Introduction
Is keeping the Sabbath still valid? This is a question that generates debate among Christians of different denominations. Some believe that God established this commandment exclusively for Israel, while others argue that Jesus abolished it with his death. There are also those who claim that the Sabbath continues to be a divine principle for all humanity. In this article, we will explore what the Bible really teaches about this day, analyzing its origin in creation, its purpose, and its relevance for Christians today.
Reflect on the Creation of the World
For many, the commandment to keep the Sabbath is a thing of Israel! For others, this commandment was part of a law that Jesus annulled when he died. According to some, the Church should not fulfill it!
Regardless of your belief, please stop and reflect on the passages below:
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 text of Genesis 2:1-3 is in the context of the Creation of our planet. In the previous verses, God had created everything that exists in our world in 6 days. In this passage, it is reported what God did on the seventh day: He rested, He blessed and He sanctified!
The seventh day of the week, Saturday, was the day when God rested from all His work (not because He was tired, for man is not that He should grow weary). He also blessed and sanctified that day! Sabbath keeping began at creation!
There Were No Peoples and Nations
Consider that at that time there was no nation of Israel, no Romans, pagans, gentiles or any other people. There was only Adam and Eve! There was not even sin, because the fall (transgression of the commandment) only occurred some time later, according to Genesis 3.
The Sabbath as a holy (sanctified) day came into existence before all peoples and even before any covenant made between God and men! But God created the Sabbath only after creating man and not before that, since He formed the human being on the sixth day of creation.
Mark 2:27 – “And he said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.“
Sabbath Keeping: Raised in a Sinless Age
The Sabbath is part of God’s purpose for man to keep and set apart for holy purposes for all eternity, because God created it in a context where sin did not yet exist. Man should keep it forever! For it is beneficial to man in his relationship with God.
As Jesus himself argued, God made the Sabbath for man. In these words, we learn something else. In this statement, Jesus also makes it clear that God did not create the Sabbath just for Jews, Seventh-day Adventists, or Baptists. God made the Sabbath for all mankind! Regardless of what our religion teaches, our duty to the Creator is to keep the Sabbath! It is not Sunday, or Friday, or any other day we want (or even no day at all)! It is the Seventh day of the week, because it was this day that the Lord blessed and sanctified.
Finally, reflect on the words written with God’s own finger in Exodus 20:8-11, and don’t forget them:
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.“
Conclusion: Is it necessary to keep the Sabbath?
Given the biblical evidence, it is clear that keeping the Sabbath was not instituted only for Israel, but for all humanity since creation. God sanctified and blessed the seventh day even before the existence of sin, demonstrating His eternal purpose. Jesus reaffirmed that the Sabbath was made for man, highlighting its spiritual value and its importance in the relationship with God. Therefore, keeping the Sabbath remains relevant for those who wish to follow the principles established by the Creator, honoring the day that He set apart and sanctified.
May God bless us!
