How Christians Will Know They Can Join Hands With Rome

With Reformation Day coming up, this is a good time to recall why the Reformers departed from Roman Catholicism. In our day especially, it seems that many Christians have history-amnesia when it comes to the importance of what God did through the Reformers. During the Reformation, great confusion existed regarding what was, and was not, the true church of Christ. Rome had asserted itself as the true church for centuries, and continues to do so today. However, as the Reformers recognized then, Christians must follow in step today by recalling that joining hands with Rome is a departure from Christ.

To be clear, this is not to say that everyone who sits in a Roman Catholic church is not a Christian. What it is saying is that several changes must occur before Roman Catholicism, by the book, can be considered biblical Christianity. And the men and women of the Reformation understood this, hence their necessary break with Rome. In their case, and ours, joining Christ necessitates breaking with Rome and coming under Christ means coming out from under Rome.

Christians will know that it is time to join hands with Rome when it does the following:

I’m not an Adventist. I believe that the Lord’s Day is on Sunday, the first day of the week.

All Christians aside from cultish sects have believed this for 2,000 years.

You quoted from Acts and 1 Corinthians verses that support the Lord’s Day being on Sunday.

You’re only missing the other key point that was believed by Christians since the earliest days of the Church.

That the change of the Sabbath from the 7th to the 1st day was instituted by Christ. This also Christians aside from cultish sects have also believed since it was instituted. You quoted Bible verses which support that change.

I merely added the quote that tells us that Christ is Lord of the Sabbath, thus he has the authority to effect such a change.

For 2,000 years Christians have happily acknowledged that the Lord’s Day is the Christian Sabbath - thus the fourth commandment is still in effect.

During the time of Jesus’ ministry up until the destruction of the Temple in AD 70, Jews who converted to Christ were in a unique situation never again repeated: as Christians they observed the Lord’s Day on the 1st day of the week with their fellow Christians, and a number of them continued to observe the 7th day OT Sabbath. Understanding that such a significant change for them was a life-altering adjustment, their continued 7th day observance during those years was not strictly prohibited by the Apostles. The Apostles simply taught that all that was needed henceforth was the Lord’s Day, which was instituted by Christ, Lord of the Sabbath.

There’s a lot more exegesis that can clarify why and how we are commanded to have worship services and what they must and must not include, as well as the Biblical basis whereby we know that the Lord’s Day should be observed and how it should be observed.

For example, for 2,000 years the Lord’d Say, Sunday, was a day for Christians to refrain from their normal work as well as secular entertainments.

As a new Christian a few years ago, I had to ask why ? Where all those countless millions of people for 2,000 years all foolishly and needlessly imposing some piety on themselves that was unbiblical ? Were all the Christian scholars for 2,000 years wrong ? Is Sunday a day to worship God in any way WE think we feel like ? Do we make up our own worship ? Or do we look to the Word of God to instruct us as to what God wants ?

I agree with you, as do all those countless millions of Christians - Sunday is the Lord’s Day.

But you seem to not agree with us that the Lord’s Day is the Christian Sabbath.

“So yes, it is reasonable to judge by someone’s practices”

You don’t get to judge who is a Christian. No one does.

From the WCF (1646)...

Of Church Censures

I. The Lord Jesus, as king and head of His Church, has therein appointed a government, in the hand of Church officers, distinct from the civil magistrate.[1]

II. To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed; by virtue whereof, they have power, respectively, to retain, and remit sins; to shut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the Word, and censures; and to open it unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of the Gospel; and by absolution from censures, as occasion shall require.[2]

III. Church censures are necessary, for the reclaiming and gaining of offending brethres, for deterring of others from the like offenses, for purging out of that leaven which might infect the whole lump, for vindicating the honor of Christ, and the holy profession of the Gospel, and for preventing the wrath of God, which might justly fall upon the Church, if they should suffer His covenant, and the seals thereof, to be profaned by notorious and obstinate offenders.[3]

IV. For the better attaining of these ends, the officers of the Church are to proceed by admonition; suspension from the sacrament of the Lord's Supper for a season; and by excommunication from the Church; according to the nature of the crime, and demerit of the person.[4]

[1] ISA 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. 1TI 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 1TH 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you. ACT 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons. HEB 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. 24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. 1CO 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. MAT 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

[2] MAT 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. JOH 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. 2CO 2:6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. 7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

[3] (1CO 5 throughout) 1TI 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. MAT 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 1TI 1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. 1CO 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. JUD 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

[4] 1TH 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you. 2TH 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 1CO 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. MAT 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. TIT 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject.

What does “Christ is Lord of the Sabbath,” mean to you ??

Very briefly...

First, the Sabbath is made Holy, "set aside" by God. Reference these topics ("Holy", "set aside") throughout the Bible (the whole counsel of God) for an understanding of them.

The day is a day of honor towards Christ; of course, all honor is due Christ, for without him our very souls are not saved. Ergo, Scripture refers to it as the Lord's Day.

Christ has complete authority over that day.

Summarization of the Christian Sabbath, from the WCF (1646) (Biblical proof texts are referenced by the numbers in brackets, available at the link http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/ch_XXI.html):

Chapter XXI
Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

I. The light of nature shows that there is a God, who has lordship and sovereignty over all, is good, and does good unto all, and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the might.[1] But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by Himself, and so limited by His own revealed will, that He may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the holy Scripture.[2]

II. Religious worship is to be given to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and to Him alone;[3] not to angels, saints, or any other creature:[4] and, since the fall, not without a Mediator; nor in the mediation of any other but of Christ alone.[5]

III. Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one special part of religious worship,[6] is by God required of all men:[7] and, that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son,[8] by the help of His Spirit,[9] according to His will,[10] with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love and perseverance;[11] and, if vocal, in a known tongue.[12]

IV. Prayer is to be made for things lawful;[13] and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter:[14] but not for the dead,[15] nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.[16]

V. The reading of the Scriptures with godly fear,[17] the sound preaching[18] and conscionable hearing of the Word, in obedience unto God, with understanding, faith and reverence,[19] singing of psalms with grace in the heart;[20] as also, the due administration and worthy receiving of the sacraments instituted by Christ, are all parts of the ordinary religious worship of God:[21] beside religious oaths,[22] vows,[23] solemn fastings,[24] and thanksgivings upon special occasions,[25] which are, in their several times and seasons, to be used in an holy and religious manner.[26]

VI. Neither prayer, nor any other part of religious worship, is now, under the Gospel, either tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed:[27] but God is to be worshipped everywhere,[28] in spirit and truth;[29] as, in private families[30] daily,[31] and in secret, each one by himself;[32] so, more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly or wilfully to be neglected, or forsaken, when God, by His Word or providence, calls thereunto.[33]

VII. As it is the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in His Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment binding all men in all ages, He has particularly appointed one day in seven, for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto him:[34] which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week: and, from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week,[35] which, in Scripture, is called the Lord's Day,[36] and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath.[37]

VIII. This Sabbath is to be kept holy unto the Lord when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all the day from their own works, words, and thoughts about their worldly employments and recreations,[38] but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of His worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.[39]

>>It was founded by Jesus Christ Himself in Mt 16:18.<<

No "church" found there. The word used there is ekklesia which means those called out by God which Jesus said that all who believed in Him were.

>>It would be built on Simon Peter, Mt 16:18.<<

No, it doesn't. And even the Catholic catechism agrees it wasn't.

CCC 424 Moved by the grace of the Holy Spirit and drawn by the Father, we believe in Jesus and confess: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” On the rock of this faith confessed by St. Peter, Christ built his Church.

>>It would be defended by GOD Himself, Mt 16:18-19.<<

Once again. No "church" mentioned.

>>It would have authority given by Jesus Christ, Mt 16:19,18:17-18.<<

I thought Catholics believe that was given to Peter alone?

>>It would be guided by the Holy Spirit who will dwell within it, Jn 14:15-17, Act 15:28,16:6.<<

That was actually given to all believers.

Acts 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

The Catholic Church lie of them only having the right to interpret is from the enemy.

>>It would be one and undivided, Mk 3:24-25.<<

The true ekklesia of Christ is undivided. It's just that the Catholic Church being blinded does not recognize it.

>>It would have one fold and one shepherd, Jn 10:16.<<

The ekklesia is one fold and led by the one Shepard Jesus Christ. He needs on stand in or "another christ" here on earth as He promised that wherever two or three are gathered in His name He would be with them.

>>It would have Priests, Bishops, and Deacons, 1Tim 3:1-13.<<

No priests other than all believers with Christ as the High Priest in the New Testament ekklesia. The Catholic Church leadership are illegitimate per Paul's letters to Timothy.

>>It must have the Holy Eucharist celebration, Jn 6:42-70, Acts 2:42.<<

No "eucharist" found in scripture. Christ would never have advocated the breaking of the law by eating blood.

>>It must be found in all nations, Mt 28:19.<<

And so it is and for sure will be during the tribulation with the two witnesses and the angels proclaiming. The corruptions of the Catholic Church will have been eliminated by that time.

>>It must be found in all centuries, Mt 28:20.<<

As it has been even though the Catholic Church has attempted to wipe it out just as many have attempted to wipe out the Jews.

>>Jesus Christ said He would be with His Church every day, in every year, until the end of the world, Mt 28:20.<<

And so He has been despite the Catholic Church trying to replace Him with Mary and their so called saints.

It means HE IS LORD ... He rules the Sabbath and can do as HE pleases on the Sabbath ...because He fulfilled the type..He is our Sabbath rest..

Bible Study ToolsOur LibraryCommentariesJohn Gill's Exposition of the BibleMatthewMatthew 12Matthew 12:8 Matthew 12:8 Matthew 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. ] By "the Son of man" is meant, not any man, as some have thought; for no mere man is lord of any law, moral or ritual, natural or positive; or has a power of disposing of it, and dispensing with it at pleasure; but Christ himself; which is the constant sense of this phrase in the New Testament, and is a character of the Messiah in the old, ( Daniel 7:13 ) who, as he was the institutor of the sabbath among the Jews, that being a ritual, and of mere positive institution, could dispense with it, and even abrogate it at his pleasure. The Jews so far agree to this, that he that commanded the law of the sabbath, could dispense with it; they say F26, that ``the day on which Jericho was taken was the sabbath day; and that though they slew and burnt on the sabbath day, (tbv llxl hwu tbvh le hwuv ym) , "he that commanded the observation of the sabbath, commanded the profanation of it".'' And since Christ is greater than the temple, and has all the perfections of the divine nature in him, is equal to the Father in power and glory; and even as mediator, has all power in heaven and earth given him; so as he is Lord of all other things, he is of the sabbath, and has a power of dispensing with it, and even of abolishing it; see ( Colossians 2:16 Colossians 2:17 ) and since the Lord of the sabbath had a power of dispensing with it, and made use of it in the cases of David and his men, and of the priests in the temple formerly; the Pharisees ought not to think it strange, that the Son of man, who is equally Lord of the sabbath, dispensed with it in his disciples now. (Gill)

Mark 2:…27Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28"So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 2:23-28 The sabbath is a sacred and Divine institution; a privilege and benefit, not a task and drudgery. God never designed it to be a burden to us, therefore we must not make it so to ourselves. The sabbath was instituted for the good of mankind, as living in society, having many wants and troubles, preparing for a state of happiness or misery. Man was not made for the sabbath, as if his keeping it could be of service to God, nor was he commanded to keep it outward observances to his real hurt. Every observance respecting it, is to be interpreted by the rule of mercy.

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