Sabbath Day Legalism

Joh 5:15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.

Joh 5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
Joh 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
Joh 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

Sabbath day legalism will seek to kill Jesus and the Spirit manifested through him.

What is the spirit of the law?

Do we kill those who have God's spirit being led by the LORD above? They accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath and some may accuse other believers who keep a Sunday Sabbath.

The Gentile believer has grace to choose a day for the Sabbath, keeping the spirit of the day.

2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

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.

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.

Gal 4:8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Gal 4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

The Sabbath is a shadow of Christ Jesus our rest. If we keep the Saturday Sabbath, that is well if by faith. If we keep a Sunday Sabbath that is allowed, especially for the Gentile believers if by faith. We are not to judge a believer over what day he keeps a Sabbath. Everyday is a Sabbath day in Christ, just as all holy days of the old covenant were Sabbath days. We are the holy temples of God, if the spirit dwells in us. Be careful not to blaspheme the Holy Spirit in a believer by legalism.

Many have turned away from attending a church altogether. This is dangerous because there are all sorts of strange doctrines around us. Keep a day with other believers to worship, to dwell deeply with the Lord and to rest in him. Do not continuously seek your own pleasure or work, making your own religious experience.

Isa 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
Isa 58:14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath.

Mat 12:6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
Mat 12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
Mat 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

Why did the early church meet on Sunday?

First let me say that the synagogues met on the Saturday Sabbath. When Paul traveled he would go to the Jews synagogue first to preach. Resurrection was on Sunday and this was to be the collection day fir the offerings.

1Co 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
1Co 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 Troas Paul had communion on Sunday sabbath.

Act 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.

In summery, we need to attend a good church and not point fingers at other churches. If the spirit of the Lord dwells in you by faith in Jesus Christ, then you are free to choose which day you honor the Sabbath. Keep a day of rest and devotion to the LORD God.

We are called to love our Lord God and one another.

Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Rom 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

There is no love until God shows his love to you through Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath. Love God and one another and go to church on a day that is of faith to you. For that matter you may meet together everyday as did the church in Jerusalem.

Act 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
Act 2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.