Is The Sabbath Valid for Christian Believers?
Q: Why do some Christians say the Sabbath was only for the Jews if it was given before the Ten Commandments?
A: This is a good question and a valid question that Christians have asked throughout the church. Therefore, Christians have taken different approaches to the Sabbath. Some Christian groups are very strictly observant of the Sabbath, meaning no work, just church services, and no normal commerce. They set aside that day for God. Traditionally, most Christians, not all, have recognized Sunday as their Sabbath day, with various reasons for that going back to New Testament times.
The initial Sabbath pattern was part of creation, as stated in Genesis chapters 1 and 2, where God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. This becomes a pattern for humanity. However, in Christianity, the law is fulfilled in and by Jesus Christ, and we are no longer under the observance of the law as the Jewish people were. I don't think God put all of humanity under a Sabbath law. You could argue that God gave a pattern for the Sabbath to all of humanity, but He gave a law of the Sabbath to Israel.
We should be wisely instructed by the pattern of the Sabbath, and it makes sense for Christians to take a proper day off during the week. This was God's pattern in creation, establishing a precedent to instruct humanity. However, I feel a bit hypocritical because observing a regular day of rest has been a challenge for me throughout my Christian life. The New Testament tells us that the law is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. We are not under the Ten Commandments in the same way that ancient Israel was.
In the book of Hebrews, the Sabbath is presented as a picture of the rest that believers have in Jesus Christ. Once that's fulfilled in Jesus, there's no requirement for the legal obligation of it. Paul also states in Colossians 2:14 to let no one judge you regarding Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come. In general, Christians are not under obligation to keep the Sabbath as the Jewish people were. However, we have liberty in Jesus Christ. If you want to keep the Sabbath as ancient Israel did, you have the freedom to do so.
It's important to remember that you're not a better Christian for keeping the Sabbath, and you shouldn't judge others who don't observe it the same way. This is a principle of Christian liberty. The Sabbath was given as a pattern before the Mosaic law, but that pattern isn't a requirement. Regarding the Mosaic legal obligation, we in Christ are not under obligation because that law is fulfilled for us in Jesus.