Am I required to keep the Sabbath today? - Sabbath - TouchPoints

Galatians 4:10-11You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years. I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing.

It’s tempting to think that Sabbath keeping is a clear and simple exercise in obedience that will please God even if we find it inconvenient and irritating. But since Jesus said the Sabbath was for us, we ought to set aside the requirement question and answer the question of how keeping the Sabbath might become good and beneficial for us? If we fill our lives with work and even entertainment that is ultimately destructive of our souls, a superficial keeping of the Sabbath will do us no good.

Colossians 2:16So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.

We cannot become righteous or gain God’s approval by observing the Sabbath or celebrating certain holy days. Jesus provides true spiritual rest for our souls through faith in him. Jesus gave new meaning to the Sabbath by turning our focus toward what we can do on the Sabbath rather than on what we cannot do.

John 20:19That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said.

John 20:26Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said.

Acts 20:7On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper.

1 Corinthians 16:2On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.

Revelation 1:10It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit.

Since the time of the early Christians, the first day of the week has been observed as the Lord’s Day. It gradually replaced the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday) as the special day set apart for worship.

Matthew 5:17-18“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.”

Romans 14:5In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable.

There doesn’t seem to be any evidence that the Old Testament command to observe the Sabbath was revoked in New Testament times. However, the New Testament does seem to have less forceful language about it. Most churches today believe that we need a weekly day of rest and an opportunity to set aside regular time to worship God as a community. But they also recognize there are differing convictions about when and how this should be done.