How does a Christian keep the Sabbath Holy?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

KohenMatt

Senior Member
Jun 28, 2013
4,054
257
83
#21
There's no doubt that many OT commandments could still be applicable, but there are many others that would not be applicable, because the temple does not exist and the Levitical priesthood is null and void.
Very true, although I would say that every command God has given has a spiritual revelation and application to it as well if we take the time to seek it out.

The principles in the commandment to keep the Sabbath have been transferred to the observation of the Lord's Day (Rev 1;10).
Unfortunately this conclusion isn't Scripturally accurate. Yes, you could make a case that there is a "Lord's Day" that is different from the 7th day Sabbath, but there isn't a scriptural transfer or replacement between the 2. I believe the idea that the Sabbath is transferred to the Lord's Day is a man-made doctrinal teaching and not a Scriptural process.

The Lord of the Sabbath also established the first day of the week as the day of Christian worship. That is because He rose from the dead on that day, and it was to be commemorated weekly. Justin Martyr (2nd century) describes this in detail.
I'd be careful in declaring that God established a specific day of Christian worship. That could imply that the worshipping on the other 6 days of the week are lessened.
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
10,217
4,279
113
Almost Heaven West Virginia
#22
There is a lot the Bible admonishes us to Not Do on the Sabbath. My dilemma is what can we DO? I spend some time in prayer, some time reading the Word, and then I am stumped. I physically cannot sit around all day and end up just doing things (renovations on house etc) that are self-serving. What is acceptable to God on this day? What sort of things do YOU do to keep the Sabbath?
Have you ever broken the Sabbath BeALamp?
 

MessengerofTruth

Well-known member
Dec 21, 2022
688
434
63
#23
There is a lot the Bible admonishes us to Not Do on the Sabbath. My dilemma is what can we DO? I spend some time in prayer, some time reading the Word, and then I am stumped. I physically cannot sit around all day and end up just doing things (renovations on house etc) that are self-serving. What is acceptable to God on this day? What sort of things do YOU do to keep the Sabbath?
We go on walks, take naps, read an edifying book, make calls to encourage people, go visit people, we would even help someone if there were a need.

The children sometimes get bored, but it is a much-needed rest for our physical bodies.
 

Ted01

Well-known member
May 14, 2022
1,055
447
83
#24
I'm not sure that I know how to keep Jesus any Holier than He already is? :unsure:
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
13,879
5,623
113
#26
Is that not one of the 10 commandments? I genuinely don't understand why my question frustrates you.
The law is one if we keep the sabbath that’s written in the law we have to keep the sabbath according to what is written in the law that is established for the sabbath it’s all written down if we want to obey Moses law

But if we think we need to keep the law we have to keep the entire law not just choose which commands we follow , this is written by Paul a former Pharisee who trusted in the law before he met Jesus it’s written to Christian’s

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.”
‭‭James‬ ‭2:10-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

that’s how the law works keeping one command won’t help anyone you have to keep everything Moses wrote in the book of the law or its a curse because your breaking it

“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:10-12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We walk by faith the law is not of faith

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, ( indebted to the law ) Christ shall profit you nothing.

For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:1-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The law Moses wrote in his book can’t be changed ever the law will always be what he wrote in his book of the law and gave to Israel in the desert

“And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, that Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying, Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:24-26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Israel’s law is here this defines it forever and ever and it’s where the sabbath command is written

“And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.”
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭8:34-35‬ ‭

There was a book called the book of the law , it was written by Moses in it are the Ten Commandments and the regulations and ordinances that are built upon those Ten Commandments.

It’s all part of a whole covenant, it had a mediator , it had a whole law detailed with over six hundred decrees based on the ten basic commands that found the law.

Christian’s have Jesus the mediator and his words are the ones written on the heart that’s why we are called to hear and believe the gospel so it can be written on our hearts

Trying to make one day per week special and holy moreso than any other day has absolutely nothing to do with Christianity , it’s part of the ancient law of Moses the one he wrote down on the book of the law and Israel kept through the centuries and read every year to everyone until it disappeared in 600 bc or so when Babylon ransacked Jerusalem

now we have a record of what’s in the law in the first five Books of the Bible

the law is the old covenant law the gospel is salvation and Gods word meant to be written on the heart

keeping one day holy v walking with God in Christ everyday
 

MessengerofTruth

Well-known member
Dec 21, 2022
688
434
63
#27
But if we think we need to keep the law we have to keep the entire law not just choose which commands we follow , this is written by Paul a former Pharisee who trusted in the law before he met Jesus it’s written to Christian’s
That is only if you are seeking salvation by the keeping of the Law.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,404
6,687
113
#28
The laws we "kee;" are those which have been taken from stone and inscribed upon our hearts. We know them when they are fulfilling Love within. God is Love.

Good night and all blessing to all from Spain.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
13,879
5,623
113
#29
That is only if you are seeking salvation by the keeping of the Law.
Not at all. it’s about what the law is meant for and what the gospel is meant for

“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭3:19-20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The law was added in later because of mans sin , was temporary until Christ arrived , and was ordained of angels d given to Moses for mediation

“Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions,

till the seed should come to whom the promise was made;

and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.


But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:19, 23-25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Notice it’s speaking of faith in opposition to the law it’s because he’s already said this

“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:10-12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the law is simply not the new covenant it’s the old covenant israel broke and cursed themselves with the gospel is our covenant it’s of faith not the law it’s based on hearing Jesus and following his words that promise eternal
Life according to faith


Everything in the epistles is written to people who already believed in Jesus Paul’s telling Christian’s all these things about Moses law

James is writing this to Christian’s

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.”
‭‭James‬ ‭2:10-11‬ ‭

Paul saying this to Christian believers

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.”( back to Galatians three above )
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:4-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Finally just look at who he’s talking to he’s telling Christian’s not to go back and be yoked again to the law saying if you go back to that thinking you’ve fallen from grace

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:1, 3-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

he’s constantly warning against becoming indebted again tonthe law of Moses same argument Peter makes it’s a yoke we don’t want and can’t bear anyways

“Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭15:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

At he law of Moses is not our covenant law itnis acrually a subversion of Christian souls to insist they keep the law

“forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭15:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

that all being said it’s not wrong to keep the sabbath it’s just that we’re pretending if we don’t learn what the law says about keeping the sabbath and then say I keep the sabbath it’s all defined in Moses law

We can’t gather or cook food on a sabbath , can’t work even as much as to pick up a stick from the ground , we can’t build or stoke a fire for warmth , we have to disassociate and condemn anyone who doesn’t keep the sabbath according to the law of Moses even of li ting a death sentence upon someone that picks up sticks on a sabbath day

That’s just a few details about what the law says about keeping a sabbath holy we don’t get to re destine the law and then say we’re keeping the law we have tomlewrn what it says forst and then keep it if that’s our choice
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,724
29,076
113
#30
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith
which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that
we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:19, 23-25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Galatians 3:22-25
:)
 

Walter

Well-known member
Jul 20, 2022
1,282
597
113
77
Washington
firstthings1sttab.tripod.com
#31
Jesus is my Sabbath rest also .:D
Hello Magenta,
What does it mean that Jesus is our Sabbath rest?
Hebrews 4 speaks of Jesus as our Sabbath rest. Verses 9-10 in particular state, "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his." How is Jesus our Sabbath rest?

The key to understanding how Jesus is our Sabbath rest is understanding what the Sabbath means. The Hebrew word shabat was the word "rest" in the Old Testament first used in regard to God "resting" from creation on the seventh day. The Sabbath would later become part of the Law of Moses, referring to the Sabbath day, Saturday, upon which the Jewish people were to do no work.

In the New Testament, Jesus declared Himself "lord of the Sabbath" (Matthew 12:8). He equated Himself with God the Father, becoming God in human form. In addition, Jesus declared, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27).

In Hebrews 3 and 4, the author developed the concept of Jesus as our Sabbath rest, revealing how a relationship with Christ frees humans from the works of the law and allows a person to rest in the work of Christ to forgive sin. Ultimately, those who believe in Jesus will spend eternity in a "Sabbath rest" with Him (Hebrews 4:9).

Today, many continue to live as if their salvation depends on how many good deeds they perform. Yet Christ is the only one who can provide sufficiently for the sins of people and offer eternal life. It is by His grace we receive salvation, through faith. As Ephesians 2:8-9 reveal, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Jesus serves as our Sabbath rest in the sense that He provides freedom from living under the works of the law. Instead, His sacrifice has paid the price for our salvation. We accept salvation as His free gift, entering into His rest both now as well as in eternity in His presence.

Hebrews 4 ends with words of comfort for those who enter God's Sabbath rest: "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). As a result of Christ's finished work, we can confidently come before God, receiving mercy and grace in our time of need.

 
Feb 21, 2016
834
189
43
#32
So you're saying just sit around and read scripture all day? Surely there are other ways to glorify God's day..
Matthew 11:28
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

You don't have to read scripture all day,youcan worship him in song and dance.Do things that keep your heart and mind on the things of God.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
18,797
6,457
113
62
#33
In the old days they had a morning and evening service with lunch and fellowship in between.
If the church is in a neighborhood, go visit people and hand out tracts.
Hospitals and retirement homes have many people who would welcome some company.

Be creative. Pray. Ask God what He wants you to do.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
13,879
5,623
113
#34
Hello Magenta,
What does it mean that Jesus is our Sabbath rest?
Hebrews 4 speaks of Jesus as our Sabbath rest. Verses 9-10 in particular state, "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his." How is Jesus our Sabbath rest?

The key to understanding how Jesus is our Sabbath rest is understanding what the Sabbath means. The Hebrew word shabat was the word "rest" in the Old Testament first used in regard to God "resting" from creation on the seventh day. The Sabbath would later become part of the Law of Moses, referring to the Sabbath day, Saturday, upon which the Jewish people were to do no work.

In the New Testament, Jesus declared Himself "lord of the Sabbath" (Matthew 12:8). He equated Himself with God the Father, becoming God in human form. In addition, Jesus declared, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27).

In Hebrews 3 and 4, the author developed the concept of Jesus as our Sabbath rest, revealing how a relationship with Christ frees humans from the works of the law and allows a person to rest in the work of Christ to forgive sin. Ultimately, those who believe in Jesus will spend eternity in a "Sabbath rest" with Him (Hebrews 4:9).

Today, many continue to live as if their salvation depends on how many good deeds they perform. Yet Christ is the only one who can provide sufficiently for the sins of people and offer eternal life. It is by His grace we receive salvation, through faith. As Ephesians 2:8-9 reveal, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Jesus serves as our Sabbath rest in the sense that He provides freedom from living under the works of the law. Instead, His sacrifice has paid the price for our salvation. We accept salvation as His free gift, entering into His rest both now as well as in eternity in His presence.

Hebrews 4 ends with words of comfort for those who enter God's Sabbath rest: "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). As a result of Christ's finished work, we can confidently come before God, receiving mercy and grace in our time of need.

“For if Joshua had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:8-11‬ ‭KJV‬

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭14:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
7,058
1,682
113
#35
Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy....

What does "holy" mean?
 

KohenMatt

Senior Member
Jun 28, 2013
4,054
257
83
#37
I find it interesting that in all of these 36 posts about the purpose of the Sabbath and the Law, there are only 2 Old Testament Scripture references given so far by anyone. It seems to me that if we want to understand the true and original intent of the Law, that we should start with what God originally said the intent of the Law was.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,769
113
#38
I find it interesting that in all of these 36 posts about the purpose of the Sabbath and the Law, there are only 2 Old Testament Scripture references given so far by anyone.
And the reason for that is found in 2 Corinthians 3.

Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. (2 Cor 3:6)

If you are not focused on the New Testament, you have a serious problem. Unbelieving Jews reject the New Testament, but believing Jews should understand that it SUPERSEDES the Old Testament.
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
7,058
1,682
113
#39
Yes.... I wondered if the OP knows what it means. Setting something apart means different things to people. To some people, it means "don't go to work on the sabbath" To others, it means "spend a little quiet reflection time" . To some it means "don't touch, don't eat, don't work, don't travel... etc..."
The JEWS were the ones that came up with all the "don'ts" for the Sabbath. Most of us here are not Jews, and as you pointed out, as Christians, JESUS is our sabbath rest. That's all we need. Remember him...
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
7,058
1,682
113
#40
I find it interesting that in all of these 36 posts about the purpose of the Sabbath and the Law, there are only 2 Old Testament Scripture references given so far by anyone. It seems to me that if we want to understand the true and original intent of the Law, that we should start with what God originally said the intent of the Law was.
You do realize it is called the "Old Testament" for a reason, right? We are under the new Covenant.
The Old Testament is profitable for learning, teaching, etc, because there are good values there, and a lot of history about how we got to where we are, in Christ. But, we are not "bound" by what was taught in the OT as the Jewish nation was.