Why Saturday Church?

From the dawn of time, the seventh-day Sabbath has stood as a beacon of God's love and intention for humanity. It's not just a tradition or a mere day of the week; it's a divine institution with deep roots in the creation narrative. When we flip open the pages of Genesis, we find God, after six days of crafting the universe, choosing to rest on the seventh day. This wasn't because He was tired but to set it apart as a unique time for rest and reflection (Genesis 2:2-3) ¹⁾. Just as the sun and air and water are essential to human life, so God created the Sabbath.

Some might argue that the Sabbath was just for the Israelites, but that's not the whole story. Yes, the Ten Commandments did instruct them to “Remember the Sabbath day to set it apart as holy” (Exodus 20:8). But this wasn't just a rule for them; it was a gift. A gift of time. A gift of connection. A gift that wasn't limited to one group of people but extended to anyone willing to enter into a relationship with God.

The Sabbath was included in the Ten Commandments, but it did not originate with them nor was it given only to the Jews. The Sabbath was established at Creation, long before there was a Jewish people. It was given to humanity itself, for all people, for all time.

At Sinai, the Israelites had just been freed from hundreds of years of slavery and idolatry in Egypt. Many non-Israelites also joined them in the exodus. Consequently, the law of God was not well known to the people of God, forgotten by most and never known to many. Thus, the tablets of stone were not given to establish the law of God, but as a reminder of them. They are the eternal, unchanging laws of God and they are in effect today and will persist throughout all time.

When we talk about the moral law, it's essential to understand that its roots go way deeper than the event at Mount Sinai. While the Ten Commandments were formally given to the Israelites at Sinai, inscribed in stone by God's own hand, this writing of them did not bring them into existence. The principles they contain have been woven into the fabric of creation from the very beginning.

Consider the Sabbath, which we've already discussed. It was established during the creation week, long before the Israelites or the event at Sinai (Genesis 2:2-3). This shows that God's intention for a day of rest and reflection was part of His design for humanity from the start.

There are also numerous instances in the Bible, before Sinai, where God's moral standards were clearly understood and expected. For example:

• Cain and Abel: Cain knew it was wrong to murder his brother Abel (Genesis 4:8-12). God's response to Cain indicates that the act of murder was morally wrong, even though the Ten Commandments had not yet been given in stone at Sinai.

• Noah's Time: The wickedness of humanity was so great that God decided to send a flood. This implies that there was a known standard of righteousness and wickedness, even if it wasn't codified as the Ten Commandments given at Sinai (Genesis 6:5-7).

• Abraham: He was commended for obeying God's commands, decrees, and laws even before the law was given at Sinai (Genesis 26:5).

It's crucial to differentiate between the moral law and the ceremonial law, as they serve different purposes.

The moral law, encapsulated at Sinai in the Ten Commandments, outlines God's eternal standards of right and wrong. It reflects His character and provides a guideline for how humanity should live in relationship with Him and with each other. This law, the reflection of His character, existed before they were written as a reminder to the Israelites after their 400 years under pagan Egyptian rule. The principles of the moral law itself are timeless and universal, applying to all people in all ages, whether written on stone tablets, parchments, electronics, or hearts.

On the other hand, the ceremonial law was specific to the Israelites and their worship practices. It included regulations about sacrifices, festivals, and rituals that pointed forward to the coming Messiah. Once Jesus came and fulfilled these symbols through His life, death, and resurrection, the ceremonial laws were no longer necessary. These laws were laid to rest by the cross. The moral law is not a part of these.

Another distinction is their nature. The moral law is based on God's unchanging character. For instance, God is love, so it will always be wrong to murder or steal. The moral laws are all eternal and unchanging, just as God is eternal and unchanging. The ceremonial law, however, was symbolic and temporary, pointing to something (or someone) greater that was to come. Once their purpose was met there was no longer a use for them.

Fast forward to the New Testament, and we see Jesus, the Son of God, observing the Sabbath. He wasn't just taking a day off; He was actively engaging in worship, teaching in synagogues on the Sabbath (Luke 4:16). And if that doesn't underscore its importance, Jesus even called Himself the “Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8). This wasn't Him claiming ownership over a day but highlighting the deep spiritual significance of the Sabbath.

The New Testament doesn't stop with Jesus' example. In the book of Hebrews, there's a beautiful passage that ties the Sabbath to the rest we find in Christ. It says that “there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who enters God's rest has also rested from his works, just as God did from his own works” (Hebrews 4:9-10). Observing the Sabbath is more than just taking a break from our weekly grind. It's a symbol of the rest, peace, and salvation we find in Jesus.

The New Testament provides ample evidence that the apostles and early followers of Jesus continued to observe the Sabbath. Their observance wasn't just a continuation of Jewish tradition but a reflection of their commitment to the teachings and practices of Jesus, who Himself observed the Sabbath. The apostles' education by Jesus continued after His resurrection (Luke 24:44-49) and He would have made known which day was Sabbath.

Paul, formerly known as Saul and a Pharisee by training, was a key figure in the early Christian movement. Despite his mission to the Gentiles, Paul consistently observed the Sabbath. On his missionary journeys, he often began his ministry in a new city by visiting the local synagogue on the Sabbath. Acts 13:14-44 gives an account of Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Pisidia, where they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath and preached to both Jews and Gentiles. This wasn't a one-time event. Acts 17:2 tells us that Paul, “as was his custom,” went to the synagogue to reason from the Scriptures on three Sabbaths.

An essential point to consider is the approach of the early church towards Gentile believers and the ceremonial laws. In Acts 15, during the Jerusalem Council, the apostles and elders discussed the requirements for Gentile believers. While the council did not impose the entirety of the Jewish law on the Gentiles, the decision still encouraged them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood. This decision and the resulting letter to the Gentiles dealt with matters of Jewish Ceremonial Law and did not address God's Moral Law. We can assume the Gentiles understood the moral law to be binding upon them as it is eternally binding upon all.

The early Christian communities, while diverse in many practices, shared a common reverence for the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Historical records and writings from the early church fathers indicate that many Christian communities continued to observe the Sabbath long after the death of the apostles.

The seventh-day Sabbath is a day of profound significance. It's not just about rest and worship but about commemorating God's creation and the redemption we have in Jesus. As believers, we're called to honor this day, deepening our bond with our Creator and Savior. The Sabbath is a divine gift, a chance to experience the peace that comes from a life surrendered to God, and a constant reminder of the incredible love and grace He offers through Jesus.

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