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.
Ask a Follow-up Question
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.
Hebrews, Chapter 4
57-0901E §44
Now, the ninth verse, get ready: There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God [a sabbath-keeping, to the people of God]. For he that has entered into his [Christ's] rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his on the sabbath. See it? Now let's take some Scripture and back this up. All right, when God made the world in six days, he rested on the seventh day, and never worked any more. Blessed be the name of the Lord. He built the world, put the creation on it, and went to rest and never...
Our hope is in God
51-0929 §41
How many up this way believes now? How many up this way believes? And down in this way? On both sides? Oh, isn't that wonderful, Brother Baxter? Brother Lindsay, look a there, or Brother Bosworth, Brother Richey. We're something has to happen, friends, something just has... God knows this, that the Angel of the Lord who met me, said, "If you get the people to believe you and be sincere when you pray, there'll be nothing stand before your prayer." [Gap in the audio.] There'll be nothing. Just think of that. No matte...
Hebrews, Chapter 4
57-0901E §36
And many are coming in because of unbelief. Now, He said He limited a day, when God finished His work. Then He limited another day, and on this wise, that if they shall hear, if they shall come (they keep the sabbaths, go on through the new moons and so forth)... There's where the Advent brethren tries to take you back. Let us read on. Notice: Seeing therefore ... that some must enter therein, and them to whom it was preached first entered not in because of unbelief: Now, the seventh verse (oh, my), I say the Scrip...
Painted-face Jezebel
56-1005 §9
I think that's the best. I think it's the best. God is a good God. He's really good. And He'll give you your desire. Like in the Bible, how Thomas said, "Oh, I won't believe it." Now, look, all the rest of the disciples said, "Sure, we believe it. Yes, sir. He's risen from the dead. We believe it." Thomas said, "Nope, nope, I don't believe it. I got to have some more than that. I got to have some evidence. I got to put my hands in His side and so forth, before I believe it. Yes, sir." He's a good God. He said, "Com...
Church Ages, part 2: The Patmos Vision
60-1204E §61
Notice. In the Sabbath day... God made the earth in six days, and the seventh day He entered into a rest, and never returned no more to build any more worlds. Then He gave it to the people as a memorial, because... You couldn't keep it now, 'cause when you're keeping the Sabbath here, the other side of the world is Sunday then again, see. So it showed it was for a people, a space in time---for Israel. But then, there remains a Sabbath-keeping for the people of God. For we which ... believed do enter into his rest:...