The Arguments

This page contains a number of crucial arguments in the Sabbath/Sunday debate. Each of the points comes with links to other pages on the site, which are intended to support or further develop that point. So, you can use this page as a guide to much of the documentation on this site, by following the logical flow of any argument you desire, and clicking on the links for further development or support of points of interest. You can always return to this page, no matter how deeply embedded in other pages you are, by clicking on "The Arguments" link at the bottom of the browser window.

In order to make the logical flow of each argument clear, we will adopt the convention of placing each argument into "English Standard Form". In this form, the premises of the argument are listed on numbered lines. Following the list of premises will appear a single, horizontal line, and following that line will be the conclusion on a final numbered line. In this form, the points intended to support the conclusion are made apparent, and the horizontal line signifies "therefore". A brief glance at the following template will make English Standard Form clear:

In this form you can clearly see that premises 1, 2, and 3 are intended to supply grounds of support for the conclusion of line 4. The horizontal line acts similarly to an addition of a summed column of figures: "Add these premises together, and you will get the conclusion".

There will be many, many support and development links on this page, correlating with each premise of each argument. So, in the interest of space-conservation, the links will not be "spelled out" in text. Instead, each large number, like this: 1, will denote a link to another page supporting or developing the point in question. Just click on the numbered links, and related pages will be brought into this reading pane.

In harmony with points made in the Introduction to this site, there are three main themes of argumentation. We will, therefore, divide the argumentative hierarchy along those boundaries: Abrogation, Transference, and Permanence of the Sabbath. Of course, we will be arguing against the abrogation and transference of the Sabbath, and we will be arguing in favor of the permanence of the Sabbath.

Abrogation of the Sabbath:

1) The Sabbath Commandment was not intended by God only for the Jews. 1

2) The Sabbath is to act as a perpetual sign between God and His people throughout time. 1

3) The Sabbath will be kept in Heaven and in the New Earth. 1

4) Christ kept the Sabbath. 1, 2

5) Christ's Apostles kept the Sabbath. 1, 2

6) Early Christians kept the Sabbath. 1, 2, 3

7) If Christ, His Apostles, and early Christians all kept the Sabbath, then God did not signify His intention to abrogate the Sabbath. 1

8) "The Law" in Scripture actually refers to three different laws; textual context must indicate to which is being referred. 1, 2

9) Christ did not come to "abolish" the Sabbath. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

10) The Sabbath was not "nailed to the cross". 1, 2, 3, 4

11) God's grace does not relieve a Christian of the duty to obey God's Moral Law. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

12) Sabbath-keeping is not "legalism"; it is not a denial of grace. 1, 2, 3, 4

13) The Sabbath Commandment is actually mentioned repeatedly in the New Testament. 1, 2

14) If the Sabbath was not "nailed to the cross," and if Christians still must obey God, and if Law-keeping, particularly Sabbath-keeping, is not "legalism," then God still does expect His people to obey His entire Moral Law, including the Sabbath Commandment. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

15) We know that the seventh-day Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment has been and remains Saturday. 1

16) The seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment has not been abrogated.

Transference of the Sabbath:

1) The Sabbath Commandment was not intended by God only for the Jews. 1

2) The Sabbath is to act as a perpetual sign between God and His people throughout time. 1

3) The Sabbath will be kept in Heaven and in the New Earth. 1

4) Christ kept the Sabbath. 1, 2

5) Christ's Apostles kept the Sabbath. 1, 2

6) Early Christians kept the Sabbath. 1, 2, 3

7) There is no Scriptural evidence to suggest that Sabbath-solemnity was ever transferred to Sunday. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

8) The earliest extra-Scriptural documents are obscure and do not indicate widespread Christian Sunday-keeping. 1, 2

9) The change from widespread Christian Sabbath-keeping to widespread Christian Sunday-keeping was motivated exclusively by factors other than appropriate commands by Christ or even indications of such by the Apostles. 1, 2, 3, 4

10) The Roman Catholic Church claims responsibility for changing widespread Sabbath-keeping into widespread Sunday-keeping, and extra-Scriptural documents support their claim. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

11) If the above premises are all true, then God has never expressed His intention that Sabbath-solemnity be transferred to Sunday-solemnity.

12) Only God has the power to change His own laws; in Scripture, one of the marks of the Satanic beast of Revelation 13 is that it had the audacity to propose changes in God's laws! 1

13) If God didn't change His Sabbath Commandment, and only He has the authority to change it, then the solemnity of the Sabbath has not been transferred to any other day, particularly to Sunday.

Permanence of the Sabbath:

1) The Sabbath Commandment was not intended by God only for the Jews. 1

2) The Sabbath is to act as a perpetual sign between God and His people throughout time. 1

3) The Sabbath will be kept in Heaven and in the New Earth. 1

4) Christ kept the Sabbath. 1, 2

5) Christ's Apostles kept the Sabbath. 1, 2

6) Early Christians kept the Sabbath. 1, 2, 3

7) God's grace does not relieve a Christian of the duty to obey God's Moral Law. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

9) Sabbath-keeping is not "legalism"; it is not a denial of grace. 1, 2, 3, 4

10) The Sabbath Commandment is actually mentioned repeatedly in the New Testament. 1, 2

11) If the Sabbath was not "nailed to the cross," and if Christians still must obey God, and if Law-keeping, particularly Sabbath-keeping, is not "legalism," then God still does expect His people to obey His entire Moral Law, including the Sabbath Commandment. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

12) We know that the seventh-day Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment has been, and remains, Saturday. 1

13) The seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment remains one of God's eternal moral expectations.