18 Responses to “Should Christians Observe the Sabbath?”

1. 1 Bryon
   July 28 at 11:57 PM

   Of course; it’s the days we all get together to dedicate that day to God, time of worship, and it’s a commandment. I think those scriptures are about those who are being legalistic.

2. 2 Scripture Zealot
   July 29 at 12:08 AM

   But how much of the commandment should be observe then?
   Jeff

3. 3 Bryon
   July 29 at 1:17 AM

   Before I comment further, I should mention that we could have different definitions of what it means to observe the Sabbath. We could also be bringing different presuppositions and have a different definition of what the Sabbath is. Which could then lead to all commenter’s to talk past each other.When you ask, “how much of the commandment should be observed then?” If I’m understanding you correctly, what would be ‘no observance’, ‘some observance’, or ‘full observance’? Apologies if I’ve misunderstood.Have a good night!

4. 4 Scripture Zealot
   July 29 at 10:31 AM

   Hi,
   What I mean is there are rules and regulations spelled out in the OT regarding keeping the Sabbath. If we are to keep the Sabbath then don’t we have to obey the ceremonial laws associated with it in order to truly keep it?

   Hope that helps. Let me know if that needs further clarifying.
   Jeff

5. 5 Bryon
   July 29 at 8:11 PM

   My own opinion probably isn’t going to be that pertinent. Most will follow the indoctrination they’ve received from whatever denomination or group they’re a part of. I think for most, what keeping the Sabbath is, is going to be in the ‘eye of the beholder’. You probably wanted more from me and my apologies if I disappointed.

6. 6 Richard
   August 7 at 9:42 AM

   Colossians 2:16-17 , Galatians 4:10-11 and Romans 14:5 are not about the one-day in seven but rather refers to the ceremonial sabbaths and feasts of the law, it is Torah. The one-day in seven is creational (not Torah), just like marriage, and so continues until Jesus comes again.

7. 7 Scripture Zealot
   August 7 at 11:02 AM

   Thanks for the insight and for stopping by Richard. I will look into this more.
   Jeff

8. 8 Alan
   August 16 at 3:51 PM

   What about Matthew 5:17-20?  I would be very careful about teaching people that they don’t have to observe the Sabbath when it is one of the 10 Commandments.  The early Christians met on the first day of the week to break bread and prepare for the week.  They did not convert the Sabbath to Sunday.  The Romans moved the official day of worship for the Catholic religion because the peasants of the Roman empire worshipped their Sun god on Sunday.  This made it easier to convert them to Catholics.

9. 9 Scripture Zealot
   August 16 at 4:06 PM

   My questions then are:
   -What exactly is “the Sabbath” in new covenant times?
   -What does observing the Sabbath entail?
   Jeff

10. 10 Richard
    August 17 at 8:27 AM

    The best summary is provided in the Westminster Larger Catechism.Question 116: What is required in the fourth commandment?Answer: The fourth commandment requires of all men the sanctifying or keeping holy to God such set times as he has appointed in his Word, expressly one whole day in seven; which was the seventh from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, and the first day of the week ever since, and so to continue to the end of the world; which is the Christian sabbath, and in the New Testament called the Lord’s day.
    Question 117: How is the sabbath or the Lord’s day to be sanctified?Answer: The sabbath or Lord’s day is to be sanctified by an holy resting all the day, not only from such works as are at all times sinful, but even from such worldly employments and recreations as are on other days lawful; and making it our delight to spend the whole time (except so much of it as is to betaken up in works of necessity and mercy) in the public and private exercises of God’s worship: and, to that end, we are to prepare our hearts, and with such foresight, diligence, and moderation, to dispose and seasonably dispatch our worldly business, that we may be the more free and fit for the duties of that day.
    Question 119: What are the sins forbidden in the fourth commandment?Answer: The sins forbidden in the fourth commandment are, all omissions of the duties required, all careless, negligent, and unprofitable performing of them, and being weary of them; all profaning the day by idleness, and doing that which is in itself sinful; and by all needless works, words, and thoughts, about our worldly employments and recreations.
    Also try:The Work of the SabbathThe Means of Grace: The SabbathThese are both by Pipa who wrote The Lord’s Day

11. 11 Scripture Zealot
    August 17 at 11:17 AM

    Richard thanks for posting that. I’ve been meaning to read through that and am embarrassed to say I haven’t yet, even though I consider myself reformed.
    Jeff

12. 12 gianbiggy
    December 14 at 12:05 AM

    Look, people say the sabbath doesn’t count. Why do they say that? It is part of the ten commandments that GOD wrote with his finger. I think all of you missed out on the major reason of laws we follow. The priesthoods. Aaron was the Priest in the LEVITICAL LAW. Melchisedec was the most high priest before that law. The melchisedec priesthood consisted of the 10 commandments, clean and unclean animals, and tithing. all of the these laws were before the israelites were placed under the levitical law. If you read all of hebrews  chapter 5-8 it will explain that jesus is the high preist of the melchisedec priesthood that was installed in the beginning of the world, before the levitical law. At the end of chapter 8 it says the law will disapear (saying the levitical law will disappear). Also in chapter 7 verse 1212For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.States that when the priesthood that was changed  back to the melchisedec priesthood the law was also changed back and the levitical was gone. NOw that we have been returned to the other priesthood the laws would be the same as before including the ten commandments which clearly states remember the sabbath day. If it were not so, then why did Jesus go to the synagouge on the sabbath and why did paul do likewise? Not one word will be changed from the bible. Some may use galatians and what paul said as saying, “we are no longer under the law” but he is really talking about the laws in each priesthood. In that case he talks about the Levitical priesthood of which we do not follow anymore and the book of Hebrews backs that info up.

13. 13 gianbiggy
    December 14 at 12:06 AM

    What day of the week are we to worship the Lord?

    Key Verse:  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 it. [Exodus 20:11]

    Did God set one day apart from the others?

    The second chapter of Genesis begins:

    Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.  And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.  And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.  [Genesis 2:1-3]

    It is clear that from the beginning of creation that God set the Sabbath day apart to be a day of rest.  This is also stated in the fourth commandment.

    Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:  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:  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 it.  [Exodus 20:8-11]

    These verses make three things clear about the Sabbath.  1) We are to keep the Sabbath holy.  2) The seventh day is the Lord’s Sabbath, the day he blessed.  3) Neither we, nor anyone in our house, are to work on the Sabbath day.  The Sabbath day was created for man as a day of rest and worship.

    And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:  [Mark 2:27]

    God realized that man needed a weekly day of rest when he created him.  He therefore set the Sabbath apart to be that day of rest and also to be a holy day in which we can worship and strengthen our faith. 

    What day of the week does the Sabbath fall on today?

    To answer this question let us first read of Jesus’s actions in the gospel of Luke:

    And he 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]

    The key phrase in this verse is “as his custom was”.  It is clear that Jesus attended church (synagogue) every Sabbath day.  The day that Jesus kept and that God set aside was kept by the children of Israel in the days of Moses, in the days when Jesus walked the Earth, and is still kept today by members of the Jewish faith.  That day of the week is Saturday and has been carefully followed for the last 3000+ years by the Jews.

    Was the Sabbath done away with when Jesus died on the cross?

    To answer this question we need to study the Priesthood under which we live.  When Jesus died for our sins on the cross, he did away with the “law contained in ordinances” or the “book of the law” and was established as a high priest after the order of Melchisedec.  The law that Jesus did away with was the added law that was given to the children of Israel under the Levitical priesthood because of transgression.  However the laws that were established under the Melchisedec priesthood before the Levitical laws were given still remain in effect today.  The Sabbath day was given before the Levitical priesthood immediately after creation and still remains in effect as part of the Melchisedec priesthood today.  Paul’s letter to the Hebrews makes this clear.

    For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.  For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.  And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.  Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:  Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.  [Hebrews 4:3-11]

    Why then do most churches worship on Sunday?

    There is no biblical evidence that the day of rest that God established was changed from Saturday to Sunday.  This is because this change occured well after the writing of the books in the New Testiment.  The Roman Catholic Church was established in 325AD at the council of Nicaea and they didn’t want any part of Judaism in their church.  They forbaid Christians from “Judaizing by resting on the Sabbath”. The effect of this council, backed by the force of Roman law, cause a majority of churchs at that time to switch from Saturday to Sunday as their day of rest and worship.  We follow the teaching of the Bible as the unique, inspired word of God and the Bible teaches that Saturday is the Sabbath. See the tracts The Change of the Sabbath and The Lord’s Santified Day for a more in-depth discussion on this subject.

    Conclusion The Sabbath day, which falls on Saturday, was a covenant established by God for man from the creation.  It is a day created for man to rest and worship God.  God’s commandment concerning the Sabbath was established at the creation and is still in effect for us today.

14. 14 Goifma
    March 2 at 4:40 PM

    The following seems a reasonable explanation of a Christian perspective that neither challenges Christ’s promise of Mat 11:28, “Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”, by which all who are in Christ are freed from the constraints of observing a single day of rest, nor does it forbid the practice of sabath observance by those who do feel so constrained.

    ” Col 2:16 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]:

    Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.

15. 15 Scripture Zealot
    March 2 at 5:48 PM

    Thanks Goifma. That sounds good.
    Jeff

16. 16 Kelly
    July 10 at 12:49 PM

    Looking at the different perspectives and seeing that early Christians followed the seventh day sabbath, Sunday sabbath is a defense of tradition because at no point in the Bible is that changed.

    It seems we do that a lot lately. I get more and more surprised at this kind of thing when I read how Jewish words have been translated.

    This was a good thread to read thanks,
    Kelly

17. 17 Scripture Zealot
    July 10 at 5:24 PM

    You’re welcome. Thanks for commenting. It’s a touch subject.
    Jeff

18. 18 Tanya
    August 6 at 11:06 AM

    The laws for the priests were the blood sacrifices of animals for the redemption of sins before Christ. After Christ there was no need to continue in those laws and practices as Christ paid the ultimate and only true sacrifice for the sins of us all. Christ was sithout sin Holy and righteous on all counts and the only one worthy of such a sacrifice to appease God of our sinful nature. This was the only law of change that was changed upon the death of Christ. The bible is the only true knowledge that we as Christians must throughly study and continually seek wisdom and guidance in. The words of the Lord never contradicts itself. May your day be blessed.