THE Seventh-Day Sabbath — Answering Common Questions with Scripture

THE Seventh-Day Sabbath — Answering Common Questions with Scripture

Welcome back, friends.

In our last episode, we talked about God’s call to stop — to remember the seventh-day Sabbath as a gift rooted in creation, affirmed in the Ten Commandments, and honored by Jesus Himself.

Today, we’re going to do something important.

We’re going to slow down and thoughtfully address some of the most common questions and objections people raise when the seventh-day Sabbath is discussed.

Not to win arguments.
Not to divide believers.
But to let Scripture speak clearly, calmly, and honestly.

Question 1: “Didn’t Jesus do away with the Sabbath?”

Short answer: No.

Jesus never abolished the Sabbath.
He corrected false teachings about it.

Jesus said:

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”

To fulfill does not mean to erase — it means to bring to full meaning.

Jesus kept the Sabbath.
He taught on the Sabbath.
He healed on the Sabbath.

And when accused of breaking it, He responded:

“The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

If Jesus ended the Sabbath, He wouldn’t call Himself Lord of something obsolete.

Question 2: “Didn’t the resurrection change the Sabbath to Sunday?”

The resurrection of Christ is central to our faith — amen.

But nowhere in Scripture does God say the Sabbath was changed because of it.

There is no command in the Bible transferring Sabbath holiness from the seventh day to the first day.

The resurrection is celebrated every day by believers.
The Sabbath is a specific day God blessed at creation.

These are two different truths.

The New Testament mentions believers gathering on the first day of the week — but gathering is not the same as Sabbath sanctification.

Scripture never calls Sunday the Sabbath.
Never commands rest on Sunday.
Never blesses the first day the way Genesis blesses the seventh.

Question 3: “Isn’t the Sabbath just for Jews?”

This is a common belief — but it doesn’t match Scripture.

The Sabbath was created in Genesis, not Exodus.
That’s before there was a Jew.

Jesus said:

“The Sabbath was made for man.”

Not for Israel only.
Not for Jews only.
For man — humanity.

Isaiah even speaks of foreigners who keep the Sabbath and are welcomed by God.

The Sabbath predates Israel and extends beyond it.

Question 4: “Doesn’t Paul say we shouldn’t judge over Sabbath days?”

This usually points to passages like Colossians 2 and Romans 14.

In Colossians, Paul is addressing ceremonial Sabbaths — feast days connected to sacrifices and yearly festivals.

These were shadows pointing to Christ.

The weekly seventh-day Sabbath is different.
It predates the ceremonial system.
It stands in the Ten Commandments — written by God’s own finger.

Paul never tells believers to stop keeping the Sabbath.
He tells them not to be judged by human traditions and ritual requirements.

Paul himself continued Sabbath worship — even among Gentiles.

Question 5: “If we keep the Sabbath, aren’t we saved by works?”

This is an important question.

Keeping the Sabbath does not save anyone.

We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

But obedience is the fruit of salvation — not the cause.

We don’t keep the Sabbath to be saved.
We keep it because we are saved.

Sabbath-keeping is actually an act of faith, not works.

It says:
“I trust God enough to stop.”
“I believe the work is finished.”

Question 6: “Doesn’t Hebrews say the Sabbath is spiritual now?”

Hebrews does say we enter God’s rest by faith.

But it also says:

“There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.”

The word used means Sabbath observance.

Hebrews doesn’t cancel the Sabbath — it deepens it.

The weekly Sabbath becomes a sign pointing to eternal rest.

A symbol doesn’t disappear when its meaning grows — it becomes richer.

Question 7: “Isn’t Sabbath-keeping divisive?”

Anything rooted in Scripture can become divisive if handled without love.

But truth itself is not the enemy of unity.

We don’t keep the Sabbath to separate ourselves from other Christians.
We keep it to draw closer to God.

We extend grace to those who see it differently.
And we walk humbly with what Scripture reveals.

Closing Reflection

Friends, the Sabbath is not about superiority.
It is about surrender.

It’s not about earning favor.
It’s about trusting grace.

The seventh-day Sabbath stands as a weekly reminder:

God is Creator.
Christ is Redeemer.
The work is finished.
And rest is holy.

May we listen carefully.
Walk gently.
And stop — in the name of God.

Amen.