The Meaning and Importance of the Sabbath
Author
Rosa
Date
2026-07-07 23:15
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74
The Meaning and Importance of the Sabbath
God’s Gift of the Sabbath
The Sabbath is a holy day established by God in the Bible. It is much more than simply a day of rest. Since creation, the Sabbath has been a special time for restoring our relationship with God, remembering His work of creation and salvation, and worshiping Him. Through the Sabbath, we commemorate the power of God as the Creator, and God has promised abundant blessings to those who keep His commandments. This essay will examine the origin and purpose of the Sabbath, the example set by Jesus, and the biblical day of the Sabbath.
The Origin of the Sabbath
The Sabbath originated at creation when God created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh day. God blessed the seventh day, made it holy, and gave His blessing to it (Genesis 2:1–3). Therefore, the Sabbath was not a human institution created out of necessity but a holy gift that God established for humanity from the very beginning of creation.
The Purpose of the Sabbath
The primary purpose of the Sabbath is to remember God and worship Him. In the Fourth Commandment, God says, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8–11). Through this command, He calls us to remember that He created the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days and rested on the seventh day. God also declared that the Sabbath is a sign between Him and His people so that they may know that He is the Lord who makes them holy (Exodus 31:13–14). Therefore, the Sabbath is not merely a day of physical rest but a holy day to worship the Creator, remember God’s covenant, and strengthen our relationship with Him.
Jesus’ Example of Keeping the Sabbath
Jesus did not abolish the Sabbath. Instead, He faithfully kept it according to His custom (Luke 4:16). Likewise, the apostle Paul observed the Sabbath according to his custom and preached the gospel on that day (Acts 17:2). Jesus kept the Sabbath to set an example for His followers. He said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15). He also said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). By following Jesus’ example and keeping the Sabbath, we demonstrate our love for God and receive the blessings He has promised.
The Biblical Day of the Sabbath
Today, many Christians worship on Sunday, but the Bible clearly identifies the Sabbath. Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, the day after the Sabbath (Mark 16:1, 9). Since Christians commemorate Jesus’ resurrection on Sunday, the first day of the week is Sunday. Therefore, the Sabbath, which comes the day before, is Saturday. According to the Bible, the Sabbath is Saturday, not Sunday.
Honoring God’s Holy Day
Suppose you make an appointment to meet a friend at a park at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, but you mistakenly arrive at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday instead. You would not be able to meet your friend because the appointment was made for a specific day and time. In the same way, God’s appointments should not be changed according to our own preferences. God set apart the Sabbath as a holy day and promised to bless those who honor it. Therefore, we should faithfully keep the Sabbath that God established, remember Him as our Creator, worship Him with sincere hearts, and receive the abundant blessings and true peace that He has prepared for His people.
God’s Gift of the Sabbath
The Sabbath is a holy day established by God in the Bible. It is much more than simply a day of rest. Since creation, the Sabbath has been a special time for restoring our relationship with God, remembering His work of creation and salvation, and worshiping Him. Through the Sabbath, we commemorate the power of God as the Creator, and God has promised abundant blessings to those who keep His commandments. This essay will examine the origin and purpose of the Sabbath, the example set by Jesus, and the biblical day of the Sabbath.
The Origin of the Sabbath
The Sabbath originated at creation when God created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh day. God blessed the seventh day, made it holy, and gave His blessing to it (Genesis 2:1–3). Therefore, the Sabbath was not a human institution created out of necessity but a holy gift that God established for humanity from the very beginning of creation.
The Purpose of the Sabbath
The primary purpose of the Sabbath is to remember God and worship Him. In the Fourth Commandment, God says, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8–11). Through this command, He calls us to remember that He created the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days and rested on the seventh day. God also declared that the Sabbath is a sign between Him and His people so that they may know that He is the Lord who makes them holy (Exodus 31:13–14). Therefore, the Sabbath is not merely a day of physical rest but a holy day to worship the Creator, remember God’s covenant, and strengthen our relationship with Him.
Jesus’ Example of Keeping the Sabbath
Jesus did not abolish the Sabbath. Instead, He faithfully kept it according to His custom (Luke 4:16). Likewise, the apostle Paul observed the Sabbath according to his custom and preached the gospel on that day (Acts 17:2). Jesus kept the Sabbath to set an example for His followers. He said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15). He also said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). By following Jesus’ example and keeping the Sabbath, we demonstrate our love for God and receive the blessings He has promised.
The Biblical Day of the Sabbath
Today, many Christians worship on Sunday, but the Bible clearly identifies the Sabbath. Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, the day after the Sabbath (Mark 16:1, 9). Since Christians commemorate Jesus’ resurrection on Sunday, the first day of the week is Sunday. Therefore, the Sabbath, which comes the day before, is Saturday. According to the Bible, the Sabbath is Saturday, not Sunday.
Honoring God’s Holy Day
Suppose you make an appointment to meet a friend at a park at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, but you mistakenly arrive at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday instead. You would not be able to meet your friend because the appointment was made for a specific day and time. In the same way, God’s appointments should not be changed according to our own preferences. God set apart the Sabbath as a holy day and promised to bless those who honor it. Therefore, we should faithfully keep the Sabbath that God established, remember Him as our Creator, worship Him with sincere hearts, and receive the abundant blessings and true peace that He has prepared for His people.
The Sabbath is a sign between God and His people. Since the Sabbath is a day to commemorate the power of the Creator, not observing the Sabbath is proof that one is not God's people.
The early church observed the Sabbath—God’s commandment—on Saturday.
However, around the 4th century, the Roman Catholic Church abolished the Sabbath, adopted the Roman worship of the sun god, and began holding worship services on Sunday.
The Sabbath disappeared, and many Christians continue to observe Sunday worship.
Only the World Mission Society Church of God keeps the Sabbath of the New Covenant according to the Bible.
Every Sabbath, I keep it with a thankful heart, but reading about its value and blessings reminds me even more of how precious it truly is. It fills my heart with greater gratitude and joy each time. I hope many more people come to keep the Sabbath, a blessing established through the love of Father Ahnsahnghong and God the Mother.
we should faithfully keep the Sabbath established by God and receive His promised blessings.
The Sabbath is important commandment, so we should keep it and let's receive the God's blessings.
The Sabbath is the day that God commanded us to keep holy. If the specific day did not matter, God would not have told us that the Sabbath is the seventh day, which is Saturday. God wants us to receive His blessings by keeping the Sabbath holy. Let us keep the Sabbath holy and receive the blessings that God has promised.
God teaches us throughout the Bible that He recognizes those who keep His Sabbath as His people, granting them the blessing of eternal rest. Come to the World Mission Society Church of God—the only church today that observes the New Covenant Sabbath exactly as written in the Bible—to keep the Sabbath and enter heaven together.