Introduction
In the article “What is the Importance of the Sabbath for God’s People?“, I will address the relevance of the Sabbath as taught in the Bible, analyzing its origins and the purpose God had in instituting it. Throughout the text, we will explore how God has sanctified the Sabbath since creation, what it represents for human beings, and why keeping this day continues to be significant for Christians. I will also reflect on the implications of the Sabbath as a sign between God and His people, without ignoring the different interpretations and contemporary practices.
Different Interpretations
One of the most controversial topics in Christianity and among its many churches is the observance of a weekly day of rest. We can classify the existence of 3 groups that follow the following interpretations:
- Saturday should be the day of rest.
- Sunday should be the day of rest.
- There is no more weekly day to keep.
“Keeping a day” is understood as when we make it different from the other days of the week and set it aside for a specific purpose (in this case, for religious purposes).
How important is the Sabbath for God’s people? In today’s study, we will analyze the main foundations that validate the observance of the Sabbath as a day of rest within the Bible itself. This study does not aim to analyze the validity and historicity of Sunday as being or not a day of rest, as well as the arguments presented by the third group, regarding the fact that there is no longer a weekly day to be observed. Obviously, both interpretations (2 and 3) will be answered indirectly by the analysis of this study.
It is also important to consider that there are those who are indifferent to this issue. For these people, I ask that you pray to God and carefully analyze what will be presented below. This subject is divided into the following topics:
Created in Eden: When Everything Was Perfect!
The Seventh Day in Creation
Genesis 2:1-3 – “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.“
The first and second chapters of Genesis tell of the creation of our world. The first chapter describes the creation of the first 6 days of the week and everything God did on them. At the beginning of the second chapter, God describes what He did on the Seventh day of the week. On that day, He created nothing, but He finished His creation on that day when He rested, blessed, and sanctified it.
Why did God rest?
The prophet Isaiah comments that God does not grow tired or weary:
Isaiah 40:28 – “Have you not known? Have you not heard? That the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary? His understanding is unsearchable.“
Why then did God rest on the Seventh Day of Creation if He “neither gets tired nor weary“? There is only one plausible answer to this question, and it has to do with the context of creation.
The human being (Adam) was created on the sixth day of creation, that is, the day before the Seventh day. This shows us that when God rested on the Seventh Day, Adam was present at that moment, and saw God resting from the work He had created, as well as the blessing and sanctification given for that day. God’s rest served as an example so that Adam would know what he should do on a day blessed and sanctified by God! There were six days of work that God carried out in His creation, but He rested on the Seventh day, and in this way man should follow as an example. How important is the Sabbath for God’s people?
The Sabbath Was Sanctified at Creation!
Understand that God did not create the Sabbath only for rest, but sanctified it! Soon after creation, God spent the Sabbath day with Adam. According to chapter 2 of Genesis, God explained to him about the trees He had created for consumption, the tree forbidden for consumption, the work he should do, the naming of the animals, etc. As a sanctified day, man should spend the day exclusively with His Creator!
This entire account teaches us some very important lessons about keeping the Sabbath. Consider them:
- God sanctified the Sabbath at the creation of our planet.
- Adam, in his perfection, kept this day.
- There was no sin in the world.
- There are no different ethnicities, peoples, religions or cultures at that time.
Considering the above items, it is clear that keeping the Sabbath was never something restricted to just one people, as is the case with the Jews (many argue that only Jews should keep the Sabbath). Likewise, it is understandable that in God’s Plans keeping the Sabbath is eternal, as it was created in the perfect world, when Adam and Eve still lived in full observance of God’s will and sin had not been practiced by our first parents.
It is also important to note that the Sabbath blessing and sanctification have never been nullified or transferred to another day of the week. There is no biblical basis for such thoughts. The same blessing and sanctification that God performed at creation still remains today, and will continue throughout eternity, since this was God’s original plan.
Made for Man
Mark 2:27 – “And he said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.“
How Important is the Sabbath for God’s People? The above passage is misunderstood by many. There are those who use it to invalidate Jesus’ keeping of the Sabbath, but in reality, He was emphasizing quite the opposite. Jesus reminds us that He did the “Saturday because of man“.
In these words, Christ is affirming that Sabbath keeping is still valid! He is confirming what is written in creation! God created the world in 6 days, and on the Seventh day He rested, blessed and sanctified it. This day was given for man to be in full communion with his Creator.
Again, we are reinforced by Jesus’ words that the Sabbath was not, and never was, restricted to just one nation or people. Jesus did not claim that He made the Sabbath because of “the Jews“, but rather because of the “man“. As long as it exists “man” on the face of the earth, Sabbath keeping will continue to exist, because its purpose is tied to human existence. That is, its purpose is eternal!
It is in the Law of God
The Fourth Commandment of the Law
Exodus 20:8-11 – “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.“
After the liberation of the people of Israel from Egyptian rule, God made His Covenant with the people under Mount Sinai. Moses spent 40 days under the mountain (Exodus 24:12), and there he received the tablet of the 10 Commandments, as well as several other instructions to be given to the people. Unlike all the other instructions given by God, the 10 Commandments were different in that God Himself wrote them with His own finger (Exodus 31:18). They became so important that they were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant in the earthly Sanctuary (Hebrews 9:4).
The Purpose of the Fourth Commandment
Within the Ten Commandments, Sabbath keeping was included in the fourth commandment. In it, man was ordered to work on the first 6 days, but on the seventh day he should cease and rest from all his work, including strangers who were inside his houses. The reason for Sabbath keeping was recalled in the fourth commandment, this reason being the week of creation, where God himself worked on the first 6 days and rested, blessed and sanctified the seventh day.
In the fourth commandment of God’s Law, there is no other reason for keeping the Sabbath than God’s original purpose. Note that it was not a commandment included in the 10 commandments out of exclusive consideration for the Jewish people, but its extension was extended to foreigners who were living alongside the Jewish people. How important is the Sabbath for God’s people?
Characteristics of a Seal
An interesting point is that this is the only commandment within the 10 commandments that presents the owner of the Law. Note that no other commandment makes this statement in a complete way. Only the fourth commandment is the one that presents him as being the Creator of heaven and earth. Without this commandment, it would be impossible to distinguish the author, position and domain that “God” of this Law possesses. In comparison with the seals of the ancient kings, the Sabbath receives the same characteristics as a seal. It possesses the Author, the Office, and the Dominion. In this respect, the Sabbath becomes the “stamp” from the Law of the 10 Commandments:
- Author: “Lord your God” (Yahweh)
- Position: “the Lord made” (Creator)
- Domain: “the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything in them“
Transgression is Sin
Furthermore, transgression of any commandment given by the Lord has always been considered to be sin. This shows us that transgression and failure to observe this day as a holy day is considered to be sin and transgression.
Sin (transgression) is seen as something serious in the eyes of God, because it is a sign of rebellion and of a heart that is not sanctified to the Lord. Unfortunately, today many disregard and become indifferent to the fourth commandment, believing that only “faith” in Jesus would be enough to free them from a conscious transgression. But the apostle James has already warned us with the following words:
James 2:10 – “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point is guilty of breaking all of it.“
In other words, there is no point in keeping 9 commandments and breaking one of them, because we will be considered as having broken all the commandments. God has always required complete observance on the part of His people, and we must be faithful in all aspects that we are aware of at the present time.
Sign of His People
Exodus 31:13, 17 – “Speak therefore unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am the LORD that sanctify you. … It shall be a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.“
Another important factor in relation to keeping the Sabbath is that it presents itself as a “signal” between God and His people. Notice that God Himself declared that Sabbath keeping would be a sign between Himself and those who are part of His people. But why would it be a “signal“. What is the importance of the Sabbath for God’s people?
Notice that by keeping the Sabbath, we are showing the world whom we worship and serve! Keeping the Sabbath holy is the commandment that shows who the God we worship is. Those who keep the Sabbath declare that they worship the Creator of our world. There is no other “God” that requires such a requirement. Only the Creator has a bond with the Seventh day of the week. It is He who sanctified this day, and whoever keeps it will be announcing that he worships the true Creator! In this aspect, the Sabbath becomes a “signal” between God and His people.
The Theory of Evolutionism
Charles Darwin’s theory of evolutionism came to deny the existence of a Creator God. On the other hand, those who keep the Seventh Day holy become living evidence of the existence of this God, as they weekly remember that “In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested.“.
God reinforced the Sabbath as a sign between Him and His people through the prophet Ezekiel in the following words:
Ezekiel 20:12 – “And I also gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.“
Ezekiel 20:20 – “And sanctify my Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.“
The Sabbath is a Sign for Distinction
Notice that the idea of identifying who the God we worship is is explicitly stated through the Sabbath keeping, for thus the Lord God said: “that you may know that I am the Lord your God“. Furthermore, by keeping the Sabbath, we also become holy (separate) from different peoples: “so that they would know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them“.
How important is the Sabbath to God’s people? It is not possible for any people or religion to claim to be the “Sabbath“. God’s chosen people” if these do not have the “signal“that God left to distinguish His people here on earth. Sabbath keeping is fundamental and distinctive in this regard. And this is true even for any religious denomination (church) that holds such a thought!
Obviously, of course, I reinforce that it is not sufficient for any distinction or exclusivity before God. As we saw before in the apostle James 2:10: “”For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point is guilty of breaking all of it.“, that is, it is also valid for those who want to keep the Sabbath but live under the transgression of any other commandment. For God there are no double standards. We must keep all His commandments, even though the Sabbath is distinguished as being a sign for His people.
Last Persecution Involves God’s Commandments
Revelation 12:17 – “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.“
Throughout the history of this world, God’s people have always suffered countless persecutions. Of course, persecution is not something exclusive and restricted only to God’s people. Numerous Gentile and pagan peoples have already suffered persecution. However, biblical prophecy declares that, in the end times, God’s people will suffer one last persecution, being called “remnant of his seed“. The “dragon” presented in the text above is a prophetic symbol for God’s adversary, the cherub who rebelled in heaven. Within this passage, He is described as pursuing the “woman“, that is, the symbol of the church of God. But what are the characteristics presented by those who qualify as being the church of God and the “remnant of his seed“? The passage has two characteristics:
- “keep the commandments of God“
- “testimony of Jesus Christ“
How important is the Sabbath to God’s people? It can only be considered as part of the “remaining” and people of God if we possess these two characteristics. We need to have the “testimony of Jesus Christ“, as well as keeping “the commandments of God“, and among them is included the fourth commandment, that is, Sabbath keeping.
Revelation 14:12 – “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.“
The text above reinforces the characteristics of the saints living in the last days. It is impossible for us to consider ourselves to be God’s people if we do not meet these two prerequisites.
Within this context, between chapters 12 and 14, chapter 13 presents the action of two kingdoms (symbolized by animals/beasts). The second beast will implement the famous “Mark of the Beast“, which will result in this last persecution. In the following study, I make some parallels and analyses about the relationship of this sign with the Law of God.
Conclusion
How Important is the Sabbath for God’s People? In this study, we learned that the Sabbath as a holy day was created by God Himself at the very creation of our planet. Its purpose is eternal, and it was created for human beings. That is, its observance will continue to be fulfilled for all eternity! It was left as a commandment in the Law of God, which was written by His own finger. The Sabbath is the only commandment that distinguishes whose Law it belongs to, and it becomes a sign between God and His people. Furthermore, the last persecution will involve all those who keep God’s commandments, and this will certainly involve those who keep the Sabbath, the Seventh day of the week.
The questions I leave for reflection are: Are we keeping God’s commandments? Which commandments are we considering? And is the fourth commandment of His Law being fulfilled?
May God bless us!
