The commentaries usually agree that the primitive church of the first century, in which the apostles lived, kept the Sabbath and Holy Days. It wasn’t until much later that it was altered to the day of the sun god. When Saul wanted to find Christians to persecute in the first century where did he go to find them? He went to the synagogues, which met obviously on the Sabbath.
Acts 9:1–2, “Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
And asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” (NKJV)
Like a predator looking for prey, Paul knew exactly where to find Christians. They were considered a sect within Judaism for years, in part, because they also obeyed God’s Laws and kept the Sabbath.
Acts 11:26, “And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”
It is beyond doubt that if the church had changed the Sabbath day to the day of the Sun God, the debate about allowing an exception to the circumcision law would have been ridiculous. The Sabbath was a much bigger issue than exception for adult gentiles regarding circumcision. Paul circumcising Timothy proves that he was not trying to cancel the law regarding Israelites. It instead shows how law abiding the church was in the days of the apostles. This of course, would include the Sabbath, or the New Testament would be filled with the debate as it is regarding circumcision. Nowhere in the Bible can any discussion about changing the Sabbath be found. Note that at the end of New Testament Church history, the Church is still considered a sect within Judaism.
Acts 28:22, “But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”
The Change Came First From Within the Church Itself
Apostasy grew within the true Church of God. God allowed false ideas to exist in the Church to test the brethren. It was a method of seeing who would stand up for the truth. It also helped the truth stand out.
1 Corinthians 11:18–19, “For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.”
Jude 1:3, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
The struggle for maintaining the pure doctrines began early in the New Testament times. Nearing the end of the Apostolic Age, many had branched away into apostasy over a number of doctrines. The second generation Christians are even more vulnerable to doctrines that are more acceptable to the outside world.
1 John, 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.”
During the Emperor Hadrian’s reign, in the second century, many Christians in Rome adopted both the Sabbath and Sunday. Those that apostatized in our day went through the same process before accepting the world’s day of worship, Sunday. The book, The True History Of The True Church, stated that the second generation was vulnerable to falling away. Over time the majority ended up following the false groups and the True Church is left small and scattered and somewhat underground.
If one were searching for signs of the True Church in the annals of history, the Sabbath and Holy Days would be major markers. The True Church of God (primitive church) of the first century was unrecognizable by the second and third centuries because of all the worldly changes. Montanism (strict asceticism), Gnosticism (knowledge, secret teaching), Arianism (Christ not co-eternal) and many other divisions arose at this time.
Many of the false doctrines came from within, but some came from without the church. False teachers infiltrated the church to push errors. One of the most law breaking and defiant would have been to change the Sabbath to the day of the sun god.
I John 2:22–23, “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is Antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”
Jude 1:4, “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Sabbath was altered by apostate churches that wanted to be more acceptable to the Roman Empire’s population. These groups grew larger and eventually became the Roman Catholic (Universal) Church.
2 Timothy 4:2–4, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears they will heap up for themselves teachers; And they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
Paul predicted this attraction to the worldly pagan ways and the influence it would have on the Church of God. Some of the pressure was positive. Join us and be accepted, and some was fear based. The anti-Semitic pressure led some to want to change the Sabbath out of fear of looking too Jewish.
Sunday Worship Is Acceptance of Catholic Authority
The Catholic church states that the Bible does NOT change the Sabbath! The only authority the Protestants have for Sunday worship is the Catholic Church. They claim that those who try to argue that the change in Sabbath days is based on the Bible are dishonest. The Catholic Church based on their power made the change. Protestants are acknowledging the authority of the Catholic Church when they worship on Sunday, so say Catholic leaders.
Albert Smith, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, replying for the Cardinal February 10, 1920, stated that, “If protestants would follow the Bible, they should worship God on the Sabbath Day, that is Saturday. In keeping Sunday they are following a law of the Catholic Church.”
Daniel 7:25, “He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.”
This is an end time prophesy, however some of the Law-defying work has already been done. The Sunday traditions are now so ingrained that it will be difficult to get people to even consider changing. Constantine as Emperor, co-opted Christianity to help strengthen his rule over the Empire.
The “Church” was given power. Over the years they used that power to force the smaller True Church underground. Sort of like the Church of God in China; It has been underground for over a century. It is spiritually strong but small in numbers. Holding on to the truth would be a struggle, said Paul in his last visit to Asian Churches he founded.
Acts 20:28-31, “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
“For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
“Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
“Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.”
The true Sabbath, sign of the true Creator God, then and now, is the doctrine put in the most jeopardy by wolves and others who want their own following. Obviously the pressure for these changes comes from human nature itself and Satanic influences.
Further scriptures to study regarding the Sabbath.
- Genesis 2:3
- Exodus 20:11
- Exodus 31:13
- Numbers 28:25
- Isaiah 56:2
- Luke 4:16
- Mark 2:27-28
- Acts 17:2
- Acts 18:4
- Hebrews 4:8-10
