“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, You shall surely observe My Sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (Exod. 31:12- 13, NAS. See also Exod 20:8 and Deut. 5:12-15).

Is the Sabbath Day Still Holy?

Do you remember when there were certain things that your parents would not allow you to do on Sunday? Do you know there was a time when women did not cook or wash on Sunday? Once there were what was called Blue Laws, which prohibited dancing, business, sports games and many other activities on Sunday. Can you imagine a time when the malls were closed on Sunday?

Today our Sundays are filled with banking, grass cutting, shopping, odd jobs around the house, church activities, school activities, drinking, and other pursuits. What happened? Is the Sabbath Day still holy?.

God laid down this principle: six days His children could labor and do all their work, but the seventh day was to be the Sabbath of the Lord. In Old Testament times, the Sabbath was the last day of the week, or Saturday. The Sabbath was to serve as a holy day and a day of rest for both man and animals, symbolic of God’s rest after His work in the creation. The shift occurred as a result of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the first day of the week or Sunday (Acts 20:7). The early church began to celebrate the Sabbath (Sunday) as a day of rest and worship on the first day of the week.

While it is true the commandment to keep the Sabbath (Exod. 20:8) is the only one of the Ten Commandments not repeated after the day of Pentecost, and Paul did admonish his readers to be cautious in observance of Sabbath days and special days, (Col. 2:16 and Rom 14:5), the early church did come together for worship, rest and fellowship on the first day of the week. The Old Testament Sabbath had to do with the law, duty, attempting to be acceptable to God and it was wrought by the flesh. The New Testament Sabbath (Sunday) has to do with grace, the finished work of Christ, worship, an assurance that one is acceptable to God and is wrought by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The Sabbath day is still holy. However, we keep it holy, not because we are required to, but rather because it is a matter of the heart and of our relationship with God. While there may be no written requirement nor prescribed manner of its observance, the yielded Christian (Rom. 12:1-2) who knows that the Sabbath (Sunday) commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ or risen Savior (I Co. 16:1-2) would want to make this day special and sacred. We should honor God with a Sabbath (Sunday) day of rest and worship.

What can I do on the Sabbath (Sunday)? Christians are not guided by rules and regulations, but by God’s grace and the Spirit within. I do what I do out of adoration, reverence and thanksgiving to the Lord. This day should be a day of rest, renewal, restoration, reflection, relaxation, and reverence.

I believe that the scriptures and the history of the early church affirm that the Sabbath (Sunday) is still holy. We should tithe one day out of the week to God. The Sabbath (Sunday) is God’s gift to the church. How will you treat His gift?