The Church and The Sabbath

Dr. Couch, is the church under the Sabbath?

ANSWER: No it is not. The early church met on the first day of the week which was Sunday. "And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, …" (Acts 20:7). Nine of the ten commandments are moral and spiritual in nature. They are eternal principles that reflect eternal values. They are repeated (but not as the Ten Commandments as a law system) throughout the NT. The Sabbath, while extremely important to the OT economy, is not repeated as an imperative for the NT church age and dispensation. We are not under the Sabbath commandment. Since it is a day of body and spiritual rest, we have transferred those qualities to Sunday, and there is nothing wrong in doing that. But as a heavy moral imperative, we are not under the law, any part of it, including the Sabbath.

It is important to add however, we are not now antinomian. We have the law of Christ, to love one another, and we have all of the moral commands stated in the NT epistles that are incumbent for believers to live by today.

Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
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Is The Church Under The Sabbath?

Dr. Couch, is the church under the Sabbath? ANSWER:  No it is not. The early church met on the first day of the week which was Sunday. "And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, …" (Acts 20:7). Nine of the ten commandments are moral and spiritual in nature. They are eternal principles that reflect eternal values. They are repeated (but not as the Ten Commandments as a law system) throughout the NT. The Sabbath, while extremely important to the OT economy, is not repeated as an imperative for the NT church age and dispensation. We are not under the Sabbath commandment. Since it is a day of body and spiritual rest, we have transferred those qualities to Sunday, and there is nothing wrong in doing that. But as a heavy moral imperative, we are not under the law, any part of it, including the Sabbath.    It is important to add however, we are not now antinomian. We have the law of Christ, to love one another, and we have all of the moral commands stated in the NT epistles that are incumbent for believers to live by today.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

Is Sunday the Sabbath?

Dr. Couch, what do you think of those who hold we should today be under the Sabbath? Also, some of the Reformed folks say Sunday is the Sabbath. This seems all very unbiblical. What do you think? 

 

   ANSWER: Yes, yes, and yes! You are right on! Your question just throws more light on why the Reformed people are off in so many places, especially with their unbiblical “Covenant theology” position. Only dispensationalism makes it clear how the Bible goes forward, and shows without a doubt we are not under any part of the Law. 

    The New Testament makes it clear that the early church met on the first day of the week (Sunday) and not on the Sabbath (Saturday). Check out Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:2. Down through church history this became the norm for all the assemblies. Though it must be pointed out there is no “moral command” in the New Testament to meet on any particular day; this is just what the church did. Clearly, they were moving away from Sabbath meetings that were more Jewish and “synagogue” in nature. 

   Thanks for asking,

   Dr. Mal Couch