Must Christians still observe the Sabbath? Is it Saturday or Sunday? If the Law is spiritual, how does it affect us today? Many believers ask this question today. Many argue that the day changed from Saturday to Sunday when Jesus rose from the grave, while others hold on to the Saturday (6th day). But is the physical calendar day relevant at all? What are we missing?
The Spiritual Meaning of the Sabbath: Rest and Peace in Jesus
The Old Testament Sabbath, as explained in Hebrews 4, goes beyond physical rest and points to the spiritual rest believers find in Christ through faith. This rest is about trusting in God’s provision and ceasing from self-reliance or works-based efforts to earn righteousness. Instead, it calls us to rely fully on the finished work of Jesus. Hebrews describes this rest as both a present reality—experienced through peace and fellowship with God—and a future promise of eternal rest in His presence. The Israelites’ failure to enter the Promised Land, due to unbelief and disobedience, serves as a warning for believers today to remain faithful and obedient, striving to live according to God’s Word and enter His rest.
“I am the Master of the Sabbath”
When Jesus declared, “I am the Master of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8), He affirmed His authority to fulfill the Sabbath’s ultimate purpose. The Sabbath always intended to direct humanity toward God’s eternal rest, and Jesus, as its fulfillment, offers the true and lasting peace the Sabbath foreshadowed. For New Testament believers, the Sabbath symbolizes a consistent rest and peace found in Jesus, rather than the observance of a specific day, such as the seventh day. By trusting in Christ, we enter into the spiritual Sabbath, resting from striving and finding our complete satisfaction in Him.
The Sabbath is an ongoing call to faith, obedience, and surrender. It is not tied to a day but to a daily relationship with Jesus.
Must Christians still observe the Sabbath?
The Sabbath, therefore, is not about setting aside one day a week but about embracing a perpetual spiritual reality. It transcends the boundaries of time, offering believers rest in Jesus every day. True rest does not come from observing rituals, but from walking closely with Christ, the Master of the Sabbath, who brings us peace both now and forever.
Sabbath defined
Must Christians still observe the Sabbath? Hebrews 4 redefines the Sabbath. It is a spiritual rest found in Jesus rather than a specific day of the week. Jesus declared, “I am the Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8). He shifted the focus away from strict, legalistic observance and toward the deeper purpose of the Sabbath. This purpose is resting in Him through faith. The Sabbath always pointed to a greater reality: the peace and rest believers find in Christ’s finished work. Jesus Christ fulfills The Sabbath, and allows believers to experience it as a consistent, daily spiritual reality rather than confining it to the observance of a particular day.
The purpose of the Sabbath
The purpose of the Sabbath is to honor God and find rest in Him. It is fulfilled through a relationship with Christ. Therefore, it is not binding to observe the seventh day (Saturday) or any specific day.
Colossians 2:16-17 further supports this, stating: “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration, or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
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