Does Luke 23:56 Require Sabbath‑Keeping?

Seventh‑day Adventist apologists love to use Luke 23:56 as a proof‑text: “Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath, they rested according to the commandment.”

From this, they build two main claims:

1. Historical Continuity Argument: Since the women rested on the Sabbath right after Jesus’ death, SDA apologists say this proves the Sabbath law wasn’t canceled or “nailed to the cross.” If it had been, they argue, the women would’ve gone ahead with embalming instead of stopping their work.

2. Editorial Endorsement Argument: Luke wrote his Gospel decades later (around AD 60–63). By adding the phrase “according to the commandment” without any disclaimer, SDA scholars claim Luke himself and the Gentile church of his time still saw Sabbath‑keeping as binding for Christians.

The Problem with the SDA Reading

When you dig into the text with historico‑grammatical tools, Koine Greek syntax, and the bigger biblical storyline, these arguments collapse. They rely on:

• Logical fallacies (assuming continuity proves obligation)

• Grammatical over‑reading (stretching Luke’s phrase beyond its intent)

• Ignoring redemptive history (missing the transition from Old Covenant shadows to New Covenant fulfillment in Christ)

Bottom line: Luke 23:56 is a narrative detail, not a theological endorsement. The women acted out of devotion and tradition, but that doesn’t mean the Sabbath law remained binding after the cross.

Chronological Harmonization with Mark 16:1

When you line up Luke and Mark, the timeline of the women’s actions becomes crystal clear:

• Luke 23:54–56a: The women watched Jesus’ burial late on Friday (Day of Preparation), went home, and quickly prepared whatever spices they had before sundown.

• Luke 23:56b: Once the Sabbath began at dusk, they stopped working and rested, following Mosaic Law.

• Mark 16:1: After the Sabbath ended Saturday night, “they bought spices” from merchants. Mark’s Greek phrasing shows this happened only after the Sabbath was over.

So here’s the flow: burial → quick prep before sundown → Sabbath rest → buying more spices Saturday night → heading to the tomb at dawn Sunday.

The Key Point: The women weren’t following some “new Christian Sabbath rule.” They were simply acting within the normal framework of first‑century Jewish law and marketplace restrictions in Jerusalem. Their actions reflect devotion and cultural practice, not a binding New Covenant command.

Luke’s Audience and Editorial Purpose

Luke wrote his Gospel for a Gentile reader, “most excellent Theophilus” (Luke 1:3), and by extension, for a wider non‑Jewish audience across the Greco‑Roman world. Unlike Jewish readers, Gentiles didn’t really know the details of Sabbath boundaries, civil rules, or burial customs. Even though Adventist scholars recognize this, the Andrews Study Bible points out that Luke uses Roman dating and often explains Jewish customs and geography so Gentile readers can follow along.

"Luke wrote for a Gentile audience, primarily 'most excellent Theophilus' (Luke 1:3)... Luke often explains Jewish geographical terms, customs, and religious practices that would not be familiar to non-Jewish readers throughout the Roman world. . . Luke anchors his narrative within contemporary Roman history and uses official Roman dating methods, such as citing the reign of Tiberius Caesar and local governors (e.g., Luke 2:1–2; 3:1–2)..." (Andrews Study Bible: Light. Depth. Truth, pp. 1323-24)

Because Gentiles might wonder why the women suddenly stopped preparing Jesus’ body overnight, Luke adds the phrase κατὰ τὴν ἐντολήν (“according to the commandment”) to explain that they paused out of respect for Mosaic Law. That line isn’t a command for Christians; it’s Luke’s way of helping outsiders understand the cultural reason behind the disciples’ actions.

Turning Luke’s explanatory note for Gentiles into a universal church rule misses the point of audience analysis and breaks the basic principles of historico‑grammatical hermeneutics. Luke wasn’t legislating Sabbath observance; he was clarifying context for readers who didn’t share a Jewish background.

Spotting Logical Fallacies in Sabbatarian Arguments

When you look at how Sabbatarian writers handle Luke 23:56, you’ll notice they lean heavily on classic informal fallacies. Their reasoning often sounds persuasive at first glance, but underneath it’s built on faulty logic, the kind that twists context or draws conclusions that don’t actually follow from the text.

In short, much of the debate around this verse depends on logical missteps rather than solid exegesis.

Breaking Down Informal Fallacies

Descriptive‑to‑Prescriptive Fallacy

One of the basic rules of biblical interpretation is that you shouldn’t turn a story into a command unless the Epistles clearly teach it as doctrine. Luke often records what early believers did without saying those actions are binding for everyone, like selling all their property to share funds (Acts 2:44–45), taking Nazirite vows (Acts 21:23–26), or circumcising co‑workers (Acts 16:3). These are historical details, not universal rules. So claiming that the women’s Sabbath rest in Luke 23:56 creates a moral command for all Christians is a category mistake, confusing description with prescription.

Anachronistic Fallacy of Legal Terminology

When Luke, writing decades after the resurrection, says the women rested “according to the commandment,” he’s just describing what was legally required back then. Think of it like a modern historian saying, “In 1850, Southern planters held slaves according to the law.” That doesn’t mean the historian supports slavery or that those laws still apply; it simply explains the legal setting of that time. Likewise, Luke’s phrase reflects the legal framework in Jerusalem when Jesus was in the tomb, not a continuing rule for the Church.

The Disciples’ Redemptive Transition

Building New Covenant doctrine on what the disciples did during Jesus’ burial weekend misses the point: they were scared, confused, and spiritually immature at that moment in history. The Gospels show that:

• They didn’t understand Scripture — they hadn’t yet grasped that the Old Testament predicted Jesus would rise from the dead (John 20:9).

• They were paralyzed by fear — hiding behind locked doors, grieving, and convinced everything had fallen apart (Mark 16:10; Luke 24:21; John 20:19).

• They doubted eyewitnesses — refusing to believe the first reports of the resurrection until Jesus Himself rebuked them for their unbelief (Mark 16:11–14; Luke 24:11; John 20:25).

The shift from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant happened objectively at the cross, when the temple veil was torn (Luke 23:45; Hebrews 9:11–15). But the disciples’ understanding of that shift grew slowly. Even years later, Peter still struggled with Old Covenant habits, refusing to eat non‑kosher food until God corrected him through a vision (Acts 10:13–15).

So when the women rested on Saturday, they were still thinking within the old system, before the resurrection and before the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost (Acts 2). Using their pre‑resurrection actions as the basis for New Covenant doctrine is a theological misstep; it confuses a moment of transition with a permanent rule.

The Redemptive Irony of the Grave

Sabbatarian writers often praise the women who followed Jesus for choosing Sabbath rest over tending to His body. But when you look closer, there’s a deep redemptive irony in that moment.

While the women were faithfully keeping the Mosaic command, the Lord of the Sabbath Himself (Luke 6:5) was lying dead in a sealed tomb. Their Sabbath was marked by grief, darkness, and separation, not joy or victory. In trying to honor the law, they actually distanced themselves from the physical presence of the Savior.

That seventh‑day Sabbath in Luke 23:56 became the ultimate symbol of death and silence, the end of the Old Covenant’s power to give life. But everything changed on the first day of the week (Luke 24:1–12), when the empty tomb revealed Christ’s triumph over sin and death.

For New Covenant believers, worship isn’t tied to the day Jesus lay dead; it’s anchored in the day He rose. Christians live and celebrate in the light of resurrection life, not in the shadow of the grave.

The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15)

When the Gentile Christian movement started growing fast, the early Church gathered in Jerusalem to settle one big question: Which parts of the Mosaic Law still applied to Gentile believers? (Acts 15:1–29).

Peter didn’t mince words; he called the Mosaic Law “a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear” (Acts 15:10). Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the council issued a clear decree for Gentile Christians: avoid food offered to idols, blood, strangled meat, and sexual immorality (Acts 15:28–29).

Notice what’s missing? The seventh‑day Sabbath isn’t on the list at all. If Luke, who wrote both Luke and Acts, believed Sabbath‑keeping was mandatory for Gentiles, Acts 15 would contradict his own Gospel. But it doesn’t. The omission of the Sabbath shows Luke never intended Luke 23:56 to serve as a permanent rule for Gentile believers.

Pauline Legal Theology: Shadows vs Substance

Paul makes it crystal clear how Sabbath observance fits into New Covenant theology.

Colossians 2:16–17 — Paul says, “Don’t let anyone judge you about food, drink, festivals, new moons, or Sabbaths.” He explains these things were shadows pointing forward to Christ, but the substance, the real thing, is found in Him. In other words, the weekly Sabbath, along with ceremonial feasts and dietary laws, was symbolic and fulfilled in Jesus.

Galatians 3:23–25 — Paul describes the Mosaic Law as a guardian (Greek: paidagogos) that watched over people until Christ came. Now that faith has arrived, believers aren’t under that guardian anymore. The Law’s role was temporary; it led us to grace, not to lifelong supervision.

Romans 14:5 — Paul says, “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers all days alike.” Each believer should follow their own conviction. In a mixed church of Jews and Gentiles, Paul treats day‑keeping as a matter of personal conscience, not a universal command. That’s totally incompatible with the idea that Sabbath‑keeping is an unchangeable moral law.

Bottom Line: Paul’s theology draws a sharp line between shadows (temporary symbols under the Law) and substance (fulfilled reality in Christ). The Sabbath was a shadow; Jesus is the substance.

Apostolic Assembly on the First Day of the Week

Luke’s account in Acts shows how early Christians shifted their regular worship gatherings to Sunday, the first day of the week.

Acts 20:7 — “On the first day of the week, when we gathered to break bread, Paul spoke to them…” Here, Luke records a formal Christian worship service that included teaching and communion, clearly happening on Sunday, not Saturday.

1 Corinthians 16:2 — Paul tells the churches in Galatia and Corinth to set aside their offerings “on the first day of every week.” This shows that Sunday had become the standard day for Christian giving and worship.

Synagogue Evangelism vs. Christian Worship — When Luke mentions Paul visiting synagogues on the Sabbath (Acts 13:14; 17:2; 18:4), those weren’t Christian worship services. They were evangelistic visits; Paul was preaching Christ to Jews who gathered there. The New Testament never shows Gentile churches holding regular worship on the seventh day apart from those outreach moments.

Bottom Line: The early Church gathered for worship, teaching, communion, and giving on Sunday, the day of Christ’s resurrection, not on the Sabbath.

Three Tough Questions for the Sabbatarian Argument

These three cross‑checks expose the contradictions and shaky logic behind the Seventh‑day Adventist take on Luke 23:56.

#1. Pre‑Pentecost Consistency

If the women resting on the Sabbath in Luke 23:56 prove Christians must still keep it, then why don’t we also copy the disciples’ other pre‑resurrection habits, like offering animal sacrifices at the Temple (Luke 24:53; Acts 21:20‑26), or avoiding Gentiles (Gal. 2:11‑14)?

If defenders say those rituals ended at the cross, they admit the disciples’ actions right after Jesus’ death don’t define New Covenant theology. So picking the women’s Sabbath rest as binding while ignoring the rest is just a double standard.

#2. Luke’s Silence at the Jerusalem Council

Luke wrote both his Gospel and Acts for a Gentile reader named Theophilus. If Luke 23:56 was meant to tell Gentiles that Sabbath‑keeping is still mandatory, why does Acts 15 show the Apostles and the Holy Spirit freeing Gentile converts from Mosaic Law with zero mention of the Sabbath?

If Sabbath observance were essential, Luke’s silence would be a huge editorial miss. Instead, it proves Luke saw the women’s rest as a historical detail, not a command for Gentile believers.

#3. The Redemptive Reality of the Sabbath

Paul says in Colossians 2:16‑17 that Sabbaths are a shadow pointing to Christ. So if the seventh‑day Sabbath were an eternal moral law, why did Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, spend that entire day dead and silent in a tomb, then rise on the first day to start the New Creation (Luke 24:1‑6)?

The Sabbatarian defense can’t explain that. Christ’s Sabbath rest in death marked the end of the Old Covenant; His resurrection launched the New. Now, Jesus Himself, not a 24‑hour cycle, is the true rest for the soul (Matt. 11:28; Heb. 4:9‑10).

Conclusion

When you dig into Luke 23:56 using solid exegesis and grammar, it’s clear this verse doesn’t prove that Christians are still required to keep the seventh‑day Sabbath.

• Exegesis: The Greek verb hēsychasan (“they rested”) and the phrase kata tēn entolēn (“according to the commandment”) simply describe what happened, explaining to non‑Jewish readers why Jesus’ followers paused their burial work.

• Hermeneutics: Turning that historical snapshot of confused, pre‑resurrection believers into a binding rule for the New Covenant Church is a classic descriptive‑to‑prescriptive mistake. It also ignores the huge redemptive shift that happened between the Cross and Pentecost.

Galatians 3:10 and the Curse of the Law: Why You Can’t Pick and Choose?

"But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” Galatians 3:10(NLT)


If you grew up in a Sabbatarian or Adventist setting, you’ve probably heard this line over and over: “The ceremonial law was nailed to the cross, but the moral law, the Ten Commandments, still binds us as our rule of life.”

Sounds neat and tidy, right? But once you crack open Galatians, Apostle Paul blows that artificial split to pieces.

So let’s dig into Galatians 3:10, unpack what Paul really meant by the “curse of the Law,” revisit a surprising chapter in Adventist history, and uncover the real freedom we’re given under the New Covenant.

The Historical Irony: Even Ellen G. White Had to Admit It

Back in the 1888 Minneapolis General Conference, the Adventist Church went through a full‑blown theological showdown. Uriah Smith and other leaders pushed the idea that the “law” in Galatians was only the ceremonial law. Why? Because if Paul meant the moral law, their whole Sabbath doctrine would collapse.

But E.J. Waggoner and A.T. Jones fired back, arguing that Paul’s “law” included the moral law too. And here’s the twist: even Ellen G. White eventually had to concede. She wrote that the law in Galatians covers both ceremonial and moral, pointing out that the law which drives us to Christ includes commands like “Thou shalt not covet.”

Why does this matter? Because if Adventist history itself admits that the moral law is wrapped up in Paul’s argument, then you can’t just carve out the Ten Commandments from Galatians 3:10.

All or Nothing: The Law’s Total Demand

Check out Paul’s words in Galatians 3:10:

“Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things written in the book of the law, to do them.”

Paul is quoting Deuteronomy 27:26, and he stresses two key words: continue and all.

• Continue → nonstop, lifelong, 24/7 obedience.

• All → every single detail. Not 9 out of 10. Not 90%. It’s 100% or nothing.

Here’s the blunt truth: the Law is one package deal. You can’t cherry‑pick the parts you like (Sabbath, dietary law, tithing, etc.) and ignore the rest.

If you choose the Law, whether moral or ceremonial, as your standard for righteousness before God, then you’re bound to keep every single command perfectly. Has anyone ever kept the Ten Commandments flawlessly in thought, word, and deed every second of their life? Not one.

That’s why Paul says: if you put yourself under the Law, you don’t get partial blessing; you fall under its full curse.

What Does “Schoolmaster” (Paidagōgos) Really Mean?

In Galatians 3:24, Paul says the Law was our “schoolmaster” or “tutor.” A lot of people take that to mean, “Oh, so the Ten Commandments are our daily teacher, showing us how to live!”

But that’s not what Paul meant. The Greek word he used, paidagōgos, had a very specific meaning in ancient culture.

A paidagōgos wasn’t the classroom teacher or principal. It was a strict household servant, basically a tough guardian or “babysitter.” Their job was to:

• Keep the child in line and disciplined.

• Escort the child safely to the real teacher.

• Watch over the child until they mature.

Once the child grew up and reached the teacher, the guardian’s job was done. The child was free.

That’s exactly Paul’s point in Galatians 3:25: “After faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”

The Sinai Covenant, with all its moral and ceremonial rules, acted like a temporary guardian for Israel. Its purpose was to expose sin, humble us, and lead us straight to Jesus. But once faith in Christ came, the guardian’s season ended.

Does “No Longer Under the Law” Mean We Can Sin?

Every time you talk about freedom in Christ, someone always asks, “Wait, if we’re no longer under the Ten Commandments, does that mean we can lie, steal, or commit adultery?”

Of course not! That’s one of the biggest misunderstandings about New Covenant theology.

Think of it like growing up: When you were a kid, your nanny would yell, “Don’t cross the street or you’ll get hit by a car!” You obeyed because you were scared and needed strict rules.

But when you become an adult, you don’t need someone shouting behind you anymore. Does that mean you’ll just run into traffic? No, you’ve matured. You understand the danger and act wisely.

That’s how it works under the New Covenant. Christ didn’t just free us halfway; He completely redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us (Galatians 3:13).

We don’t avoid sin today because we fear thunder and lightning from Mount Sinai. We obey because the Holy Spirit lives in us. God’s Law is now written on our hearts (Hebrews 8:10).

"But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the LORD.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already. And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear." Hebrews 8:10-13(NLT)

And under the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2), the standard is actually higher:

• Old Covenant (Letter): Don’t murder.

• New Covenant (Heart): Don’t even hate.

Our obedience isn’t driven by fear; it’s powered by love and gratitude for what Jesus already finished. We don’t look to stone tablets for identity or salvation; we look to the living Christ Himself.

Call to Action: Step Out of Legalism

Stop letting legalistic systems trap you in a “pick‑and‑choose” relationship with the Law. The Law is holy and good, but it was never meant to save you. Its real job was to show you how much you need a Savior.

If you’re still relying on rule‑keeping, Sabbath observance, or your own moral effort to stay right with God, you’re carrying a burden you were never meant to bear.

It’s time to step out from under that old guardian and rest fully in Jesus Christ. He took the full curse of your law‑breaking so you could receive the full blessing of Abraham, by faith, not by works.

So walk in that freedom today. Stop striving. Start resting. Christ has already finished the work.

“Christ Carried the Curse, You Carry the Blessing”

Debate: Sabado Ba O si Cristo?

Q1: "Sabi ni SDA Bible Facts, magkaiba daw ang anapauō (Matthew 11:28) at sabbaton (Sabbath). Since anapauō ang ginamit ni Jesus, 'spiritual rest' lang daw ito mula sa kasalanan at hindi typological fulfillment ng Sabbath. Tama ba ang Greek exegesis niya?"

A: Mali. Ito ay isang classic case ng Root Fallacy at Selective Lexical Isolation. Hindi mo puwedeng i-isolate ang isang salita sa kaniyang New Covenant Old Testament (LXX) background.

Sa Septuagint (LXX), ang Greek translation ng Old Testament na ginamit ni Jesus at ng mga Apostol ang verb na ἀναπαύω (anapauō) at ang noun na ἀνάπαυσις (anapausis) ay ang exact formal Greek equivalents na ginamit para i-translate ang Hebrew Sabbath concepts:

Exodus 20:11 (LXX): kai katepausen / anepausato tē hēmera tē hebdomē (At siya ay nagpahinga sa ikapitong araw).

Exodus 31:15 (LXX): Ang Sabbath ay tinawag na "sabbata anapausis hagia tō kyriō" (Sabbath of holy rest to the Lord).

Kaya noong sinabi ni Jesus sa Matthew 11:28–29 na "I will give you rest (ἀναπαύσω)" at "you will find rest (ἀνάπαυσιν) for your souls," ginagamit Niya ang mismong prophetic imagery ng Isaiah 11:10 at Jeremiah 6:16. Ang Sabbath rest sa Lumang Tipan ay isang type (shadow), at si Cristo ang antitype (substance/reality).

Kung gagamitin natin ang lohika ng SDA Bible Facts na "dahil hindi 'sabbaton' ang salita, walang kinalaman sa Sabbath fulfillment," lalabas na ang Passover (Paskuwa) ay hindi rin inilalarawan si Cristo bilang Atoning Sacrifice! Bakit? Dahil sa 1 Corinthians 5:7, sinabi ni Paul: "For Christ, our Passover lamb (pascha), has been sacrificed." Pinalitan ba ni Cristo ang Literal Lamb? Yes! Siya ba ang Substance? Yes!

Halimbawa, may susi ka at isang kandado.

Parang ganito ang logic ni SDA Bible Facts: "Dahil hindi tinawag na 'kandado' ang susi, ibig sabihin, hindi iyan ang totoong kapares ng kandado."

Maling isipin 'yun, 'di ba? Kahit magkaiba ang pangalan at hugis nila, ginawa talaga ang susi para buksan ang kandado!

Ganyan din ang nangyari kay Jesus at sa Paskuwa (Passover):

1. Ang Lumang Larawan (Shadow): Noong araw, nag-aalay ang mga tao ng totoong tupa (lamb) tuwing Passover para mailigtas sila.
   
   
2. Ang Totoong Dumating (Substance): Nang dumating si Jesus, tinawag Siya ni Apostol Pablo na "Passover lamb" (1 Corinthians 5:7).

Kahit magkaiba ang salitang ginamit, tupa man o Jesus, si Jesus talaga ang dahilan kung bakit may Passover noong una. Si Jesus ang tumupad at pumatak sa role ng totoong Tupa! Kaya hindi dahil magkaiba ang salitang ginamit sa Greek, ay wala na silang kinalaman sa isa't isa. Si Jesus ang totoong laman at katuparan ng mga simbolo sa Biblia. Ang pagtangging si Cristo ang Substance ng Sabbath dahil lang sa word choice ay katulad ng pagsasabi na:

"Dahil ang kotse ay may gulong at ang bisikleta ay may gulong din, pero magkaiba ang spelling ng 'Car' at 'Bicycle', ang kotse ay walang kinalaman sa transportasyon."

Hindi ganun ang hermeneutics! Ang substance (Cristo) ang nagpapatotoo sa shadow (Colossians 2:16–17).

"Kaya nga, huwag na kayong padadala sa mga tao na nagsasabi sa inyo kung ano ang hindi dapat kainin o inumin, o kung ano ang dapat gawin tuwing kapistahan, Pista ng Pagsisimula ng Buwan, o Araw ng Pamamahinga. Anino lamang ang mga ito ng inaasahan noon na darating, at si Kristo ang katuparan nito." Mga Taga-Colosas 2:16-17 ASD

Q2: "Inargue niya na nangingilin naman daw si Jesus ng Sabbath sa Luke 4:16, at Siya ang 'Panginoon ng Sabbath' (Mark 2:28). Kung si Cristo ang fulfillment ng Sabbath, bakit Siya nangingilin noong nasa lupa Siya?"

A: Ang argumentong ito ay nagpapakita ng kawalan ng pag-unawa sa purpose kung bakit kailangang mangilin ng Sabbath si Jesus ayon sa Galatians 4:4.

"Ngunit nang dumating na ang takdang panahon, isinugo ng Diyos ang kanyang Anak sa mundo. Ipinanganak siya ng isang babae at namuhay sa ilalim ng Kautusan upang palayain ang mga nasa ilalim ng Kautusan, nang sa gayoʼy maging anak tayo ng Diyos." Mga Taga-Galacia 4:4-5 ASD

Sinabi sa Galatians 4:4, "Isinugo ng Diyos ang kanyang Anak sa mundo. Ipinanganak siya ng isang babae at namuhay sa ilalim ng Kautusan ." Ang tanong ngayon: namuhay ba at nangilin ng Sabbath si Jesus para maging modelo ng mga Sabadista, o para palayain sila mula sa ilalim ng kautusan? Ayon sa verse 5: “Upang palayain ang mga nasa ilalim ng Kautusan, nang sa gayoʼy maging anak tayo ng Diyos.”

Ibig sabihin, hindi nangilin si Jesus ng Sabbath para itali tayo sa kautusan, kundi para palayain tayo mula sa pagka‑alipin sa Kautusan, kasama na ang Sabbath‑keeping. Ang problema kay SDA “Bible Facts” ay binabaliktad niya ang salita ng Diyos imbes na sundin ang sinasabi talaga nito, kaya marami siyang nadadaya at kailangang ilantad.

Bakit kailangang palayain mula sa Sabbath observance ang mga Sabadista? Verse 5 mismo ang sagot: "Nang sa gayoʼy maging anak tayo ng Diyos."

Dahil nasa ilalim pa ng Kautusan ang mga Sabadista, hindi pa sila tunay na mga anak ng Diyos, kasi hindi pa nila nakikilala ang totoong misyon ni Jesus. Kaya para maging anak ng Diyos, kailangan nilang lumaya mula sa ilalim ng Kautusan at tumanggap ng freedom na dala ni Cristo.

Habang si Cristo ay nabubuhay noon sa lupa bago ang Kaniyang Krus at Muling Pagkabuhay, ang Lumang Tipan (Old Covenant) ay umiiral pa. Si Cristo ay kinakailangang tumupad sa lahat ng kahilingan ng Mosaikong Kautusan, kasama ang pagpapatuli (Luke 2:21), paghahain sa Templo, pagtupad sa mga Feasts, at pag-obserba ng Seventh-day Sabbath, upang maihanda ang Active Obedience na ibibilang sa atin sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya.

"Kung dahil sa pagsuway ng isang tao ay marami ang naging makasalanan, ganoon din naman, dahil sa pagsunod ng isang tao ay marami ang ituturing na matuwid." Mga Taga-Roma 5:19 ASD

The Lord of the Sabbath Argument:

Noong sinabi ni Jesus na Siya ang "Panginoon ng Sabbath" (Mark 2:28), hindi Niya pinagtitibay ang walang-hanggang pangingilin ng tao sa araw ng Sabbath. Sa halip, inihahayag Niya ang Kaniyang Divine Authority OVER the Sabbath. Ang May-ari ng bahay ang may karapatang magbago, mag-alis, o mag-fulfill ng patakaran sa bahay.

Ang argumento ni SDA Bible Facts ay isang Category Error. Katumbas ito ng pagsasabi na:

"Bakit nagpa-tuli si Jesus? Bakit Siya pumunta sa Templo? Bakit Siya kumain ng Passover Lamb? Di ba ibig sabihin kailangan din nating magpa-tuli sa ilalim ng Mosaikong kautusan, mag-alay ng tupa, at magpunta sa Templo sa Jerusalem hanggang ngayon?"

Mali! Tinupad ni Jesus ang Kautusan hindi para manatili tayo sa ilalim ng Old Covenant shadow, kundi para dalhin tayo sa New Covenant reality bilang mga anak ng Diyos.

Q3: "Paano naman 'yung Colossians 1:16? Sabi ni SDA Bible Facts: Si Cristo ang Creator ng Sabbath, kaya 'Creator of Sabbath' Siya at hindi Siya ang Sabbath mismo. Tama ba ito?"

A: Ito ay isang False Dilemma Fallacy (Either/Or Fallacy). Si Cristo ang Creator ng lahat ng bagay (Colossians 1:16). Siya ang Lumikha ng Passover Lamb, Siya rin ang Lumikha ng Tabernacle, Siya ang Lumikha ng High Priesthood, at Siya ang Lumikha ng Sabbath.

Nangangahulugan ba na dahil Siya ang Lumikha ng Passover Lamb ay hindi puwedeng baguhin niya ang kautusang ito upang maging "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29)? Of course not! Si Cristo ang parehong Creator of the Symbol at Substance of the Fulfillment.

Colossians 2:16–17 Exegesis:

Sa mismong sulat ni Paul sa Colossians (kung saan nanggaling ang Colossians 1:16 na ginamit ni SDA Bible Facts), tahasang sinabi sa Colossians 2:16–17:

...  (σκιά) 

"Kaya nga, huwag na kayong padadala sa mga tao na nagsasabi sa inyo kung ano ang hindi dapat kainin o inumin, o kung ano ang dapat gawin tuwing kapistahan, Pista ng Pagsisimula ng Buwan, o Araw ng Pamamahinga (Sabbaton). Anino (skia) lamang ang mga ito ng inaasahan noon na darating, at si Kristo ang katuparan (soma) nito." Mga Taga-Colosas 2:16-17 ASD

Ang Greek word na ginamit sa Colossians 2:16 para sa Sabbath ay σάββατον (sabbaton), ang mismong salitang ipinaglalaban ni SDA Bible Facts! Malinaw pa sa sikat ng araw: Ang weekly Sabbath ay tinawag ng Banal na Kasulatan na SHADOW, at si CRISTO ANG SUBSTANCE. Ang katangian ng anino (shadow) ay pansamantala lamang, hindi pangmatagalan, at hindi ang mismong katunayan o realidad, ayon sa Hebreo 10:1.

'Sapagka't ang kautusan na may isang anino ng mabubuting bagay na darating, hindi ang tunay na larawan ng mga bagay, kailan pa man ay di maaaring magpasakdal." Mga Hebreo 10:1 TLAB

Q4: "Binanggit din niya ang Isaiah 66:23. Prophecy daw na ipangingilin pa rin ang Seventh-day Sabbath sa langit at sa Bagong Lupa. Paano natin sasagutin ito gamit ang Historico-Grammatical Hermeneutics?"

A: Ang paggamit sa Isaiah 66:23 ay isang halimbawa ng Anachronistic Wooden Literalism (pagpilit ng Old Covenant imagery sa New Covenant / Eschatological reality).

Tingnan natin ang buong talata ng Isaiah 66:22-23:

"Sapagka't kung paanong ang mga bagong langit at ang bagong lupa, na aking lilikhain ay mananatili sa harap ko, sabi ng Panginoon, gayon mananatili ang inyong lahi, at ang inyong pangalan. At mangyayari, na mula sa bagong buwan hanggang sa panibago, at mula sa isang sabbath hanggang sa panibago, paroroon ang lahat na tao upang sumamba sa harap ko, sabi ng Panginoon." Isaias 66:22-23 TLAB

Kung gagamit tayo ng literalistic interpretation ng SDA:

• Kasama sa Isaiah 66:23 ang New Moon (Rosh Chodesh) festivals! Bakit hindi ipinangingilin ng Seventh-day Adventist ang New Moon Feast buwan-buwan kung literal pala itong dapat sundin sa Bagong Lupa?
  
  "At mangyayari, na mula sa bagong buwan hanggang sa panibago, at mula sa isang sabbath hanggang sa panibago, paroroon ang lahat na tao upang sumamba sa harap ko, sabi ng Panginoon." Isaias 66:23TLAB

• Sa Isaiah 66:21, sinabi rin na kukuha ang Diyos ng mga Levitical Priests. Nagha-hire pa ba ang Diyos ng Levitical Priests sa Bagong Lupa kung si Cristo na ang ating Eternal High Priest (Hebrews 7)?
  
  "At sa kanila rin naman ako kukuha ng mga pinakasaserdote at mga pinaka Levita, sabi ng Panginoon." Isaias 66:21TLAB

• Sa Isaiah 66:20, may binabanggit na mga kabayo, karwahe, at mga baka na pupunta sa literal na Mount Zion sa Jerusalem.
  
  "At kanilang dadalhin ang lahat ninyong mga kapatid mula sa lahat na bansa na pinakahandog sa Panginoon, na nasasakay sa mga kabayo, at sa mga karo, at sa mga duyan, at sa mga mula, at sa mga maliksing hayop, sa aking banal na bundok na Jerusalem, sabi ng Panginoon, gaya ng pagdadala ng mga anak ni Israel ng kanilang handog sa malinis na sisidlan sa bahay ng Panginoon." Isaias 66:20 TLAB

• Bukod dito, sinabi sa Isaiah 66:24 na may mga bangkay pa at walang-hanggang apoy na magiging kakilakilabot sa lahat:
  
  "At sila'y magsisilabas, at magsisitingin sa mga bangkay ng mga taong nagsisalangsang laban sa akin: sapagka't ang kanilang uod ay hindi mamamatay, o mamamatay man ang kanilang apoy; at sila'y magiging kayamutan sa lahat ng mga tao." Isaias 66:24 TLAB
  
  

Prophetic Picture Language:

Ginamit ng mga propeta sa Old Testament ang Old Covenant imagery, tulad ng mga kapistahan, bagong buwan, Sabbath, alay, at templo, para ilarawan ang patuloy at pangkalahatang worship ng mga ligtas na mananampalataya na pinalaya na ni Jesus mula sa ilalim ng Kautusan at ngayon ay mga anak na ng Diyos.

Ang mga karanasang ito, nararanasan na natin ngayon sa New Covenant Church, ang universal na katawan ni Cristo, at magkakaroon ng ganap na katuparan sa Bagong Langit at Bagong Lupa sa pagbabalik ng Panginoong Jesus. Pero tandaan: hindi ito literal na pagbabalik sa lumang 24‑hour Jewish calendar regulations!

Q5: "Ano ang totoong 'Danger' ayon sa Bagong Tipan: Ang hindi ba pagpangingilin ng Seventh-day Sabbath, o ang pagpilit sa mga believer na bumalik sa Mosaikong Kautusan?"

A: Baligtad ang banta! Ang totoong 'spiritual danger' ayon sa Bagong Tipan ay ang Legalism at Judaizing, ang pagpilit sa mga Bagong Tipang Mananampalataya na ipangilin ang mga Mosaikong Araw at Kautusan bilang requirements ng pagsunod at kaligtasan.

Galatians 4:9–11: Babala ni Apostol Pablo sa mga Gentil na gustong bumalik sa pagpangingilin ng mga araw:

"Subalit ngayong nakikilala na ninyo ang Diyos, o sa halip ay kinikilala na kayo ng Diyos, bakit muli kayong nagbabalik sa mahihina at hamak na mga panimulang aral, na sa mga iyon ay nais ninyong muling maging mga alipin? Nangingilin kayo ng mga araw, mga buwan, mga panahon, at mga taon. Ako'y natatakot na nagpagal ako sa inyo nang walang kabuluhan." Galacia 4:9-11ABTAG01

Hebrews 4:9–10 Exegesis:

Sa Hebrews 4, ang tunay na Sabbatismos (Sabbath-rest) ng Bagong Tipan ay hindi na isang 24-hour Saturday observance. Ang sabi sa verse 10:

"Sapagkat ang sinumang makakaranas ng kapahingahang mula sa Diyos ay makakaranas din ng kapahingahan sa kanyang mga gawain, tulad ng pamamahinga ng Diyos matapos niyang likhain ang lahat." Mga Hebreo 4:10 ASD

Ang Sabbath sa New Covenant ay ang pagpapahinga mula sa ating sariling gawaing makasalanan at self-righteousness, sa pamamagitan ng pagtitiwala sa natapos na gawa ni Cristo sa Krus (Tetelestai).

3 Questions for the SDA Arguments

Kung haharap ka sa isang Seventh‑day Adventist apologist, itanong mo agad ang tatlong eksaktong tanong na ito:

"Inamin mo na ang Greek word para sa 'Sabbath' ay 'Sabbaton'. Sa Colossians 2:16–17, ang salitang ginamit ni Pablo ay σαββάτων (sabbaton), at sinabi niyang ito ay 'SHADOW OF THINGS TO COME, BUT THE SUBSTANCE IS CHRIST.' Kung ang 'Sabbaton' sa Colossians 2:16 ay katulad ng 'Sabbaton' ng ikapitong araw, bakit mo ipinaglalaban na manatili sa Shadow, samantalang ang utos ng Apostol ay huwag hayaang hatulan tayo ng sinuman tungkol dito dahil natagpuan na natin ang Substance kay Cristo?"

"Ginamit mo ang Isaiah 66:23 para patunayan na ipapangilin pa rin ang Seventh-day Sabbath sa Bagong Langit at Bagong Lupa. Sa mismong talatang 'yan, nakasulat na dapat ding ipangilin ang 'New Moon' (Buwanang Pista). Nagse-celebrate ka rin ba ng New Moon Feasts tuwing lalabas ang bagong buwan buwan-buwan ngayon? Kung HINDI, bakit mo ginagawang 'selective' ang pagkuha mo sa hula ni Isaias, kukunin mo ang Sabbath pero itatapon mo ang New Moon?"

"Noong nagkaroon ng kauna-unahang Apostolic Council sa Acts 15 para talakayin kung ano ang mga utos mula sa Kautusan ni Moises na dapat ipatupad sa mga Gentil na nanalig kay Cristo, bakit HINDI isinama ng mga Apostol at ng Banal na Espiritu ang pagpangingilin ng Seventh-day Sabbath sa kanilang opisyal na utos (Acts 15:28–29)? Nagkulang ba ang Banal na Espiritu sa pagtuturo ng 'Present Truth' sa mga Gentil?"