Why do Christians mark Sunday as the Sabbath?

Question

In the Old Testament, Saturday is the 7th day, the day of Sabbath.
Why do Christians mark it as Sunday?
Pagans on this site said it is because Sunday was the Pagan day of rest.
I am an Evangelical Christian.

After reading the first 17 answers, I see that Christians mark Sunday as the Lord's Day, separate from the Sabbath of the Old Testament.
It is interesting that only Catholics seem to be giving this answer.

Ex 31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.

Re 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Answer 1

"[Jesus'] resurrection on the first day of the week (Matt. 28:1), His continued appearances on succeeding Sundays (John 20:26), and the descent of the Holy Spirit on Sunday (Acts 2:1), the early church was given the pattern of Sunday worship.

Passages of Scripture such as Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, Colossians 2:16-17, and Revelation 1:10 indicate that, even during New Testament times, the Sabbath is no longer binding and that Christians are to worship on the Lord’s day, Sunday, instead.

Probably the best evidence we have that Christians are not compelled to observe a Saturday sabbath is found in Paul's letter to the Colossians. In Chapter 2 we read "Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day: things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ." Clearly the Bible specifically sets believers free from the obligation of keeping the sabbath.

Answer 2

The Sabbath or Shabbat is and has always been the 7th day. The truth is that it was changed by Rome because of antisemitism, and as a means of separating Christianity from it's Jewish roots. As to not being under the law, while that is true, the 7th day was blessed by God in the 2nd chapter of Genesis, before the law was ever established. I think as Christians we should remember the Sabbath. Sunday is a day that we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus. However It is important to understand that it does not make any difference concerning salvation whether you keep it or don't, because "salvation is the gift of God, Not of works", so no one can boast as though keeping any law helped to gain their salvation. The bible states,"So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ." It is important to note that during the 1,000 year reign of Christ on the earth, The temple, in Jerusalem, will only be open on the Sabbath day and on the new moon.. If you are already saved by the grace of God and wish to keep the Sabbath That is a wonderful thing, because it is a day blessed by God. Still, be aware that there are some who will always be "Religious Pharisees" about it and claim that you sin if you don't keep it ,others if you do keep it. So You can't listen to people like that. The best policy is to do whatever you do to the glory of God with thanksgiving. Never feeling compelled as by law. For we have been set free from the law of sin and death By the shed blood of Jesus Christ. we can do nothing to add to our salvation. If you know that,. Then you can truly enjoy the blessing of Sabbath. Gal 2 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

It's wonderful to find there are fellow Christians obeying Christ's command to search the Scriptures!
An interesting fact is that a search of the internet will land you a number of sites offering huge sums of money to any person who can find 1 verse in Scripture where Jesus changed Sabbath to Sunday! Here's a link to a book that explains some of the history of the change of the Sabbath by papal Rome:
http://heavenly-light.org/Bible_History/Online-Eng-GC/GC-Contents.htm
The appendix of this book contains historical quotes and interesting facts. It also details the issues over Sabbath/Sunday that are begining to confront our world.

The first national Sunday law was issued by Constantine on March 7, 321 AD. "Five additional Sunday Laws were to be issued by Constantine within a very few years to buttress this, his basic one." Fabulous First Centuries of Christianity, p.443 (This fascinating book is available from Harvestime Books, Altamont, TN 37301 They also have another book "Search for Paradise" the story of the Bounty and Pitcarin Island, which explains the Sabbath question. It's smaller and cheaper.)

"Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change (of Sabbath to Sunday) was her act... AND THE ACT IS A MARK of her ecclesiastical authority in religious things." - From the office of Cardinal Gibbons, through Chancellor H.F. Thomas, November 11, 1895

Interestingly, God declares the Sabbath is a sign - mark -of HIS authority! (see Exodus 31:13) If you read the 4th commandment (Exodus 20:8-11) you will see it has God's dominion and title, just as an earthly ruler would have on their seal!

Well, I could quote for hours, but the books I mentioned should give you a lot to study! It's a subject that is soon to involve every person living, because God says His last day people will keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus! (Revalation 14:12) It is of eternal importance that we all understand it for ourselves!
God bless you!

Answer 4

Because

1) some Christians believe that Sunday is the Sabbath
2) it's tradition,
3) Paul says,
1 Corinthians 16:2
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

I find any of these reasons good ones to meet in His name. That being said, I find all days good to meet in His name. To me, I find all this talk of which day to meet to be silly. A waste of time. The point which I believe should be driven home is derived from Colossians 2:
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

So any day according to the Bible, and Paul wrote this part thanks to the Holy Spirit. And not only do we have the idea of 'any time' from Paul's letter, but we also have 'anywhere' from the Lord in John 4.

So the message I get from the Bible is, gather any where and at any time, it doesn't matter, and we are not to judge or be judged for the day we choose to gather.

So if you understood what I just wrote, where's the beef?! lol
There is no beef from God, so why is his subject taking so much time to discuss when the Gospel is left on the shelf during that time?

Answer 5

You are mistaken. Christianity does not recognize Sunday as a day of rest. Some churches have concluded thus, but there is no Scriptural support for this notion. Paul declares that one man can esteem a day to God, and another not esteem a day. Paul was not so dense as to think people would think this was not about the Sabbath.

You then quote Ex. 31 where the children of Israel are addressed, and not Christians.

And it is the epitome of poor scholarship to conclude from Rev. 14 that the commandments of God for Christians are the old covenant commandments given only to Israel through a covenant. Paul brings out in Romans 7 and 8 that it is the Spirit of the law that is "God's law" and not the law of Moses.

.

Answer 6

If the first of the week holy, the last also holy.
Sadly what evangelicals do, is make it law.
Law is holy, but it's among unholy in 2Tim3.
Grace is holy, but it's not among such like.

As for Sabbath, 2 occur at Passover week.
So you may wanna sort out which is witch.

Revelation takes place on a Sabbath,
evident from seven benedictions therein.

The third day is the seventh day is the last day,
when counting the days in John 1 and John 2:1;
And it's now a Sabbath (Last Day) shewdown of:
The day(light) of the LORD -vs- The day(light) of God.
Pst: The day of the LORD is darkness and not light: Amos.

God said: Let there be light (not lights, nor light + darkness)
http://www.godshew.org/Allegory2.htm

And there was light-->understanding: grace glory(Prov 4)

The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.

Answer 7

In all the gospel accounts, the word "sabbath" is actually plural, when Christ arose on the first day of the week He instituted the Christian sabbath and laid to rest the Old Testament Jewish sabbath (cf. Colossians 2:16), the day Christ arose from the death was the first Christian Sabbath, Sunday Morning.

note:

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. - Matthew 28:1.

first day of the week = literally first of the Sabbaths, (Greek: sabbavtwn) indicating a new ERA of sabbaths, Sunday.

jOye; de; sabbavtwn, th'/ ejpifwskouvsh/ eij� mivan sabbavtwn, h\lqen Maria;m hJ Magdalhnh; kai; hJ a~llh Mariva qewrh'sai to;n tavfon.

Answer 8

Ugh, don't listen to the Pagans - they're not exactly going to be versed in Christian arguments! Christians celebrate the Sabbath on Sun. because it was the day Christ rose from the dead. In other words, we celebrate his Resurrection as the beginning of salvation, the time when salvation was completed (don't get me wrong, the act of salvation was his death on the cross, but his Resurrection solidified it) Now Sun., the beginning of the week, is considered the Lord's Day.

--edit-- Ok, why do all these people think we worship the sun???? That's ludicrous: we only worship God!

Answer 9

Christians moved a lot of religious days to mimic Pagan holy days so that they could push the Pagans out and take over, making Christianity the main and "one and only" religion.

One other example is Jesus' birthday. He was actually born in the spring, around March or April. But they moved that celebration to coincide with Winter Solstice (Yule).

Answer 10

Because Jesus rose from the Dead on Sunday so the Contantine people thought it would make a better HOLY DAY.

Yea, it could be Pagan, Constantine was a PAGAN.

What I fail to understand is why Islam accepts the JEWISH concept of the sabbath.

One would think they would make it thursday to friday or monday to tuesday

The accept the Jewish concepts on Pork and Sabbath.

Weird.