We are to praise the Lord every day. Hebrews 4:1-3 tells us we have entered into our Lord’s rest, i.e. Sabbath. The lesson of the Sabbath is more than setting aside one specific day of the week to worship God. It is a daily worship. We can be at peace, resting by trusting and loving God. Luke 9:23: (NIV) “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
Sabbath-keeping on the seventh day of the week was the Fourth Commandment of the Law Covenant. See Exodus 20:8-11.
Jesus’ death removed the control of the Law over us. To any recognizing the liberty in which Christ has made us free, there can be no bondage to the observance of any day. The Apostle Paul states that Jesus has “blotted out the handwriting of ordinances which was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; …therefore, henceforth, no man should judge us in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days, which are a shadow of things to come. …Wherefore, if we are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances?” (Colossians 2:14,16,17,20) To those in Christ, there is no law on the subject except that of Love. They may celebrate any or no day according to their judgment (Romans 14:5) as to what would glorify God and bless men.
The Law compelled a rest every seven days, and mankind seems to require it. These are excellent reasons why a rest day should be observed. Our love of God, our desire to worship Him and to be with His children are some of the best reasons for observing such a day.
Which of the seven days would be the best to observe? The early church decided that the first day of the week would be appropriate. On that day, Jesus rose from the dead. He met with his disciples and explained the Scriptures (Luke 24:27, 32). Accordingly, we find that they commonly met on that day, even before they came to fully appreciate their liberty. For example, Pentecost came on the first day of the week (Acts 2:1). Other examples of meetings taking place on the first day can be found in Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:2.
To keep the Fourth Commandment and to fail in any other point condemns a person to death under the Law covenant. For “whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). Therefore, the entire Law covenant was set aside because of human imperfection. Another covenant, written and sealed with the blood of Christ, takes its place – the covenant which speaks of favor, life, and peace through the righteousness of Him who bought us with his own precious blood.
So how do we answer someone who feels strongly about selecting one day of the week over others as a holy day of worship or rest? We gladly allow the selection of days to depend upon that person’s religious belief. Let no one attempt to judge another in his manner of observing the Sabbath or holy days. No one has the right to judge his fellow man in this regard. But let every man be fully convinced in his own mind (Romans 14:4,5). If anyone presumes to judge another in these matters, he is violating a direct command of the Lord as expressed by one of his inspired apostles (Colossians 2:16). If anyone should say that we are not saved and that we are lost because we do not observe some special day, ask him gently but firmly – “Who made thee a judge?”
For the same reasons enumerated above, the other Holy Days prescribed by the Jewish Law no longer apply.
