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          One of the most misunderstood Bible doctrines is the teaching of observing the Sabbath. Where does God stand on the issue? True followers of Christ realize that salvation does not rest upon the observance of any particular day. Yet this issue has led to a great many heresies, with even entire sects emerging because of their own slant on the subject. It deserves to be clarified, so that God’s people can enjoy all the benefits intended by our Heavenly Father.

          God gave us the Sabbath initially through example—by creating the world and universe in six days, and resting from His labors on the seventh day (see Genesis 2:1,2). The Jews were then instructed to follow this example in the fourth of the Ten Commandments…

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, 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

          The actual Sabbath is on Saturday; observed from Friday evening at 6 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday evening.

          The fact that keeping the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments, and that four entire verses are devoted to it, shows it’s importance in God’s eyes. Consider this following example;

And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses. Numbers 15:32-36

          You don’t get more serious than this!

          During His earthly ministry, Jesus went a long way to repeal the keeping of the Sabbath as a commandment. The giving a repealing of a commandment should be taken very seriously; studied diligently to see exactly why it came about, and how the Lord intends us to regard it today.

          The Jewish Laws concerning the Sabbath had become utterly corrupt. God gives us instructions that are ultimately for our own best welfare. He does not intend them to be a hurtful yoke of religious tradition. Jesus sums it up in Mark 2:27;

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

          Remember also:

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31,32

          In the gospels, consider these examples given in Matthew 12:1-14; Mark 2:23-3:6; Luke 6:1-11, 13:10-16, 14:1-5; John 5:5-16, 9:6-16. These are large sections addressing the subject, not an isolated verse or two. It is very important to Jesus that we understand His meaning and intent in regard to keeping the Sabbath.

And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him. Mark 3:1-6

          The Pharisees (religious leaders) had made the fourth commandment a grievous yoke upon God’s people. So much so, that they would not even allow a healing to take place! Look what they said about Jesus after such a healing:

Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. John 9:24

          Later on in the New Testament, we are given more in the way of instruction regarding the subject.

One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. Romans 14:5,6

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: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Colossians 2:16,17

          Unfortunately for most believers, they do not take a day of rest. Being freed from keeping the Sabbath as a rule, they miss the earnest intent God has for it in our lives. Satan has created a 24/7/365 society, so that there is always something to keep busy with. This serves to greatly diminish any relationship with Jesus Christ; our sinful natures always want to pull away from holiness, and the Lord God almighty. We are so busy along life’s journey, we never notice that the route we are taking will bring us straight into the lake of fire. Yes, we can be pulled back into sin in a way that will eternally separate us from God. Please refer to our section on Eternal Security for more information.

          Times of rest are not watching football, surfing the internet, shopping, playing video games, or reading fictional novels. Our minds and bodies need to rest in the Lord, and be stayed in Him.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3

          Even keeping busy “in the Lord” is not acceptable, when God has told you to rest! You cannot honor Him with your own self-determined values. We must serve our God as He directs; for our greatest sincerity will not win His approval, or cause Him to reverse prior directives given! (See I Samuel 15) In short, a self-determined godly lifestyle is not the same as being led by the Holy Spirit.

          Please understand this clearly—I am not telling you that you must observe the Sabbath (literally or generally) to be saved. What I am saying is that keeping too busy keeps Jesus out of the leadership role in our lives. Doing what we think or feel to be right by itself is a trap. Taking time to seek the Lord and submit to His leading is to be certain we are walking in Christ.

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31,32

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:23

          Do you love Jesus Christ? Have you been washed in His blood, cleansed from sin through it? Make time to be with the Lord alone. Use the principle of the Sabbath that God gave to us. Seek Him, serve Him—be delivered from the sinful grasp of your busy world.

          See also: Exodus 16:23-29, 31:13; Leviticus 19:3,30; Deuteronomy 5:12-14; Nehemiah 9:14; Isaiah 56:2-6, 58:13,14; Jeremiah 17:21,22; Ezekiel 20:12-24, 22:26, 44:24; Romans 14:5,6; Colossians 2:16

WARNING:  To avoid falling away, return to the pure Word of God; which is the King James Bible. Revised translations are not small word alterations meant to bring clarity! Major doctrinal changes have occurred, which will bring doubt and destroy your faith. To follow these new “versions” of the truth, is to build your spiritual house upon sand, and become as the ones reflected in Matthew 7:21-23. Please use this entire passage, Matthew 7:21-27.

            Satan means to deceive you into sincerely following his alternate “truth.” You are really being set up to fall, and serve the antichrist.

            Pray and seek God diligently in this matter; for time is short. See also our Bible Version section and the section on Eternal Security.