Q61: WHAT METHOD DO YOU EMPLOY TO DETERMINE AND OBSERVE THE SABBATH? Do You Use The "New Moon" Method?

Dear Pastor Kabbalist Lope Columna,
My name is Charles Perkins, and your article  on the Sabbath caught my attention.  I have for quite some time believed that the Sabbath was an identity sign between God and His People for ever -- a never ending perpetual covenant (Exodus 31:16-17). This position was further strengthened when Jesus said "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17,18,19 all are germane)

My question is, what method do you employ to determine and observe the Sabbath? Do you use the "New Moon" method where the first sign of a New Moon is the first day of new month in the Hebrew Calendar which is not counted in determining the Sabbath?  In this method the Sabbath always occurs on the 8th, 15th, 22nd, and the 29th day of each month.  As far as I know, today's Hebrews observe Saturday as their Sabbath along with most other Sabbath observing religions.  It is my understanding from Moses' time, and up to and through Jesus' time, that the "New Moon" method was employed by the Jews.  Just when they adopted the weekly Saturday as their Sabbath is unknown to me.  It is understood by me that the Sabbath starts at sunset and ends at sunset.  There are probably both Jewish and Christian Sects that employ the New Moon method of observing the Sabbath.

I have also been keenly aware of the fact that the early church was made up of both Jewish and Gentile members and that there was much discussions among the apostles concerning the Law, especially that concerning circumcision.  It is clear that somewhere down the pike that there must have been a rift that came about, which caused them to go their separate ways, which exist until these days.  Whatever caused them to break away from one another must have occurred sometime after James death. 

Another interesting point, at this time, many Jewish and multiple thousands of Muslims have been converting to Christianity.  This is at great risk for those in the Muslim community, because we read in the news quite frequently that these Christians are being executed because of their Christian believes. 

Maranatha, 

CHARLES PERKINS
PS:  I am not very pithy.  Got carried away with this. Just  really wanted your take on the Sabbath 

Q1. What method do you employ to determine and observe the Sabbath? Do you use the "New Moon" method where the first sign of a New Moon is the first day of new month in the Hebrew Calendar which is not counted in determining the Sabbath? 

A1. I don't use the "NEW MOON" method in observing the weekly Sabbath. God, as He created the days of the week, ordained that each day should begin at sunset (evening) and should end in the next sunset (Gen 1:5, 31).

• And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.  (Gen 1:5 KJV)

• And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.  (Gen 1:31 KJV)

This is how God reckons the start and end of the 24-hour day, in contrast to man's reckoning which starts at midnight. The Jews, from the beginning of time, always observed the weekly Sabbath from sunset to sunset.

Christ, as His custom, being a Jew Himself, also observed the weekly Sabbath from sunset to sunset ("the evening and morning" of a day).

• And he (Christ) came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as HIS CUSTOM was, he went into the synagogue on the SABBATH DAY, and stood up for to read.  (Luke 4:16 KJV)

Luke 4:16 proves that Christ regularly attended the weekly Sabbath service of the Jewish synagogue. In that service the Scriptures of the Old Testament were read, prayers were offered, and the Word of God was explained.

The "NEW MOON" is used by the Jews to signify the start of a month, not a day. The new moon is the lunar phase that occurs when the Moon, in its monthly orbital motion around Earth, lies between Earth and the Sun. At this time, the dark part of the Moon faces almost directly toward Earth, so that the Moon is not visible to the naked eye.

IN ADDITION TO THE WEEKLY SABBATH, GOD ALSO COMMANDED US TO OBSERVE HIS ANNUAL SABBATHS

If ever, the "new moon" is used in relation to the ANNUAL SABBATHS that God also commanded to be kept and observed. Yes, there are two kinds of Sabbaths:

1. The WEEKLY SABBATH 
2. The ANNUAL SABBATHS

Most Christians that observed the weekly Sabbath do not know and therefore, do not observe the Annual Sabbaths. The examples of annual Sabbaths are: the 7 Days of Unleavened Bread, the Pentecost (Feast of Weeks), the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths), etc. Usually, during these Annual Sabbaths, the moon is in its "FULL MOON" condition.

• All your males are to appear three times a year before the LORD your God in the place He chooses: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Booths. No one is to appear before the LORD empty-handed.  (Deu 16:16 HCSB)

Charles, I hope that my answers and comments vis-a-vis your questions and comments have satisfied your hunger for truth. If you have further questions, or if you need more clarifications, please continue asking.

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