Sabbath Day: Are we to observe it?
The Bible makes a clear statement about this.
Exodus 20:8
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. [Emphasis added]
Then we have other statements about sabbath observance that seem to be seldom mentioned. What about those? Are we to observe them?
1 Chronicles 23:31
31 And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the Lord in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the Lord: [Emphasis added]
People talk about keeping the Sabbath, but what about the “new moons” and other special feasts mentioned here? What about them? If the Sabbath is to be kept, why not the others? I’m afraid most people have never even heard of them.
It is important to note that we are warned about long-held traditions that can be in powerful opposition to truth. Please note what our apostle Paul has to say about these observances.
Colossians 2:16
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: [Emphasis added]
What are we here being told about these observances? The bottom line to it all is that they have nothing to do with the Christian life today. In other words, NONE of them are to be observed, including attempted sabbath-keeping.
In Christendom today you’ll find the common teaching that Sunday is the new “Christian Sabbath.” But where did the authorization of that come from? Who changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday? Where’s the teaching of this change in the Bible? I’m afraid most people have never given it much thought. But shouldn’t we, especially since it’s such a common practice among churchgoers today? Could it be that at some point someone just made this teaching up as something we’re to apply today?
Some say the Sunday Sabbath came about because Jesus Christ arose on a Sunday, the first day of the week. That He surely did! We have Scripture for that. Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:2, Luke 24:1, and John 20:1 all give us a record that Christ arose on a Sunday, the first day of the week. Here’s Matthew’s account of this important event.
Matthew 28:1-7
1 In the end of the sabbath [the seventh day of the week], as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. [Emphasis added]
Knowledge of the Sabbath is found in the Bible even at the time of God’s creation of the Earth. It is because of this that some claim that observance of it is a “Creation Mandate” that precedes the giving of the Mosaic Law. But where, even back then, do we see a command anywhere that there’s to be some ongoing observance of it? It was many centuries later that a mandate was given to Moses and the people of Israel.
Exodus 20:8-11
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed [HAGIAZO = made holy, set apart] it. [Emphasis added]
There’s nothing in the Bible that tells us people like Adam, Noah, or even Abraham ever gave it some special observance. Later it was Jews who worshipped in the synagogues on the Saturday Sabbath [Matthew 12:2,9-10; Mark 1:21; Mark 6:2; Luke 4:16; Luke 6:6; Luke 13:10; Acts 13:14-16; Acts 15:21; Acts 17:1-3].
Historically most Christians have assembled for worship on Sunday, the first day of the week. We have examples of that in the early church.
Acts 20:7
7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. [Emphasis added]
We see them doing this, not as a replacement for the Saturday Sabbath but as a memorial to Christ’s death and subsequent resurrection. It was then that they also collected voluntary offerings. For more information about their giving, please see my articles at 4Us2UsMinistries.com—
Giving: Are believers supposed to tithe?
Giving: What are the basics on giving?
Giving: What are the principles for the believer?
1 Corinthians 16:1-2
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. [Emphasis added]
This occasion for their meeting is never called a “Sabbath Day” or “the Lord’s Day.”
In this time of which we are a part today which is spoken of as the Dispensation of Grace [Ephesians 3:2], there is no prescribed day of worship. Instead, our worship of Him should occur every day as we work to learn and apply His Word in every area of our lives. Our apostle, the apostle Paul, makes no reference at all to some specific time that is to be designated for worship. We are not to allow anyone to persuade us that things are otherwise.
Colossians 2:16
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: [Emphasis added]
All this is quite different from what God prescribed for His people Israel in times past. We are warned not to go back to those ways of Israel in times past. Note what Paul had to say to the Galatians churches about this.
Galatians 4:9-11
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. [Emphasis added]
God gave Israel a system of law that regulated every area of their lives. From the time baby boys were circumcised on the eighth day after their birth, their diet, their clothing, their workdays, and so much more was spelled out for them. They were commanded to live by this rigid system of dos and don’ts.
Deuteronomy 8:1
1 All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers. [Emphasis added]
Today, however, we have no such regulations. Yes, there are moral standards by which we are to lead our lives, but the ceremonial ones have all been set aside. To do otherwise is to live by what is spoken of as “doctrines of devils.”
1 Timothy 4:1-5
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. [Emphasis added]
Things will not get better internationally between now and the Rapture. The idea that man is somehow going to create a peaceful Earth of good health and prosperity for all is false.
Conclusion—
While it is Scriptural to follow the Law of Moses and to observe Sabbath-keeping, it is not dispensational. The apostle Paul makes it abundantly clear that they, along with a lot of other things, are not a part of God’s program for us today. We are in this which is called the Dispensation of Grace, during which time we are not under the Mosaic Law.
Romans 6:14-15
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. [Emphasis added]
That means among many other things that the Saturday Sabbath and every other day of the week are to be treated all the same. A clear understanding of this only comes when the Scriptures are rightly divided. We are told that we are to be diligent in rightly dividing the Scriptures of those sixty-six books in our Bible. Otherwise, we’ll find ourselves living a life of disobedience.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study [SPOUDAZO = be diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [Emphasis added]
