Now, the context in that passage (Mark 2) was that Christ and His disciples were being accused of violating the Sabbath by taking corn from a field.
Christ retorts that the 'Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath' showing that what they had done was lawful, espically since He was 'Lord also of the Sabbath'
Only the Nation of Israel had been commanded to keep the Sabbath.
Gen 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. Abraham literally kept God's statutes, laws and commandments. Interestingly the word translated "laws" is the Hebrew word torah. So here is the bible telling us that Abraham kept the torah, part of which is sabbath observance.
Well, so much for 'literal reading'!
Not for Abraham it wasn't!
The Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ(Jn.1:17)
Apparently Abraham learned from somewhere what God's laws and commandments were, apparently either through oral tradition or divine revelation.
Apparently ? The first mention of the Sabbath is in Ex.16:29 See, for that the Lord hath given the sabbath...
I see no commandment there indicating that the Sabbath was still to be observed. Biblically nobody ever stopped observing the sabbath. It was only in post biblical times that the practice stopped and/or was transferred to Sunday.
Well, 'Biblically' I see no mention of anyone in the Bible but a Jew observing the Sabbath.
In fact, Paul warns the Colossians against observing sabbath days!(Col.2:16) since they have been put away for the Church age (vs.17)
The Lords day for the Christian would be Sunday (due to the Resurrection) but that is not the Sabbath day (7th day) That's a nice tradition I guess, but God never blessed and sanctified the 1st day or commanded us to observe it. It was established by the Roman church as part of their sacred tradition and most protestants subsequently chose and continue to choose to honor it.
It would seem that the Churces were gathering on the first day of the week since Paul gives instructions to gather money on that day for him. (1Cor.16:2)
Like I said before, Christ could have easily said that the Sabbath was made for Jews, or Israel, but instead the word used is the greek "anthropos", mankind, or human beings.
Only the Nation of Israel had been commanded to keep the Sabbath.
Really? It's one of the 10 commandments that are written into our hearts under the terms of the new covenent isn't it?
Not for Abraham it wasn't!
The Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ
Well I guess you could look up torah and see what it encompasses and then you'll see how aware Abraham was of God's laws.
Well, 'Biblically' I see no mention of anyone in the Bible but a Jew observing the Sabbath.
Notwithstanding the fact that the first Christians were Jews:
Act 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue on every sabbath persuading both Jews and Greeks.
Jews and Greeks were listening to Pauls sermons on the sabbath.
Act 13:42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
Gentiles were attending services on the sabbath here.
Act 13:44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
An entire city is observing the sabbath.
It's true that not much is recorded in the bible of anything happening on the sabbath except worshipping, but basically that's all they did on the day...worship and rest, stay at home. There wasn't much going on.
In fact, Paul warns the Colossians against observing sabbath days!(Col.2:16) since they have been put away for the Church age (vs.17)
Col 2:16 Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or in respect of a feast, or of the new moon, or of the sabbaths.
Col 2:17 For these are a shadow of things to come, but the body of Christ.
Paul is telling the Colossians not to let anyone judge them in how they keep the sabbath, not that the sabbath is done away with. Paul says they ARE a shadow of things to come, not WERE a shadow of things to come. The sabbath actually is a shadow of something to come...it's a little mini-reminder that God will establish his 1000 year old millenial kingdom on earth plus it foreshadows the rest we will have when we are given glorified bodies.
It would seem that the Churces were gathering on the first day of the week since Paul gives instructions to gather money on that day for him. (1Cor.16:2)
1Co 16:1 And concerning the collection for the saints, as I charged the churches of Galatia, so also you do.
1Co 16:2 On the first of the sabbaths let each of you put by himself, storing up what ever he is prospered, so that there may be no collections when I come.
Well since we know that it was Pauls custom to preach on the sabbath:
Act 17:2 And according to Paul's custom, he went in to them and reasoned with them out of the Scriptures on three sabbaths,
And since nobody was supposed to work on the sabbath it makes sense that they would start gathering their collection of foodstuffs, clothing, money whatever on the first day of the week. This would give them all week to get it done so they would be ready when Paul got there on the sabbath.
Look, I've heard these same arguments dozens of times. I had the same arguments once. I'm really not interested in reshashing them. So if you want to get the last word in that's fine with me. :-).
You can read this booklet if you like, God's Sabbath Rest , it addresses most if not all of the objections you'll have.