What Is The Real Issue?

This brings us face to face with the questions: Why do so many Christians observe Sunday without Bible authority? Even more important, Which day shall I keep? Shall I follow those who say, “I don’t think it makes any difference which day I observe as long as I keep one day in seven”? Or, shall I count as important the day Jesus, our Creator (Colossians 1:15-17), established when He created our world (Genesis 2:1-3), and the day God pointed out in the Ten Commandments: “the seventh day is the Sabbath”?

Here we are dealing with more than just an outward observance—which day happens to be biblically correct. The essential issue is that of obedience to Jesus. It involves our fundamental allegiance: Whom shall I obey? Shall I obey Christ, the Son of God, or human tradition in the matter of the day I keep holy?

God is not arbitrary. At creation and in His Ten Commandments, He had a reason for asking us to observe the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath (Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11). Jesus “rested” on the Sabbath and established it as a memorial to His creative power. Our Creator set aside the Sabbath as a “holy” day, as a time for us and our families to come closer to Him for strength and refreshment.

Some believers respond to this information by saying, “I keep every day holy.” It’s certainly true that we can and should worship God in our hearts on every day of the week. But the fact is, God has still made one day for a special purpose; He made the seventh day of the week “holy.” On the Sabbath He comes near to us in a unique way; He “blessed” the day with His special presence and asks us to devote the whole day to Him.