From Adam to Abraham to Moses, God’s people were saved by grace through faith, just as we are today. Centuries before the law was given, Abraham “believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6) The law, including the Sabbath (Saturday as the day of rest), was not a means to salvation but a testimony to God’s holiness and Israel’s unique role in being the house of witness. It revealed human sinfulness and pointed to the Savior. Both Testaments center on Jesus—the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)
“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” Hebrews 10:4
The Sabbath, like circumcision and the sacrifices, was, in part, designed to distinguish Israel as God’s witness to the nations.
“Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.” Exodus 31:13
The Sabbath, in particular, pointed forward to Christ, our source of true rest. When Jesus arrived, He declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27-28) By healing on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6) and allowing His disciples to pluck grain (Matthew 12:1-8), Jesus demonstrated entry into the new covenant. He is our continual place of rest. The Sabbath was the shadow; Christ was the substance. Paul wrote,
“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.” Colossians 2:16-17
In fact, Paul warned against regressing to such practices:
“But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years.” Galatians 4:9-10
When Christ came, He fulfilled the entire law—moral, ceremonial, and civil. He was the Lamb every sacrifice foreshadowed, the High Priest every priest represented, and the rest every Sabbath symbolized.
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17
The Sabbath served a purpose: it pointed forward to the complete rest found in Christ. Hebrews 4:9–10 explains:
“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”
So if the Sabbath command was fulfilled in Christ, does this mean we don’t need to be an integral part of a church? Well, while the Saturday Sabbath no longer binds us, the principle of rest remains—because God built it into creation for our good. We still need regular time to stop, worship, and remember who we are in Him. The early church understood this and gathered on the first day of the week—the day Christ rose from the dead—to worship and fellowship. (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2) The early church called it the “Lord’s Day,” a joyful celebration of redemption rather than a rule to obey. Like baptism and communion, this practice doesn’t save us, but through it we are identified with Christ and His church. But the early church didn’t exist just for Sunday worship! They were individual units, like a tight family—doing life together to carry out God’s mission.
That’s one reason Hebrews 10:25 commands us not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” The church is much more than just people gathering to worship on Sunday. It’s the body of Christ, and it is designed to be a standard bearer of His truth and love. Being part of a true New Testament church is both a sacred privilege and a vital necessity. It’s where believers live out their faith in fellowship, worshiping, serving, and growing together under the authority of Christ. It’s where His Spirit works through His people to build up, correct, encourage, and equip them for His eternal purposes. To be committed to a local church is to be part of Christ’s house of witness.
My friend, we are in a spiritual war. We need brothers and sisters in arms. We need a strong church from which to glorify God. We cannot excuse ourselves by saying there are no good churches. We are called to make it better! Christ calls every believer to be an active part of His Church. It is His bride, being purified and prepared for His return. Ephesians 5:25–27 says Jesus “gave Himself for her” to sanctify and cleanse her through His Word, so that she will be “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle.” Revelation 19:7 looks ahead to that fulfillment: “the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”
My friend, being an active member of a true New Testament Church is a great privilege! Don’t miss out!
Prayer
Father, thank You for the precious gift of Your Church — the body of Christ through whom You strengthen, teach, and encourage us. We are grateful that You have called us out of isolation and into fellowship, where Your Spirit moves among us as we worship, pray, and grow together in truth. Lord, remind us that serving with others is Your plan. Forgive us for the times we have taken this privilege lightly. Fill our hearts with gratitude for every opportunity to meet, to sing, to study, and to serve side by side with our brothers and sisters in Christ. As the day of Your return draws near, make us a unified, faithful Church—bold in love, steadfast in truth, and eager to reflect Your glory in a dark world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
