{"id":42380,"date":"2019-08-30T21:22:34","date_gmt":"2019-08-30T18:22:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=42380"},"modified":"2025-04-08T11:43:28","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T08:43:28","slug":"what-is-the-true-sabbath-is-it-saturday-or-sunday-which-day-should-we-worship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2019\/08\/30\/what-is-the-true-sabbath-is-it-saturday-or-sunday-which-day-should-we-worship\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the True Sabbath? Is It Saturday or Sunday? Which Day Should We Worship?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Question:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Is the true Sabbath on Saturday or Sunday? Are Christians required to observe a specific day of worship? What does the Bible really say?<\/p>\n

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1. The Meaning of Sabbath: A Shadow of Spiritual Rest<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The word \u201cSabbath\u201d<\/strong> comes from the Hebrew word Shabbat<\/em>, meaning “rest” or “cease.”<\/strong> In the Old Testament, the Sabbath was the seventh day of the week (Saturday), set apart as a holy day of rest and worship for the people of Israel (see Exodus 20:8\u201311<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

However, the Sabbath command was a shadow<\/strong>\u2014a symbolic pointer to something greater that would come through Christ.<\/p>\n

Colossians 2:16\u201317 (NKJV)<\/strong>
\n“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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\u00a0Jesus Christ: Our True Sabbath Rest<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jesus fulfilled the law, including the Sabbath law (see Matthew 5:17<\/strong>). In Him, we find our ultimate spiritual rest<\/strong>\u2014freedom from sin, legalism, and striving for salvation through works.<\/p>\n

Matthew 11:28\u201330 (ESV)<\/strong>
\n\u201cCome to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest… and you will find rest for your souls.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Hebrews 4:9\u201310 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n\u201cThere remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God\u2019s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

True Sabbath for the believer is not merely resting one day a week\u2014it is resting in the finished work of Christ<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0Worshiping God Is Not Limited to a Specific Day<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the New Covenant, worship is no longer tied to a specific day or place. Worship is now a matter of spirit and truth<\/strong>\u2014daily, heartfelt devotion to God.<\/p>\n

John 4:23\u201324 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n\u201cA time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth…\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Apostle Paul warned against elevating special days or seasons as requirements for righteousness.<\/p>\n

Galatians 4:9\u201311 (ESV)<\/strong>
\n\u201c…How can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles… You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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The Example of the Early Church: Worship on the First Day<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While Saturday was the Sabbath under the Law, the early Christians began meeting on Sunday<\/strong>, the first day of the week, in remembrance of Christ\u2019s resurrection (see Mark 16:9<\/strong>). It became known as \u201cthe Lord\u2019s Day\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Acts 20:7 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n\u201cOn the first day of the week we came together to break bread\u2026\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

1 Corinthians 16:2 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n\u201cOn the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income…\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This shift shows that the day itself was not the focus<\/strong>\u2014what mattered was gathering in the name of Jesus<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0Do All Days Belong to the Lord? Yes.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Every day belongs to the Lord. Christians are not bound to the Old Covenant Sabbath laws.<\/p>\n

Romans 14:5\u20136 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n\u201cOne person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord…\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The point is this: worship must come from the heart<\/strong>, not from the calendar.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0Should We Still Gather Weekly?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Yes, regular fellowship is important. While we are free in Christ, we are encouraged not to neglect meeting together with other believers.<\/p>\n

Hebrews 10:24\u201325 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n\u201cAnd let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another\u2014and all the more as you see the Day approaching.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Whether that gathering happens on Saturday, Sunday, or another day, it is the spirit and purpose of the gathering<\/strong> that matters most.<\/p>\n

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In conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n

So, when is the \u201creal\u201d Sabbath?<\/strong><\/p>\n