“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:” Colossian 2:16 (KJV)

I was recently asked about Christian observance to the Sabbath day on Saturdays in respect to the observance of the Lords Day on Sundays. The observance of the Lords Day on Sundays is not a replacement of the Sabbath day observance that was required of the nation of Israel under the laws of Moses handed down by God in the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:8 (KJV) states: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” The Lords Day is a memorial of Christ’s resurrection; Acts 20:7 (KJV) states: “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.”  

What does the scripture teach us about the observance of holy days or observances? Colossian 2:16 (KJV) states: “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:” observance to weekly days of worship, whether it is Saturday, Sunday or any other day, should never be allowed to become a matter of religious legalism or the dependence on moral law rather than on personal religious faith.

Matthew 12:8 (KJV) states: “For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”  He instituted the law and is the only one who has the authority to interpret it. It is noteworthy to say and remember that the Sabbath day was and always will be the seventh day of the week or Saturday. All human religions in some form or the other, place men under the bondage of observing holy days, monthly festivals, or weekly holidays. The Christian is not to be judged by others if he fails to observe religious days or eat or abstain from certain meats and drinks.

The laws were given to show men their need for God, it was impossible for them to follow and keep the laws without sin; Christ died on the cross, was buried and resurrected for all our sins. He alone has reconciled us to God. Nothing that we can do can earn that right; it is a free gift from God…. salvation!

Therefore, religious observances should not make the child of God to move backwards to the letter of the law. When we get bogged down in the decision of which day to serve and worship God; we have lost sight of the real purpose the law was given to man. Christ adhered to the laws of Moses and insisted that it must be fulfilled; Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. It was given to show the people their sinfulness, drive them towards God and His unconditional love.

James 2:10 (KJV) states: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” No man could live up to the law and the penalty of the law which is death. Christ died as a substitute for us guilty lawbreakers even though He was sinless. He did not lay aside the law, but he met the full demands of the low by fulfilling its strict requirements in His life and death. This does not mean that the Christian is lawless, but Christ becomes our rule of life.

So, because of what Christ has done in His atoning work for us all; it becomes a heart issue; the Sabbath was a type and a shadow of better things to come, we are to glorify God every day of our lives. The scripture specifically admonishes us about corporate worship: Hebrews 10:25 (KJV) states: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  And the Psalmist states: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

Our ultimate goal is to say with the Psalmist in 34:1 (KJV), “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”  By obedience to the commandments of God, He is to be reverence, worshipped and praised forever.