The substitution of the Sabbath

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Yet in the II century, Sunday was kept on the place of the Sabbath by the Christians of Alexandria. This local apostasy was evidently derived from Gnosticism, a theological and philosophical system which had been established over there. But it did not take long for this defection to spread its roots throughout other places, in such a way that yet in the 3^rd century, both days were already kept in many places. Sunday, however, was prevailing over the Sabbath, until overcoming it completely.

The pagans of the roman empire kept the current Sunday, the first week-day, which they honored as “dies solis” (the Sun day). Such practice was accepted by Gnosticism, then passing to the church in Alexandria, as we have just mentioned. And in the 4^th century, great part of Christianity already kept the Sun-day of pagans as being the LORD’s day.

Constantine Magnus, a pagan emperor, saw that the line between Christianity and Paganism was dissipating more and more… He saw that, with a little effort, he could gain the support not only from his pagan subjects, but also from the Christians. However, it was necessary that both beliefs approached even more, as the fusion between Christianity and Paganism was not complete yet. There were many faithful Christians who insisted on keeping the ALMIGHTY’s true resting day, the Sabbath, which is the forth commandment of GOD’s original law, and rejected, as a fruit of paganism, the observance of the first week day, Sunday, the Sun day. Aiming to safeguard the supposed holiness of the first week day and favor the approach of both classes, on March 7^th 321 A.D., Constantine proclaimed the following decree:

“May all the judges, and all the citizens, and all the traders and craftsmen rest on the venerable Sun-day. However, may the farmhands have total freedom for cultivation in the fields, since it often happens that no other day is so suitable for sowing the seeds or planting the vine; that’s why one shall not let pass the favorable time granted by heaven”.

This law was willingly accepted by the leaders of the church in Rome, since the evil was making its efforts to attack mainly the headquarters of Christianity, thus causing the first day of the week to be more and more exalted in detriment of the LORD’s Sabbath. “In almost all councils, the Sabbath which had been established by GOD, was reduced more and more, while Sunday was exalted in the same proportion. So it happened that the pagan festivity was finally honored as a divine institution, at the same time that the biblical Sabbath was declared to be a relic of Judaism, thus causing its observers to be cursed”.

This was one of the strategies used by the church to conciliate paganism with Christianity, obedient to Emperor Constantine. In 313, Constantine himself, for obtaining more support from the Christians, formally converted to Christianity, and his pagan subjects did not take long to follow his example. Paganism was inserted into the church of Christ with all its beliefs and abominable practice.

But there were still many faithful Christians who did not let contaminate by the reigning apostasy. They kept the Sabbath and rejected the observance of the Sun day. Therefore, in 364 A. D., the Council of Laodicea decided to promulgate the following edict:

“The Christians shall not rest on the Sabbath, but work on this day. However, they shall honor the Sunday in a special way, like Christians. But if they are found resting on the Sabbath, let them be excommunicated (cursed) by Christ”.

GOD said: “Remember to sanctify the Sabbath day” (Exodus c.20 v.8). But men said: “No! Do not do it! Keep the Sun day, the first day of the week!” The protestants unawares inherited the observance of Sunday from the roman church, which by its turn inherited from the paganism.

And what did Christ say about the value of tradition substituting the commandments of GOD? “And why do you break the commandment of GOD for the sake of your tradition? …In vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines” (Matthew c.15 v.3-9). Christ said that “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished”. Reassuring the duty to fulfill, without the smallest omission, all the commandments of the law, the Savior added: “Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew c.5 v.18-19).

Whoever spreads this message will be gifted with heavenly blessings.