Beliefs: Sabbath, The

The Sabbath is a regularly recurring holy day. Keeping it is basic to a Christian's relationship with God. When He rested on the seventh day at creation, God set it apart, reaffirming it to Israel in the wilderness by giving it as the fourth of the Ten Commandments in the section Jesus summarized as showing how to love God. Idolatry and Sabbath breaking were largely responsible for Israel's downfall. Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, clearly taught that the Sabbath is made for man. He and His apostles kept it, and it is nowhere abrogated either by command or example in the New Testament. The prophets show the Sabbath being kept after Christ's return.

Scripture References:

Genesis 2:1-3; 26:1-5; Exodus 16:4-30; 20:8-11; 31:13; Leviticus 23:1-3; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Matthew 22:37-40; Ezekiel 20:12-16, 20, 24; Mark 2:27-28; Luke 4:16; Acts 17:2; 18:4, 11; Hebrews 4:4-10; Isaiah 58:13-14; 66:22-23; Ezekiel 45:17; 47:3-4, 12

From the Library: Sabbath

The Purpose of the Sabbath

Sermonette by Craig Sablich

The Sabbath enables us to learn spiritual principles rather than a set of rules, and to exercise righteous judgment, aligning our actions with God's purpose.

God's Sabbath

Bible Study by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The fourth commandment is to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. The seventh-day Sabbath is more than a day of rest; it is a day devoted entirely to God, serving as a regulator and barometer of our relationship with Him. The Sabbath was made by God on the seventh day of Creation, as described in Genesis 2:2-3, and it is …

Did God Change the Sign From the Sabbath to the Holy Spirit?

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

A common idea is that the Sabbath is the sign of the Old Covenant, but the Holy Spirit is the sign of the New. Yet the seventh day has been holy since creation.

The Sabbath: Creation

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Sabbath plays a vital role in God's continuing creation of His sons and daughters, as it is a day set apart for spiritual work and growth. God did not merely rest after the creation week; He continues to work, and this is exemplified in the weekly Sabbath meetings with His people. The Sabbath, as described in Leviticus 23, …

Remember the Sabbath Day

Sermonette by Hunter D. Swanson

All of God's people have at times felt overwhelmed by grief and exhaustion, needing a genuine rehabilitative rest. The Sabbath restores spiritual strength.

Sabbathkeeping (Part 4)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Sabbath holds a significant place in God's purpose for mankind, reflecting its importance to each of us. It is not merely a day for worship, but a specific day designated by God, for no other day will suffice. God, in His sovereignty, has the right to set such commands, and our role is to submit, recognizing that deviations …

The Fourth Commandment (Part Two): Christ's Attitude Toward the Sabbath

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

In the Gospels, questions about the Sabbath center on how to keep it, not whether it should be kept. The way Jesus approached the Sabbath gives us an example.

Sabbathkeeping (Part 2)