User:Sdbhist/Sabbath and Seventh-day Baptists

Along with core Baptist beliefs in congregational polity, the priesthood of all believers, the authority of Scripture, and others, Sabbath-keeping has been a core doctrine of Seventh Day Baptists since their inception in the 1650's in England. Seventh Day Baptists keep Sabbath not out of any legalistic desire, but out of obedience to what they believe the Bible teaches in the Old Testament, and was reaffirmed by Jesus. A representative statement from SDB's about Sabbath can be found in the Statement of Belief of the USA and Canada Conference, which states:

     We believe that the Sabbath of the Bible, the seventh day of the week, is sacred time, a gift of God to all people,
     instituted at creation, affirmed in the Ten Commandments and reaffirmed in the teaching and example of Jesus and the
     apostles. 

     We believe that the gift of Sabbath rest is an experience of God's eternal presence with His people. 

     We believe that in obedience to God and in loving response to His grace in Christ, the Sabbath should be faithfully
     observed as a day of rest, worship, and celebration. 

     Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 16:23-30; Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 5:17-19; Mark 2:27-28; Luke 4:16; Acts 13:14, 42-44; 16:11-13;  
     17:2-3; 18:4-11; Ezekiel 20:19-20; Hebrews 4:9-10; John 14:15; Isaiah 58:13-14; Luke 23:56[1]

Other information on the Sabbath beliefs of Seventh Day Baptists can be found at their website.