The Seventh-Day Sabbath: God’s Gift to Mankind
“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.”
—Genesis 2:1-3 (NIV)
At Greater Phoenix Church of God, we joyfully celebrate the seventh-day Sabbath as a gift from our Creator. It is a sacred time, set apart for rest, worship, and reflection. But what exactly is the Sabbath? When does it occur? And why is it important for believers today? Let’s take an in-depth look at what God’s Word teaches about this holy day.
What Is the Sabbath?
The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, established by God at Creation. As recorded in Genesis, after six days of forming the heavens and the earth, God rested, blessed, and sanctified the seventh day. This was not simply a moment of rest for God, but a divine declaration—a holy appointment for all of humanity to pause, reflect, and draw near to Him. God reinforced this command when He gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai:
“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… For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
—Exodus 20:8-11
The Sabbath is not just any day of the week—it is a specific, appointed day that God has set apart. The commandment does not change, because God does not change (Malachi 3:6).
What Day Is the Sabbath?
The Bible is clear: the seventh day of the week is the Sabbath. According to the Hebrew calendar, the seventh day corresponds to what we now call Saturday. The Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday evening and ends at sundown on Saturday evening. Yet, many today mistakenly believe that Sunday, the first day of the week, is the biblical Sabbath. However, Scripture never commands the observance of Sunday as a day of rest or worship. Instead, it repeatedly affirms that the Sabbath is the seventh day.
“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
—Mark 2:27-28 Jesus Himself confirmed that the Sabbath was made for all of humanity—not just for Israel, not just for the Old Testament, but for all people, for all time.
Even today, in over 100 languages worldwide, the word for “Saturday” directly translates to “Sabbath.” For example:
- Spanish – Sábado
- Italian – Sabato
- Russian – Суббота (Subbota)
This linguistic evidence further confirms that the seventh day has always been recognized as the Sabbath, no matter how human traditions have tried to change it.
Did Jesus or the Apostles Change the Sabbath?
Some believe that Jesus abolished the Sabbath or that the Apostles changed it to Sunday. But nowhere in Scripture does it say this! In fact, Jesus kept the Sabbath: “He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read.”
—Luke 4:16
And so did the Apostles, even after Jesus’ resurrection: “As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures.” —Acts 17:2
The early church continued to observe the Sabbath, because they knew it remained a holy commandment from God. So, if neither Jesus nor His disciples changed the Sabbath, why do so many today worship on Sunday?
Why Was the Sabbath Changed to Sunday?
The shift from Saturday to Sunday was not made by God, Christ, or the Apostles—it was introduced centuries later by man-made traditions. History shows that in the 4th century AD, the Roman Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which promoted Sunday worship as part of his effort to unify the empire under Christianity. Over time, church leaders followed suit, eventually institutionalizing Sunday worship through religious councils.
However, God’s commandments are unchangeable. “I will not alter what My lips have uttered.”
—Psalm 89:34
No man, no council, no emperor has the authority to change God’s laws.
The Sabbath: A Blessing, Not a Burden
The Sabbath is not just a rule—it is a gift. It is a day of freedom, meant to bring rest, renewal, and joy.
When we honor the Sabbath, we:
✔️ Reconnect with God
✔️ Experience true rest
✔️ Strengthen our faith
✔️ Follow Jesus’ example
“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God.”
—Hebrews 4:9
God never revoked the Sabbath. It remains for all who seek Him.