There is probably not any theological issue about which you cannot find controversy and disagreement in some sphere. From major heresies to minor differences in conviction, they are everywhere. This fact fortifies the double need of confessions and catechisms, to pin down the Scripture’s teaching on sound doctrine, and to define and defend what it means to be Christian. In my years of contact and interaction with the public, there have been two disagreements of doctrine and practice that are quite common: what version of the Bible you use and the Sabbath.
It may surprise you to find out that there are more than two convictions (Saturday or Sunday) about what the Sabbath is for present day Christians, and how it should be practiced (1).
Sabbath does not originate in the Law of Moses but in the command of God at creation. The word sabbath means rest or stop work. It is an acknowledgement, commemoration, and practice of what God did after creating the world. We worship, serve, rest, and refresh in Sabbath. The word hallowed means sanctified or set apart as holy. Since God hallowed the day, so should we.
Question 63: Which is the fourth commandment?
Answer: The fourth commandment is, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:8-11
Question 64: What is required in the fourth commandment?
Answer: The fourth commandment requires the keeping holy to God such set times as he has appointed in his word, expressly one whole day in seven to be a holy Sabbath to himself.
Leviticus 19:30; Deuteronomy 5:12
Question 65: Which day of the seven has God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath?
Answer: From the creation of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath; and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian Sabbath.
Genesis 2:3; John 20:19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2; Revelation 1:10
CreatorWorship 