A summary of the Sabbath vs Sunday evidence

This is a useful summary of the biblical evidence against sabbath observance and for Sunday observance.

The Resurrection of Christ

• The sabbath is not necessary for Christians – Col 2:14-17, Gal 4:10-11
• Whichever day we keep, we honour God by doing so – Romans 14:5-6
• The weekly sabbath was never called a day of worship in the Bible, and there are no biblical instructions to gather at the temple or synagogues on the sabbath – not in the Old Testament, not in the New Testament
• The 10 Commandments were the words of the Old Covenant – Deut 4:13, Exod 34:28
• The sabbath was the sign of the Old Covenant – Exod 31:13-18, Lev 24:8, Ezek 20:12
• The Old Covenant was given to Israel, not to anyone before – Deut 5:3, Neh 9:14, Ezek 20:12
• The Old Covenant pointed to a better New Covenant – Heb 8, Jer 31:31
• The mediators of the Old Covenant were Moses and the Levitical priesthood but the mediator of the New Covenant is Jesus – Heb 8:6, Heb 12:24
• The New Covenant is Christ’s blood shed for as at Calvary – Luke 22:20
• Jesus lived under the Old Covenant and not everything he did is applicable to Christians – Luke 2:21, Matt 8:4
• For the only Christian gatherings in the Bible where the day of the week is named, the day is Sunday – Acts 20:7, 1 Cor 16:2
• There are no instances mentioned in the Bible of Christians observing the sabbath (except where the practice is criticised – Col 2:14-17, Gal 4:10-11, Romans 14:5-6)
• Supposed instances of Christian sabbath keeping in Acts turn out not to be sabbath keeping at all:
  • Acts 1 – do Christians keep the sabbath in Acts?
  • Acts 13 – do Christians keep the sabbath in Acts?
  • Acts 16 – do Christians keep the sabbath in Acts?
  • Acts 17 – do Christians keep the sabbath in Acts?
  • Acts 18 – do Christians keep the sabbath in Acts?
• There are no instructions in the Bible that Christians should continue keeping the sabbath
• The sabbath was a perpetual sign for all generations, but so were circumcision, incense, and the Levitical priesthood – Gen 17:10-14, Exod 30:8, Exod 29:9 – perpetual signs until they were no longer needed or the end of a covenant came
• The Mosaic law was given at Pentecost for the Old Covenant, and the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost for the New Covenant
• Creation ended on the 7th day of the week. On the 8th day (Shemini Atzeret) the Torah readings ended in Deut 34 and a new cycle of readings began with Gen 1. The Israelites dwelt in booths to remind them of coming out of Egypt. The 8th day ends this, and Jesus’ resurrection on the 8th day reminds Christians of our release from bondage to sin.

Icon of the Resurrection

• Number of important events in the New Testament taking place on the sabbath – zero
• Number of important events in the New Testament taking place on Sunday – several:
  • Jesus Christ rose from the dead on Sunday – Luke 24:1-12
  • Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day (Sunday) – Luke 24:21
  • Christ appeared to the disciples on the road to Emmaus – Luke 24:13
  • Jesus opens their eyes with the Eucharist – Luke 24:30-31
  • Jesus opened the minds of the Apostles to the Scriptures – Luke 24:45
  • Jesus appeared to the disciples without Thomas – John 20:19
  • Jesus appeared to the disciples with Thomas one week later – John 20:26
  • The Apostles were given the Holy Spirit and the power to forgive sins – John 20:19-23
  • The Apostles received their Great Commission to go and teach all nations – Matt 28
  • Jesus told the Apostles to wait in the city until they were to be clothed with power from on high – Luke 24:49
  • On the seventh Sunday after the resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles – Acts 2:1-4
  • Immediately after receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter gave a powerful address on the Gospel resulting in 3000 conversions – Acts 2:41
  • The first Christian gathering where the day of the week was mentioned was on the first day – Acts 20:7
  • Paul instructed that collections be taken up on the first day of the week – 1 Cor 16:1-2

Why Sunday fulfills Saturday theologically and is therefore logical to use as the primary day of worship:

Sabbath:

1. Looks back to the exodus from Egypt
2. Looks back to the old creation that turned to sin
3. Offered rest to God’s chosen nation
4. Old Covenant law
5. Light created on the first day of the week

Sunday:

1. The exodus type fulfilled – Jesus defeated the ultimate death and we are freed from sin
2. We are a new creation in Christ, a better creation than the first – 2 Cor 5:17, Gal 6:15
3. We all find our rest in Jesus, our true sabbath – Matt 11:28, Heb 4
4. New Covenant law leaves us free to celebrate any aspect of Jesus’ life we choose
5. Jesus the light of the world rises on the first day of the week

Galatians 4 highlights those who cling to the Old Covenant law and calls them Hagar, as opposed to those who follow Jesus being symbolised by Sarah.