Should We Worship on the Sabbath?
In short, the Sabbath was a “holy day” of rest and worship for God’s chosen people Israel under the Law of Moses. When God concluded the creation week, He rested on the seventh day (Saturday) – blessing it and sanctifying it (Gen. 2:2-3). While this is significant, it is also interesting that God was silent about this until the giving of the law approximately 2,600 years later. In fact, the first time the Sabbath is mentioned by name is in Exodus 16:23 after Israel was delivered from Egyptian bondage. Soon after, with the giving of the Ten Commandments, God said, “Remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy” (20:8). It is important to note, that this law was not given to all peoples, only to Israel. The Sabbath was to remind Israel of their deliverance from Egyptian bondage (Deut. 5:15); and it was a sign between Israel and God, for He had sanctified them (Exod. 31:12-17). For as long as fleshly Israel would exist as a covenant people under the Law of Moses, they were to observe the Sabbath.
However, God did not intend for that old covenant to last forever (Matt. 5:17-18), therefore he ushered in a new and better covenant (Heb. 8) designed for all people (Jew and Gentile) in Christ (Eph. 2:11-18). Interestingly, in the church age (Acts 2 and beyond) the Sabbath is never commanded nor endorsed; nor is there any biblical evidence that the early church ever worshipped on the Sabbath – yet they did on Sunday (Acts 2; 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; cf. Rev. 1:10). Paul assures us that Sabbath keeping was among the “handwriting of requirements” that was nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14-17). Therefore, friends, to worship God acceptably we must do so according to the new covenant, not the old (Jn. 1:17; Gal. 2:16, 21; 3:10-25; 5:1-4; cf. Rom. 2:28-29), otherwise Christ will profit us nothing.