Sabbath on Sunday | Biblical day of worship or Tradition?

Is there any commandment in the Bible to observe the Sabbath on Sunday? What is the origin of Sunday worship?

If the majority of Christian churches are worshipping on the first day of the week (Sunday), are we to do the same?

The Bible states that the Sabbath is on the seventh day of the week, known today as Saturday! (Exodus 20:8-11), (Luke 23:53-56).

This change for Sabbath on Sunday was made a long time ago, and not by Jesus or the apostles. The majority of people think that because Jesus rose on Sunday, it should be the new Sabbath.

But the Bible never teaches such a commandment!

Table of Contents

Why is the Sabbath on Sunday?

The Sabbath is not on Sunday according to the Bible. Worshipping on Sunday is the tradition of man, and has nothing to do with God or His commandments!

History tells us that Emperor Constantine made the first change of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday.

In 321 AD, he made the first Sunday law:

“On the venerable day of the Sun, let the magistrates and people residing in the cities rest, and let all workshops be closed! In the country, however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits!”
History of the Christian Church, 1902 ed., vol. 3, p. 380

Later on, in the Council of Laodicea, in the year of 363 AD, the Roman Catholic Church, also changed the Sabbath day from Saturday to Sunday.

The problem is that nowhere in the Bible are we commanded to observe Sunday as a day of rest and worship!

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Colossians 2:8 KJV

Does the Bible say the Sabbath is on Saturday or Sunday?

The Bible says the Sabbath is on Saturday, also known as the seventh day of the week.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exodus 20:8-11 KJV

How do we know which is the seventh day?

The Bible has this answer also!

It is well-known and agreed within the Christian Churches that Jesus died on Friday on the cross and rose on Sunday!

We also find the following Bible verses acknowledging this statement:

And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
Luke 23:53-56, 24:1 KJV

Did Jesus change the Sabbath to Sunday?

Jesus never changed the Sabbath to Sunday! He honored the Sabbath day according to the New Testament!

Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
KJV Bible

The Bible is clear! Jesus never changed the seventh-day Sabbath to Sunday!

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Mark 7:7-9 KJV

Is it a sin to observe the Sabbath on Sunday?

It is a sin to not observe the real Sabbath, on Saturday, the seventh day of the week! God commanded us to rest on the seventh day! (Exodus 20:8-11)

However, God does not take count of our time of ignorance, but once we discover the truth and His will, we are to obey!

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Acts 17:30 KJV

Conclusion

To conclude, Sabbath on Sunday is not biblical. There is not a single verse in the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation that commands us to honor Sunday as the Sabbath.

Many sincere Christians worship on Sunday, but if we want to follow God and His commandments we need to do what His Word says.

And the Bible says to keep the Sabbath on the seventh day of the week!

This is not a light matter, as some may think, because it is the fourth commandment of God!

Sabbath observance on the correct day shows our love and obedience to our God who gave His Son to die for our sins!

If we love Him, we must keep His commandments! (John 14:15)

And let us have the same thought as Peter – to obey God rather than man! (Acts 5:29)

References

History of the Christian Church, 1902 ed., vol. 3, p. 380

A History of the Councils of the Church, vol. 2, p. 252

Holy Bible KJV

My Letter To A Sunday Keeper – Sabbath Documentary