Hi JBL,
Happy to help.
How is the verse “The Sabbath is made for man” specific instruction for the Church to observe the Sabbath? We all agree that God made the Sabbath for man. What I asked you for was specific instruction from God’s word in the New Testament, that teaches the Church how to observe the Sabbath.
The bible in the days of Jesus and Paul and the other Apostles was the OLD Testament. Everything that comes from the NEW Testament comes from the OLD Testament. Together they are the two great witnesses that make up the WORD of God that we are to live by because it is written...
ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works (2 Tim 2:16-17)
and again...
Man does not live by bread alone but by EVERY WORD that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matt 4:4)
Now, let's get back to your question;
How is the verse “The Sabbath is made for man” specific instruction for the Church to observe the Sabbath
Your referring to Mark 2:27. The Sabbath instructions were given clearly in the Old Testament scriptures by God himself as the 4th Commandment of the 10 Commandments (Ex 20:8-11) which has its origin from the creation week in Gen 2:1-3. The actual commandment as it was given by God says...
Exodus 20
8, Remember the
SABBATH DAY, to KEEP IT HOLY. <Why?> Because God made it Holy for mankind and commands us to keep it as a Holy day)
9, Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work:
10, But the
SEVENTH DAY IS THE SABBATH of the LORD thy God: in it
thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: <WHY>
11, For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the
SEVENTH DAY: wherefore the LORD BLESSED THE SABBATH, and HALLOWED IT.
Now seems like a very loose interpretation so in order to safegaurd the Sabbath the Jews in their zeal placed so many man made restrictions around the Sabbath that it had become a burden to God's people to keep it. So much so that the Jews even accused Jesus of breaking it according to their traditions in regards to Sabbath keeping.
* No uneccessary work to be done on the Sabbath especially business and secular work and housework and work that can be done any other day of the week. It is a day of rest and worship and time dedicated to God.
* We are to prepare for the Sabbath by preparing all meals food and completing houseword and other bussiness and shopping as this is to be avoided on the Sabbath where possible and done before the Sabbath starts
The NEW Testamnent scriptures build on these scriptures. In the NEW Testament Jesus and the scriptures teach us that.........
1. Jesus taught that it is lawful to do GOOD on the Sabbath (Matt 12:1-8; 10-12; 24:20; Mark 3:1-5; Luke 6:1-10; 13:14-16; 14:1-5; John 7:22-23; 9:14; Mark 1:21; Mark 6:2; Luke 4:16; 31; Luke 14:1; 23:56) and we are not to be budened by man made teaching around God's Sabbath because the Sabbath was made for mankind to be a delight not a buden.
2. Jesus taught that God's Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath; rebuking the tradtions of the Jew in regards to their interpretation around Sabbath keeping (Mark 2:27-28; Matthew 12:1-12; Mark 2:24-28; Mark 3:1-6; )
3. Jesus taught that he was the maker and creator of the Sabbath and the God of creation (Hebrews 1:2; John 1:1-3; 14; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:16-17; Mark 2:27). This was something that was new and never known before.
4. Paul taught that we cannot enter into God's Sabbath rest if we do not BELIEVE and FOLLOW the Word of God (Hebrews 3 and 4)
5. Jesus is our example who kept the Sabbath as well as all those who followed him (Matt 12:1-8; 10-12; 24:20; Mark 3:1-5; Luke 6:1-10; 13:14-16; 14:1-5; John 7:22-23; 9:14; Mark 1:21; Mark 6:2; Luke 4:16; 31; Luke 14:1; 23:56; John 2:6; Matt 16:24; Acts 13:14; 13:27; 13:44; 15:21; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4; Rev 1:10)
6. God's Sabbath is the Lord's Day and we should BELIEVE and FOLLOW him who calls us (Matthew 12:8).
So in summary the OLD and the NEW Testament which collectively makes up the WORD of GOD gives clear instuctions in relation to keeping God's Sabbath. This is not even talking about the scriptures in the NEW Testament in relation to the NEW Covenant and the role of God's 10 Commandments of which God's Sabbath is the 4th Commandment.
Most of your post is instruction from the law of Moses.
Well that is not true I have posted God's 4th commandment from Exodus 20:8-11 and the origin of the 4th Commandment from creation (a total of 7 scriptures). There is a total of around 60+ scriptures posted from the NEW Testament in regards to the 4th Commandment Sabbath.
Example: If you believe the Church is to attend a synagogue on the Sabbath, then please quote some verses where Paul instructs the Churches to attend a synagogue on the Sabbath. If the Church is commanded to attend a synagogue on the Sabbath, I know everyone here would want to obey that command from the Lord. If you have some important things to add to the Church about the Sabbath, such as attending a synagogue, please quote the Chapter and verse from the New Testament, that teaches this.
There is no specific requirement to have to attend Church on the Sabbath another words if you do not go to Church on the Sabbath you are not breaking God's 4th commandment if you are keeping God's Sabbath at home or in nature
Breaking God's 4th Commandment comes about by not keeping the SEVENTH day as a HOLY DAY dedicated to God and carrying out uneccessary work and bussiness activities as well as buying and selling (business) and not REMEMBERING the 4th Commandment as a day of rest. (Exodus 20:8-11).
You are free to spend time at home or in nature or at Church. It is lawful to help others and do good. Jesus and the Apostles are examples as to what can be done on God's Sabbath all through the NT. They kept the Sabbath with both Jews and Gentiles believers. They went to Church, spent time outdoors. The Sabbath is made for man as Jesus says and not man for the Sabbath.
(Matt 12:1-8; 10-12; 24:20; Mark 3:1-5; Luke 6:1-10; 13:14-16; 14:1-5; John 7:22-23; 9:14; Mark 1:21; Mark 6:2; Luke 4:16; 31; Luke 14:1; 23:56; John 2:6; Matt 16:24; Acts 13:14; 13:27; 13:44; 15:21; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4; Rev 1:10)
Paul says if you do not BELIEVE and FOLLOW God's WORD you will never enter into God's Sabbath rest (Hebrews chapters 3-4)
If you have any other things about the Sabbath, that we need to know, such as limited travel, special foods, or anything else, please point us to those New Testament verses, so we can comply. I would honestly like to study any scriptures from the New Testament that instruct or direct or command us how to observe the Sabbath under the guidelines of the New Covenant.
The instrutions are very simple as shown in the scriptures already above. You have the Sabbath Commandment for instruction. It is the 4th Commandment of the 10 Commandments building on this Jesus came to teach he is the creator and maker of the Sabbath. He made the Sabbath for ALL mankind and we are to REMEMBER it and KEEP IT AS A HOLY DAY of REST dedicated to GOD because it is the "LORDS DAY". Very simple requirements not to be burdened with man made traditions, enjoy the day of delight that God has made for you and set aside for you. You are welcome to do good on the Sabbath but if you disregard or break it you commit SIN because Gods' Sabbath is the 4th Commandment of the 10 commandments.
Paul was the main apostle, who was sent by Jesus Christ to preach, and teach as well as instruct the Gentiles in the way of God’s Kingdom. I find nothing from him as to how the Church is to observe the Sabbath.
It is very clear if you study the NEW Testament that Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13). Yet we see Paul keeping the Sabbath with both Jews and Gentiles all through the NT (
Acts 13:14; 13:27; 13:44; 15:21; 16:13; 17:2).
Paul taught the NEW Covenant teachings from the OLD Testament in relation to Jeremaiah 31:31-36 in Hebrews 8 and 10, following Jesus insructions of Matthew 22:36-40 and that is God's LAW (10 Commandments) written on the heart of the BELIEVER to LOVE and that LOVE to GOD and our fellow MAN is the fullfilling (doing of God's LAW) in those who BELIEVE God's WORD (Romans 13:8-10)
This was also taught by James, Peter and John. This is what it means to be Born again. If we are not born again we cannot love another as Jesus first LOVED us. It is only as we have LOVE to GOD that we can follow him and LOVE our neighbor as ourselves. LOVE is the NEW COVEANANT in those who BELIEVE Gods' WORD. IT is the GIFT of God through GRACE in those who BELIEVE.
Paul further taught however if anyone does not BELIEVE and FOLLOW God's WORD that they cannot enter God's Sabbath rest in Hebrews chapters 3 and 4.
As outlined above read Exodus 20:8-11. We are in the NEW Covnenant to LOVE God and our fellow man. If you do not LOVE you have not been born again and cannot FOLLOW God when he bids you come because you do not LOVE him. LOVE is the fulfilling of God's LAW in those who BELIEVE God's WORD to be FREE from SIN.
Nothing about commanding the Church to attend a synagogue, or restricting travel, or commands to not gather sticks to build a fire... In order to have a Bible Study, we first have to have pertanent scriptures that pertain to this subject, in order to study and discuss.
There is no such scriptures that you have to attend church or restricting travel. Preparation is to be done of course for keeping the Sabbath free of unneccesary work (already known through instruction in the OT so no need to repeat it again in the NT). God says not to forsake the asspembling of yourselves together (Heb 10:25); Jesus and the Apostles all kept God's Sabbath with both Jews and Gentile believers. They attended the churches of the day and spent time in nature and did good to others, spent time in prayer and bible study and dedicated the SEVENTH day as a HOLY day of worship to God where NO work was to be done. This was the day that the LORD had made they rejoiced and were glad in it
(Matt 12:1-8; 10-12; 24:20; Mark 3:1-5; Luke 6:1-10; 13:14-16; 14:1-5; John 7:22-23; 9:14; Mark 1:21; Mark 6:2; Luke 4:16; 31; Luke 14:1; 23:56; John 2:6; Matt 16:24; Acts 13:14; 13:27; 13:44; 15:21; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4; Rev 1:10)
There is no use in quoting Old Testament scriptures that pertain to the Sabbath since the law of Moses commanded death, to those who so much as gathered sticks to kindle a fire on the Sabbath.JPT
We are not to work on God's Sabbath if you break God's 4th Commandment just like any of God's 10 Commandments you are guilty of committing SIN and if you continue in a life of KNOWN unrepentant SIN you will lose your salvation and be lost because the wages of SIN is death to those who reject the GIFT of God's dear son (Romans 6:23). As you can see above most of the scriptures used in this post are NT scriptures not OT scriptures. This being said as outlined earlier you CANNOT disregard the OT scriptures because everything in the NT comes from the OT scriptures and together the OT and NT make up the WORD of God which we are to live by (Matt 4:4)
SIN is the breaking of God's Commandments (Romans 7:7; 1 John 3:4; James 2:9-11). ALL who CONTINUE in KNOWN UNREPENTANT SIN WILL NOT Enter into the KINGDOM of HEAVEN.
.................
God's 4th commandment is one of the ten (Exodus 20:8-11) If we knowingly break it when God asks us not to we stand guilty before God of committing sin (James 2:8-12). If we do not seek him in repentance and forgiveness we are in danger of the Judgement (Hebrews 10:26-27)
Sunday worship is a tradition and teaching of man that has lead many to break the commandments of God. Jesus says that if we follow the traditions of man that break the commandments of God we are not following God (Matthew 15:3-9)
There is not one scripture in all of God's Word that says that God's 4th Commandment is now ABOLISHED and we are now commanded to KEEP Sunday as a Holy day.
Who should we follow the teachings and traditions of men or the Word of God? Who should we believe the Words of men or the Word of God?
In times of ignorance God winks at but now ,<when a KNOWLEDGE of the truth has come> calls all men everywhere to REPENT (FOLLOW) (Acts 17:30-31).