THE SABBATH

Question:  Why do Christians today not worship God on the Sabbath, especially when it is so important in the Old Testament and was taught by God before the Mosaic Law?  

Answer:  The seventh day of the week was blessed and sanctified by God in Genesis 2:3. The Sabbath was ordained as part of the Mosaic Law in Exodus 20:8-11.   In Deuteronomy 5:12-15, the Israelites were commanded to keep the Sabbath as a memorial of their deliverance from Egypt by God's mighty hand.  In the Old Testament, violating the Sabbath resulted in excommunication from Israel, or even death (Num 15:32-35). 

The New Testament does not equate church worship and Sabbath observance.  The early church gathered together on the first day of the week to commemorate the Lord’s resurrection.   The Sabbath was also a part of the Mosaic Law which was done away in Romans 8:1-4 (cf. Gal. 3:10-24).  It is never repeated as a command for the church.  Believers in Jesus Christ are to observe a moment-by-moment Sabbath or rest in the Lord by faith (Heb. 4:1).

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