Why Do Sabbatherians Believe in Sabbath and What Is the Correct Way by the Bible?
1) Direct answer
Sabbath-keepers hold the seventh day because the fourth commandment told Israel to keep it holy, and because God rested the seventh day at creation. They read those verses as permanently binding on all. But the New Testament shows the Sabbath command, as a day to be kept, was a shadow pointing to Christ. The true Sabbath for the believer is entering God’s rest by faith—receiving the Holy Spirit and ceasing from our own works. So the correct way by the Bible is not bondage to a calendar, but rest in Christ and liberty from being judged about days.
2) Scriptural explanation
- Creation and the Law to Israel: “God…rested the seventh day” (Genesis 2:2-3). “Remember the sabbath day” (Exodus 20:8-11). God called it a sign “between me and the children of Israel” (Exodus 31:13; Ezekiel 20:12).
- Jesus’ authority and purpose: “The Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day” (Matthew 12:8). “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath” (Mark 2:27). He did good on the Sabbath, showing mercy outranks ritual (Matthew 12:10-13).
- Fulfillment in Christ: “Let no man therefore judge you… in respect of… the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17). “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind… he that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord” (Romans 14:5-6).
- The real rest: “We which have believed do enter into rest” (Hebrews 4:3). “There remaineth therefore a rest [sabbatismos] to the people of God… he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his” (Hebrews 4:9-10). Jesus said, “Come unto me… and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28), not “Come to a certain day.”
- Gentile liberty: When the apostles addressed Gentile believers, they did not place Sabbath-keeping on them (Acts 15:19-20, 28-29).
- Early gathering in freedom: Believers met on the first day (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2) and also daily (Acts 2:46). The point was worship in liberty, not a legal calendar.
3) Simple clarifying logic
- If a calendar day were the seal of righteousness, why does Scripture make the Holy Spirit the seal (Ephesians 1:13) and forbid judging about Sabbaths (Colossians 2:16)?
- If salvation hinges on a day, why did the Acts 15 council not command Gentiles to keep it?
- All the moral commandments are reaffirmed in the New Testament; the Sabbath command as a day is uniquely treated as a shadow fulfilled in Christ.
- Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, pointed us to mercy and to Himself as the Giver of rest. So the believer’s Sabbath is a life—resting from self-effort because Christ lives in us—every day.
4) Reinforcing statement
Honor Christ every day. Rest your body wisely, gather faithfully, and do good any day. Do not make a day your righteousness; let the Holy Spirit be your rest. Let no one bind your conscience about Sabbaths, and let everything you do—whether you set aside a day or regard every day alike—be unto the Lord.
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What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
The Queen of Sheba
60-0401E §1
[Pastor introduces Brother Lamsa.] ... he speaks the language and can read the language and read the original documents in which the New Testament was written. So with him, it is so wonderful that he can read directly from the original script the very words that Jesus and the disciples spoke and wrote. He felt that these translations that we have are not always correct and true. And that's where the criticism comes in, because he criticizes the King James version, and some people think that St. Paul preached from t...
The Trial
64-0621 §80
Only believe, only believe, All things are possible, only believe; Only believe, only believe, All things are possible, only believe. Now can you sing it this way? Now I believe............ Right now I believe it. Raise your hands. Say, "I really believe it. These signs shall follow them that believe." All things are possible, now I believe; Oh, now I believe, now I believe, All things are possible, now I believe.
Wisdom versus Faith
62-0401 §89
Eve was to believe the Word as it was given to her. Is that right? She wasn't to listen to anybody else say anything about it ... just the way it was given to her. That's the way she was supposed to believe it. There'd never been a death, if she'd believe that. That's right. And a man or a woman that will take God's Word just the way it's given to us, hold it the way God said it; it's life. But to mix it with some wisdom of some organization, you die right there. Just like it did in the first... That's the seed. Th...
Questions and Answers on Genesis
53-0729 §63
Now He said, in other words, about the Sabbath, He said: Come to me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest unto your souls---Sabbath unto your souls. (Not to the physical body; to your soul.) Now, listen at Paul now. If you can just... I know it's hot and everything, it's hot up here, too. But, now, let's get this close now so we'll be sure to settle it. Now, Paul, writing to the Hebrews... Who was the Hebrews? Speak up. The Jews. Is that right? Now, them was the law-keepers, the Sabbath-k...
There is only One Way provided by God for anything
63-0731 §11
Now over in the book of St. John, the 12th chapter, and the 32nd verse, I wish to read for a little portion of scripture, just in a way to make a text, to build a context. And I do see that it's difficult for you to hear me. I can tell the way you're acting, a rebound in the building. And I'll try to speak just as plain as I can. I want to read this text. Jesus speaking: Then I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. I want to take this for a text. There is only one way provided by God for any...