What day do we observe the Sabbath?

There are sometimes differing views about the Sabbath found in churches.  Do we still observe the Sabbath, especially since it is part of the Ten Commandments?  Must we have church on Saturdays, in following the true Sabbath day on the seventh day of the week?  Should Sunday be considered the new Sabbath day, since Jesus Christ rose from the grave on the first day of the week?  Or can we have church any day of the week, as we are no longer under the Old Testament law?

The first example of the Sabbath is when God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day, which He blessed and made holy. (Genesis 2:3)  Later, after the Israelites fled Egypt, the Lord spoke the following words to Moses, “Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he give you bread for two days.” (Exodus 16:29 NIV)  About three months after fleeing Egypt, the Lord gave Moses the Ten Commandments with the following commandment about the Sabbath – “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” (Exodus 20:11 NIV)  However, approximately 40 years later, when Moses gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, the emphasis was on observing the Sabbath rather than remembering the Sabbath – “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you.” (Deuteronomy 5:12 NIV)

To make things more complicated, you also had the Sabbath year as well as the Year of the Jubilee.  Basically, the Sabbath year was a year of rest for the Israelites land, after they worked the land for six years. (Leviticus 25:2-5)  Similarly, the Year of Jubilee every 50 years, or the year following seven Sabbath years, was also intended as a year of rest for the Israelites land as well a time of jubilee for the people. (Leviticus 25:8-12)

As you progress to the New Testament, you find believers coming together on the first day of the week.  For example, while the Apostle Paul was in Troas (Turkey), he met together with the people on the first day of the week and broke bread. (Acts 20:7)  The Apostle Paul also instructed the Corinthians, as well as the Galatian churches, to set aside a sum of money for the first day of every week for helping God’s people. (I Corinthians 16:1-2)  Many people believe that the New Testament church came together on the first day of the week, as a way to honor or remember how Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week. (John 20:1-2)  Jesus Christ also explained, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27 NIV)

Overall, Scripture teaches that believers are no longer under the Old Testament law since Jesus Christ paid the one-time propitiation for our sins. (Hebrews 2:17)  Believers are free from the Old Testament laws – to include the Sabbath – since they were specifically directed to the Jewish people, and non-Jewish people were prohibited from practicing any of the laws within the temple. (Acts 21:28, 30)  Jesus Christ helped clarify the responsibilities of believers by saying that if anyone wanted to follow him, they must deny themselves and pick up His cross daily? (Luke 9:23)  This practice was evident as believers were added to the New Testament church on a daily basis. (Acts 2:46-47)  In summary, believers in the New Testament church are free to worship God and fellowship with others on any day of the week.