV) "For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:"

1 John 5:1-3 (ASV) "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

And from this it can be seen that you have made a judgment as to what is "unacceptable" behaviour on the Sabbath. But if, as you say you believe, that there is no "Sabbath law", then one could not be judged a "Sabbath breaker", for now does one break that which does not exist? Further, using your reasoning, we all sin in every way imaginable and beyond when the light of God's moral law is shone upon our hearts. We are all sinners of the worse kind, yet does that truth therefore mean that we are not to abstain from breaking that law?

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (ASV) "Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God."

You say that you have run away from a "legalist hypercalvinist pastor". But, did you? I mean, by the view that you have expressed here, I cannot help but wonder if your label of this man is accurate. To an antinomian, someone who believes that the Ten Commandments are binding upon ALL men, respective of their spiritual state, will be seen as a "Legalist", yet erroneously so.

In His Grace,

Many folk (in my experience) are under pressure as to what they can or cannot do on the Sabbath.

For example , you gave a reference to "The Sabbath Question" by MacGregor and in part 4 he deals with "Sabbath Rail trafic" and the DUTY of Christians.
What relevance has this today in 2004 when we all (or should IMHO), think nothing of driving a car , taking a bus , a taxi or even a train to church on Sunday ?


What IS THE SABBATH in 2004 AD ? I am a gentile saved by the free and sovereign grace of The Lord Jesus Christ. Who decides what THE SABBATH is ? The WCF ? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/shrug.gif" alt="" />.........


.....and how do you keep it ?

The relevancy is simply the application of the Sabbath's intent; spend the day focused upon God and His kingdom. Most all these types of questions are so simple to answer if people would set their minds upon the primary intent on why the Lord created the Sabbath; i.e., for man and not man for the Sabbath. To use run with your little bit of sophistry, and btw, people DO still ride trains as a means of transportation in many parts of the world, if one needs or desires to take a train to church, so be it. In fact, its relevancy is probably more so now than when MacGregor wrote that piece. Why? because of the way our society is spread out. It sounds so pious, in the minds of some, to say to someone that they should give up their job, friends, et al, and move closer to a church so they won't have to take the train or drive. It sounds so pious, again in the minds of some, when a pastor boasts that he flies to a preaching engagement on Saturday and stays over until Monday instead of traveling on the Sabbath. This is all Pharisaical nonsense, IMHO. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/igiveup.gif" alt="" />.

The WCF states it correctly, I believe, that there are two types of "work" that men are allowed to do on the Sabbath: 1) works of mercy, and 2) works of necessity. Straining at gnats and swallowing camels seems to be the favorite pastime of many on this issue. Some would say that it is a violation of the Sabbath to take a train, fly a plane or particular to ride a motorcycle to church. But it is perfectly alright to force march your family 50 miles to church? Some would say it is a violation of the Sabbath to cook a meal on the Sabbath! Is there anything that would qualify as a "work of necessity" more than feeding your body? The Lord Christ was accused of breaking the Sabbath for this very thing; plucking corn and eating it on the Sabbath day. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes2.gif" alt="" />

I say again, I believe that most all questions concerning what is proper behaviour on the Sabbath can be easily answered if one's focus is upon the intent and purpose of the Sabbath rather upon setting down a long list of "do's and don'ts".

And how does this fact discharge you from the inherent obligation to obey the moral commandments of God? Are you not bound to abstain from idolatry, thievery, adultery, murder, lying, etc.? You are either a slave to sin; the transgression of the law. Or, you are a slave to righteousness; the conformity of the law. There is no "libertarianism" taught in Scripture. Your master is either your own sinful flesh and the prince of darkness to do that which is contrary to the law. Or, your master is the Lord Christ and to do God's will according to His holy law is your desire. Choose you this day whom you will serve!

In His Grace,

Hi,
I am a member of a church that believes the Lord's Day is a precious gift to the believer. We follow the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, which is similar to the WCF.

Provision for necessity and charity are always given. We need hospital staff, policemen, etc. all the time, and hopefully some of these are solid Christians. We also know that the Lord healed on the Sabbath among other things, and He was perfect.

Further, we cannot be saved by obeying the Law. We should be neither legalists nor antinomians.

I cannot find, however, any Scripture that gives me the liberty to disregard a law God has given to me. God may change the day set aside, but the principle remains just as God's holiness remains. The decalogue was never revoked or revised, only clarified. We can't obey God perfectly (thus needing a Savior), yet that is not nor has ever been an excuse to disobey.

I stopped doing unnecessary errands on the Lord's day, and I fill my gas tank on Saturday, except when with travel it is necessary. I have not died. It is not impossible. When I forget to fill my tank and must, I go ahead and do it and it is impressed on me more fully the need to remember. We can cut down what we do on the Lord's Day, and thus impact society in a way that frees more people up for church on Sunday, and at the same time is noticed by the unsaved as reverence for God, just like when we refrain from saying 'oh God' as if He were a common person or thing. I would imagine nobody here would say it is ok to disobey the other 9 laws of the Decalogue.

Grace has never stopped God from being God. He is still to be obeyed. We are given liberty, and we can go to Him for forgiveness in our failings, but we are never given license. Neither does God change. He did give this law, and it makes perfect sense to obey it. We need it...spiritually, physically, and in so many ways.

How fully blessed I am since conviction on this. I am blessed with a church where I see an overwhelming majority of my brothers and sisters in Christ regularly. I am blessed with preaching that is Biblical and committed to staying that way. I am blessed with a congregation of people who also know solid Biblical doctrine (because...they hear it regularly). I am blessed even in the singing of hymns by all the voices of the saints in my church. I am blessed with accountability of myself and others (not just as in sins, but in health and troubles). I am blessed beyond measure, and it is because I have a day set aside for true worship every week, and I am in fellowship with others who are likewise blessed. I am not forgotten, I am missed when I am not there. That speaks volumes to my soul.

As a Christian, I never seek to be free from anything God commands. I am only free in it, and freely forgiven when I fall short.

I think someone should have confronted this preacher with his inconsistency. Well, I also believe in a plurality of elders <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

disciple

Disciple

That was a very good post, thanks. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Tom

I was asked just this weekend to work on Sunday. I am a Warehouse Supervisor for a large company and we are in the process of a large move into a new building. This request to work on Sunday is certainly out of the ordinary. However, I have strong personal convictions about working on Sunday. Instead of "refusing" to work I asked to be excused and stated my religious views regarding the Lord's Day. God graciously protected me and my boss allowed me the day off.