“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:8-11
Why did the Lord give this commandment? Are we supposed to observe it under the New Covenant as was commanded under the Old Covenant?
It appears that God is not concerned about what DAY we set aside for Him:
“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……For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.” Romans 14:5-7
The important thing is that we do make special time just to focus on Him.
We should not judge each other:
“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.” Colossians 2:16
That does not mean we cannot ask someone else why they worship the way they do or discuss it or share what we have learned. We cannot necessarily keep others from judging us, but we can keep their attitude from affecting us knowing it is God we need to please.
Be sure that you are not being put under the law. We are saved by grace, not by fulfilling the law:
“For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.” Romans 3:28
“However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.” Romans 4:5
“I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing.” Galatians 2:21
Which day of the week we set aside to worship God is up to each of us individually, but since one of the main reasons to set aside one special day is to worship with other believers, it is partially determined in part by other believers.
Another important part of the Sabbath in Old Testament times was worshipping with other believers. In fact, we are supposed to do this “all the more as you see the Day approaching”:
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25
The “Day” is the Day of the Lord which is mentioned often in both the Old and New Testament. It covers a period of time at the end of the age:
“The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” Joel 2:31 3:15 Matthew 24:29 Mark 13:24 Luke 21:25 Acts 2:20 Revelation 6:12
It is a time of intense horror for those who have rebelled against Jesus:
“Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” Revelation 6:15-17
It is a time of intense joy for those who believe in Jesus and are looking forward to His coming.
“and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” 1 Thessalonians 1:10
“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—” Jude 1:24
The answer to whether it will be a time of intense horror or intense joy:
“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved…” Joel 2:32 Acts 2:21
Some choose to worship on Saturday. Some choose to worship on Sunday. Some, because of their work schedule or other reasons choose another day or a time each day (it is wise for all of us to read the Bible, etc. each day).
Since God choose the seventh day during Old Testament times it is valid to choose Saturday. Sunday is also an option, especially because so many others worship on Sunday.
Jesus rose on the first day of the week:
“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.” Matthew 28:1 Mark 16:1 Luke 24:1 John 20:1
The Apostle Paul asked the Corinthian church to collect money to give to the persecuted Jerusalem church. Since they were to do this on the first day of the week, possibly they assembled together on the first day of the week:
“Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem.” 1 Corinthians 16:1-3
Jesus said:
“…“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27
During the French Revolution, the radicals controlling France required a rest every tenth day instead of every seven days. Men lost their strength to work and production declined. Work animals died by the thousands. Jesus was proved right. We need the Sabbath to rest and worship God and meet with other believers. The Ten Commandments are all for our own good as well as the good of others.
Jesus summed up all the commandments into two:
“One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:35-40
Fulfilling the 4th commandment both honors God and blesses others. The two commandments of Jesus should determine which day we choose to set aside to worship God. Does our decision please God and is it a blessing to others?