The Sabbath: Paul's True Position

We expose false doctrine , reveal fulfilled prophecy and shine light on the demonic deception of these last days , but we also stand firm on the hope of Christ's return , the call to holiness and the urgency of true salvation . It's time to renew your mind , for the time is now . Let's go , boys .

Hey , welcome to Renewed Mindsets . I'm Rick and I'm so glad you're here . Today is a continuation of episode number 74 about the Sabbath , a part of it that has sparked a whole lot of debate among believers . What did Paul really say about the Sabbath among believers ? What did Paul really say about the Sabbath ?

Now , for a lot of people , paul's writings on sacred days , including the Sabbath , have been misunderstood , meaning that he dismissed the practice altogether . But is that really the case , or was Paul addressing something much deeper , something that had more to do with false teachings and legalistic distortions , rather than the Sabbath itself ?

Well , today we'll break down Paul's own words in Colossians 2 , galatians 4 , and Romans 14 to uncover his true stance on the Sabbath . Was Paul opposed to Sabbath-keeping or was he defending it against perversions that crept into the early church ? Well , let's find out .

So first let's start with Colossians , chapter 2 , 16 through 23 . It's a passage that's often cited to argue that Paul rejected the observance of the Sabbath and other holy days . However , if you look at it closely , it reveals that Paul wasn't condemning the Sabbath itself , but rather the way false teachers were imposing strict regulations regarding its observance .

Now , these teachers ? They likely influenced by asceticism and pagan beliefs . They weren't simply advocating for Sabbath-keeping , they were enforcing a rigid , superstitious approach to religious observance , one that emphasized excessive fasting , self-denial and submission to cosmic powers rather than true worship to God .

Paul warns the Colossians not to let anyone pass judgment on them regarding food and drink or the observance of sacred days , but he isn't telling them to abandon these practices . He's cautioning them against allowing human regulations to distort God's commandments .

The real issue at hand was not whether to observe the Sabbath , but how it was being observed under the influence of false teachers . Paul makes it clear that these regulations , such as do not handle , do not taste , do not touch , were human-imposed restrictions that burden believers unnecessarily .

He describes them as a mere shadow of the true faith and he indicates that these distortions of these traditions should not be imposed as requirements for salvation .

Another commonly misunderstood passage is Galatians 4.10 , where Paul warns against returning to the days and months and seasons and years . Now some interpret this as a condemnation of the Sabbath and other biblical festivals . But a closer examination reveals a different picture . Now , in context , paul is rebuking the Galatians for returning to their former pagan practices .

It involved the veneration of astral deities and cosmic forces . Now , many ancient cultures believed that celestial bodies controlled the destiny of humans and they observed special days based on these superstitions . Paul equates this return to observing days based on fear and superstition as a form of enslavement to elemental spirits .

So does Galatians 4.10 condemn the Sabbath ? No , the issue Paul addresses here is not biblical Sabbath-keeping , but rather a return to pagan customs . Paul wasn't warning against God's appointed times , but against legalistic and superstitious observances that had nothing to do with biblical faith .

Now , romans 14 is another passage that's frequently cited to argue that Paul dismissed the importance of the Sabbath . In verse 5 , paul says One person esteems one day above another , another esteems every day alike . Let each be fully convinced in his own mind . Now a lot of people take this to mean that the Sabbath is merely a matter of personal preference .

But is that what Paul meant ? The context of Romans 14 is about disputes over diet and personal convictions , specifically regarding fasting . The passage discusses those who abstain from certain foods and those who eat freely , the Didache , an early Christian document .

It confirms that early believers fasted on different days , with some choosing Wednesdays and Fridays , while others followed different traditions . Now , paul's point in Romans 14 is that believers should not judge one another over those personal convictions . He encourages them to act in a way that honors God without imposing their convictions on others .

The issue at hand was not about the weekly Sabbath , but about fasting practices and other personal preferences . Now , along the lines of that , if the weak believers in Romans 14 were those who observed the Sabbath , then Paul , who himself observed the Sabbath and the Jewish festivals , would have had to consider himself weak .

However , in Romans 15.1 , paul identifies as one of the strong further providing that Sabbath-keeping was not what he was addressing in Romans 15.1

, paul identifies as one of the strong further providing that Sabbath keeping was not what he was addressing in the passage . Now let's get to some meat . No-transcript .

Now , if Paul had been teaching that the Sabbath was abolished and that Christians should observe Sunday instead , there would have been a big , significant controversy , much like the debates over circumcision in Acts 21-21 . But the New Testament contains no such controversy . In fact , nowhere does Paul argue for replacing the Sabbath with Sunday .

The idea that Paul dismissed the Sabbath and instituted Sunday worship is simply not supported by Scripture . Instead , he was concerned with the way false teachers had twisted Sabbath observance into a burdensome legalistic practice that emphasized human regulations rather than God's intent

. Paul's concern was never with legitimacy of the Sabbath-keeping , but with the distortion of it by false teachers . He never tells believers to abandon the Sabbath . Instead , he warns them against unnecessary regulations that pervert its observance .

His message is clear Believers should not pass judgment on one another regarding these practices , nor should they impose human-made restrictions that corrupt God's intent for worship . The absence of any direct opposition to the Sabbath in Paul's writing it suggests that he respected the institution rather than rejecting it .

Now , rather than condemning biblical festivals , paul rejects ascetic , legalistic interpretations that undermine the core principle of justification by faith in Christ . He emphasizes that our relationship with God is based on faith and grace , not a rigid adherence to human traditions .

So what did Paul really say about the Sabbath ? He affirmed its validity while warning against its misuse . He defended the freedom of believers to observe it without submitting to false teachings and legalistic burdens . As followers of Christ , we should seek to understand God's commandments in the light of His grace , avoiding both extremes of legalism and neglect .

The Sabbath is a gift . It's a time of rest and worship and renewal in God's presence .

Thank you for joining me in today's episode of Renewed Mindsets . If you found this discussion helpful , be sure to subscribe and share it with others . This discussion helpful . Be sure to subscribe and share it with others . This is the first of a few shows on the commandments .

We need to be observing all of them fully , to do as God said , to be holy , as I am holy , especially in these end times . Look for them in an upcoming episode and , as always , let's continue renewing our minds with the truth of God's Word . Are you ready to stand ?

That's all for today , but I'll be back with more unfiltered biblical truth and undeniable prophecy . The time to wake up is now . If today's episode challenged you , don't keep it to yourself . Tell someone . Please . Text them a link . Share the truth while there's still time .

Visit renewedmindsetscom to stay connected and to listen to past episodes , and check out our merch at renewedmindsetsstore . Jesus is coming soon . Stay watchful , stay holy , stay renewed Until next week . I'm Rick , be an encourager , not a discourager . I love you . See ya . The intro and outro music for the Renewed Mindsets podcast is Are you Ready ?

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