Q: Do Christians still adhere to the Sabbath Day laws established under the Old Covenant?

The word “Sabbath” is derived from the word in Hebrew meaning rest. God established the seventh day of creation as a day of rest (Gen. 2:1-3).  This day was not for God, but as Jesus would later tell us, the Sabbath is for man (Mk. 2:27). Under the Law, the LORD intended the Sabbath to be a day to remember the LORD as the sovereign Creator, and for a time for His covenant people to set aside for rest and worship (Ex. 20:8-10; 35:2-3). However, Paul makes clear that this Sabbath Day observance (which is Saturday on our, western calendar) is no longer required:  “16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ” (Col. 2:16-17).  This is reaffirmed by evidence given by Luke in Acts 20:7 that the Church gathered on the first day of the week (i.e., Sunday). Church history indicates this was likely instituted on Sunday because our Lord Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week (i.e., Sunday).  A ritual still in practice by the Church.  

Helpful to understand this transition is the reality that we are a part of the new creation.  The old creation is cursed, and it longs for the revealing of the Sons of God (Rom. 8:22 ).  However, as Paul makes clear, we are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17), under a New Covenant (Heb. 8:13), and citizens of the kingdom to come (Phil. 3:20), which Christ will usher in fully and completely in the new heavens and the new earth (Rev. 21:1-4).

Important qualifier 

How strict should the Church be when implementing rest on the Lord’s Day?  Should believers abstain from all work?  More precisely, do they have to?  For the reasons set forth above, strict adherence to the Sabbath Day laws does not seem to be placed upon the New Covenant family of God. Absolute abstention from work does not seem to be in order.  However, Paul’s words in Romans offer an important qualifier to that statement.  In Rome, there were issues that believers did not agree upon.  One of those, seems to be the treatment of the Sabbath Day: “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike.  Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord . . . Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother” (Rom. 14:5-6, 13).  Why let one observe the Sabbath and not hinder them by prohibiting strict adherence to rest?  Paul tells us later on in the context of people not eating certain foods offered to pagan idols, though clearly food makes no one unclean.  Specifically, Paul writes “It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin” (Rom. 14:21-23).  In other words, by forcing, pressuring, and/or guilt-tripping a believer not to rest when they are fully convinced that they –must— abstain from all work on Sunday, you have become a stumbling block for your brother or sister, causing them to sin because they are acting under pressure/duress and not faith.

What the position championed here does not mean

This does not mean that the Church forgets that God is the sovereign creator of all things.  This does not mean that the Church should put taboo on the concept of rest.  New Testament Scripture makes clear, as well as the Old Testament, that we should realize that God is the only one self-sufficient.  We are in need of rest. Taking time to rest is a reminder that we are dependent upon God for all things, as both Savior and Sustainer of the universe.  Yes, the Lord’s Day seems to be a fitting day to rest as much as possible!  Furthermore, we should seriously consider this principle as it applies not just to a day of rest but how the balance of work and rest should fit into our entire schedule. In other words, we should never forget our need of rest, Monday through Sunday, not just on Sunday. This means setting aside plenty of time for physical rest (sleep) and relaxation in the evenings (when possible). We are designed for work, but as God’s creative order reminds us, yes, as we await glorification, we are still in need of some rest.  We should never forget our limitations or the limitless God who saves us and sustains us.

Therefore, the short end of it all is this: The Sabbath Day was instituted by God for His people under the Old Covenant.  Under the New Covenant, we are no longer obligated to keep the strict Sabbath Day laws.  Evidence in support of this is found in Paul’s letter to the Colossians, Luke’s record in Acts, and Paul’s letter to the Romans.  Nevertheless, there are some believers who believe they should strictly adhere to the Sabbath Day laws of rest (not on Saturday, but on Sunday).  Pursuant to Romans 14, we should be sensitive to this conviction and therefore keep our brothers and sisters from stumbling, and do so out of love for our neighbor by respecting there position on Sabbath rest.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (2 Cor. 10:31) (emphasis added).