Must Christians cease from work on Saturdays?

[timothyu]

In Ephesians 2:10 we have been made new creations in Christ to do good works, not in order to reject God's instructions for how to do good works.

Yes, but I am not talking of what we were told to do in this creation. We are to live in the next and act accordingly.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Hello! I hear some argue that the Sabbath is an eternal law, not part of the law of Moses. Also, from what I can tell, the Bible always refers to the Sabbath as the seventh day (i.e., Saturday).

If the Sabbath is the seventh day and if we must keep the Sabbath even today, then we'd be required to cease from work on Saturdays. Are at least one of these two if's incorrect, or do we need to cease working on Saturdays?

Mat 5:18-19 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

As Jesus said the law will not pass away until he returns. We should be following the law, at least in principle. The Sabbath is important as a day of rest, and as a day set aside for worship. We should be trying to keep the sabbath.

 

[Torah Keeper]

2.) The Colossians were keeping God's feasts, they were being judged by pagans because they were keeping them, and Paul was encouraging them not to let anyone judge them for keeping them.

Exactly!! I am glad others understand what Paul was talking about instead of twisting the scriptures to their own destruction.

 

[Kilk1]

Okay, so here are my thoughts. Since all this was new to me, I decided to take last Saturday off (I usually have Sundays and Mondays off, but my schedule was flexible enough for me to change it) just in case I've been wrong all this time. That said, after putting a lot of thought into the matter, I seem to see three arguments favoring the view that the Sabbath is a Mosaic law, not a universal law for all mankind. I don't want to be wrong, though, and so I started a new thread to have my case tested by those who see things differently. For anyone else who's interested, please see the link below:

The Sabbath: Universal law or Mosaic shadow?

Thanks,
Kilk1

 

[SkyWriting]

Hello! I hear some argue that the Sabbath is an eternal law, not part of the law of Moses. Also, from what I can tell, the Bible always refers to the Sabbath as the seventh day (i.e., Saturday).

If the Sabbath is the seventh day and if we must keep the Sabbath even today, then we'd be required to cease from work on Saturdays. Are at least one of these two if's incorrect, or do we need to cease working on Saturdays?

We rest in Jesus. He is now the Sabbath. We "Rest" in Jesus, anytime. Not any special day.

Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Hebrews 4:9
So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,

Hebrews 4:1-16
Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” ...

Hebrews 8:13
In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Mark 2:27
And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

 

[chad kincham]

I do. If you believe that He and His commands are the same yesterday, today, and for eternity, it's just wise.

Except circumcision and animal sacrifices were also commanded by God.

The NT makes it clear those commands are defunct.

God never changes, but His covenant has changed to the new, better one.

The fact is God never commanded anyone that they must keep a seventh day sabbath, until He gave it to Israel as a covenant. sign between Him and Israel, and as a remembrance of Him setting the Israelites free from bondage in Egypt.

 

[Sheila Davis]

Hello! I hear some argue that the Sabbath is an eternal law, not part of the law of Moses. Also, from what I can tell, the Bible always refers to the Sabbath as the seventh day (i.e., Saturday).

If the Sabbath is the seventh day and if we must keep the Sabbath even today, then we'd be required to cease from work on Saturdays. Are at least one of these two if's incorrect, or do we need to cease working on Saturdays?

It is written to "remember" the Sabbath and keep it holy. He knew what the future held - as it is, many people have to work on the 7th day to survive. He did not say thou shalt not, but he said remember. I believe after the resurrection of Christ, whether one keeps the 7th Day of rest Sabbath or not - does not determine your fate for or against salvation / redemption but he does want one to remember it and to keep it holy.

What does holy mean:
Holy - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
Your heart - your mind - is what I believe is how we keep the 7th Day Sabbath holy in these trying times.

There are many who believe and seemingly shows Christ rose on the 7th day Sabbath.
Here are 3 that dispute Resurrection being on the first day of the week which is Sunday by the Roman calendar.
The Resurrection Was Not on Easter Sunday!
Jesus' Resurrection Day
Jesus Wasn't Crucified on Friday or Resurrected on Sunday: How long was Jesus in the tomb?

It is written - Jesus said he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it _ Matthew 5:17
Jesus said if we love him keep his commandments _ John 14:15
The commandment is to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.

 

[pasifika]

Hello! I hear some argue that the Sabbath is an eternal law, not part of the law of Moses. Also, from what I can tell, the Bible always refers to the Sabbath as the seventh day (i.e., Saturday).

If the Sabbath is the seventh day and if we must keep the Sabbath even today, then we'd be required to cease from work on Saturdays. Are at least one of these two if's incorrect, or do we need to cease working on Saturdays?

We need to understand whether the "Sabbath" itself means 7th day or means to "cease from work" then we can understand how its use in the Bible (Old and New Testament). Thanks

 

[bèlla]

We observe the Sabbath and use it as a time of slowing and connection. There is a rhythm that accompanies the Spirit and I enter rest naturally without effort.

I want to move in harmony with the calendar and flow in Him. We’re being more intentional in the new year to bring this to pass.

~bella

 

[Thera]

Okay, so here are my thoughts. Since all this was new to me, I decided to take last Saturday off (I usually have Sundays and Mondays off, but my schedule was flexible enough for me to change it) just in case I've been wrong all this time. That said, after putting a lot of thought into the matter, I seem to see three arguments favoring the view that the Sabbath is a Mosaic law, not a universal law for all mankind. I don't want to be wrong, though, and so I started a new thread to have my case tested by those who see things differently. For anyone else who's interested, please see the link below:

The Sabbath: Universal law or Mosaic shadow?

Thanks,
Kilk1

Before you start worrying about whether to observe the Sabbath or not, I'd make sure that all the males in your household are circumcised (Gen 7:14). Also, it's supposed to be done on the 8th day, so even if you won't be needing the clippers, you may have some repenting to do if your males were done, but you were off with the timing. Also, be careful what Paul says about this in Galatians 5:12 - you don't want to lose anything important. Remember that this is only the start - there are another 612 laws that you should be following to the letter. And a failure in any of them is a failure in all!

But if the above seems too hard (and by the time you get to 612, I'm sure it will), remember what Galatians 5:1 says:
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
And don't worry about how to keep the Sabbath, which is fulfilled in Christ for all who believe on Him.