In
conclusion I would like to briefly repeat the clear scriptural
proofs which make it absolutely certain that the Sabbath must be
kept today. First of all it is commanded in the law of God (Exodus
20:8-11). Second of all Jesus Christ said that we are to observe
even the least of the commandments of the law of God in the New
Covenant just as in the Old (Matthew 5:17-20). It is sure that the
Sabbath commandment was not a least commandment but was written by
the finger of God Himself and was a day sanctified long before the
Ten Commandments were given (Genesis 2:4). Given that Christ is
our more perfect sacrifice, circumcision, feast day, and
ceremonial Sabbaths of rest (Leviticus 23) we now observe these
particular things in a superior way and are no longer under the
wall of partition and the commandments contained in ordinances but
we obey these particular things in a new and more fulfilled way
(Ephesians 2:11-18, Colossians 2:13-17, Romans 14, Matthew 5:17).
We also know that we do not observe the entire law of Moses for
salvation (Acts 15:1) which is by faith alone, but rather we
observe it for sanctification as the evidential mark of being
God’s spiritual people (Matthew 5:17-20, 1 John 5:3, Romans
3:31, Matthew 7:21-23, Romans 12:9-21, Rev 22:15, Rev 22:14, Rev
14:12).
As
stated earlier, the Sabbath is one of these commandments of God
that mark the saints. It is called by God in the Old Testament
“My Holy Day” or the “Lord’s Day” (Isaiah 58:13). On
this day God’s pleasure was to be done only. In other words it
is the day that belongs to the Lord (Isaiah 58:13-14). The Sabbath
was to be a day of holy convocation (gathering together), worship,
reading of the law, and rest (Isaiah 66:23, Exodus 20:8-11). The
fact that John is observing this “Lord’s day” in Revelation
is proof that this day is continuing to be observed (Revelation
1:10) by the church. In addition this is demonstrated to be the
first day of the week in the new covenant by evidence that the
apostles are gathering together to break bread with Jesus or with
the Holy Spirit (ie with God) over consecutive Sundays and
worshipping (John 20:19-26, Acts 2:1, Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians
16:1-2). In addition Christ states that the Sabbath is made for
mankind, not simply for ethnic Jews (Mk 2:27). Christ tells us
specific things that can and cannot be done on the Sabbath like
healing/charity (Mt 12:11-12). Finally the scriptures tell us that
we are commanded to meet together (Hebrews 10:25). All of this
combined is proof that it is a perpetual and moral obligation to
observe one day in seven (the first day of the week) as the
Sabbath day.
