Do Christians need a day of rest?

Answer

Rest is an important theme mentioned throughout Scripture. God desires His people to practice and experience rest as they labor through the challenges of life.

The practice of rest was initially established by God Himself in Genesis 1—2. After creating the world in six days, God “rested”—that is, He ceased His work. This pattern of six days of work followed by one day of rest was later commanded by God for the Israelites as they journeyed to and settled in the Promised Land (Exodus 16:21-23). This seventh day of rest eventually became known as the “Sabbath” (derived from the Hebrew word shabbat, which is related to a verb meaning “to cease or rest”). The concept of rest was so significant to God that failure to honor the Sabbath resulted in the requirement of death for the Israelites «Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you a holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whoever works on it shall be put to death. », (Exodus 35:2).

Therefore, God deeply values His people practicing and experiencing rest.

Nevertheless, since Christ fulfills the entire law « Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. », (Matthew 5:17), Christians are not compelled or obligated to observe a day of rest. Jesus represents the ultimate Sabbath rest, and in Him, there is no need for further work (Hebrews 4:9-11). This includes fulfilling the requirements of the law, such as Sabbath observance. Additionally, during the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, the observance of the Sabbath was not mentioned.One of the requirements established by the apostles for the Gentile believers who sought to follow Christ.

Do Christians need to observe a day of rest to have their sins forgiven and be granted the promise of eternal salvation? No. The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). God’s kindness and love, expressed in the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ, are what save us, not our good works or righteous deeds (Titus 3:4-5).

Can Christians observe a day of rest as an expression of their faith and trust in God? Absolutely. Taking a day of rest is one of the best ways to reconnect with God after a season of hard work. It allows one to trust God with one’s time and responsibilities. It also allows for physical renewal and refreshment. Taking a rest does not necessarily have to be a weekly experience, either. A Christian could take a time of rest once a month or even just once a quarter.

The question of whether a Christian needs a day of rest is ultimately a matter of personal conviction. The Bible teaches that believers have some level of spiritual freedom regarding how they express their faith convictions (as long as they stay within the boundaries of God’s Word). Practicing a day of rest is one such conviction. In Romans 14:5, Paul says that some believers consider one day as more sacred than another, while others consider all days to be the same. Yet neither group is considered more or less acceptable to God for their conviction.

Regularly observing a day of rest can be a Christian’s expression of faith to God, but it is not a requirement from God.