Seventh Day Adventists, Messianic Jews, and others may ask us why we don’t keep the Sabbath (Saturday).  I usually sight the above passage, Romans 14:5,6. 

If we are suppose to keep the Sabbath, would we not be told that here, and in many other New Testament passages?  But, we are not.  

In Revelation 1:9,10 we have a strong argument that the Sabbath Day observance was replaced by the custom of meeting on "The Lord's Day." 

I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet….

Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, and David Brown (JFB) in their excellent 1871 commentary (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/jamieson/jfb.xi.xxvii.ii.html) present strong evidence that the early Christian Church adopted the custom of meeting on Sunday, calling it the Lord’s Day.

This replaced the custom of the Sabbath. They also note that the Greek language here is much different from “Day of the Lord,” used elsewhere in the Bible.

I would add that theologically, and in line with the Book of Revelation, the Rapture (the translation of the Church as in 2Thessalonians 4:16), IS, symbolically shown in Rev 4:1,

as John is called from the earth’s surface up to heaven, precedes the “Day of the Lord,” which is the terrible end time judgment of God spoken of by the Prophet Joel, and elsewhere in Scripture.

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown (JFB) comment further on the Lord's day:  “Though forcibly detained from Church communion with the brethren in the sanctuary on the Lord's day, the weekly commemoration of the resurrection, John was holding spiritual communion with them.

This is the earliest mention of the term,"the Lord's day." But the consecration of the day to worship, almsgiving, and the Lord's Supper, is implied in Ac 20:7; 1Co 16:2; compare John 20:19-26.

The name corresponds to "the Lord's Supper," 1Co 11:20. Ignatius seems to allude to "the Lord's day" [Epistle to the Magnesians, 9], and Irenæus (Quæst ad Orthod., 115) (in Justin Martyr). Justin Martyr (Apology, 2.98), &c.,

"On Sunday we all hold our joint meeting; for the first day is that on which God, having removed darkness and chaos, made the world, and Jesus Christ our Saviour rose from the dead.

On the day before Saturday they crucified Him; and on the day after Saturday, which is Sunday, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught these things."

To the Lord's day Pliny doubtless refers (Epistles, Book X., p. 97), "The Christians on a fixed day before dawn meet and sing a hymn to Christ as God," &c. Tertullian (The Chaplet,3),

"On the Lord's day we deem it wrong to fast." Melito, bishop of Sardis (second century), wrote a book on the Lord's day (Eusebius 4.26). Also, Dionysius of Corinth, in Eusebius (Ecclesiastical History, 4.23,8). Clement of Alexandria (Miscellanies,5. and 7.12); Origen (Against Celsus, 8. 22).

The theory that the day of Christ's second coming is meant, is untenable. "The day of the Lord" is different in the Greek from "the Lord's (an adjective) day," which latter in the ancient Church always designates our Sunday, though it is not impossible that the two shall coincide (at least in some parts of the earth), whence a tradition is mentioned in Jerome (Commentary on Matthew, 25), that the Lord's coming was expected especially on the Paschal Lord's day.

The visions of the Apocalypse, the seals, trumpets, and vials, &c., are grouped in sevens, and naturally begin on the first day of the seven, the birthday of the Church, whose future they set forth (Wordsworth).”

Another strong argument against keeping the Sabbath is found in the book of Acts15:28,29 as the early church leaders faced the question of whether gentile converts needed to be circumcised.  The leaders decided as follows:

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. 

Neither circumcision nor keeping the Sabbath is mentioned, just the four things listed. 

In the passage on the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 the Lord denounces fornication and the offering of things sacrificed to idols, and some other things, but the keeping the Sabbath is not mentioned at all.

The number eight is significant. Speaking of circumcision, the Old Testament saints were to do this on the eighth day.  The eighth day is the first day of a new week.  There were eight folks on board Noah’s Ark.  King David was the eighth son of Jesse. 

A word search shows “eight” used many times in the Levitical offerings, and also through the historical books of the Bible. In Leviticus 23, the “wave offering” or “First Fruits” and the “Feast of Weeks” or “Pentecost” were on Sundays, the first day of a new week.  

So it is very appropriate that Christians meet on Sunday, not Saturday.  JFB did a good job of showing that early believers did so.

In the following passage of Colossians 2 the writer insists that we are COMPLETE IN CHRIST.  We need NOTHING FURTHER and we should hold fast to Christ, our head.  Verse 16 specifically says NOT to be judged regarding the Sabbath.  

Colossians 2: 1For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;  

2That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;  

3In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  

4And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

5For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.  

6As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  

7Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.  

8Beware 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.  

9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  

10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:  

11In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:  

12Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.  

13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;  

14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;  

15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.  

16Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:  

17Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.  

18Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,  

19And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.  

20Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 

21(Touch not; taste not; handle not;  

22Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?  

23Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. 

I believe we dishonor Christ by keeping the Sabbath.  It’s in effect saying, he did not do it ALL on our behalf. 

The symbol of Christian baptism, as verse 12 notes, is that we are dead and buried, and risen with Christ who is the Head of the Body which is the Church, that is, all true believers together. 

Moses was not allowed to enter the promise land.  This was due to a mistake he made;

And, this it is very important symbolically.  Law cannot mix with grace.  Moses represents the Law and could not be allowed to mix with promise land, Grace.

We are emphatically told in the book of Hebrews, that the New Testament supersedes and replaces the Old Testament. 

The New Testament book of Hebrews chapter 9 says:

Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 

Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.

He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 9:7-10). 

Yes, Once for All!!!

The problem the Book of Hebrews deals with is that some of the Jewish Christians were tempted to go back under the old Jewish system. 

The inspired writer makes clear the old system is completely defunct and useless. 

Jesus said, of the wine at communion, this cup is the new testament in my blood. 

A new (will) testament supersedes and old (will) testament!!!

In Hebrews 4 the Sabbath rest and God’s ultimate “rest” are compared.  It shows that believers ARE ALREADY in God’s “rest.”

That being true, why would we believers keep the Sabbath which, by the way, Col 2:17 notes is just a “shadow”?  It would be plainly inappropriate!

So, the answer is NO; we should NOT keep the Sabbath (Saturday). 

Believers ARE COMPLETE in Christ. 

Keeping the Sabbath dishonors Christ by suggesting he did not do it ALL in our stead.