I have read a couple of articles in the last few weeks regarding the Sabbath. Folks were saying that the
Sabbath is still to be observed on Saturday and that should be our day of worship. The reason these
articles demanded my attention is that they were written by Christians…not Jews or even Seventh Day
Adventists, but Christians! I do not think that there is a groundswell of support for meeting together on
Saturday instead of Sunday, but it does point to a general misunderstanding regarding the Sabbath.
First, Christians are not to equate Sunday with the Sabbath; it is not the new Sabbath. We refer to
Sunday as “the Lord’s Day” (from Revelation 1:10). The Sabbath is part of the old covenant that God
made with the Jewish people. It is the first of the revered 10 Commandments…part of, and the
foundation of, “the law”. It showed people the true character of God, the heart of God, and the
purpose of God, and in doing so it set His people apart from the heathen, uncivilized people of the day.
Christians are not under the law. Why are we not under the law? Because Jesus heightened and
illuminated the law by going right to the heart of the matter. Don’t murder? Don’t even get angry.
Don’t commit adultery? Don’t even lust. Don’t covet? Take care of others needs before your own.
Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain? Don’t let any unwholesome speech come out of your mouth.
But what about the Sabbath day; a day set apart to rest and to honor God? The Jewish people who
were converted to Christianity had the same question. The writer of Hebrews (a letter written to Jewish
believers to explain the connection of the old covenant with the new covenant and how the new
covenant was a continuation and fulfillment of the old covenant) revealed that the “day of rest” is to be
found when we enter the promised land of heaven. “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people
of God;” (Hebrews 4:9 NIV) the “sabbath-rest” is now to be found in Heaven.
There were evidently some people who wanted to keep the Sabbath as prescribed in the Old Testament
and criticized those who began meeting and worshipping on Sunday because Paul had to tell them:
“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a
New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the
reality, however, is found in Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17 NIV) and in the letter to the believers in Rome
he wrote: “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike.
Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so
to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains
does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God…. You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or
why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.” (Romans
14:5-6; 10)
So, Christian, you will enter into the Sabbath-rest when you enter into the glory of Heaven. In the
meantime, celebrate and live out your love for Christ every day of the week…and assemble yourselves
with the church on Sundays for a time of focused worship and sweet fellowship.
Say good things about your Savior and about His church here on the Bluff.
Sabbath is still to be observed on Saturday and that should be our day of worship. The reason these
articles demanded my attention is that they were written by Christians…not Jews or even Seventh Day
Adventists, but Christians! I do not think that there is a groundswell of support for meeting together on
Saturday instead of Sunday, but it does point to a general misunderstanding regarding the Sabbath.
First, Christians are not to equate Sunday with the Sabbath; it is not the new Sabbath. We refer to
Sunday as “the Lord’s Day” (from Revelation 1:10). The Sabbath is part of the old covenant that God
made with the Jewish people. It is the first of the revered 10 Commandments…part of, and the
foundation of, “the law”. It showed people the true character of God, the heart of God, and the
purpose of God, and in doing so it set His people apart from the heathen, uncivilized people of the day.
Christians are not under the law. Why are we not under the law? Because Jesus heightened and
illuminated the law by going right to the heart of the matter. Don’t murder? Don’t even get angry.
Don’t commit adultery? Don’t even lust. Don’t covet? Take care of others needs before your own.
Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain? Don’t let any unwholesome speech come out of your mouth.
But what about the Sabbath day; a day set apart to rest and to honor God? The Jewish people who
were converted to Christianity had the same question. The writer of Hebrews (a letter written to Jewish
believers to explain the connection of the old covenant with the new covenant and how the new
covenant was a continuation and fulfillment of the old covenant) revealed that the “day of rest” is to be
found when we enter the promised land of heaven. “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people
of God;” (Hebrews 4:9 NIV) the “sabbath-rest” is now to be found in Heaven.
There were evidently some people who wanted to keep the Sabbath as prescribed in the Old Testament
and criticized those who began meeting and worshipping on Sunday because Paul had to tell them:
“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a
New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the
reality, however, is found in Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17 NIV) and in the letter to the believers in Rome
he wrote: “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike.
Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so
to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains
does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God…. You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or
why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.” (Romans
14:5-6; 10)
So, Christian, you will enter into the Sabbath-rest when you enter into the glory of Heaven. In the
meantime, celebrate and live out your love for Christ every day of the week…and assemble yourselves
with the church on Sundays for a time of focused worship and sweet fellowship.
Say good things about your Savior and about His church here on the Bluff.
Bro. Tony