Worship Service on Saturday – REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY

About Sabbath Day

Just about every Christian knows there is a day to worship God and mainstream Christianity teaches that day is Sunday. With more than 850 different denominations of Christianity, however, it is inevitable to have varying opinions. So while some say the correct day of worship is Sunday, there are others who believe it to be Saturday; others say there is no specific day; yet others think it can be any day or everyday.

Revelation 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: if anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

The basis for Christianity, regardless of denomination, is the Bible. God warns its readers, and those who study it, not to add their own opinions or thoughts. It’s the perfect word of God. In other words, anyone who professes a Christian faith and believes in God should not add even a single word to the Bible or interpret its meaning. As it pertains to the day of worship, the Bible specifies the correct day, despite centuries of traditions, human-made religions and denominations.

Origin of the Day of Worship

The Sabbath day originated in the book of Genesis from the time of creation.

Genesis 2:1-2 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

According to Genesis, God worked for six days. But it was only the last day—the seventh day—God chose as the day of rest, to bless and make holy. This is the origin of the day of rest, the day of worship.

The Sabbath Day in the Ten Commandments

To make it clearer, God included the seventh day in the Ten Commandments and named it the Sabbath day.

Exodus 20:8-10 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God.

God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai. One of those—the fourth commandment—called for the observance of the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. This means to do something different than the rest of the six days of the week. That is, worship God. Mainstream Christians all try to keep the Ten Commandments. They know they were not only regulations for the Israelites then but also for all followers and believers of God today. Then why are there varying opinions on the day of worship? What day is the Sabbath day?

Saturday Is the Sabbath Day

On the Sabbath day, God gives His people blessings and makes them holy. Understanding this is important in order to worship God correctly. In fact, by observing the Sabbath, we receive a sign with God and become God’s chosen people.

Exodus 31:13 “You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.”

Nevertheless, Christianity lacks consensus on the correct day of worship. Although most teach the Sabbath day or the day of worship is Sunday, it is actually Saturday.

Even the Bible shows the Sabbath day is Saturday, not Sunday.

Mark 16:1-2, 9 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb… When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week.

Mark 16:9 (GNT) After Jesus rose from death early on Sunday, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene…

Jesus resurrected on the first day of the week, Sunday, and Sabbath was the day before. In other words, the Sabbath day is Saturday.

Christ Kept the Sabbath Day

Two thousand years ago, everything that Jesus Christ did during His ministry was not for His own benefit but to show the people how to be His followers, how to be Christians.

John 13:15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

And Jesus kept the Sabbath day so that we too can learn how to keep the Sabbath day.

Luke 4:16-17 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him.

The Early Church Kept the Sabbath Day

Following the example of Jesus, the disciples kept the Sabbath day, even after His ascension. Apostle Paul became a Christian after the crucifixion of Christ, yet he taught to keep the Sabbath day as well.

As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days.

Acts 17:2 he reasoned with them from the Scriptures…

Acts 18:4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue…

Apostle Paul is known as the apostle of apostles for his fervor and boldness in preaching the gospel of Christ. He was persecuted to the point of death of his Christian life. He followed the same custom of Christ—he kept the Sabbath day.

Sabbath Day Changed to Sunday

Although the Bible documents Christ and the disciples keeping the Sabbath on Saturday, nowadays, people associate the day of worship with Sunday.

After Christ’s ascension, the Church continued to grow—spreading even to western regions, including Rome. There, the Church became secularized and adopted pagan customs and teachings. And Rome’s emperor, Constantine, who was also a high priest in the pagan religion, decreed Sunday as the legal day of worship in AD 321 and made Sabbath worship illegal.

“When in 321 Constantine made the first day of the week a holiday, he called it ‘the venerable day of the Sun’ (Sunday).”
The History of Christianity, Time Dowley – Lion Pub. – 1990

From that time, Sunday worship became a common practice in the churches. And this tradition is still seen today. The World Mission Society Church of God, however, bases its teaching solely on the Bible and keeps the original day of worship, Sabbath day on Saturday.

God’s Church Should Always Keep the Sabbath Day

The Sabbath is the memorial of the creative power of God. The Bible explains that all those who love and worship God should always keep the Sabbath day.

Isaiah 56:6-7 (CEV) Foreigners will follow me. They will love me and worship in my name; they will respect the Sabbath and keep our agreement. I will bring them to my holy mountain, where they will celebrate in my house of worship.

There are many prophecies in the Bible, but none say the day of worship would change. In fact, the Bible testifies that even non-Israelites would come to God on the Sabbath day. We are seeing the fulfillment of this in the World Mission Society Church of God around the world, regardless of nationality, they are keeping the Sabbath day and receiving God’s blessing.