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THE GOD CULTURE PHILIPPINES BLOG | MARCH 25, 2025

Does Hebrews 4 Prove the Sabbath Still Stands? A New Testament Sabbath Sermon

The Book of Hebrews makes a bold declaration—if we fail to keep the Sabbath, we are walking in unbelief. Yet, this profound truth is overlooked by much of the modern church.

Hebrews 4:1-11 (KJV) – The Sabbath Rest Still Remains

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his." (Hebrews 4:9-10)

The passage explicitly states that the Sabbath rest remains after Messiah’s ascension. It wasn’t abolished—it wasn’t changed—it still applies to believers. So why is this passage ignored or reinterpreted by so many churches today?

Did the Sabbath Pass Away? Hebrews Says NO.

Some claim the Sabbath was done away with in the New Testament. Yet, Hebrews 4 rebukes that very idea, showing that even in the first-century church, people were already trying to reject the Sabbath.

📖 Key Points from Hebrews 4:
✅ The Gospel was preached to both ancient Israel and believers in Messiah—but some failed to enter the Sabbath rest due to unbelief.
✅ The Sabbath was established at Creation, not by Moses.(Genesis 2:2-3)
✅ If Messiah had changed the Sabbath, this passage states He would have said so—but He did not.
✅ Instead, Hebrews confirms the Sabbath remains—those who fail to enter into it lack faith.

This is not an opinion—it’s right there in the New Testament. How can churches ignore this?

Messiah’s Sabbath Sermon Confirms Hebrews 4

Some claim that Messiah abolished the Sabbath, but He actually preached on it—and even defined what is lawful to do on the Sabbath.

📖 Matthew 11:28-12:1

• Messiah declares:“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

• The next scene takes place on the Sabbath, where Messiah defends His disciples for picking grain—clarifying that mercy, healing, and essential needs are permissible.

• He declares: “It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:12)

Messiah’s words align perfectly with Hebrews 4—Sabbath is not abolished, but it is a day of rest, worship, and righteousness.

Why Do Many Churches Ignore This?

Many mislabel the Bible as allegory, allowing them to reinterpret clear scripture. Others pull fragments of verses out of context, leading to widespread misunderstanding.

🔹 If the Sabbath was changed, Hebrews 4 says Messiah would have said so. He did not.
🔹 If the Sabbath was only for Moses, Hebrews 4 confirms it began at Creation.
🔹 If the Sabbath was abolished, why does Hebrews say failing to keep it is a sign of unbelief?

The logic is clear: The Sabbath remains.

The Sabbath Was Never Just a Jewish Law

• The Sabbath was established at Creation—before Israel even existed. (Genesis 2:2-3)

• Hebrews links the Sabbath from the time of Adam, to David, to Messiah—unchanged.

• Psalm 92, referenced in Hebrews 4, is titled: "A Psalm for the Sabbath Day"—confirming this is a literal Sabbath teaching.

How can we claim that everything else from Creation remains, but the 7th day rest does not?

How Do We Enter the Sabbath Rest?

Keeping the Sabbath requires preparation—it is set apart from the rest of the week. Hebrews 4 even calls this a labor, meaning we must be intentional about observing it.

But does that mean we must do nothing at all on the Sabbath? Not quite.

✅ Messiah clarified what is lawful:

• Preaching and teaching

• Healing and acts of mercy

• Meeting essential needs (such as eating)

• Temple work (fulfilled today by worship and prayer)

This was not a new doctrine—it was a correction of Pharisaic distortions.

Final Thought: Test Everything

The early church kept the Sabbath. Hebrews 4 commands believers to keep it. Messiah defended and clarified it—but never abolished it.

So why is this truth missing from most pulpits today?

"Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."(Hebrews 4:11)

The Sabbath remains. Are you walking in faith—or unbelief?

✔📖 Read More Biblical Research Here