Answer
Rest is an important theme mentioned throughout Scripture. God wants His people to practice and experience rest as they toil through the challenges of life.
The practice of rest was first established by God Himself in Genesis 1—2. After creating the world in six days, God “rested”—that is, He ceased from His work. This model of six days of work with one day of rest was something God later commanded the Israelites to observe as they journeyed to and took up residence in the Promised Land (Exodus 16:21–23). This seventh day of rest later came to be known as the “Sabbath” (derived from the Hebrew word shabbat, related to a verb that means “to cease or rest”). So important was this concept of rest to God that, if an Israelite did not honor the Sabbath, the law required that he be put to death (Exodus 35:2).
So, God cares deeply about His people practicing and experiencing rest.
However, because Christ is the fulfillment of the entire law (Matthew 5:17), Christians are not obligated or required to take a day of rest. Jesus is the ultimate Sabbath rest, and in Him there is no more work to be done (Hebrews 4:9–11). That includes the work of keeping the law’s requirements, such as observing the Sabbath. Further, at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, observing the Sabbath was not 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 in order 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 or 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 (so 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.
